8 Steps to Get Poreless Skin Without Photoshop

My husband, a graphic designer, recently asked me how models and celebrities get their picture-perfect, poreless skin without using filters or Photoshop. He then asked me, "How come your pores look so obvious and huge despite the fact that you're wearing makeup?" (Yes, we can be brutally honest about each other's flaws! :-)) And so I said it really depends on four factors: 1. How you prep your skin before makeup 2. The foundation or base you use. 3. The tools you use, and 4. How you apply your makeup.

I was challenged to create a poreless look and did my best to look like a mannequin! :) I chose Banila Co., a Korean cosmetic brand that's popular for its base makeup products to create this look. Here's what I did:

1. Use a primer.

I used Banila Co's Hydrating Prime Primer as a base for my foundation. Banila has the Classic and Matte primers, but I chose the hydrating type because I have extremely dry plus textured skin. Dry patches would definitely show up if I don't use a moisturizer during the day. While this primer is hydrating, it has sebum control properties, which is great if you have dry-combination skin.

A primer will help blur pores, fine lines, and create a smooth finish to make it easier to apply foundation. It will also help your makeup last longer. The Hydrating Prime Primer has a lightweight, slippery texture that glides on your skin.

2. Use a CC cream.

I picked Banila Co. It Radiant Cc Cream 30ml Spf30 Pa++. It is a water-based CC cream with SPF 30 sun protection that brightens your skin and evens out skin tone. This feels very lightweight. You can actually use this alone on days where you just want to look radiant while letting your real skin show. When used under your foundation, this adds a glow factor. I dotted this all over my face and blended using a beauty blender.

3. Apply your foundation using a sponge or beauty blender.

I picked Banila Co's Real Stay Cover 10 Foundation. It's a medium to full-coverage foundation with a dewy, luminous finish. I picked the shade BE15, which is lighter than my skin tone. I anticipated that this would oxidize on me as I experience this with many foundations I've tried before, but the Real Stay Cover 10 Foundation didn't oxidize on me. 

I would say this has a neutral undertone--not too pink, not too yellow. It leans on peach. It has a fresh, soapy scent that quickly fades as you apply it.

Now remember this is a full-coverage foundation, so you need to apply sparingly at first starting with three swatches on the forehead, on the cheeks, dots on the chin and nose. I used a sponge to dab the foundation all over my face. Tap the product onto your skin and avoid swiping or sliding motions to prevent your foundation from looking streaky or cakey.

4. Conceal dark circles and blemishes.

To hide my dark circles and minor spots, I used Banila Co's Real Stay Cover 10 Concealer in BE20. This one is a full-coverage concealer with a creamy consistency. It's perfect for the undereye area as it is easy to blend. Like the foundation, this also leans on peach, so it helps cancel out dark, purplish tones under your eyes. 

I drew an inverted V under my eyes with the concealer wand, patted the concealer onto the skin and blended up to the area just below my temples.

See how the Cover 10 concealer covered the veins on my wrist?

5. Lightly contour the jaws and the hollow of your cheeks.

I have prominent jaws, so to soften these a bit I used Banila Co's So Contouring For Sculpting Face. It is a jelly-type contouring makeup with two shades. The colors are not very pigmented, as Koreans are not really heavy on contouring. I applied the darker shade on my lower jaws and drew a line tracing the hollow of my cheeks to give the illusion of a rounder face.

Can you see the subtle contouring shade here?

6. Set your undereye concealer and foundation with powder.

I'm happy to find that Banila Co has a Prime Primer Hydrating Finish Powder. As I said, I have super dry skin and most powders make my skin even drier! This powder is the answer to girls with dry skin and mature skin, which may no longer be as oily as before. Skin texture and type definitely change with age. For those with oily skin, they also have Prime Primer Matte Powder.

If you look at the swatch below, you'd see that the powder has a translucent beige color with an almost dewy finish. I love how this helps the skin look healthy matte without being flat. I used a fluffy brush to lightly apply the powder under my eyes and on areas where I tend to oil up a bit, particularly my forehead, nose, and chin.

Setting powder is important to keep your foundation and concealer from melting and moving around.

7. Apply cheek tint and highlighter.

For the blush, I used Banila Co's Cheer Water Cheek tint in RD01 Girlish Red. Like the IT Radiant CC Cream, this is also water-based and easy to blend. The color looks reddish coral on me. I swiped in three times on the apples of my cheeks and blended it in circular motions up to the highest point of my cheekbones just below the outer corners of my eyes, but definitely not reaching my temples.

The highlighter is optional, but this really gives you an extra glow, especially when you apply it to highest points of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. I used Banila Co's Cheer Spotlight Cream, a bronzy highlighter. A little goes a long way. The Cheer Spotlight Cream may also be mixed with your foundation and your body lotion for added luminosity. Again, use sparingly :-)

8.  Finish off your look with a lipstick.

I picked Banila Co's Lipdraw Melting Serum Stick. I'm not a huge fan of matte lipsticks because while it's trendy, it tends to emphasize my dry lips. This Lipdraw Melting Serum Stick is a sheer lipstick with a glossy finish. A small amount of gloss helps make the lips look plumper, making you look fresh and younger.

For my eyes, I used neutral eyeshadows from Colourpop's All I See Is Magic Palette and my Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner in M60 (matte brown). You can use similar shades, too. I don't have eye products from Banila Co yet so I had to use other brands.

Colourpop All I See Is Magic Palette

 

Here's the finished look:

  

P.S. In case you're wondering, I used a wig here so you can fully appreciate the look. I started losing my hair in my late teens due to PCOS. I lost even more hair after I gave birth. Got this beautiful natural wig from Lynelle House of Hair Fashion. :-) Shoutout to my fellow PCOS warriors!

In the Philippines, Banila Co. is located at the following stores: Glorietta 4, 2nd Floor (near Cheesecake Etc, Jipan and Roy&Biv), Robinsons Place Manila, Pedro Gil Wing, 1st Floor, Landmark TriNoma Ground Floor, and SM North Edsa. Online: BanilaCo.ph, BeautyMNL, Zalora, Lazada, Calyxta. 

In the US, you can get them from the official Banila Co Amazon page. 

Check out these other bestsellers from Banila Co: