Thanks to men’s skincare becoming mainstream across the world, the path for men’s makeup has officially been paved. For most of us it’s not about looking ‘glam’ or flaunting a bold look, but enhancing the features you already have in a natural-looking way. Perhaps covering dark circles so you look fresher, or blemishes so you feel more confident. 

Men’s makeup brand War Paint for Men has landed in Australia, so we’re providing you with a simple how-to when it comes to looking after your skin, and using War Paint makeup for men.

It’s no surprise to anyone that skincare and makeup go hand-in-hand for a reason. Looking after your skin will mean you look younger, you’ll get fewer blemishes, makeup application is smoother and it will last longer. 

There’s no reason why you can’t use women’s skincare, but men’s skin is up to 25% thicker than women’s, plus we have facial hair to deal with, so it’s always best to use a formulation specifically for dudes. 

1. Cleansing. Start your routine by washing your face with a face wash. No, a bar of soap won’t cut it. Use warm water to make your face damp (not too hot as this will make your face feel drier afterwards), and then use your hands to move the cleanser in circular motions around your lovely face for a minute or so. After cleansing, pat your face dry with a towel. Be gentle with your precious visage. 
2. Moisturiser with SPF. This will not only help to keep your skin hydrated all day, but will also help the makeup to go on smoother, and stay on for longer. Choosing a moisturiser with SPF is the most important part of any skincare regimen. Trust us on this one. If you want to look 40 when you’re 50, sun protection is the way to go. 

Top tip: Look for products with at least SPF30, this will give you great protection from the Aussie sun. And believe us when we say you should wear SPF every day - even in winter! The suns rays can cause damage to your skin whenever it’s light outside, even through clouds. 

Some makeup on the market includes SPF, but you won’t be using enough of it to really protect your face. Always opt for a separate moisturiser with high sun protection included.

Once your SPF has sunk into your skin, apply your chosen makeup. Here are the basics when it comes to choosing your makeup. If you were to use all of them, this would also be the best order to apply them in.

1. Primer. This is essentially the base. Much like when you’re priming a wall ready for painting - this will help to fill in the cracks (i.e pores and fine lines) so that the paint on top goes on top nice and smooth. Primer also helps your makeup to stay on longer. You can use your fingers to put this on.
2. Tinted moisturiser OR foundation. This is the paint. It’s going to even out your skin tone which will make you look fresh and bright. The aim of the game is to make it look natural, so be sure to take extra notice around difficult areas like the jaw, around facial hair, around your nose, and fine lines. You can use your fingers, a brush, or a sponge to apply this. And less is definitely more. It’s easier to add a bit more where you want it, rather than take any away. 

Side note: If you’re using tinted moisturiser,  you probably don’t need to use the moisturiser in your skincare regime, but you still need to apply SPF either way. 

1. Concealer. Use this to conceal, obviously. Dab a small amount under the eyes to help cover dark circles, or on blemishes to help cover them up. You can use a sponge or your fingers to apply this. 
2. Anti-shine powder. Now it’s time to seal the deal. Use a small amount of powder all over the face to help make everything look a bit more matte. This will work extra hard to keep everything in place. 
3. Bronzer. If you think your face needs to be warmed up at all, use a brush to apply a small amount of bronzer on the cheekbones, and on the top of the forehead (think where the sun would hit). You want this to be natural, so careful not to go too heavy. 

And finally, it’s important to remove your makeup at the end of the day. This will help prevent blemishes. And also from you getting makeup all over your pillows. Makeup remover is best for this. 

If you’re unsure of what any of this means, head over to the War Paint blog where there are lots more tips, videos and articles to help you find the best products for you.