Q: First up, you have an incredible career and have created some very inspiring makeup looks. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Rae: I would love to give a poetic answer here, but it’s so random. Everything inspires me, from architecture, movies, art …it’s all around us, and lately it’s been my daughter Sophia - she’s only 8 but loves picking up the brush. Even though it’s always so random, I get really inspired by the craziness of what she creates.
Q: What are your top tips for applying SPF underneath foundation
Apply more SPF than you think and let it soak in before applying anything else. I don’t think you should dilute it with 10 other skincare products either. I try to keep serums and other products I like to use under foundation, to a minimum, and I don’t add oily glossy makeup on top (unless it contains some form of UV protection).
Q: How can oily skin types navigate wearing SPF without having their foundation slip off or separate by lunch time?
Rae: This is a tough one, and the answer isn’t applying less because the amount you apply is crucial, a quarter of a teaspoon is a great general guide.
Applying a thinner layer can actually lower the protection - I too have oily skin, so I only use a serum and a light moisturizer, but the trick is to let skincare soak in first before applying your SPF. Not to mention overlaying our SPF with a foundation then things start to heat up and melt, so less is more.
Q: And what about reapplication? How can we stay sun safe without ruining our hard work?
Rae: You just have to re-apply. I like to keep makeup light where foundation is concerned so you can reapply - do it with a buff brush or a sponge.
However with heavier makeup looks, I do actually wipe off foundations and reapply, it takes seconds to remove and with a great foundation brush, (which is why I designed my Radiance brush #26 and Deluxe Radiance #28 ) you can re-apply your base in under a minute.
Most BB or CC liquid foundations combine great with SPFs but you can weaken and make the sun protection unstable.
Don’t be fooled with foundations that contain sunscreen - they don’t always have the amount required to give you the protection they claim. Slap on a hat and keep your face out of the sun. Also, stay out of the sun during the middle of the day when the UV index is 4 or higher.
Q: What is your best beauty hack?
Rae: Drink more water! Drink until you don’t need to re-apply lip balm. (Quoted directly from a M.D friend of mine.)
Also, wear sunscreen. It’s the best anti-ageing and anti-pigmentation thing you can do, it’s harder to remove pigment once you have it than it is to prevent it.
Q: Finally, what are the five products you can’t live without?
Rae:
- Tweezers
- Tube formula mascaras because they never run or bleed under your eyes.
- BB and CC cream foundations - they are gentler on the face and seem to cause less breakouts. Yes, most do contain sunscreen, but don’t offer enough protection when used on their own.
- My makeup brushes - can’t do makeup without them.
- Brow product - I do prefer brow gels. I like to use my angle brush and create strand by strand hairs. But a brow pencil is always great as a backup. Also, it elevates any makeup look you do.