Quick: take a look inside of your handbag. Chances are you are of millions who already own and carry one of the best secret weapons for flawless makeup and better-looking skin. Nope, it isn’t a specific tube of concealer or foundation, nor is it a $100 moisturizer. The key to a more gorgeous complexion and effortless makeup application is an ordinary Aquaphor lip balm, which will set you back less than $10 for two tubes.
Don’t believe us? Don’t take our word for it. Makeup Artist and YouTube sensation Scott Barnes explains why a simple Aquaphor lip balm stick is your greatest ally to prevent concealer and powder from cracking under your eyes.
Here are the details on why Aquaphor works magic and how Barnes recommends applying it.
"It's Magic"
According to Barnes, using Aquaphor on your skin prior to makeup application will “take 20 years off your face” and, he adds, “yeah, it’s magic.”
Barnes starts by adding some Aquaphor to his clients’ necks. He then rubs Aquaphor lip balm onto the under-eye area (straight from the tube). After applying makeup to clients, he noticed that using Aquaphor first helps keep concealer from cracking, even after “hours and hours of photo shoots and movies and music videos.”
How to Use Aquaphor Under the Eyes
Ready to try out this hack? The steps couldn’t be simpler. Start with clean skin that has been moisturized. Allow that moisture to absorb and dry before applying anything else to your skin. Next, run an Aquaphor lip balm tube along your under-eye area, but don’t use too much. A little will go a long way and too much can be sticky and not absorb as well.
Apply Concealer
After the Aquaphor has absorbed nicely into your skin, apply a creamy, hydrating concealer to the inner corners of your eyes and, if there is discoloration elsewhere, just a dot where needed. It’s better to apply concealer in small layers and build up where it might be beneficial rather then to over-apply it, which can create a cake outcome. Use a concealer brush to tap the concealer into your skin until it looks well blended. You can also blend your makeup with a damp sponge or your ring finger (tap, don’t slide, to avoid creasing).
Set Your Makeup
Setting your makeup is an important final step that will help it resist creasing and the appearance of those little fine lines most of us have beneath the eye. Use a light translucent powder and apply it by tapping it into your skin with a powder brush. You can also use setting spray on top of the powder or as a replacement. Apply setting spray to the back of your hand and use a finger to tap it into your under-eye area.
And there you have it: perfect concealer with the help of your new BFF Aquaphor.
