Oh no, I can't wear makeup like this! What if I want to look beautiful even on days when my skin is really bad?

Many people diligently moisturize their skin during the winter, but then let their guard down once the weather warms up. Spring is a time when humidity is still low, and the sunlight is getting stronger. This means that your skin isn't ready for spring and is more susceptible to stress from dryness and UV rays. Furthermore, many people unconsciously rub around their eyes and nose due to allergies caused by pollen, dust, and temperature changes.

Before I knew it, my skin was in terrible condition, so delicate that even my usual cosmetics no longer suited it. But I can't go to work or on a date without makeup, so what should I do...?

In such situations, the ideal solution is to look beautiful while caring for your skin, and still give off a polished, made-up look. So, let's ask makeup artist Chiaki Niimi, who is well-versed in makeup techniques to help you get through any demanding photo shoot, for some tips!

"For skin that's tired from external stress, full makeup can be a burden," says Ms. Niimi. Here are three highly effective ways to achieve a polished look with minimal makeup that focuses on key points.

Point 1. For thorough coverage, just the "triangle around the eyes" is enough.

According to Ms. Niimi, "When people look at someone's face, their eyes are first drawn to the eyes and the area around them, in other words, the central part of the face." This means that if this area is rough, it will be easily noticeable, but conversely, "if you take good care of this area, it's less likely to be noticed even if the rest of your face is done roughly."

First, thoroughly moisturize with skincare products. Then, apply a foundation with good coverage and moisturizing properties in dots along the dark circles under your eyes, and blend it outwards in a radial pattern. At this point, there's no need to apply it to every corner of your face, as this can make the difference in color between your face and neck more noticeable and give a heavy, caked-on look. Also, since applying multiple layers can be harsh on the skin, it's recommended to use a BB cream or cushion foundation that also functions as a primer.

If you have noticeable dark circles under your eyes or are concerned about blemishes on your cheeks, layering concealer is a good idea. When your complexion is dull and looks sallow due to skin irritation, an orange-toned concealer can be very useful.

Point 2. The key to a polished look is "sharp, defined eyebrows."

Eyebrows are an important feature that determines the impression of a person's face. Even with natural makeup, if your eyebrows are well-groomed, it surprisingly gives the impression that you're wearing makeup, even if it's light.

However, if only your eyebrows are sharply defined, it will look unbalanced! Fortunately, the current trend is for slightly thicker, softer eyebrows, so Ms. Niimi says, "Draw them with the image of gently applying a color that matches your hair and eyes." However, even if the rest of your eyebrows are soft, the key is to draw the ends sharply. This will give you a crisp look that is OK even in the office. If the ends of your eyebrows are too long, it will give you an aged appearance, so draw them along the line extending from the corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye, as shown in the illustration.

By the way, if you're not good at drawing your eyebrows, try matching the height of the inner corner of your eyebrow to the height of the higher eyebrow. Also, try to match the height of the inner and outer corners of your eyebrows. Even a few millimeters can change the impression of your eyebrows, so be careful when trimming or shaving them with scissors, doing it little by little.

Point 3. Apply a "green color corrector" to reduce redness in the cheeks.

I unconsciously rubbed my face with my hands and it turned red! If you then apply more base makeup, it will just end up looking "thick." This is where color correctors come in. By adding green, which is the opposite color (complementary color) of redness, the redness will be suppressed and become less noticeable.

You only need a tiny amount on the areas where redness is a concern. Apply a thin, even layer over your foundation using circular motions. Using your ring finger, which applies less pressure, will reduce the strain on your skin.

According to Ms. Niimi, "Whether you have fair or dark skin, simply having an even complexion makes your skin look beautiful." Check your entire face as the final step in your makeup routine to aim for even better-looking skin.

As you can see, professionals can cleverly make rough skin look beautiful, but this alone is not a fundamental solution. Spring is a season with many opportunities to enjoy makeup, such as farewell and welcome parties and fun events. While you should diligently take care of your skin every day, why not occasionally rely on the power of medication?

That's where Mentholatum's "Kayupit" comes in handy. Formulated with four active ingredients, it soothes existing itching and irritation while promoting healthy skin that can resist external irritants. It's formulated without seven common allergens (non-steroidal, urea-free, non-menthol, alcohol-free, mildly acidic, colorant-free, and fragrance-free), so it can be used not only on the face but also on the delicate skin around the eyes and mouth. It's also great that it's not sticky or greasy, and you can apply makeup over it.

"It spreads easily and has a smooth texture, so it seems like it won't cause makeup to smudge even if you use it before applying makeup in the morning," says Niimi. It is mildly acidic, fragrance-free, and colorant-free. It does not contain menthol, urea, or alcohol, so it can be used even by people with sensitive skin.

The Mentholatum series, easily recognizable by its familiar "nurse mark," is conveniently available at pharmacies, which is another great point! Let's secretly achieve beautiful skin with the help of professional techniques and the power of medicine!