Gone are the days dominated by ‘contouring’ in the beauty world. The trend has shifted, capturing the attention of beauty enthusiasts with a new makeup technique known as ‘baking’ or ‘cooking.’ Contrary to its culinary connotation, this buzzworthy term refers to a makeup application method that achieves a flawless look with a stunning, highlighted finish. If you’re unsure about the hype surrounding baking or cooking, read on to find out more.
What Is Baking/Cooking Of Makeup?
Firstly, let me clarify that makeup baking or cooking is not a recent trend; it’s an old-school, grandmother-approved technique that has made a significant comeback! This method has been part of the makeup scene for a while, often used by drag queens to set and highlight stage makeup, concealing bruises and sculpting the face. Renowned for its effectiveness in achieving a crease-less, fully covered, and long-lasting finish, makeup baking has resurged with the popularity of highlighting and contouring. Creating a baked face aligns with highlighting but opts for a matte finish instead of shimmer. (1) (2)
Also Read – Fabulous Makeup Tips & Tricks To Make Your Deep Set Eyes Look Stunning
Things You Need To Bake Your Face
So, what makeup tools and ingredients can give you a perfectly baked face? Don’t worry! You do not need to burn your pocket to buy any luxury item. Instead, keep a few everyday makeup products and tools in your beauty arsenal, and you will be good to go. Here is a list:
- A well-hydrating moisturizer
- A good eye cream
- A full-coverage concealer (one shade lighter than your actual skin tone)
- A translucent loose-setting powder (one shade lighter than your actual skin tone)
- A high-quality pressed powder
- A large, fluffy dome brush
- A blending sponge
- A wedge sponge
Also Read – Define Your Cheekbones – Contouring and 5 Makeup Products
Synopsis Of Makeup Baking/Cooking
And now, here is a summary (we will be doing a separate post for the detailed step-by-step method of makeup baking) of the procedure that you need to follow to get your makeup as well as face baked:
Start with hydrating your face by applying moisturizer generously. Also, massage the eye cream into your eye areas. Once the base is ready, apply concealer to the areas under your eyes in a triangular shape. If you have issues like eye bags, dark circles, etc., blend the concealer seamlessly into your skin with the blending sponge. Also, apply some more to your forehead, nose, and chin to highlight. Then, apply a thick layer of translucent powder to the under-eye areas, the nose’s center, and the jawbone’s top with the damp wedge sponge. Allow your face to ‘bake’ or ‘cook’ for 15-20 minutes (also called the ‘baking time’). After that, dust the extra powder off your face with the fluffy brush. Apply the pressed powder and soften the harsh edges (if any) with the damp blending sponge. You are ‘baked’ now!
How Does Baking/Cooking Of Face Work?
The theory of makeup baking is pretty simple. As you let loads of loose powder sit on the top of the concealer underneath your eyes, and for a considerably longer time, the entire makeup is melted onto your face by the heat of your body and the natural oils of your skin. To be more precise, the makeup products melt into your skin and are oxidized by the air, thereby altering the tone and texture of your skin. The trick is to apply a lot of powder (if possible, layer them on the concealer) to facilitate the process.
Pros Of Baking / Cooking Your Face
- Reduces signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, etc.) and prevents creasing
- Offers excellent coverage to hide all spots and blemishes
- Highlights different parts of the face, including forehead, nose, chin, jawline, etc.
- Sets the entire makeup to give a flawless yet natural finish
- It keeps the skin matte all day long
Cons Of Baking / Cooking Your Face
- It needs us to put multiple layers of products on our faces, which is quite annoying.
- The use of loads of heavy powder makes it a heavy-handed makeup technique
- Application of too much powder might cause skin dryness
- It takes a lot of time, which makes it a not-so-good-choice, especially if you are in a hurry
Summary
The beauty world has shifted from ‘contouring’ to the buzzworthy trend of ‘baking’ or ‘cooking’ makeup, offering a flawless look with a stunning highlighted finish. This technique, which is not new but is making a comeback, was historically used by drag queens for stage makeup. The process involves setting concealer with loose powder, allowing it to ‘bake’ or ‘cook’ for 15-20 minutes for a crease-less, long-lasting finish. The pros include reducing signs of aging and offering excellent coverage, but the cons include a time-consuming application and potential skin dryness.
