Why Does My Makeup Look Dry?
When you have the perfect makeup look in mind.
There’s nothing more aggravating than something putting a dent in your routine, whether it be being rushed, mascara smearing on your eyes, or your products don’t seem to be applying with the quality you’d like them to.
One of the most annoying things to deal with is having your makeup look dry and cracked, whether it occurs during the initial application or throughout the day.
A multitude of reasons can cause this problem, so identifying the root of the issue can take some time and research on your part.
Luckily, we’re here to help you out!
So, why does your makeup look dry?
Your makeup may look dry due to the lack of a hydrating skincare routine, using products incompatible with your skin type or that are generally drying to the skin, or because it wasn’t touched up throughout the day or night.
Thankfully, every problem has a solution—or in this case, a handful of them.
In this article, we’ll break down all the reasons why your cosmetics may be cracking throughout the day, and how you can go about remedying it!
Why Does My Makeup Look Dry And Cracked?
When your makeup starts looking like the Sahara Desert, you know something sketchy is up!
Here are some of the main reasons why your makeup application is looking less than its best:
- Lack Of Skin Prep
- Lack Of Skincare
- The Wrong Products
- Wrong Wear Time
- Dry Climate
- No Touch-Ups
Lack Of Skin Prep
Do you remember when, in years past, primer and proper skin prep were not a thing?
Yes, you may have repressed those memories deep within the innermost crevices of your mind.
But if there’s anything we can take away from those years of poor makeup application, it’s that skin prep is crucial!
It creates a clean, even base that your makeup can lie on all day.
Skipping it doesn’t just seriously reduce the longevity of your makeup, but it can also make all of your products apply drier than they would with everyday prep.
Lack Of Skincare
Have you ever heard people say that your makeup only looks as good as the skin beneath it? That statement does hold a bit of truth!
This doesn’t mean that those with tough-to-treat skin conditions, such as acne and rosacea, can’t wear makeup that looks fantastic.
However, it simply means that you need to treat your face with some extra care and attention to keep everything looking its best.
Having a trustworthy skincare routine reduces texture and breakouts, while also regulating oil production.
All of these things will keep your makeup from drying out throughout the day.
The Wrong Products
Using the wrong makeup products is one of the top reasons why your makeup might look dry.
It’s essential to choose products that are most compatible with your skin type, and to avoid using too many drying agents in a single look.
We’ll discuss the best choices for makeup products later on.
Wrong Wear Time
A makeup product will only look as good for as long as it’s meant to last.
Using longer-wearing products and makeup that moves with your skin rather than settling into your fine lines and creases will keep your face looking moisturized and healthy throughout the day.
Dry Climate
If you aren’t already checking the weather before you do your makeup, take this as your sign to start!
Not just the temperature, but also the humidity levels, will give you a peek into how long your makeup will last.
As a general rule of thumb, hotter days call for more hydrating formulas, as do days of dry, chilly weather.
Warmer, humid weather is more suitable for moisture-fighting makeup products.
No Touch-Ups
Unless you’re going for a low-maintenance makeup look, one that requires minimal wear and is generally easy to apply.
You’ll likely need to touch up your makeup a couple of times throughout the day.
Even taking just 2 minutes to refresh your makeup can increase your wear time and make your face look even more dewy.
Solving Dry And Cracked Looking Makeup
Once you’ve narrowed down the reason why your makeup is drying out, the next step is to find the best way to keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated throughout the day.
Based on the causes we listed above, we’ll break down our ideal solutions:
Proper Skin Prep
Although getting your skin ready for makeup can be as simple as applying a primer.
There are other steps you can take to ensure your face looks fresh, regardless of the weather or the duration of your wear.
- Moisturize Your Skin. You should never apply makeup on a dirty face, so after you’ve washed it, don’t skimp out on the moisturizer!
We recommend something lightweight but replenishing and nourishing.
Something with hyaluronic acid will give you that extra boost you need for plump, hydrated skin- that’s why we love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel.
- Waiting Game: Once your moisturizer is on, allow it ample time to sink into your skin.
Applying makeup directly on top of moisturizer will cause your cosmetics to sit on the surface of your skin, potentially compromising their wear time and drying them out more quickly.
Though it may seem long, wait 15 minutes before continuing your routine.
- Hydrating Primer: To prevent flakiness from showing up, double your moisturizing insurance by layering a nourishing primer over your moisturized skin.
For an extra luxurious feel that’ll keep you looking dewy all day, we like the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré.
Skincare
If you know that your skin is on the drier side, you may be no stranger to the fact that your makeup tends to cling to any texture.
Potentially exaggerating the look of your dry skin or flakiness.
The key to fighting those flakes is easy—exfoliate!
However, it’s essential to do so correctly, so that you don’t accidentally dry your skin out even more.
Though physical exfoliants may seem more effective, they could strip your skin of its natural oils, making you even drier.
Our pick for a gentle exfoliator that doesn’t compromise your moisture barrier is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Exfoliator, used twice a week (to start).
You can adjust your use as needed, but over time, you’ll notice that your skin starts to look and feel baby-soft.
A great video that goes in-depth about treating thirsty skin is this one by skincare guru Hyram.:
Choosing Cream Products
Though the answer may be clear, it’s essential to specify that cream-based products are going to be far more hydrating for the skin than powder-based products.
Using a combination of both in your routine will help keep your skin from looking too dry or too wet.
If you have an oily skin type, powder-based products will help keep your skin in check.
However, those with dry to normal skin may find that an abundance of powder products will make their makeup look dusty, dry, and cracked.
Perhaps the main product you can blame your dry makeup on is your setting powder (if you use one).
Setting powders are a tricky thing to master, and can easily be overused.
When applied in excess, powders can clog your pores and leave your face looking overly velvety, leading to cracked makeup once your skin becomes oily or comes into contact with humidity.
Long-Wearing Makeup
Makeup that’s worn longer than it should be tends to look bad, no matter how many touch-ups you do.
Even if you use a long-wear primer and setting spray, the freshness of your makeup relies solely on the products in between those layers.
Unfortunately, powder products tend to last longer than creams, which is why people gravitate towards them during long nights out.
However, this also means your skin could end up looking cracked and dry by the time you’re ready to head home.
Some cream makeup products known for their longevity include the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Glow Foundation and the e.l.f. Camo Concealer.
And by opting for cheek/lip stains rather than cream formulas that could easily smudge away.
A Proper Refresh
Going to the bathroom to “powder your nose” may have been a more popular saying back in the day, but it isn’t something we shouldn’t be taking seriously!
Refreshing your makeup can take as little as 2 minutes, and the necessary products can easily be carried with you.
The only two things you need are a dewy, refreshing mist and something to blend your makeup with!
We’re big fans of the Elf+ Glow Dewy Mist to bring some life to dried makeup.
As for blending, we wouldn’t want you to carry around a beauty blender all day, so a great alternative is these round sponge applicators.
Which you can use dry or wet, depending on how dewy you want your look to be.
Ideal Makeup Tips To Keep Skin Fresh All Day
Here’s a basic routine that will help you stay hydrated, regardless of what life throws your way! You don’t need to follow every single step to a question.
Experiment with different tips to see which ones work best for you.
Use A Balm
Though thick moisturizers are usually ideal for nighttime skincare routines.
Those who suffer from super dry skin, or are dealing with eczema or a damaged moisture barrier, can use one to prep their skin for makeup.
Apply a generous amount of skin balm (or a thick moisturizer) to the affected areas, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then gently wipe it away.
Think of this as an ultra-nourishing moisturizing mask.
The balm will soften any flakiness and texture, and nourish the skin deeply enough to keep it from drying out throughout the day.
Keep It Light
While we love and appreciate a full beat, please note that a thicker makeup application is more likely to dry out sooner during wear time.
For makeup that looks fresh and moves with your skin, try to use the least amount of products possible.
Finding hybrid products, such as a foundation/concealer duo, can help reduce creasing and drying.
For something with light coverage, we recommend the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation, while we would opt for the M.A.C. Magic Finish Make-Up for something a little bit heavier.
The Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain is a fantastic, saturated product that lasts long and leaves you with a natural flush.
Apply it in dots on your lips and the high points of your face, and watch in awe as it melts into your skin—leaving you with a gorgeous glow that lasts the whole day.
Instead of using two separate products for your contour and blush.
Achieve a sun-kissed finish and a snatched shadow with the help of the e.l.f. Putty Bronzer is a long-wearing, creamy product that glides smoothly with your skin, without showing texture or drying out your face.
To keep everything fresh, you wouldn’t want to walk out the door without setting your makeup with the assistance of a light-wear powder and a glowy setting spray.
This setting powder from Becca Cosmetics keeps makeup in place while mimicking the look of a mist on the skin, which means it doesn’t compromise your dewy appearance.
Of course, the best spray to finish off your makeup routine with would be a dewy one!
The Dewy Set Setting Spray from ABH is water-based, melting all of your makeup together with just a single ‘X’ shaped misting and giving you an extra boost of hydration.
You can use it throughout each layer of your routine for some serious nourishment, too!
Skip The Brushes
Although makeup brushes are fantastic choices for applying makeup, they tend to cause products to cling to dry skin, especially concealers and foundations.
Drier skin types would benefit from using a beauty blender or simply their fingers to work the product into the skin, resulting in a more skin-like finish.
Bye-Bye, Baking!
Unless you’re going to be facing some serious humidity (or swimming!), baking isn’t going to do anything but make your skin look drier than it is!
Many people believe that baking helps makeup last longer, and although it does, there are other techniques you can try that will achieve the same effect without drying out your skin.
The best way to keep your makeup on all day without baking is by lightly setting the areas you would bake with the powder.
Spraying a setting mist to emulsify the powder, and then pressing powder into the same areas again to lock it in.
The result? A blurred, lasting finish that will look natural the entire day.
Final Thoughts
Dry, cracked makeup can be a serious confidence killer!
Despite its annoyance, it’s also a common cosmetic problem that can be addressed with some extra care.
Adding helpful tips and tricks to your beauty routine can make all the difference in how your makeup wears throughout the day.
The main ways to keep your makeup presenting dewy and nourished are with a hydrating skincare routine, so your cosmetics are sitting on the most hydrated base possible.
Using hydrating, long-wear products, as well as taking the time to refresh your face throughout the day, can make a significant difference. Say bye-bye to dry days for good!
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