Base Notes
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As some of you might know, I’ve been a makeup artist for 19-ish years. And like a lot of artists, I have my thing. Mine just happens to be skin. Not the kind you see on billboards, but the kind that makes you do a double take and wonder if it’s just really good moisturizer—or a little something else.
My style is more 'Carolyn Bessette gets married in 1996' than 'TikTok glam in 2024.' Think Meghan Markle’s wedding skin, Hermès or The Row runway beauty—effortless, minimalist, but still strikingly beautiful. I love bridal beauty, but I know my take is niche. No lashes. No smokey eyes. No cut creases. Just soft washes of colour, refined texture, and skin that looks like it drank water, took a nap, and came back glowing.
When I started Florés Boticario, I wasn’t trying to replace what you already love—I just wanted it to support your routine. Think of Florés as the skin prep that helps everything else land a little better. Whether that’s a full face or just a bit of concealer, your favourite toner, or a mist—I wanted the textures to feel beautiful going on, and make everything else glide.
In one of my IG stories, I asked you what your go-to concealers and foundations are. The list you sent in was chef's kiss. Below are the pairings that work beautifully with some of your favourite base products. I personally love using concealers and skin tints (or both). Sometimes I’ll reach for something more pigmented, but even then—I still want it to look like skin. Like the kind that makes people tilt their heads and go, “Wait, are you even wearing makeup?”
Still need to test more drugstore picks (I see you, Maybelline Fit Me). Watch this space—I’ll keep adding to it as I go.
Dior Forever Matte Skincare Foundation The full prep: Prêt-à-Repair, No.6 Beauty Primer, Florés Hydrating Essence Mist, then Luna de Miel to finish. Dewy but balanced. I'd even say—sheer out MAC Face and Body with Prêt-à-Repair and use it as a tinted base underneath this foundation. If you do that step, just use Luna de Miel—you wouldn’t need No.6 Beauty Primer. There’s something about layering a tinted moisturizer under Dior Forever that makes it look so dreamy. A combo I love using on brides.
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Plays beautifully with Prêt-à-Repair and Luna de Miel before applying. The finish is fresh and seamless—skin still looks like skin, just a bit more polished. I get why so many people love this one—it’s super convenient, blends like a dream, and doesn’t feel like you’re drawing on your face with a giant foundation stick (it kind of reminds me of a chubby marker). It’s very pigmented, so I usually dab some on the back of my hand, sheer it out on a brush, and then sweep it on. Bonus: a touch of Luma de Miel on top of makeup adds the perfect soft radiance.
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Full Coverage Multi-Use Foundation Stick Creamy, never drying, and gives that soft-focus, real-skin effect when paired with No.6 Beauty Primer. It’s pricier than Merit, but a little goes a long way. You can dot it directly onto skin and let it melt a bit, or warm it up on the back of your hand first and sweep it on with a brush—either way, it blends out beautifully.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Looks radiant (shocker) layered over No.6 Beauty Primer and topped with a touch of Luna de Miel for that inner glow moment.
Glossier Stretch Balm Concealer This is my go-to when I want that dewy, healthy-skin vibe. Medium coverage, super skin-like, and the finish is Gorgeous—especially on mature skin. Use it with Prêt-à-Repair, No.6 Beauty Primer, and Luna de Miel. Also pairs beautifully with NARS Soft Matte Concealer. I love this combo for bridal clients.
Kosas Revealer Concealer Feels really nice on the skin—hydrating, smooth, and very forgiving. A great pick for mature skin. It also layers nicely with Sisley Stylo Correct (or NARS Soft Matte) if you need extra coverage on blemishes. Pair it with Prêt-à-Repair, No.6 Beauty Primer, and Luna de Miel for best results.
Sisley Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation I really like this skin tint. It gives a second-skin feel, sheer but perfecting. No.6 Beauty Primer and Luna de Miel make it glide. Only note: the shades can be tricky online, so if you can, test in-store.
Shiseido RevitalEssence Skin Glow Foundation Let’s talk about this one—it’s so damn good. Like, I almost didn’t want to like it because I’m loyal to my usuals, but here we are. She’s like MAC Face & Body’s more serious older sister: elegantly sheer with a radiant finish. The formula’s a bit runny, like MAC, but dries down faster. And it actually gets better throughout the day. I have a love/hate relationship with foundation. This one’s all love. Wear it for errands, interviews, dinner, or your wedding. I’m confident you’ll fall for it too.
Chanel Les Beiges Foundation Glides on like a dream over Luna de Miel and Prêt-à-Repair. Think clean, expensive skin. The kind of finish that whispers, not shouts.
Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint The one with the pigment beads. Works beautifully with Luna de Miel—ask Sheri Stroh. She mentioned it to me once in passing, and I immediately ran to my makeup bag like it was a limited edition drop. The result? Glowy, healthy skin that looks like I just got a facial. It’s the kind of finish that makes you pause and go, “Wait… my skin looks amazing.”
Chanel Le Correcteur de Chanel I freaking love this concealer. It’s moussey, creamy, and it just looks damn good on the skin. I really, really like using this with No.6 Beauty Primer and Luna de Miel—but honestly, there are days when I go all in and use the entire Florés lineup
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation Looks rich and luminous over Prêt-à-Repair and Luna de Miel.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation To turn it into a soft, long-wearing tinted moisturizer: mix with Prêt-à-Repair. For full prep, mist with Florés Hydrating Mist, layer Prêt-à-Repair, then Luna de Miel. Mist again post-makeup to seal it all in.
MAC Face and Body Foundation A long-standing staple in the backstage and editorial beauty world for many years. This foundation is your absolute go-to for that flawless, dewy, 'I woke up like this' look. It’s like a secret weapon—sheer yet buildable, with a wide range of shades and undertones. Easy to mix and match and perfect for every occasion. Going for a 'no makeup' makeup look? Have a runway to walk down? This is your foundation.
Absolutely LOVE this with No.6 Beauty Primer and Luna de Miel. I also like mixing a few squirts of Face and Body with a pump or two of Luna de Miel, blending it out with my fingers. With Face and Body, your fingers are the brush—really work it into your skin.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Full prep works best here: Florés Hydrating Mist, Prêt-à-Repair, No.6 Beauty Primer, then finish with Luna de Miel. It keeps the coverage smooth, not cakey, and the finish softly radiant instead of flat.
MAC Studio Fix 24HR Concealer This one surprised me. MAC formulas used to go a bit orange on me, but this new one wears beautifully. Here’s how I use it: I start with Prêt-à-Repair and No.6 Beauty Primer, press in Luna de Miel, then spot-conceal —outer corners of the cheeks (just under the eyes), corners of the mouth, and right above the upper lip. I don’t use a lot. Then blush. After everything’s set, I take a bit of the concealer on the back of my hand, sheer it out on a brush, and do a final sweep. It blends in so nicely. Final step: A light mist of Florés Hydrating Essence Mist to pull it all together.
There are obviously a ton of great products I haven’t tried yet—or maybe haven’t even heard of. So if there’s a foundation or concealer you love and want me to test with Florés, slide into my DM’s. Seriously.
And if your go-to isn’t listed but you’re curious to try Florés, start with Luna de Miel. It’s our bestseller for a reason. But here’s the thing—I’m not here to convince you these are miracle workers. I just really believe good skin prep should feel like a quiet flex. The kind that makes people lean in a little and go, "Wait, what are you wearing?"
That’s when you smile and say, "Oh… just a few things."