Top makeup artists offer their advice on how to look good while still following COVID-19 health protocols. 

The arrival of the new Omicron BA 2.7.5 virus means it’s time to strictly follow  COVID-19 health protocols once again. But as many of us bemoan the fact that we have to keep social distancing and wear a mask, there is actually something good that the pandemic has brought us. 

“The pandemic has brought our attention to things that we’ve previously ignored, such as our skin,” celebrity makeup artist Donny Karyadi said during a telephone interview on July 19. 

“Just before the pandemic, women put on thick makeup and created a glam look to cover up their imperfections,” he added. “But as we were all required to stay at home because of COVID-19, women have been wearing less makeup and started to notice their actual skin problems.” 

As many women have been nourishing their skin during the pandemic, their skin has improved. As a result, many feel that they no longer need to wear a lot of makeup. 

“As [women’s] skin becomes smoother, more supple and hydrated, they tend to wear less makeup,” Donny added. “On a daily basis, they just wear some light cosmetics to embellish their features.”

The celebrity makeup artist named this new trend “simple is best”. Veteran makeup artist Sugimartono agreed. 

“Many also wear less makeup as they want to flaunt all the hard work they’ve done to refine their skin,” Sugimartono said during the telephone interview on July 20. 

But creating this “less is more” look is actually a lot of work. And maintaining the look while wearing a mask in Jakarta’s hot and humid weather also requires some savoir-faire. A number of top makeup artists in the capital shared their knowledge and expertise on this matter.

Staying on-point under the mask 

Wearing a mask is a nightmare for Astrid Midiani, account executive of an advertising company in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. 

“I sweat a lot,” the 32-year-old said. “Under the sun, all my makeup literally washes off and stains my mask within 15 minutes. When I take [my mask] off to eat or drink, it looks rather disgusting.” 

According to Sugimartono, the key to keeping your makeup on point while wearing a mask is putting on the right products.  

After applying moisturizer on a clean face, the senior makeup artist suggests using a two-way cake foundation, which is a combination of liquid foundation and loose powder, as it stays on longer. 

“[Two-way cake foundation] won’t stain your mask even if you wear it all day long,” he said. 

As you apply foundation on your face, don’t forget to apply some also on your neck and ears. 

“Ears are always visible when you wear a mask,” he said. “Therefore, it’s necessary for them to have the same tone as your face.” 

You can then lightly tap pressed powder on your face, neck and ears to create a smooth, dewy look that lasts all day. 

To reduce perspiration, Sugimartono also advised using a brush dipped in iced water after powdering our face. 

“[Iced water] will help to set in the makeup and reduce the sweating,” he said. 

Also, don’t forget to change your mask every two or three hours if you sweat a lot. 

“If you keep wearing the same mask while you’re sweating, you’ll risk developing acne on your nose, cheeks and chin,” Sugimartono added. 

Focal point: Eyes

As the lower half of our face is covered while we are wearing a mask, our eyes have definitely become an important focal point.

“It’s important to make [the eyes] look bright and expressive, as they’re now the focal point of our face while we’re wearing a mask,” celebrity makeup artist Ryan Ogilvy said when interviewed after the launch of Maybelline mascara in Kota Kasablanka, South Jakarta, on July 1. 

But it does not necessarily mean you have to overdo it. 

“Just keep it light and natural in line with the current trend,” Ryan said. 

Rather than painting your eyes with various vibrant colors, Ryan advised us to focus on form and textures. 

For eyebrows, you can frame them by using a light brown eyebrow pencil. You can then stroke the pencil gently towards the middle in the direction of hair growth. 

To make your eyes appear bigger, you can also curl your lashes by using an eyelash curler. 

“My tip [for using an eyelash curler] is that you should heat the pads with a hairdryer for a few seconds before using it,” Ryan said. “The heat will help to set in the curls.” 

For eyeshadow, the current trend leans toward light, natural colors, such as baby pink, beige and lavender.

“These colors make the eyes look fresh,” Ryan said.  

A touch of eyeliner will also make your eyes appear more expressive. According to the celebrity makeup artist, the Korean-style winged eyeliner, in which the end arches sharply upward, is currently trending. 

Tinted, (not) tainted

Karina (not her real name), an administrative staff member of a bank on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, struggles to keep her lipstick on while wearing a mask. 

“Every lipstick that I wear sticks on my mask,” she said in desperation when interviewed by phone on July 21. “No matter what brand [of lipstick I wear], it just won’t stay on.” 

Makeup artist and fashion designer Chenny Han said women should know the right type of lipstick to wear under their masks. 

“It’s not really about the brand but the type,” Chenny said when interviewed by phone on July 19. “You should wear a waterproof, matte lipstick for a long-lasting look.” 

Another trick for making your lipstick stay on under the mask is to smooch on a tissue after applying it. Afterward, you can dab some loose powder on your lips and reapply the lipstick. 

“You can repeat [the procedure] once again to make sure the lipstick stays,” she said. 

According to the makeup artist, bronze, chestnut, peach and nude hues are the favorite lip tints these days. 

You can also choose a similar range of colors for the blusher. 

But is it really necessary to wear a blusher when half of our face is covered with a mask? 

“Sure,” Chenny said. “[Blusher] brightens your complexion and makes you look fresh and energized.” 

The makeup artist suggests that we wear the blusher high on the cheekbones and lightly around the temples. 

Last but not least, don’t forget to clean your face thoroughly at the end of the day to keep your skin healthy. 

“Try to skip wearing makeup if you’re not going out,” Chenny said. “It will allow your skin to rest and breathe.” 

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