Let’s talk about baking. Not the kind that helps you out when you’re seriously hangry, but the type that literally every single beauty blogger has been repping on Instagram. Makeup baking locks down your look for hours of full-coverage, flawless wear, plus it helps to contour your face, making your under-eyes look brighter than ever - no matter how late you stayed up. But, how do you actually do makeup baking? It’s not just about sweeping on loose face powder; you also need to get the prep, timings and technique just right to reap the benefits. Here’s how...
1. Up the Hydration
You might be baking, but you definitely don’t want any cakey makeup. That’s why moisture is an absolute must before you start applying product, as it gives you a smooth canvas and stops powder sticking to dry patches. Prep your look with an eye cream, tapping it into the delicate under-eye area with your ring finger (as it’s the weakest). Then, let it absorb for a few minutes before you move on to step two.
2. Time to Prime...
... not just under your eyes, but all over for a seamless canvas. Try a skin-smoothing primer, like Fix & Perfect Pro Primer (right), which will plump out any fine lines, while giving your concealer and powder a little extra grip.
3. Be Clever with Concealer
Don’t just use any concealer on your under-eye area. What you want is a cover-up that bounces light away from dark circles, creating an eye-awakening look. Our ride-or-die pick is Match Perfection Concealer, which comes with a built-in brush to make application a total dream. It’s almost too easy.
4. Pile on the Powder
It’s almost time to get baking... but first, you need to set your concealer with a face powder. Skip pressed compacts and go for loose powder, which lets you layer up a little extra coverage. Our pick? Match Perfection Loose Powder (left), which should be lightly swept on top of cover-up with a small, fluffy brush (like an eyeshadow blender) to keep everything in place.
5. Let’s Get Baking
Grab a makeup blending sponge, and lightly spritz it with a mist, like Insta Fix & Go Setting Spray. Once the blender is damp, dip it into the loose translucent powder, pack a generous layer of powder under eyes. Leave for five to 10 minutes.
6. Get Swept Away
Once time is up, you’re ready to sweep, sweep, sweep that powder away. Use your fluffy brush once more to dust off any excess, making sure to blend as you go. Baking - done.
Looking for more pore-perfecting makeup tricks? Discover our guide to the glass skin trend or learn how to apply highlighter for a hyper-real glow.
