Always give your moisturizer time (as long as 15 minutes) to absorb into your skin before applying foundation. Otherwise, you can end up with a streaky mess.
“I recommend waiting 20-30 minutes to ensure the skin is dry and to minimise inadvertent interactions,” she says.
According to her, it's A-okay to put moisturizer on over your foundation—as long as you're doing it the right way. "Pat an oil based moisturizer on top, which will protect your skin," she says, noting that the same goes for an oil.
Considering that no two products are the same, there's no hard and fast answer for how long exactly you need to wait it out based on what you could be using, but dermatologists recommend up to half an hour for the heavier products (lotions, creams, oils).
Let your foundation set
This step is crucial. Let the foundation set for 3-5 minutes. Take a tissue, and blot all over your face, avoiding the nose if you have large pores.
How long to wait between primer and moisturizer. Ginger recommends waiting at least one minute after moisturizing before applying makeup primer. If you experience a doughy texture or any pilling, she says, then you've put in on too quickly.
You don't wait for your foundation to dry.
Aka it takes a little time to completely dry once you've applied it. This means if you speed through your beauty routine and dust a powder product over it immediately, it's going to heavily absorb into the first spot you applied it and it won't blend out properly.
You should be using a moisturizer every day, for your face and body! While you do feel the results of moisturizer as soon as it hits your skin (hence, instant results) you won't begin to really see an improvement in dry or flakey skin until about 2-weeks of consistent use.
This will vary from product to product — a toner may take mere seconds to dry, while a serum or thick nighttime eye cream could take a minute, or even a few minutes to dry and be properly absorbed. A good rule to follow to simplify things? Wait about one minute between applying each skincare product.
“Around 30 secs to 1 min is a sufficient gap between layers in the skincare step. The exception is post serum / spot treatment and retinol. You should allow 3 – 5 mins before applying the next layer to allow surface skin penetration. Apply sunscreen only after there are no traces of moisturiser on the face.
Putting the moisturizer over your makeup is a terrible way to clog your pores up, making it easier to break out.
Many of us think that we should apply base products all over the face, but this isn't actually the case and is a common foundation mistake. “Too much product on the skin doesn't look natural,” says Naoko.
Wait at least five minutes.
The moisturizer needs some time to form a smooth, even surface over your skin. Wait anywhere from five to thirty minutes before putting on makeup, or you may struggle with uneven application or even acne breakouts.
To achieve the best results, you should wait for a few minutes (around one to five minutes) after applying moisturizer before applying primer. This allows the moisturizer to fully absorb into the skin, providing maximum hydration and creating a smooth base perfect for makeup application.
Applying makeup to a face that has not been adequately primed is a bad idea. As a result, you must prepare the skin before applying any makeup. If you skip your skincare routine before wearing makeup, you risk having uneven, spotty coverage that fades much too quickly.
Moisturizers are most effective if you use them while your skin is still damp because damp skin absorbs the product more readily. That also gives the moisturizer the chance to lock in that hydration.
It is important to apply your moisturizer immediately after washing your face so that the cream can help hold in any added moisture remaining from washing your face. Apply evenly and leave it for few minutes, until your face feels more hydrated. After this, you can apply your makeup.
After you've completely applied your serum with either your fingertips or palms, wait 5 minutes for the product to fully absorb. If your serum is leaving you with a sticky or oily residue, it's most likely not doing its job effectively.
This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help. If foundation separation is your issue, try to use products with similar textures.
If the skin is really dry, I only use damp brushes when applying. Generally speaking, sponges can give more coverage, while brushes can be more sheer.”