4 Steps To A Perfect Canvas

Makeup is your paint and the face is your canvas. An essential step to a great makeup application is perfecting the skin surface, or else the rest of the steps will be screwed up. No amount of proper blending of eyeshadows or sculpting of the cheekbones will save your day if the base is oily, blotchy or uneven.

1. Cleanse
- Wash face to remove prior makeup and grime. If on location, use a cleansing oil or towel. A favorite among MUAs is the Shu Uemura cleansing oil. A little pricey for something that couldn't be seen: P1300 ($28) for a 150 ml bottle. A cheaper alternative is Elianto green tea cleansing oil P700 (around $15) for a 200ml bottle. The Body Shop and The Face Shop have cleansing wipes at reasonable prices.

2. Tone
- toning removes the rest of the dirt that mere cleansing cannot do. It reduces pore size while freshening up the face and controlling oiliness. A toner contains some amount of alcohol or citric acid so be careful not to use it too close to the eyes. My personal favorite is Dickinson's Witch Hazel ($7 for 16 oz) which is an organic product. Nivea alcohol-free moisturizing toner ($6 for 6.8 oz) and Neutrogena Alcohol- free toner ( $6.76 for 8.5 oz) are getting raves from users.

3. Moisturize
- the first 2 steps can strip your skin off its natural moisture, hence this is a vital step for your perfect canvas. Properly moisturized skin can keep it supple and lessen the flaky appearance of a chemically-treated or dry skin. If you are on the oily side, it doesn't mean you have to skip this part. In fact, a moisturizer can help you lessen the oil produced by your overly active sebaceous glands. Your body is a dynamic system that sends signals to lessen the production of oil when it senses adequate amount present. Hence, overly drying your skin creates the opposite effect and leaves you with an oilier skin to compensate.

Olay White Radiance (P499 or $10 for 75 ml) which also comes with SPF 24 gets my thumbs up. If you wanna go natural, virgin coconut oil is a cheap and less toxic option, if the smell of "latik" doesn't bother you. Otherwise, extra virgin olive oil may be your way to go. Ziaja eye cream (less than P200 or $4) is an inexpensive way to hydrate the delicate zone near your eyes.

- incorporated in this step are lip conditioning and application of sunblock. The lips are crucial to the total impact of your work. After moisturizing the skin, dab some lip balm on your puckers. Burts Bees ($2.99) and Carmex ($1.59) are good finds . By the time you start applying makeup colors and lipstick, you won't have a problem with lips flaking off because it has been smoothened out during the canvas prep.

4. Prime

After cleansing, toning and moisturizing, the makeup may still slip in no time. A primer is your answer to achieving a smooth surface and lasting makeup. It fills in lines and scars, makes pores appear smaller, forms a barrier to cosmetics that can clog the pores, tames excess shine and allows easier gliding of makeup on your skin. Examples are Smashbox Photo Finish ($38)- a cult favorite, Camellia Rose ($18) - my personal favorite, Bare Escentuals Prime Time ($21) or if you prefer silicone-free preparation, there's Lorac  Aqua Prime Oil- free primer ($30).

Model: Cherry Ann Co
Photo by: Andrew Reyes