Makeup base: how is it done? Skincare and Makeup Tutorial Steps

Base trucco: come si fa? Tutorial Passaggi Skincare e Make-up

When you think of makeup base, the first image that comes to mind is almost always foundation. And yet, makeup base is much more: it is the set of steps that prepares and evens out the face before any color is even applied, from skincare all the way to the actual application of makeup. The point worth clarifying right away is precisely this: a professional and well-executed facial makeup base always starts with the right skincare: the skin is the star, and the makeup simply enhances what the preparation has already made smooth, hydrated, and even. In this guide, we will first look at how to prepare the skin step by step and then how to apply makeup.

Why doesn't your makeup last? Try prepping your skin first! 

Have you ever had your foundation dry out, separate into small patches, feel tight, or simply vanish after just a few hours? It’s a common experience, and the temptation is to blame the product, but in most cases, the reason your makeup doesn't last isn't the foundation: it's that your skin isn't prepped.

On dry or dehydrated skin, foundation clings to flaky areas and fine surface lines, highlighting them instead of blurring them. On untreated oily skin, the opposite happens, because excess sebum gradually dissolves the base and makes it slide off, leaving the complexion shiny and uneven. 

That is why, before talking about makeup, it is worth focusing on the essential skincare that makes your base last longer.

THE SKINCARE THAT PREPARES

Clear bottle with light pink liquid, a gray cap, and white label text reading Diego dalla Palma Milano - Struccante Bifasico Istantaneo on a plain white background. This gentle acqua micellare is specially formulated as a struccante bifasico to effectively remove even the most stubborn waterproof make-up. The bottle contains 200 ml. A bottle of Struccante Bifasico Istantaneo featuring a pink liquid splash, labeled for its instant two-phase action that effectively removes waterproof make-up and cleanses impurities and smog residue. Italian text on the packaging highlights the product’s synergistic action and cleansing benefits, emphasizing the efficacy of its acqua micellare formula.

Instant Biphasic Make-up Remover novità

€28,00
    A gray tube labeled Diego dalla Palma MILANO and BE PURE, containing 150 ml 5.1 fl oz of Crema In Mousse Struccante ideal for doppia detersione, stands upright against a white background. A close-up of a person with smooth skin and closed eyes. Text in Italian on the left reads: L’efficacia della doppia detersione in un unico prodotto, un unico gesto. Crema In Mousse Struccante rende la tua routine di bellezza ancora più semplice ed efficace.

    Cream-to-foam Cleanser novità

    €28,00
      A light gray jar labeled Burro Struccante, formulated with oli vegetali for gentle yet effective removal of even waterproof make-up, is displayed with the lid closed against a white background. On the left is a gray cleansing balm jar, and on the right is a matching gray bottle of Mousse Detergente Detossinante with a pump. Italian text above the products outlines a double cleansing routine, emphasizing their anti inquinamento benefits for achieving healthy skin.

      Make-up Cleansing Balm novità

      €30,00
        A gray bottle of Diego dalla Palma Mousse Detergente Detossinante, 150 ml, featuring a pump top and minimalist text on the front. This schiuma detergente provides an effective anti-inquinamento formula to gently purify your skin. A gray bottle with a pump labeled Diego dalla Palma Milano Mousse Detergente Detossinante, 150 ml. This anti-inquinamento cleansing mousse for the face features simple, minimalist text and design against a white background.

        Detoxifying Cleansing Mousse novità

        €28,00
          The Be Pure Kit by Diego dalla Palma Milano comes in a pale pink box and includes a gray bottle of mousse struccante, a pink reusable panno struccante makeup remover pad, and a stylish ruched pink fascia per capelli headband—all showcased on the front of the packaging. A pink rectangular box featuring an illustration of a woman with sunglasses and a grey top on the front, the Be Pure Kit by Diego dalla Palma MILANO is emblazoned with “BE PURE” beneath the artwork—an invitation to indulge in a luxurious skincare ritual, ideal for pairing with your favorite mousse struccante or panno struccante.

          Be Pure Kit novità

          €28,00
            A white bottle of Diego dalla Palma Tonico-latte Rinnovatore, known for its idratante properties, stands against a plain white background. The bottle features a minimalistic design with a white cap and black text on the front, evoking the look of tonico viso essentials for achieving pelle luminosa. A white bottle of Diego dalla Palma Tonico-latte Rinnovatore stands surrounded by a splash of milky liquid. Italian text highlights its daily skin-renewal benefits, describing the milky texture and promising “pelle luminosa e rigenerata.” Ideale come tonico viso idratante per una pelle splendente ogni giorno.

