Street Talk: Make-Up – Episode Eight Skin Type: Combination 

In this episode of Street Talk: Make-Up, we meet Relana, whose combination skin type—with an oily T-zone and dry cheeks—guides her straightforward yet layered approach to complexion products. Her preferences offer insight into what today’s pragmatic consumers are really doing with their make-up routines—and why they’re sticking to drugstore staples.

Make-Up Routine: Layered, Lightweight, and Accessible

Relana avoids heavy foundations in favor of breathable, buildable textures:

• Skin tint as a base product—chosen over foundation to avoid heaviness
• Concealer + liquid bronzer, blush & contour, layered with powder for set and finish
• Powdered highlight and blush to add longevity and glow
• Waterproof mascara (Essence) as the finishing touch

Notably, she avoids foundation entirely, opting instead for lightweight tints that balance comfort and coverage. This aligns with broader consumer moves toward “real-skin” beauty that supports individuality and skin health.

Behavioral Snapshot: Discovery Fatigue and Offline Loyalty

Relana’s product discovery behaviors offer important cues:

• Tutorials: Once engaged, now only passively consumes content on TikTok or Reels
• Shopping: Almost exclusively in-store, especially for shade-matching tints and concealers
• App fatigue: No use of try-on or recommendation apps, highlighting a lack of trust in digital matching

She exemplifies the “trial-wary” consumer—those who prefer tactile validation in-store over online experimentation.

Product Wish List: Skin Tint Meets Skin Care

If Relana could design her own product, it would be:

• A moisturizing skin tint
• Formulated to reduce redness, blur imperfections, and support dry zones without exacerbating oiliness
• Aimed at combining skin care with lightweight complexion performance

Strategic Takeaways for Beauty Brands

Formulation

• Dual-action base products (like tinted moisturizers) must address both hydration and sebum control.
• Products should feel lightweight but provide sufficient pigment to even skin tone, without risking cakiness on dry patches.

Marketing

• Highlight the difference between full foundation and modern tints—showing real-skin results.
• Communicate how formulations calm redness or improve barrier function, especially in content targeting younger or time-conscious users.

Merchandising

• Prioritize shelf visibility in drugstores, with testers or swatches to support shade confidence.
• Bundle liquid-to-powder complexion kits to reflect real consumer routines (e.g. skin tint + concealer + pressed powder).