My Five Beauty Obsessions: Jacey Duprie's Secrets for Glam Skin

Makeup is not just about color and contour; it’s a transformative experience that can enhance natural beauty and boost confidence. Jacey Duprie, a renowned makeup artist, understands the power of a polished look. She shares her top five beauty obsessions that help her achieve that coveted glam skin. Whether you’re a makeup enthusiast or a professional looking to refine your craft, these insights will elevate your beauty routine.

The Foundation of Flawless Skin

For Jacey, it all starts with the right foundation. A high-quality foundation that matches your skin tone and type is crucial. It creates an even canvas and conceals imperfections without looking heavy or cakey. Jacey swears by foundations that have hydrating formulas, giving the skin a luminous, dewy finish that lasts all day.

Concealer: The Magic Eraser

Even with the best foundation, some blemishes or dark circles need extra attention. Jacey’s second obsession is a creamy, blendable concealer. She uses it strategically to brighten the under-eye area and hide any spots or redness. The key is to apply it with a light hand and build coverage as needed.

Setting the Stage with Powder

To ensure her makeup stays put, Jacey relies on a translucent setting powder. It locks in the foundation and concealer, preventing them from slipping or creasing. She prefers a powder that provides a matte finish without dulling the skin’s natural glow.

Glowing with Highlighters

Highlighters are Jacey’s fourth obsession. They add dimension and a touch of radiance to the skin. She applies them to the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of the nose. The result is a soft, natural glow that makes the skin look healthy and vibrant.

Blush: The Final Touch of Color

The last of Jacey’s beauty obsessions is blush. A pop of color on the cheeks brings life to the face and ties the whole look together. Jacey opts for cream blushes, which blend seamlessly into the skin for a natural, flushed appearance.

Mastering Skin Prep: The Pre-Makeup Ritual

Before a single drop of foundation touches the skin, the canvas must be meticulously prepared. Jacey emphasizes that glam skin is 70% preparation and 30% pigment. Start by balancing the skin’s pH with a gentle, alcohol-free toner, which removes residual impurities and allows subsequent products to adhere more effectively. Follow this with a lightweight, hyaluronic acid-based serum; this plumps the skin cells with moisture, effectively smoothing out fine lines that would otherwise catch foundation. For those with textured skin, a pore-filling primer applied only to the T-zone acts as a physical barrier, preventing makeup from settling into pores. If you are prepping for a long event, consider a facial massage using a jade roller or your fingertips; this increases circulation and provides a natural, lifted glow that no highlighter can replicate. Always allow each layer of skincare to dry for at least sixty seconds before proceeding, as rushing this process leads to pilling and patchy application.

The Art of Color Correction

While concealer covers, color correction neutralizes. Jacey advocates for using a color-correcting palette to address specific skin concerns before applying foundation. For persistent dark under-eye circles that lean blue or purple, a peach or salmon-toned corrector is essential. If you are dealing with redness, rosacea, or acne scars, a green-tinted primer or corrector will counteract the warmth. The secret here is to use the absolute minimum amount of product; dot it precisely onto the discoloration and tap it in with a damp sponge rather than dragging it. By neutralizing the tone first, you reduce the need for heavy, thick concealer later, which keeps the skin looking like skin rather than a mask. Always remember the color wheel: opposites cancel each other out, so keep a small chart handy if you are unsure which shade to reach for.

Techniques for Seamless Foundation Application

The tool you use to apply your foundation is just as important as the formula itself. Jacey suggests moving away from traditional synthetic brushes, which can leave streaks, in favor of a high-density, damp beauty sponge. By bouncing the sponge across the skin in a stippling motion—rather than swiping—you push the pigment into the skin, creating a seamless, airbrushed effect. For high-coverage requirements, use a “press-and-roll” technique, which ensures the product is locked into the skin’s surface. If you find your foundation looks too heavy, mix a tiny drop of face oil or liquid illuminator directly into the foundation on the back of your hand before applying. This thins the consistency and imparts an ethereal, lit-from-within sheen. For those with oily skin, focus the foundation on the center of the face and blend outward, leaving the perimeter of the face with less product to avoid a heavy, uniform look.

Strategic Contouring and Sculpting

Once the base is perfected, it is time to reintroduce structure. Jacey suggests using a cream contour product that is only two shades darker than your natural skin tone, avoiding anything with orange undertones which can look muddy. The goal is to mimic a natural shadow, not to draw harsh lines. Map the contour by finding the hollow of the cheek, starting near the ear and stopping at the midpoint of the pupil. A sharp, upward-blending motion is critical here to ensure the face looks lifted. For the jawline, apply the product underneath the bone rather than directly on it, blending downward toward the neck to eliminate any harsh demarcation. If you are a beginner, try using an angled brush to place the product, then immediately follow up with your damp sponge to diffuse the edges until the contour looks like a natural shadow rather than a stripe of color.

The Precision of Cream and Powder Layering

To achieve a look that survives both heat and humidity, Jacey utilizes a “sandwiching” technique. Start by applying your cream products—blush, bronzer, and contour—directly onto the skin after the foundation is set. Once these are blended to perfection, take a light, translucent powder and apply it only to the areas prone to oil, such as the T-zone and chin, using a small powder puff. Finally, take a powder blush or bronzer in a similar shade to your cream products and lightly dust them over the corresponding areas. This double-layering technique creates a depth of color that is incredibly long-lasting. The cream provides the moisture and natural finish, while the powder acts as a seal, ensuring your glam look doesn’t fade or shift by the end of the day. This is the professional secret to why celebrity red carpet makeup looks so vibrant hours after application.

Setting Sprays and Finishing Mists

The final step in Jacey’s repertoire is the strategic use of finishing sprays. She distinguishes between a setting spray and a refreshing mist. A true setting spray contains polymers that create a flexible film over the makeup, effectively locking it in place for 12+ hours. For the best result, hold the bottle about eight inches from your face and apply in a “T” and “X” motion, ensuring even distribution without saturating the skin. If, after applying your powder, the skin looks a little flat or dry, follow up with a hydrating setting mist that contains glycerin or rose water. This “melts” the powders into the foundation, removing that powdery, cakey residue and leaving behind a soft-focus, hydrated glow. This step is the difference between “makeup” and “skin,” providing that final, professional-grade polish that ties the entire look together.

Troubleshooting Common Glam Skin Issues

Even the most experienced makeup artists encounter obstacles. If your makeup starts to separate around the nose throughout the day, it is likely due to excess oil breaking down the foundation; the fix is to apply a tiny amount of eyeshadow primer on the sides of the nose before your foundation. If you accidentally apply too much blush or bronzer, don’t try to wipe it off; instead, take your foundation sponge—which should still have a little residue of foundation on it—and bounce it over the edges of the mistake to diffuse the color and “erase” the excess. For those who struggle with mascara transferring onto the brow bone, apply a thin layer of translucent powder to your eyelids before mascara application to absorb the natural oils that cause that migration. By anticipating these common edge cases, you move from simply following steps to truly mastering the architecture of your own face.

FAQ

What is the best way to choose the right foundation shade?

To find the perfect foundation shade, Jacey recommends testing the product on your jawline in natural light. The shade that disappears into your skin is the one for you.

How can I make my concealer last longer?

Setting your concealer with a light dusting of translucent powder will help it stay in place throughout the day. Also, using a primer before applying makeup can extend the wear of your concealer.

Is setting powder necessary for all skin types?

While setting powder is beneficial for longevity, it’s not essential for everyone. Those with dry skin may skip this step or use a hydrating mist instead.

How do I apply highlighter without looking too shiny?

Apply highlighter sparingly and only to areas where light naturally hits your face. Blending is crucial to achieving a subtle shine rather than an over-the-top gleam.