With makeup tutorials and products and application being at an all-time high in popularity right now, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options out there. Even if you’re an old pro makeup veteran, it can be a lot. If you’re a novice makeup user who’s interested in achieving a picture-perfect look but you’re a little intimidated, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks anyone can try. Boost your confidence and your skills with these makeup tips!
1. Prep for perfection
You’ve got to have the perfect canvas to begin, right? Be sure to cleanse, balance, and moisturize your skin before applying your makeup. After finishing up your regular skincare routine, apply a primer all over your face. This will fill in any unwanted crevices, leaving your skin perfectly smooth for makeup application. An added benefit is that a primer acts as a protective barrier preventing your moisturizer and skin’s oils from mixing with your makeup. A primer sets the stage for flawless makeup application.
2. Conceal to reveal brighter eyes
We’ve all fought in the battle of undereye circles and puffiness. In order to win, you’ve got to prepare the area for perfection. Using an eye cream regularly will definitely help yield the results you’re looking for. Beyond that, using a corrector to cover the purple tones found in your skin and then using a concealer that’s a shade or two lighter than your natural skin tone will balance out your dark circles with the rest of your face.
3. Foundation can be fun with these tricks
If you’re afraid of looking cakey, try dabbing your freshly applied foundation with a tissue to lighten it up a bit. Apply foundation onto your skin without looking streaky or spotty by using light brush strokes (or even your hands). Remember, the foundation can spoil or “expire”, so replace it if you think it’s beyond its best-by date or possibly contaminated.
4. Eyeliner is for everyone
Don’t be intimidated by the liquid eyeliners that are popular right now. Anyone can achieve the perfect cat-eye! Remember, practice makes perfect. If you’re worried about shaky hands or over-application, try a liquid pen instead. Much easier for every day or first-time use. Here’s a pro eyeliner tip: applying liner from the outer end makes your eyes look bigger.
5. Contour and sculpt like a pro
A shimmery, nude powder swept along the top of your cheekbones can really highlight your cheeks. Add your favorite shade of blush to the area just under the cheekbone, and use a brush to blend both shades in a circular motion for celebrity cheekbones. For proper contour, apply contrasting bronze and light colors to the proper areas: light color gets brushed under the eyes, on the tip of the nose, the center of the chin, and the center of your forehead. Bronze color goes along your hairline, the sides of your nose, under your cheeks, and along your jawline. Blend, blend, blend all the way into your hairline, and voila! Perfection.
6. Achieve that bold, to-die-for brow
Bold brows are a must-have right now. To achieve this look first, comb your brows with a wand or brush. Use a soft, waxy-textured brow pencil or cream to shape the brow by using a thin-tipped brow brush. Fill in the brow with short, light strokes that look similar to your existing brow hair. Finish off the look with a nice, shimmery highlighter just under the brow.
7. The perfect pucker is easy to do
Try bold shades of berry and rosy red, don’t be afraid! Prep and protect your lips first by applying a balm to condition your lips and also protect them from harmful UV rays (your lips have the thinnest skin on your body, so be sure to show them a lot of TLC). Then add your favorite color (line your lips with a neutral shade to keep the color from bleeding), add a gloss if you wish, and you’ve got red-carpet worthy lips in less than just three steps!
8. Get the most out of your mascara
If your eyes are already lined and ready to go, use a good quality mascara to complete the look. Brush the mascara all the way through your lashes, waving the wand back and forth to add volume and thickness. Be sure to pay the most attention to the ends of your lashes. If you apply too much mascara to the root, your lashes may droop and clump.
9. Set it and forget it
There’s nothing quite like a good makeup setting spray to keep your picture-perfect look in tact all day or night. It helps your makeup last longer and stay fresher, and reduces the need for added touch-ups or more layers of makeup throughout the day. Simply spritz a good setting spray a couple of times over your finished product, and enjoy your day!
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of makeup options out there, no matter if you’re an expert at makeup application or a beginner. We’ve compiled nine tips and tricks to help you put your best face forward!
Author Bio: Alana Mitchell is the day spa owner at Skincare by Alana, beauty/skincare expert, and licensed esthetician. Skincare by Alana is a popular online skincare shop for famous brands like Rhonda Allison, Dermalogica, Tria beauty and much more. She doesn’t believe in beauty products that are not tried and researched, rather she is excited about natural organic day spa treatments that actually work.