            Skin Renewal Milky Toner novità

            €33,00
              A white cylindrical bottle labeled Diego dalla Palma MILANO Concentrato Essenziale Universale, renowned as a siero levigante viso for pelle radiosa, stands upright on a plain white background. Woman with short dark hair and natural makeup looks at the camera, revealing smooth, pelle radiosa. Italian text highlights skincare benefits: Concentrato Essenziale Universale siero levigante viso stimulates cellular metabolism, preserves cellular longevity, and acts as a booster di longevità to slow signs of aging.

              Universal Essential Concentrate novità

              €43,00
                A white tube labeled “Diego dalla Palma MILANO Maschera Esfoliante AHA 5” with a clear cap is displayed against a plain white background. A tube of Diego dalla Palma Maschera Esfoliante AHA 5 with a pink smear on a white background, featuring Italian text that emphasizes its 5 AHA content for “rinnovamento immediato.” This exfoliating face mask delivers instant results and includes an integrated soft silicone spatula.

                Aha 5% Exfoliating Mask novità

                €36,00

                  Skincare before makeup is essential: 3 steps are enough

                  Preparing your skin doesn't mean spending hours on skincare before makeup. Just three essential steps are enough to get your face ready for makeup application. Then there are two additional steps that can enhance these three—true skincare routine boosters—where the products to use vary based on your skin's needs. The number of steps you choose depends on the result you want to achieve, as well as the time you have available.

                  It is precisely from this idea that Skin Manifesto was born, our new facial skincare product line: a range designed to take care of the skin and, at the same time, put it in the best condition to receive makeup.

                  If you don't know where to start, the Routine Builder guides you in creating your personalized routine based on your skin type, with a 20% discount on the purchase of three or more products. 

                  Let's look together at the five gestures that make up a skincare routine and which products to choose for each one.

                  1. Cleansing

                  Every respectable facial makeup base starts with clean skin. Cleansing removes excess sebum, smog residues, traces of makeup, and impurities accumulated during the day (or night), and prepares the face to better absorb the active ingredients in all subsequent steps. Among the products in the new Diego dalla Palma Milano skincare line, you can choose based on your preferred texture and skin type: 

                  cleansing mousse cream

                  A cleansing makeup remover cream for face and eyes in mousse, the real novelty of this line: it transforms upon contact with water for a double cleanse in a single step;

                  CLEANSING BALM

                  The cleansing butter for face and eyes, with a melting texture based on vegetable oils, envelops the skin and removes even waterproof make-up;

                  detoxifying cleansing mousse

                  A detoxifying facial cleansing mousse, a soft and creamy foam that can be used on its own or after a cleansing butter for effective double cleansing.

                  instant bi-phase makeup remover

                  Finally, anbi-phase micellar water that combines an oil phase and an aqueous phase to quickly remove makeup from the face, eyes, and lips, even when using long-lasting formulas

                  All these products contain the Cityshield complex, a precious ally against pollutants, which helps combat the formation of free radicals and the alteration of the skin barrier

                  2. Finalization

                  With cleansed skin, the next step is what makes the difference between an ordinary base and a truly smoothed makeup face base: perfectioning. 

                  Evening out the grain and texture of the skin, in fact, creates a smooth surface upon which makeup glides better and adheres for longer.

                  For this goal, the Renewing Toner-Milk, a hydrating face toner, is ideal. With its milky texture, it hydrates and rebalances the face, giving it tone and radiance. Applied afterwards, the Universal Essential Concentrate, a smoothing face serum, immediately transforms the skin's texture, bestowing radiance and uniformity on every type of complexion. 

                  Together, they represent the step that transforms an ordinary routine into a high-efficacy protocol, for every skin type.

                  3. Hydration (face cream or fluid)

                  At this point, your skin is ready for your daily moisturizing step, which creates the soft veil upon which your makeup base will sit. This is an essential step, because a well-chosen makeup base cream keeps skin supple and comfortable, preventing foundation from feeling tight or drying out throughout the day.

                  Here too, your choice depends on your skin's needs:
                  - the Hydrating Face Gel Cream, fresh and fast-absorbing, provides an immediate glow effect and is ideal specifically as a hydrating makeup base; 
                  - the Intensive Hydrating Face Cream, with a richer texture, is designed for dry or chapped skin in need of nourishment and long-lasting comfort; it can even be used as a face mask;
                  - finally, the Global Anti-Age Cream, an anti-wrinkle cream for face and eyes for all ages, acts on the signs of aging and facial contour firmness, toning the skin and stimulating collagen production.

