Skin Prep For Makeup with Sonia Roselli
Satisfaction is all about expectations. Your starting point has a lot to do with your desired outcome and makeup is no exception. You can’t expect makeup to do the job of skincare; they must work hand in hand.
Sonia Roselli is a veteran makeup artist who developed a line of skincare products to prep the skin for optimal makeup results. I’ve taken multiple courses from Sonia, have learned more about running my makeup artistry business from her than nearly anyone else, and trust her expertise wholeheartedly.
Wanting to up my game for clients, I began incorporating the Sonia Roselli skincare line into my bridal applications this year. As I do with all products before entering them into my professional kit, I first tried them on myself. The results were the same in both areas-the makeup never looked better.
While I’m a professional makeup artist, these skin prep products are available to anyone. The line is well-suited to sensitive skin and founder Sonia Roselli herself struggles with rosacea.
sonia roselli skin prep routine
Here’s the recommended order of usage:
- Cleanse with Japanese Cleansing Oil
- Gently exfoliate with SexAPeel Instant Exfoliation Spray (2-3x per week)
- Hydrate with Water Elixir
- If very dry, apply Water Oil
- Seal it all in with Water Balm
Japanese Cleansing Oil
If you’re wearing a full face of makeup, or even just sunscreen, an oil is the best texture to really break down and fully remove those products from the surface of your skin. Not only does an oil do that effectively, but without stripping the skin of it’s own precious moisture barrier.
Japanese Cleansing Oil has a light eucalyptus scent and a pretty pink color-thanks to plum blossom extract. You’ll want to shake it before using and then gently massage onto a dry face. When you wet your hands, the cleanser will turn into a milky consistency. You can either rinse it off or use a warm, soft wash cloth to gentle wipe away the cleanser, and all your makeup with it.
SexAPeel Instant Exfoliation Spray
If you try one Sonia Roselli product, this is the one. This liquid exfoliant is instant gratification in a bottle. The Korean formula uses glycolic acid, papaya enzymes and other fruit extracts to attach to dead skin cells and gently roll them off. Unlike a physical scrub, this exfoliator is not abrasive or aggravating and shouldn’t leave you red and irritated.
While I love it for the face, it’s safe to use on the body as well, so think rough heels, elbows, back of the arms, even décolletage. If you self tan or spray tan, this is a great prep step to add in.
Here’s how to use SexAPeel.
Water Elixir
I’ll be honest; I really didn’t think this featherweight serum would do much. It’s so lightweight that I thought, how could it possibly hydrate very well? I was wrong. Water Elixir is now a crucial step in hydrating, creating first layer of smoothing, softening magic under makeup. Unlike many moisturizing products with ceramides, this feels so incredibly light on the skin.
It’s also versatile, acting as a hydrating mixing medium to create cream blushes from powders, thin out foundations and other products as needed. Press it into your skin and you’ll never skip it again.
Water Oil
Though face oils are beneficial for nearly everyone, I do consider this step optional, best suited to those like myself who have very dry skin. I love an oil for it’s ability to penetrate and hydrate deeply, as well as retain that moisture. I love a dewy finish to my makeup so this further ensures that.
In addition to squalane, Water Oil is actually a blend of several oils: Sea Buckthorn, Japanese Camelia, Argan, Soy, Avocado, Sesame, Jojoba, Rice Bran oil. It also contains a super interesting ingredient that led me down an internet rabbit hole called “Job’s Tears.” Girl, give me the biblical tears.
Water Balm
I believe this is the product that put Sonia Roselli’s skincare on the map. It serves many purposes, but if I had to categorize it, I’d call it a gel moisturizer. It plumps and hydrates like a great moisturizer should, but what I really love about it, particularly for more textured or mature skin, is it’s ability to soften lines and pores. Yes, really.
Because Water Balm has dimethicone, it’s a smoothing primer as much as it is a moisturizer. To me, skincare is primer and this is truly both. Before smoothing onto your face, tap your fingers together to burst and release the moisture.
You can use this as an eye cream as well so make sure to tap under the eye for beautiful concealer application to follow.
Purchase sonia roselli
If you want to do it up right, one of the best ways to do so is with one of the Sonia Roselli skincare sets. I personally like the Everyday Essentials.
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