Beauty Skin

The Key to Makeup That Goes the Distance

If you want to ensure your look lasts well beyond midnight, you'll first need to learn how to prep your skin for makeup. Let Liberty show you the ropes

By: Laura Kennedy

The Key to Makeup That Goes the Distance

If you want to ensure your look lasts well beyond midnight, you'll first need to learn how to prep your skin for makeup. Let Liberty show you the ropes

By: Laura Kennedy

Photography: Benjamin Madgwick
Makeup: Celia Burton
Hair: David Wadlow

Every beauty enthusiast knows that the real work of perfect makeup happens long before you apply your foundation in a towel while panic texting your friends that you’re ‘absolutely’ already dressed and ready to go. Your skincare routine creates the canvas you need to do your best work. After all, Raphael painted his frescos on freshly prepared plaster. We make extra effort with special occasion makeup precisely because we’re aiming for a Raphael rather than a hurried stick figure drawing on a post-it note. This isn’t the makeup on your commute or a quick slick of your favourite lipstick on the go. The key to the best possible party makeup? Preparation.

Read More: How to get glowing skin, according to the experts

A FEW DAYS BEFORE

Out With the Old

Malin + Goetz Resurfacing Glycolic Pads, £40

Make sure to exfoliate a couple of times in the week before an event. Skincare acids will ensure that any dull surface skin is dispatched and skin will be dolphin-smooth by the time you apply your pre-party foundation. These peel pads provide a gentle at-home chemical peel, so you can skip any potential irritation or redness from grittier physical exfoliants.

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Biologique Recherche

Lotion P50 250ml

£140.00

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Trish McEvoy

Even Skin Beta Hydroxy Pads

£45.00

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Aveda

Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant 150ml

£22.00

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Paula's Choice

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 118ml

£34.00

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Zelens

PHA+ Resurfacing Facial Pads

£70.00

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Dermalogica

Daily Milkfoliant 74g

£65.00

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Moisturiser Is King

Augustinus Bader The Cream, £225

It may sound obvious but keeping skin moisturised and balanced will ensure that the chances of a facial melt-down (we’ve all been there) on the day of the party are minimal. This formula is a velvety, radiant and plumping day cream that behaves beautifully under makeup, leaving a dewy, professional-looking finish and cocooning the skin from the elements.

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La Mer

Crème de la Mer 100ml

£460.00

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Sunday Riley

C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream 50g

£60.00

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Kiehl's

Ultra Facial Cream 125ml

£57.00

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QMS Medicosmetics

ACE Vitamin Day & Night Cream 50ml

£135.00

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Jones Road

Miracle Cream 40g

£38.00

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Votary

Super Seed Nutrient Cream 50ml

£75.00

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THE MORNING OF

DIY Massage

Wild Source Rose Quartz Gua Sha, £30

Most of the work is already done. Going too hard on skincare is a mistake on the day of an event – we’re aiming to sculpt and spruce only, while minimising any chance of irritation. A good morning massage will help reduce puffiness, promote blood flow and prep skin for the day, plus you’ll always see the pros doing this for clients before red carpet events. Wild Source's gua sha tool stimulates the lymphatic system to tone and sculpt the face. Chill it in the fridge for an even more soothing experience.

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Online only

The Light Salon

Boost LED Face Mask

£395.00

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MZ Skin

Gua Sha

£40.00

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Sarah Chapman

The Facialift

£34.00

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MZ Skin

LightMAX Supercharged LED Mask 2.0

£750.00

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Sarah Chapman

Pro Pore Refiner

£132.00

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Sisley Paris

Gentle Brush for Face and Neck

£36.00

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Free Gift With Purchase

Sarah Chapman

Meso Melt Infusion System

£138.00

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Lipcare Is Key

Dr. Sebagh Lip Balm, £35

Now, and not right before applying lipstick, is the time to ensure your lips are comfortable and moisturised. Apply a generous layer of lip balm and keep it topped up through the day to prevent any pinched texture or chapping later on once you’ve applied lipstick or liner.

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Shop Lip Balm

Byredo

The Flavoured Lip Balm Limited Edition 2.5g

£40.00

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Sisley Paris

Nutritive Lip Balm 9g

£66.00

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Jones Road

The Lippie Stick 4.5g

£18.00

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Bobbi Brown

Lip Balm SPF 15 15g

£24.00

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Aesop

Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve 9ml

£15.00

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SUQQU

Lip Concentrate Balm 7.5g

£35.00

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BEFORE APPLYING YOUR MAKEUP

The Pre-Game Sheet Mask

Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Single Sheet Mask, £15

All the real prep work is done. We strongly suggest making a nice cup of tea before you maximise hydration to ensure your smoothest, plumpest possible skin. This will prevent makeup from sitting in dry patches or sliding from oily ones. Whip a sheet mask from the fridge about thirty minutes before you want to apply your makeup. It gives a quick and efficient skin refurb, depuffing and plumping as well as priming skin for moisturiser.

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Bestseller

Sisley Paris

Express Flower Gel 60ml

£120.00

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Omorovicza

Ultramoor Mud Mask 50ml

£74.00

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Augustinus Bader

The Face Cream Mask 50ml

£170.00

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Kiehl's

Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energising Radiance Masque 100ml

£40.50

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Skincycles

Silk Bio-Cellulose Mask 25ml 5 Pack

£80.00

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Irene Forte

Lavender & Rosemary Balancing Mask 50ml

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Prime Your Real Estate

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Primer, £55

Once you moisturise, leave it to sink in for ten minutes or so, then go in with a primer like this one from Hourglass to ensure that the makeup you’re about to apply will stay exactly where you want. Until, that is, you get home exhausted and have the post-party debate about whether or not to sleep in your (hopefully still perfect) makeup. We can’t help with that bit, unfortunately. Except to advise washing off your makeup before bed.

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