                  4. Specific daily treatments (serums and boosters)

                  If the previous steps build the foundation, these two subsequent steps act as boosters for your skincare routine. They are not essential, but are highly effective for specific needs and should be evaluated based on your skin type.

                  • The Hydrating Serum, a brightening and hydrating face serum with a pearlescent texture, provides an instant glow and deep hydration, perfect when the skin looks dull; 
                  • the global anti-aging face serum is an intensive concentrate that smooths skin texture and provides firmness, indicated when the goal is to target signs of aging.

                  The preparation is then completed on the most delicate areas of the face. 

                  • The global anti-aging eye and lip contour cream, with its orange color-correcting pigments, evens out the tone and minimizes shadowed areas, brightening the look even before concealer; 
                  • the plumping lip butter-serum, which starts as a solid and melts upon contact with the skin, nourishes and softens the lips, making them an ideal base for any lipstick.
                  A person with dewy, glowing skin looks at the camera against a white background, highlighting the results of using the Hydrate Please Kit - Routine Viso Edizione Limitata. Italian text on the left reads: Risveglia l’incarnato spento and Idratazione intensiva.
                  A person with dewy, glowing skin looks at the camera against a white background, highlighting the results of using the Hydrate Please Kit - Routine Viso Edizione Limitata. Italian text on the left reads: Risveglia l’incarnato spento and Idratazione intensiva.

                  5. Weekly treatment

                  Finally, there is a step that is not necessary every day, but which keeps your skin at its best over time: exfoliating treatment.

                  Once or twice a week, the 5% AHA exfoliating face mask renews the skin surface with an immediate effect, and its gel texture, easy to apply thanks to the integrated soft silicone spatula, leaves the skin smooth and radiant from the very first use. 

                  Dry, oily, or normal skin? 

                  The five steps remain the same for everyone, but the products you choose depend on your skin's needs and determine how your make-up will perform in the hours that follow. 

                  A make-up base for oily skin will require steps that reduce shine and extend wear, while dry skin will primarily need softness and nourishment. The following table will help you adapt the routine to your face.

                  Skin type Cleanse Perfect Treatment/ Daily and weekly booster Base objective
                  Dry skin Instant Bi-phase Makeup Remover or Cleansing Balm Renewing milk toner and universal essential concentrate Hydrate Please cream and serum, Exfoliating mask and Lip butter-serum Soft and smooth base: prevents foundation from feeling tight or drying out
                  Normal skin Any product from the Be Pure line Renewing toning milk and Universal essential concentrate Cream and serum of your choice, Exfoliating mask and Lip butter-serum Even out the two areas of the face before applying make-up.
                  Oily or combination skin Instant bi-phase makeup remover or Detoxifying cleansing mousse or Makeup removing mousse cream Renewing Milk Toner and Universal Essential Concentrate Hydrating gel cream and hydrating serum, Exfoliating mask and Lip butter-serum Reduce shine and make the foundation last longer
                  Sensitive skin Cleansing balm Renewing Toning Milk and Universal Essential Concentrate Intensive moisturizing cream, serum of your choice, and lip butter serum Reduce redness and reactivity before applying makeup
                  Mature skin Any product from the Be Pure line Renewing Toning Milk and Universal Essential Concentrate Time Control face cream, eye contour and serum, lip butter-serum Smooth and tone for a smoother, more even base

                  Whether your makeup base is for combination skin or skin that tends to be dry, the principle does not change: preparation always precedes color.

                  MAKEUP BASE PRODUCTS

                  The FULLFACE SLIM STICK - Matita multiuso in stick viso-occhi-labbra by Diego dalla Palma is a brown twist-up, rounded-tip stick displayed vertically on white. Its long-lasting formula offers versatile, all-day use for face, eyes, and lips.A model with sleek dark hair and bold brows applies FULLFACE SLIM STICK - Matita multiuso in stick viso-occhi-labbra to her lips. Her eye makeup is a soft mauve. Text: She wears shade 86 on eyes, 81 on lips.

                  Fullface Slim Stick - Multi-use lip, cheek & eye stick

                  €25,50
                  • +6
                  A sleek, matte, light pink bottle with rounded edges labeled Nudissimo Serum Fondotinta Satinato SPF30 stands upright against a white background.Side-by-side comparison of a woman’s face labeled “Before” and “After” under shade 311W, showing her complexion transformation with and without Nudissimo Serum Fondotinta Satinato SPF30.

