prep like a pro.
flawless make-up starts before foundation.
Max May is one of Australia's most in-demand professional make-up artists. Every base he creates starts the same way, with the skin rather than the foundation.
Better skin prep. Better make-up. Daily Microfoliant refines skin texture to create a smoother canvas for a more even-looking finish.
Flawless make-up starts before foundation. Every base I create begins with prepping the skin. Smooth the canvas first and everything you put on top of it behaves.
Max MayMUA & creator · @maxmade
three things a pro does before foundation.
When make-up performance matters, texture can't be left to chance. These are the prep principles Max works to on every face, and the reason skin preparation sits before product choice.
Discover Daily Microfoliant, the professional skin prep essential.
smooth your canvas
Daily Microfoliant gently exfoliates to refine skin texture. Rice enzymes activate on contact with water and lift the dead surface cells that make foundation cling, so the surface you're working on is even before a single product goes near it.
don't skip the 60 seconds
Skin prep is the most overlooked part of a flawless base. It takes 60 seconds on damp skin, before hydrator and SPF, and it changes how every product after it sits. Professional artists treat it as the first step of the make-up, not an optional extra.
stop blaming the foundation
Patchiness, separation, visible pores. Most of what people blame on their foundation starts with their skin. Foundation plays a part, but texture is usually the underlying issue, and a consistent prep routine addresses it at the surface.
better skin prep. better make-up.
Create a smoother canvas for a more even-looking finish.
An independent clinical study documented the visible change in skin texture, pore appearance, and surface smoothness after consistent daily use. The results were confirmed by dermatological assessment and before-and-after photography.
In an independent clinical study of 30 participants using Daily Microfoliant daily, results were confirmed by dermatological assessment and before-and-after photography. Well tolerated across all skin types, including sensitive skin.
what makeup lovers are saying.
Verified reviews from Daily Microfoliant users. The visible change is also backed by independent clinical results.
"My foundation used to look patchy no matter what primer I used. Since I started using this every morning, my base is so much smoother. I use less product now too."
"As a makeup artist, skin prep is everything. I recommend Daily Microfoliant to every client. It creates the smoothest canvas. Concealer just melts into skin."
"I have textured skin and visible pores. This is the only product that genuinely makes my primer grip better and my makeup last all day without separating around my nose."
"I was spending a fortune on primers trying to get smooth skin. Turns out the answer was better exfoliation, not more layers. This changed my entire makeup routine."
why texture matters under makeup.
the buildup you can't see
Dead skin cells accumulate on the surface every day. When you apply foundation over this uneven layer, product clings to dry patches, settles into texture, and separates around pores. That buildup is often the real reason makeup looks patchy or cakey, regardless of the formula you use.
enzymatic exfoliation vs. physical scrubs
Physical scrubs use abrasive particles to manually remove dead cells. While effective, they can leave micro-scratches that foundation actually highlights. Daily Microfoliant works differently. Rice-derived enzymes including Papain, along with Salicylic Acid, dissolve the bonds holding dead cells to the surface. Cells release gently, without friction or damage, leaving a visibly smoother canvas.
how the pore-refining ingredients work
Salicylic Acid helps clear pore congestion while Niacinamide helps regulate oil and minimise the appearance of pores. Together, they support a more refined texture that helps primer and foundation adhere more evenly across the face. See the 60-second application method to fit it into your morning.
prep, not just cover
Most people reach for more product when makeup isn't behaving. But that patchiness usually starts before the foundation goes on. Using Daily Microfoliant each morning resets the canvas first, so primer and foundation have something smooth to grip onto. You may find you need less product, not more.
daily microfoliant
your professional skin prep essential.
$112.00
A gentle daily exfoliant that smooths away rough texture and surface buildup, so makeup applies more evenly, blends effortlessly, and wears beautifully all day.
- Buffs away rough texture so foundation sits seamlessly
- Helps minimise the appearance of pores
- Rice enzyme formula activates on contact with water
- Helps primer and foundation grip more evenly
- Gentle enough for daily use on all skin types
Free shipping on orders over $50.
60 seconds to a smoother canvas.
Simple enough to use every morning. Effective enough to change how your makeup performs.
activate
dispense a half-teaspoon into wet hands.
polish
create a creamy paste and massage onto damp skin.
reveal
rinse thoroughly for an instantly smoother, makeup-ready canvas.
your makeup-ready routine.
Daily Microfoliant resets the canvas (see the clinical results). The next step is keeping it makeup-ready. The AM products below help refine pores and protect skin so foundation sits more evenly, while the PM steps support overnight repair so you start each morning with a smoother surface.
Paired together, this is a complete makeup-prep routine, designed to give every product you layer on top a more even, refined base to sit on.
the questions max gets asked most.
Professional make-up artist Max May on skin prep, base longevity, and the step most people leave out.
what's the first thing you do on a face?
I prep. Before foundation, before primer, I get the surface smooth and clean. Daily Microfoliant on damp skin for 60 seconds, rinse, then hydrator and SPF. That's the base of the base.
why does foundation look patchy even with good products?
Nine times out of ten it's texture, not the foundation. Dead cell buildup gives product something uneven to grab onto, so it clings in some places and slides in others. Smooth the surface and the same foundation behaves completely differently.
can you really exfoliate every day before make-up?
With this one, yes. It's enzymatic rather than abrasive, so it dissolves dead cells instead of scrubbing them off. That's why I'm comfortable using it on clients the same morning I'm working on them.
is this a replacement for primer?
They do different jobs. Primer sits on top and blurs. Prep works on the surface itself, so you're starting from a smoother canvas. Most people find they need less primer, not more.
what's your advice for camera-ready skin?
Consistency beats anything you do on the day. Prep daily and the skin is already in good shape when it matters, so you're not trying to fix texture with product an hour before a shoot.
shop in a set.
Build a complete prep-and-protect routine with curated sets featuring Daily Microfoliant and more of your Dermalogica favourites.
professional-grade skin care, backed by education.
developed with skin therapists
Daily Microfoliant was created in collaboration with professional skin therapists who use it in treatment rooms daily. The same professional-grade prep tool used in clinic is available for home use.
education, not marketing
Dermalogica leads with skin health education, not hype. Every product recommendation is grounded in understanding your skin's biology. The right knowledge leads to the right regimen.
30+ years of trust
Since 1986, Dermalogica has been the most-used professional skin care brand in the world. Skin therapists in over 100 countries recommend Daily Microfoliant based on the results they see in their treatment rooms.