Attention all! A much-needed question needs to be answered.
If given the choice what would you rather choose - skincare or makeup?
Difficult choice, isn't it? It's like choosing between blue jeans and a white T-shirt, both are necessary for survival and no one can do with just one.
If makeup is the season finale, skincare is the pilot episode. You need to prep yourself first before you jump onto the final touches. Skincare lays the foundation for your makeup. But how exactly does it do that? Let's find out with some absolute fundamentals for clear, flawless, skin.

• A Clean face

Washing your face before going to bed and after waking up is the basic rule of skincare. But, avoid washing your face with hot water as it causes dilation of blood vessels and breakage of delicate tissues. Also, never be lazy enough to sleep in makeup and this is a rule with no exceptions! Sleeping in makeup leads to clogged pores, breakouts and bumps that irritate the skin. Therefore, to have a perfect, makeup-ready face in the morning, make sure to clean your face the night before. And cleaning your makeup with just a cleanser is not enough, especially if you are using smudge-proof or waterproof makeup. It is best to invest in a non-alcoholic makeup remover that wipes off makeup gently without irritating your skin.

• Use a Moisturizer 

Moisturization isn't just for dry skin types, it is also an absolute essential for oily skin as well. Try different moisturizers and find one that suits your skin. Apply your moisturizer immediately after you wash your face as it locks in hydration from the moisturizer. Waiting even for a few minutes after washing your face causes surface cells to dehydrate and become harder to moisturize.
Skipping moisturizing before applying makeup causes it to stick to the dry areas, giving you a caked appearance. Your makeup looks better if it is applied on a freshly moisturized skin.

• Vitamin C serum for dark spots

Some of us truly enjoy makeup, but no one wants to slather on an unnecessary amount of concealer on the face. Unfortunately, dark spots and pigmentation can spoil the joy of makeup. Enter: vitamin C serum, bursting with all the goodness of vitamin C, that not only reduces dark spots and stubborn pigmentation, but also replaces skin's dullness with vibrant skin radiance.

• Hydrating serum for long lasting makeup

Makeup on dry, dehydrated skin results in a flaky texture with no smoothness. Your makeup will only be efficient if your skin is healthy and hydrated. A proper dose of hydrating serum will make your skin look plump and supple, thus helping your makeup set well and stay on longer. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C that hydrates as well as nourishes skin.

• Eye cream for dark circles

Again, putting on an extra layer of concealer is not enjoyable at all. But dark circles and puffy eyes do not come with a warning. On days when you are getting late for work, these eye enemies can be super irritating. Eye creams and eye masks help regain perky, dewy-looking eyes by stimulating blood flow and hydrating the under-eye area. Overnight eye masks can help you a great deal, especially if you have an important day ahead and you want to wake up with a fresh face, without puffiness and sunken eyes.

• Antioxidant-rich serum for fine lines

Eye shadow and foundation tend to accumulate in fine lines and wrinkles, making them more apparent instead of concealing them. An antioxidant serum that boosts collagen, helps to maintain skin’s elasticity so that the firmness is restored. So, before you apply your foundation, use a moisturizing, collagen boosting serum that forms a smooth surface, filling the gaps of wrinkles and fine lines.

• Salicylic acid formula for acne control

A Skin clarifying serum that helps to tighten pores and reduce acne spots and scars can be a great substitution to “fixing” pimples and zits through makeup. And if you have acne-prone skin, it is best and safest to use non-comedogenic makeup that does not cause breakouts. Also, try not to apply heavy makeup as that can block pores and cause acne.

• Sunscreen for life

Using sunscreen does not have a direct impact on your makeup. But, did you know that the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays are responsible for 90% of skin aging? And although we have our trusted friend makeup to guide us through dark days, isn't it better altogether to avoid premature wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet? Yes, it is. So before you go gaga over your foundation, make sure you have slathered on enough sunscreen.

Using the above mentioned skincare products will not only help you choose the right makeup for your skin type, but you will also need to use less makeup. Sure cosmetic products are known to enhance your beauty, but there is no substitute to healthier skin that will, in turn, make your makeup look better. To conclude, it can be said that both makeup and skincare are two sides of the same coin and compliment each other. Tell us how taking care of your skin eventually improved your post, pout-ready makeup face.