                  Nudissimo Serum Satin Foundation Spf30 novità

                  €43,00
                  • +8
                  A beige tube of It's a Filter Correttore Perfezionatore Levigante with a matching cap, labeled ITS A FILTER CONCEALER, offers coprenza modulabile and lunga tenuta, standing upright against a plain white background.A close-up of It's a Filter Correttore Perfezionatore Levigante applicator with beige liquid on its tip, set against light brown. Italian text highlights Coleus Forskohlii, pomegranate extracts, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

                  It's A Filter! Smoothing Perfecting Concealer bestseller novità

                  €29,50
                  A beige cylindrical bottle with a frosted base and "It’s a Filter Fondotinta Perfezionatore Levigante" printed vertically stands against a white background. This foundation delivers an impeccably smooth, long-lasting finish all day.Three pink bottles of It’s a Filter Fondotinta Perfezionatore Levigante sit on a shiny surface, one upright with makeup dripping. Text highlights its smoothing key ingredients and lifting effect for flawless, long-lasting skin.

                  It's A Filter! Smoothing Perfecting Foundation bestseller novità

                  €46,00
                  The Pennello perfezionatore correttori 60 features a red handle and angled, soft bristles for applicazione precisa and copertura modulabile, displayed vertically on a plain white background. Pennello perfezionatore correttori 60: Pennello rosso angolato con testo in italiano che indica il numero 60, ideale per correttori in crema e offre copertura modulabile. L’alta densità 5 punti garantisce un’applicazione precisa ed è indicato come “Perfezionatore Correttori”.

                  Concealer buffer brush 60

                  €26,00
                    The Pennello rifinitura polveri viso 68 features a round, fluffy bristle head and a shiny red handle, ideal for face powder finishing. Shown against a white background. The Pennello rifinitura polveri viso 68 is a red finishing face brush labeled “68,” designed for applying loose powder, bronzer, and powder highlighters. This versatile brush offers medium density, as indicated by three out of five filled circles.

                    Finishing powder brush 68

                    €34,00
                      The Pennello maxi bombato terre e ciprie 67 features a rounded, fluffy black bristle head and a glossy red handle, ideal for applying powders or bronzers, shown against a white background. A Pennello maxi bombato terre e ciprie 67, di colore rosso, con dettagli in italiano: numero 67, indicato per ciprie e terre, a densità media e con una scala visiva della densità.

                      Maxi rounded powder and bronzer brush 67

                      €34,00
                        The Pennello viso bombato 66 features setole compatte and a rounded, fluffy black bristle head for blush application. It has a glossy red handle and is shown vertically on a white background. A red Pennello viso bombato 66 makeup brush, designed for blush application with its compact bristles and medium-high density, is displayed against a white background with descriptive text.

                        Round face brush 66

                        €30,00

                          How to create a makeup base: products and makeup steps

                          Now that your skin is prepped, we'll show you how to do your makeup base. This is where your preparation proves its effectiveness. Let’s follow the steps together to build a professional face makeup base that lasts and enhances your complexion.

                          Step 1 - Primer: the make-up canvas  

                          Make-up starts here, with the step most often skipped, yet one that determines the staying power of your entire look. Primer evens out the complexion, minimizes pores, mattifies or illuminates depending on the formula, and makes foundation last much longer. 

                          Specifically, a mattifying primer controls shine on oily skin, while a hydrating or illuminating one revives dry or dull skin; primer with a filler effect smooths out pores and fine lines, while a green tinted primer neutralizes redness. 

                          The Diego dalla Palma lifting effect perfecting primer is a 3-in-1: base, perfector, and smoothing agent all in one. It creates a soft-focus film that blurs pores and micro-wrinkles, and with tapioca extract and niacinamide, it evens out the complexion. It is oil-free, so it is also suitable for combination or oily skin.

                          Step 2 - Concealer: erasing dark circles and imperfections

                          The next step addresses what foundation alone isn't enough to cover, namely dark circles and small imperfections. 

                          For dark circles, work on the under-eye area with a lighter shade or one with peach and orange undertones, which are capable of neutralizing the blue tones of darker circles, while for imperfections, you should choose a shade as close as possible to your foundation.

                          In both cases, the rule is the same: tap with your fingertip, a dedicated brush (such as our eye contour brush number 59 and 60), or a sponge, without ever rubbing, and blend the edges well.

                          The It's a Filter lifting effect concealer combines these functions in a single product with medium-to-high, buildable coverage for a second-skin effect.

                          Step 3 - Foundation: evening out the complexion

                          With dark circles and imperfections diminished, foundation steps in to even out the complexion and bring consistency to the entire face. 

                          Here is a table summarizing the type of foundation suitable for each skin type:

                          A tip our Makeup Artists love to share is to prefer innovative formulas that combine makeup and skincare, and always choose the shade by testing it on your neck or jawline so as to respect your undertone. 

                          The Nudissimo Serum Satin SPF Foundation is based precisely on this logic, because it combines makeup and skincare in a single step with buildable medium coverage, a satin and luminous finish, and built-in SPF30 protection. 

                          Step 4 - Finishing touches: blush, bronzer, contouring, and highlighter

                          The penultimate chapter of the perfect makeup tutorial covers the details that give the face depth and radiance. We recommend the following order:
                          - first bronzer or contouring to sculpt and redefine volume;
                          - then blush on the cheekbones to add color and freshness; 
                          - finally, highlighter on the high points of the face. 

                          If you want to learn more about the light version of the sculpting technique, you can find all the details in the article dedicated to how to contour your face.

                          Two multi-use products make these steps easy even for those short on time. 
                          - The All in One Blush is a creamy stick, available in different shades and designed to add color and radiance to cheekbones, eyelids, and lips.
                          - The Full Face Slim Stick, on the other hand, is a slim precision pencil in neutral tones, from nude to brown, ideal for soft contouring and for defining features with precision. 

                          In summary, while the former is for illuminating and adding color, the latter is for sculpting and defining.

                          Three pieces of milk chocolate are stacked vertically, with the middle piece split to reveal its inner texture—evoking the way the ALL IN ONE - BRONZER CONTOUR unveils its rich, blendable layers when used for sculpting. The chocolates balance elegantly on a white surface with a soft shadow, mirroring how carefully applied ALL IN ONE - BRONZER CONTOUR enhances natural beauty.
                          Three pieces of milk chocolate are stacked vertically, with the middle piece split to reveal its inner texture—evoking the way the ALL IN ONE - BRONZER CONTOUR unveils its rich, blendable layers when used for sculpting. The chocolates balance elegantly on a white surface with a soft shadow, mirroring how carefully applied ALL IN ONE - BRONZER CONTOUR enhances natural beauty.

                          Step 5 - Powder and setting: a base that lasts all day

                          Once all the steps and finishing touches are complete, setting powder locks in your work and gives your makeup base unparalleled stability.

                          Apply it with a domed brush for bronzers and powders, such as number 67, to areas most prone to shine, such as the forehead, nose, and chin, to set the result without weighing it down. 

                          If you are looking for long-lasting hold, the MakeupStudio Line Loose Setting Powder 200 is a loose setting powder with an impalpable texture: white in the jar, it becomes completely invisible on the face and does not alter the color of the foundation, adapting to every skin tone.

                          Its mattifying effect controls T-zone shine without drying, and it is perfect for oily and combination skin; since it does not settle into fine lines, it is also suitable for mature skin, which gains a smooth, soft-focus finish that is never powdery.

                          In the powders and highlighters collection, you will find different solutions depending on your goal. Those with dry or mature skin may prefer formulas like the Smoothing Loose Powder, which is slightly tinted and available in 3 shades, all lightweight with a silky touch: it refines the skin texture and sets makeup without accentuating lines, restoring radiance to dull, dry, or mature skin.

                          When the day is long, or when an important event and the heat put your makeup to the test, the final step that makeup artists recommend is a setting spray: like the MakeupStudio Long-Lasting Makeup Fixer, a makeup setting spray with niacinamide and a waterproof and long-lasting formula, which creates an ultra-light veil and keeps your face and eye makeup intact all day long.

                          To use it, once your makeup is finished, shake the bottle and spray it 20-30 cm from your face, with your eyes closed, using X and T motions; then let it dry without touching it.

                          What to avoid to keep from ruining your makeup base: the most common mistakes

                          Starting your make-up before your skincare has been fully absorbed:

                          different products can overlap and make it more difficult to obtain a uniform surface.

                          Exceeding the quantities:

                          too much moisturizer, too much primer, or too many layers of foundation can make the base heavy and cause it to separate throughout the day. 

                          Choosing a formula unsuitable for your skin type

                          can cause hold or texture issues within the first few hours.

                          Confusing the function of primer with that of moisturizer:

                          they are different products and have different objectives. The cream prepares the skin from a skincare perspective, while the primer acts on the surface and the performance of the make-up. 

                          Do not apply the base to areas that tend to become shiny.

                          can compromise the overall stability.