How to Create the Perfect Canvas with SHEN’s Resident Makeup Expert

Choosing the right complexion products - whether it be shade, formula, or finish - can be daunting. Luckily, among our beauty obsessed staff, our e-com merchant - Jill Freeman has a background in makeup. Below, Jill explains why prepping the skin before makeup is so important, the sure-fire way to get the right foundation shade, and why we should embrace contouring.

“Prep is everything - you can put an amazing foundation on grungy skin and it still won’t look very nice,” explains Jill, who likes to think of the skin as a sponge. “A wet sponge will do a much better job of cleaning up spilled jelly than a dry sponge, which just sort of moves the mess around instead of absorbing it. Similarly, hydrated skin is much more prepared for makeup application.”

Preparing the skin doesn’t need to be complicated - think of it as your morning skin routine. After washing, Jill suggests using a lactic acid or hydrating toner, a hyaluronic acid serum, and a moisturizing step like an oil or a cream.

January Labs Daily Brightening Tonic

“If you have a lot of texture on your skin, finishing your skincare routine with a sunblock or primer will even that out so that you’ll need less foundation and it will go on almost like glass,” Jill notes.

“As we move into colder weather, you should look for a hydrating foundation and anything with soothing ingredients that will help with chapped cheeks,” says Jill. We usually drop down one shade in the winter and while that is certainly something to keep in mind, the best way to ensure you are using the right shade of foundation is to be professionally matched. At SHEN we have makeup artists on staff that can outfit you with the right shade for you. Depending on the level of coverage you prefer, some of Jill’s favorite hydrating foundations include:

(great when paired with RMS ReEvolve Natural Finish Primer )

To apply, Jill prefers to use her fingers both for ease of application and because it is easier than using brushes that needs to be cleaned all the time. “My number one tip would be to make sure you have clean hands,” Jill says. “Otherwise you are just tapping bacteria on your face.”

For those that prefer to avoid a full face of foundation, Jill suggests focusing on skincare products with luminous finishes. “These are like liquid pretty,” explains Jill. “They add such a subtle glow to the skin.”

For blemishes or to cover undereye bags, a concealer can be used sparingly to even out the complexion. Our current favorite? Kosas Revealer Concealer, which can be buffed out from the center of the face in a pinch.

Kosas Revealer Concealer

For many of us, contouring brings to mind dramatic red-carpet makeup. However, Jill believes we should all embrace the subtle use of shade and light after applying foundation. “You’ve painted yourself one color and taken away dimension, so you need to add that shape back in,” she explains.

“Think of the highs and the lows of the face - you can apply Pai Impossible Glow on the high points and use a contour on the low points, like below the cheekbones and along the jawline. To contour, Jill prefers MOB’s Bronzer, which comes in both a cream and powder formula. “The key is that contour shades should be cool tones.”

Though it may feel unnecessary, a finishing powder adds a certain polish to the face that even those with normal or dry skin will appreciate. “They take down the shininess that we all get, especially if you’ve done an extensive skincare routine. Powder makes pores less visible, and simply makes your face look filtered.” Our in-house makeup artists are particular fans of: