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1. Make sure your foundation or skin tint *truly* matches your complexion by testing shades on your neck instead of your wrist or hand. You might be surprised by the difference in results.
2. Achieve a polished makeup look with a portable magnifying mirror with adjustable LED lights to ensure no unblended blush or uneven foundation when you step outside.
3. Pores and skin texture are *totally natural*, but if you're looking to minimize the appearance of pores, try the crowd-favorite (and TikTok-approved) primer like E.l.f.'s Poreless Putty Primer, enriched with squalene to hydrate, smooth the skin for a flawless finish, and ensure long-lasting makeup hold.
4. Use this guide to determine the best placement for concealer, foundation, and translucent powder, achieving a photo-ready makeup look that appears vibrant — without looking dull. 100+ Instagram likes, here you come!
Apply translucent powder to your T-zone: forehead, nose, and chin, and then use concealer just under your eyes, along the nostrils, and around the mouth area.
For more tips on how to make your makeup look incredible in photos, check out our detailed guide.
5. Try the popular Etude House Zero Sebum translucent powder to set your makeup all day without any cakey finish — only apply it to areas where you tend to get oily, not all over your face.
6. *Alternatively*, keep Revlon's oil-absorbing roller stick in your bag for convenient shine control. Its volcanic stone ball absorbs excess oil from your face, and you can reuse it indefinitely after washing it periodically!
7. If you're all about that radiant glow, I (and seemingly the whole internet) can't stop raving about Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter. Apply it alone for a light, glowing coverage, or on the high points of your face, beneath or mixed with foundation for a naturally stunning, just-dewy-enough finish.
Available at Sephora for $44 (comes in 12 shades).
Highly rated review: "I hesitated to purchase this because of the price and the fact that it’s ‘just’ a highlighter. I almost hate how much I love it because I’m now committed to buying it again and again. BUT! It lasts forever. It’s truly a magical product. Mix it with a sheer foundation and you’ll look flawless." —mimican
8. For more concentrated glow, apply highlighter on the areas where the light naturally hits your face, like the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge and tip of your nose, and your cupid’s bow.
Find out more at BeautyBlender.
9. Searching for an excellent highlighter? The reviewers shown here are using Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter, which gives your face a warm, radiant glow with a soft powder formula infused with reflective pigments that can be applied subtly or boldly.
10. Instead of applying your under-eye concealer in small dots, try forming a triangle — this technique highlights the brightest part of your eyes!
Need an excellent concealer to erase those dark circles for good? My go-to is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer — it features light-diffusing pigments for the brightest under-eyes you’ve ever had.
Available at Sephora for $30 (comes in 22 shades).
11. To lock in your under-eye concealer and prevent creasing, try the baking method — apply a generous layer of setting powder, let it sit for a few minutes, then brush it away for a flawless finish.
Don't miss Karina's full baking tutorial for all the essential tips and tricks. For more inspiration, check out her Instagram.
12. For flawless blending of your foundation, concealer, and eyeshadow, use a flat-top oval brush (approved by TikTok!) with densely-packed, yet ultra-soft bristles that give an airbrushed effect.
13. If you're using a BeautyBlender (another fantastic tool!), make sure it’s damp (so it absorbs less product) and gently dab your foundation on, avoiding any swiping motions!
14. For a smoother blending process and flawless finish, hold your brushes like a pro — grip them loosely from the bottom, just like you would with a paintbrush, instead of holding them like a pen.
For more expert advice, explore our collection of pro makeup artist tips.
15. Ensure your skincare and makeup are applied in the proper sequence for a perfect finish and to avoid wasting any product.
For example, apply your concealer *after* foundation to avoid wasting it on areas where foundation is already applied!
Discover all the details and reasoning behind this order at Wake Up For Makeup.
16. For a sculpted effect, use a cream contour one shade darker than your foundation. Apply it to your temples, just above your cheekbone hollows (to create a lifted appearance), and along the bridge of your nose.
17. If you're searching for a contour palette to begin with, try a cream contour like the Aesthetica Contour Palette, which comes with six smooth, blendable shades to help you find your ideal match.
18. If you're unfamiliar with color-correcting, check out this helpful guide to help you choose exactly what you need.
19. For a lifted appearance, apply your blush higher on your cheekbones, almost in the same spot where you'd apply highlighter. Say goodbye to the old method of smiling and applying blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Learn how to apply blush according to your face shape at Ipsy.
20. If you're unsure where to begin with blush, I highly recommend Glossier Cloud Paint. Its gel-cream texture is incredibly blendable and can even be used as eyeshadow for a coordinated, monochromatic look.
A little goes a long way, so the tube lasts forever. To avoid excess, I suggest piercing the foil top rather than peeling it off!
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in eight shades).
Promising review: "I've never been a big blush user — partly because I wasn't sure where to apply it on my face and partly because I didn't know what shades or formulas would work for me. After hearing great things from influencers, I decided to try Cloud Paint for a bit of summer color on my cheeks! I chose the shade Beam, and it suits my light-medium Asian skin tone perfectly. It’s very easy to apply, and a little goes a long way! I was pleasantly surprised by how well it blends into my skin. A big fan!" —jen234
Learn more in our Glossier Cloud Paint review.
21. If you're having trouble lining your lips with precision, begin by making an X shape at your cupid’s bow, and dust powder between lipstick layers for longer-lasting wear.
I absolutely swear by the X-mark method to follow my cupid's bow every time I wear lipstick... which is almost daily whenever I step out of the house!
Find out more at The Beauty Department.
22. If you're tired of buying a lip liner for every lipstick shade you have, consider a transparent Maybelline clear, self-sharpening liner to keep your lips perfectly lined with no feathering.
23. Get the perfect pout by outlining your lips with a bit of concealer applied with an angled brush.
24. Quick tip! If you dislike having lipstick on your teeth as much as I do (seriously, if you see me in real life with red lipstick on my teeth, please let me know!!), simply run your finger in and out of your pursed lips to remove any excess product. It actually works like a charm!
Discover more tips at The Beauty Department.
25. Grab a tweezer or eyebrow pencil to map out the start, arch, and end of your brows before filling them in, ensuring your most flattering and natural-looking brows ever.
26. Use Benefit's Browvo conditioning primer both at night and as a base under your makeup to extend the wear of your eyebrow powder, pencil, or pomade, while also encouraging fuller brow growth.
Available for purchase at Sephora for $28.
Promising review: "This primer has given me brow goals. My brow hairs are growing in thicker and faster! I've been using it since its release, and it has lasted for months. I apply it before using the Precisely My Brow pencil, and it enhances the color. I can't imagine my routine without it!" —Meegn
27. For a laminated effect, try a soap brow kit complete with pomade and a spoolie, allowing you to brush your brows UP UP UP (without the lather that comes with actual soap brows) — providing long-lasting hold. It also conditions the hairs, promoting brow growth!
28. Know which beauty products are worth splurging on and which ones you can save on. Remember, you should really replace your mascara every three months (it helps prevent it from drying out too!). For an affordable mascara that actually performs, try Essence's Lash Princess mascara, which boasts over *130,000* 5-star ratings for dramatic length and volume *without* clumping, thanks to its flake- and clump-free formula and cone-shaped brush.
And just so you know, here’s a helpful guide for expiration dates:
Here's a quick breakdown:
2–3 months: mascara, face peels and masks, acne pads, nail files, and loofahs
6 months–1 year: liquid eyeliner, liquid foundation, concealer, acne treatments and washes, eye cream, face wash, and serums
1–1.5 years: lip gloss, cream eyeshadow, jarred face creams, sunscreen, bar soaps, shower gel, and eyebrow gel
2 years: lip and eye pencils, lipsticks, nail polish, powder eyeshadows and blushes, powder foundation, jarred body lotions, and scrubs
3 years: shampoo and conditioners, pump body lotions, perfume, and hairspray
29. For extra volume, apply eyelash primer (such as the top-rated Lancôme version) underneath your mascara. This will give you longer, clump-free lashes for days, while also conditioning them for better health!
Buy Lancôme Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base from Sephora for $26.
Promising review: "This enhances any mascara! It makes lashes appear thicker and longer, and prevents mascara from flaking. I use it every time I apply mascara! Totally worth the price!" —Maggie714
30. If you always end up with mascara smudges under your eyes, try this simple trick to stop it: just run your finger along your skin — easy, right?
Visit The Beauty Department for the complete tutorial.
31. Prevent mascara clumps and make evening touch-ups easier with a set of foldable eyelash combs. Carry one in your bag for quick fixes!
These combs are also great for grooming eyebrows!
Buy a set of four on Amazon for $6.99.
Promising review: "As a professional makeup artist, I’ve always used the Tweezerman version. The pins were becoming loose, so I needed a replacement. I decided to try these because of the price, and they actually work better than the Tweezerman ones. They're comfortable to hold, snap open and closed smoothly, and the pin tips are safer to use. Highly recommend!" —JJ
32. Thinking about trying false lashes? Skip the glue hassle with magnetic false eyelashes (paired with magnetic liner). They’re the simplest way to achieve a bold, dramatic look, and they’ll stay put all day and night. Thanks to the magnets, you can easily reposition them without the mess of reapplying glue.
The kit includes both mink and vegan lashes (a combination of both in this set), so you can choose your preference. Plus, you won’t have to clean off any glue before reusing them — because there’s no glue involved! Simply place them back on the magnetic holder, and you can reuse them up to 60 times. I’ve used these lashes myself, and I can confirm they are incredibly easy to apply. The magnets make it simple to adjust their position, and you won’t lose your natural lashes when removing them. The magnetic liner is highly pigmented and easy to apply.
Promising review: "I’m so impressed!!!! I wanted to try these because you don’t need glue, and honestly, I wasn't sure how well they’d work. I’m amazed... they stayed on all day long, attached to the eyeliner. I’m completely sold and would recommend them!" —Orasa R.
Get the four sets of lashes (the Best of the Best set), along with magnetic liner, from Glamnetic for $97.77 (originally $162.95). Shop all the kits here.
Glamnetic is an Asian woman-owned brand based in Los Angeles.
33. Start by dotting your eyeliner, then simply connect the dots to make creating a cat-eye with liquid liner much simpler.
34. If you prefer, go for a waterproof, smudge-proof eyeliner stamp that features two sides: a triangular stamp on one end and a felt-tip eyeliner on the other. This combination lets you create the perfect winged liner in no time, meaning you’ll never be late again!
Purchase a two-pack on Amazon (one for each eye) for $14.97 (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "I loved this product! Normally, it takes me 15 minutes to do my eyeliner perfectly for dance recitals, including redoing it multiple times. With this eyeliner, I completed it in just five minutes, in one go. It stayed on all day, even in hot weather, and looked great from a distance. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves eye makeup." —rasu
35. Easily fix any stray eyeliner or mascara smudges (or even create a cut crease eyeshadow look effortlessly) with the brilliant Almay cotton swab, filled with oil-free makeup remover, giving you the most precise control for every stroke.
36. Tightline your lashes by using a pencil or brush to fill in the spaces between your lashes to prevent that annoying gap between your liner and lashes. It also creates the illusion of fuller lashes.
Discover more about this technique at Painted Ladies.
37. To create a cat-eye effect on monolids that won't get lost in the crease, simply position the shadow higher up on your eyelid.
For a full tutorial, visit Working With Monolids.
38. Prevent eyeshadow fallout and/or perfect your eyeliner wing or smokey cat-eye look with a reusable silicone eye makeup shield. Once you're finished, simply rinse it clean. For an extra soothing effect, you can even chill it in the fridge!
39. Apply a white priming base beneath vibrant eyeshadows to ensure your pigments stay true to their intended color.
40. For a fast and simple eyeshadow look, draw a hashtag shape in the outer corner of your eye with an eyeliner or eyeshadow pencil and blend it well.
41. Alternatively, try a foolproof eyeshadow contour kit that includes a primer, three highly pigmented shades, and a shimmering topcoat — plus a numbered guide to make achieving a stunning eye look easier than ever before.
42. *Alternatively*, skip the powders and pencils entirely and choose a liquid shadow that you can simply dab on and blend with your fingers — the quickest and cleanest way to achieve a sparkling, glittery look without any fallout.
Glossier's Lid Star eyeshadows are absolutely gorgeous and designed for effortless application! Whenever I'm feeling lazy but craving a little bit of ~sparkle~, these are my go-to.
Purchase them from Glossier for $18 each (available in eight shades).
Promising review: "This eyeshadow is beautiful! You can adjust the color intensity depending on how much you apply. It glides on smoothly and stays in place all day with no powdery fallout under your eyes. It’s subtle yet enhances your look. I absolutely love it!" —Reenie
43. If you're using powder eyeshadows, make sure to fully remove one color from your brush before applying the next; simply wipe it on this brush-cleaning sponge so that your makeup blends seamlessly without any stray marks.
44. Keep your eye makeup intact all day and night with a popular setting spray, like NYX’s cult-favorite setting spray, which offers long-lasting power without breaking the bank.
