The Baking Makeup Technique – Bake Your Face In 5 Easy Steps

This is a Collaborative Post with Ulta Beauty, Style Hunters and Amazing Cosmetics

After being in the Beauty Industry for quite a bit of years, I have seen makeup trends come and go and others return like hot cakes smothered in syrup.  Did I just say that?  Yes – because I’m craving hot cakes… but regardless, like all things popular – some stick around and stand the tests of time while others may disappear or die down a bit only to make another appearance and become popular once again.   In the course of the last year, I have seen techniques used in the beauty industry years before that are now making a comeback, like contouring, strobing (exaggerated highlighting) and now baking.  These techniques that were once used only for special occasions or typically for Television, Runway and Shows is now making its way to the forefront.  I remember a time when “Baking, Strobing and Contouring” was what I used to make over my Drag Community friends and now I see it everywhere and becoming a popular technique used for every day.  While it’s not something I would use daily, I think it is still a useful technique and can be used for great purpose.  Today we are talking all about baking makeup, so grab a cup of joe (or a plate of hot cakes & syrup) and let’s chit chat about it.

Today I am going to share with you some quick tips on the baking makeup technique and how to do it.  But first, let’s find out what the heck this “baking” is all about.  Baking is a technique of highlighting and setting your makeup to give it a glow that is flawless but without a shimmer or glittery effect that you would typically get from regular highlight (like strobing).  Baking allows the wearer to to give your face an illuminated/brightened appearance that will last and not crease with a matte finish.  Here are my tips on what to do… follow along and try it for yourself.

Products you need:

While baking can technically be done with any type of cosmetics you have on hand, I’m using these from Amazing Cosmetics which you can find at Ulta Beauty.

• Moisturizer or eye cream
• Concealer – if you are particularly looking for a brighter under eye look, a concealer lighter than your skin tone is best – by a few shades.
• Beauty Blender
• Cosmetic sponge
• Translucent Powder – loose works well, but use what you have.  I’m using a pressed powder
• fluffy brush – used to apply the translucent sponge and to swipe the excess powder away
• Setting Spray or mineral mist

Steps to baking:

1. HYDRATE: Since this technique will leave you with a matte finish – it is essential that you hydrate and moisturize accordingly.  I have really dry skin so I make sure to hydrate my under eyes so that the extra powder you are using does not settle into any wrinkles or under eye circles.
2. Apply your concealer to your under eyes.  I like to make sure I’m applying my concealer (preferably something creamy or liquid like so it blends easily) in a upside down triangle shape.  Using your damp cosmetic sponge, blend the product out so that it is evenly distributed – blending effortlessly.  A creamy or thick concealer works best.  Try Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer – I used the one in Light Caramel.
3. Using your translucent powder – apply over the concealer with a fluffy brush.  My favorite to use is my MAC 109 which will pack the color on and blend at the same time. The key here is to make sure you have enough powder to apply to your face where your concealer is.
4. Bake / Cook your makeup!  Using a wedge or cosmetic sponge, dampen with a setting spray or mineral mist and then dip the sponge into your translucent powder.  Pack the loose powder generously over the area that you applied with your concealer.  If you are using a pressed compact, you may need to tap your brush into the product a lot to pick up product.  Wait 5 – 10 minutes while the powder sits and bakes.  During this time I like to start working on my eye makeup.  For the translucent powder I used Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Powder Set.
5. With a fluffy brush, simply dust off the product on the face while blending to set your makeup.

When the baking is done and your makeup is complete, you’ll notice that you will not only have a flawless finish to your makeup application, but also have a highlighted appearance under eyes without that shimmery effect you can get from a glittery illuminator.  What I love about looks like these is that they give you that glowy appearance.  You can find all the products I mentioned at Ultabeauty.com. What’s great about makeup and makeup trends is that you decide what works for you and what doesn’t. Have fun with it, dress up and enjoy it!

Have you tried the baking / cooking makeup technique before? If so, will you be using this to strut your stuff this Fall and Winter season?  I look forward to seeing your recreations and looks so be sure to post a photo of your flawless look. #ultatrendalert #StyleHunters4Ulta

Disclaimer: The products mentioned/featured in this post were sent to me for review/consideration and feature. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased. This is not a sponsored post but was done in collaboration with Style Hunters and Ulta Beauty.