Tutorial: Makeup baking for the totally clueless

Many of us have had “learn to bake” on our list of New Year’s Resolutions at one point or another. It’s just that, sometimes, it’s not always the kind that ends with piping hot bread or pastries. In this case, it’s referring to baking your makeup.

The first time I heard it used in the beauty context, I confused baking makeup with baked blush and eyeshadows. Haven’t those been around for ages? But I stand corrected. Baking or cooking is actually a method of heavily layering powder on your face for a silky, smooth, and highlighted finish that’ll make for the most amazing selfies. It’ll also prevent unsightly creases. While the idea of heaping on the face powder may seem counterintuitive at first, there’s actually a method to what may seem like madness. Below is the step-by-step video to baking up a storm.

In addition to learning the technique, there are a few tips to enhance the baking experience. First, a thick concealer will work well with the baking method as it will give the powder something to cling to later on. Second, use a translucent powder and NOT a transparent one. The HD transparent ones are not meant to be caked on at all, because they’re made of a different set of ingredients than the translucent ones. Finally, baked makeup tends to look thick, so it’s recommended to use it for nights out and special occasions.

Have fun baking! Have you tried baking your makeup yet? We'd love to hear about your experience on the comments below!