Buzz
Makeup is an effective way to highlight your natural beauty. However, improper application can unintentionally diminish your charm. From choosing and applying foundation correctly to shaping eyebrows naturally and regularly cleaning makeup brushes, these small steps can make a significant difference in your appearance and confidence.
Steps
Find the right foundation and concealer
Prep your skin before applying foundation. If you apply foundation on dry, flaky, or oily skin, it will look cakey. Always cleanse your face before makeup and exfoliate once or twice a week to keep your skin smooth and clean. Finally, moisturize before applying makeup to provide essential hydration.
- Using a primer before foundation is also a great idea. A primer not only creates a base for long-lasting makeup but also minimizes pores and wrinkles, ensuring a smoother foundation application.
Test foundation along your jawline. When shopping for foundation at a cosmetics counter, you might typically test it on the back of your hand. However, hand skin often doesn’t match your facial tone, leading to purchasing a shade that’s too dark. Instead, apply foundation along your jawline to ensure it blends seamlessly with both your face and neck.
- Always test foundation in natural light to ensure the perfect match.
- Even if you’re confident the shade matches, blend a bit down your jaw and neck to eliminate any visible lines between your face and neck.
Use a brush or makeup sponge to apply foundation. While using your fingers might seem easier, it often results in a streaky, uneven application. Instead, dab foundation with clean fingers and blend it using a brush or egg-shaped sponge. The right tools will give you a flawless, airbrushed finish.
- Avoid flat, paintbrush-like brushes, as they can leave streaks. Opt for a dense, rounded brush for smoother blending.
- If using a sponge, dampen it first. Squeeze out excess water so it’s just moist, then use it to blend. This prevents the sponge from absorbing too much product.
Choose an under-eye concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone. While you might think a much lighter concealer brightens the under-eye area, using one two or three shades lighter can create a stark contrast, making you look like you have panda eyes. Instead, pick a concealer just one shade lighter than your foundation for a subtle brightening effect.
- Using your fingers to blend under-eye concealer is often best. The warmth helps the product melt into your skin, reducing creasing.
Use a concealer that matches your foundation to cover uneven skin tones. If you use a lighter concealer to hide acne scars, age spots, or discoloration, it can actually draw more attention to those areas. Instead, match your concealer to your foundation for a seamless blend.
- For facial application, a brush or sponge works best. These tools ensure even coverage without diluting the product, effectively hiding dark spots.
Complete your base makeup
Apply powder selectively. Using too much powder can make your makeup look cakey and emphasize pores and wrinkles. For a natural finish, lightly dust powder only on areas prone to shine, such as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). You might also need a light layer on your cheeks.
- If you have dry skin, you can skip this step entirely.
- Pressed or compact powders can easily look heavy. Opt for a translucent, loose powder to avoid a thick, unnatural appearance.
Be cautious with contouring and defining products. While contouring can add warmth and definition to your face, overdoing it can make your makeup look messy. For a natural effect, use a small, soft brush to lightly apply contour powder along your forehead, temples, under your cheekbones, and jawline in a soft "3" or "E" shape.
- Blend thoroughly to avoid harsh lines or streaks.
Apply blush slightly higher on your cheekbones. Placing blush too low can make your face appear heavy and droopy. Start at the highest point of your cheekbone and blend backward toward your hairline.
- Begin with a small amount of blush and build up if needed. Blend well for a natural finish.
- An angled blush brush helps with precise application.
Refine your eyes and lips
Groom your eyebrows lightly. Harsh, overly drawn brows are never flattering. Use a brow product that matches or is slightly lighter than your natural brow color. Instead of drawing a single line, create soft, hair-like strokes for a natural look.
- Powder-based products usually give the softest and most natural finish.
- After applying, use a spoolie or brow brush to blend the color evenly.
Apply an eyeshadow primer. An eyeshadow primer is essential for keeping your eyeshadow vibrant and crease-free. Dab a small amount onto your eyelids and blend gently with your fingers before applying eyeshadow.
- If you don’t have an eyeshadow primer, you can substitute it with concealer and use it as a base.
Use a guide for eyeliner application. Creating the perfect winged eyeliner can be challenging if done freehand. Instead, use a piece of clear tape or hold a small card at a 45-degree angle at the corner of your eye, then trace along it for a flawless cat-eye look.
- If using tape, stick it to the back of your hand and remove it a few times to reduce its stickiness. This prevents it from pulling on the delicate skin around your eyes when removed.
Curl your lashes before applying mascara. Curled lashes can make your eyes appear more open and larger. However, it’s crucial to curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara. Curling wet lashes can cause them to bend awkwardly or even break.
- If you’re not comfortable using an eyelash curler, you can curl your lashes without it. Apply mascara first, then push your lashes upward to create a curl. Hold for a few seconds to set the shape.
Exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying lipstick. Whether you’re using a bullet lipstick, liquid lipstick, or lip gloss, the color won’t look right on dry, flaky lips. Use a lip scrub to gently remove dead skin and apply a hydrating lip balm before adding color for a smooth, flawless finish.
- You can buy a lip scrub or make one at home using household ingredients. Mix ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of olive oil with a teaspoon (4 g) of sugar, then gently scrub your lips. Wipe off with a damp cloth.
- Exfoliating and moisturizing are especially important before applying matte lipstick, as its dry formula can emphasize cracks and flakes.
Fill in your entire lips with lip liner. A lip liner can define your lips and prevent lipstick from bleeding. However, even if the liner matches your lipstick, the outline will stand out if you only apply lipstick along the edges. To avoid a harsh outline, fill in your entire lips with the liner after outlining.
- If you can’t find a matching lip liner, opt for a nude shade that complements your natural lip color.
Avoid common makeup mistakes
Remove makeup before bed. Sleeping with makeup on is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. It can lead to breakouts, wrinkles, and a dull complexion. Always cleanse your face with a good-quality cleanser before bed to maintain healthy skin.
- If you’re wearing waterproof eye makeup or heavy foundation, use a makeup remover as part of your skincare routine before cleansing.
- Keep makeup remover wipes on your nightstand. This way, even if you’re too lazy to wash your face, you can quickly wipe off your makeup and go to bed.
Don’t store makeup in the bathroom. Bathrooms may seem like an ideal place to keep makeup because of the large mirrors, but the heat and humidity can quickly damage your products – not to mention the germs. Instead, store your makeup in a cool, dry place, such as your bedroom.
Clean your makeup brushes regularly. Keeping your brushes clean might feel like a chore, but dirty brushes can transfer dirt, oil, and bacteria to your face every time you use them. Deep clean your brushes with shampoo or a specialized cleanser once a week, and use a brush cleanser for quick cleaning between uses.
- You can buy brush soap or cleansers at beauty stores or make your own at home.
Tips
- Renowned makeup artists like Bobbi Brown, Kevin Aucoin, and Jemma Kidd have authored makeup guides that can be incredibly helpful if you want to ensure your makeup application is flawless.
- If you’re unsure about your makeup techniques, consider seeking advice from a makeup artist at a cosmetics counter. They can help you choose products suited to your skin type and tone, as well as demonstrate proper application methods.
- While certain makeup techniques can enhance your skin’s health and appearance, don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles. If you feel confident and love your look, don’t hesitate to break the "rules."
