Make up is a wonderful way to express yourself, enhance your features, and boost your confidence. But it can also be tricky to master, especially if you are new to it or want to try something different. That’s why we have compiled some of the best make up tips and tricks that will help you achieve a flawless and fabulous look. Whether you want to learn how to apply foundation, create a smokey eye, or contour your face, we have got you covered. Here are 14 make up tips and tricks that you need to know.
1. Prep your skin
Before you apply any make up, you need to prepare your skin for a smooth and even application. This means cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your face, as well as applying a primer to fill in any pores, fine lines, or blemishes. A primer will also help your make up last longer and prevent it from creasing or fading.
2. Choose the right foundation
Foundation is the base of your make up, so you want to make sure you choose the right shade, formula, and coverage for your skin type and tone. To find your perfect match, test the foundation on your jawline or neck, not on your hand or wrist. The foundation should blend seamlessly with your skin, without leaving any streaks or patches. You also want to consider the finish of the foundation, whether you prefer a matte, dewy, or natural look. For oily skin, a matte or oil-free foundation is ideal, while for dry skin, a hydrating or luminous foundation is better. For normal or combination skin, you can choose any finish you like.
3. Apply foundation with a sponge or brush
To apply foundation, you can use a sponge or a brush, depending on your preference and the type of foundation you are using. A sponge will give you a more natural and sheer coverage, while a brush will give you a more precise and full coverage. To use a sponge, dampen it slightly and dab the foundation on your face, blending it with bouncing motions. To use a brush, dot the foundation on your face and buff it in circular motions. Make sure you blend the foundation well, especially around your hairline, jawline, and ears.
4. Conceal your dark circles and blemishes
To hide any dark circles, spots, or redness, you need a good concealer that matches your skin tone and foundation. To conceal your dark circles, apply the concealer in a triangular shape under your eyes, extending it to the sides of your nose. To conceal your blemishes, apply the concealer directly on the spot and blend it with your finger or a small brush. To set the concealer and prevent it from creasing, you can apply a thin layer of translucent powder over it.
5. Set your foundation with powder
To make your foundation last longer and reduce any shine, you can set it with a powder. You can use a translucent powder for a natural look, or a tinted powder for more coverage. To apply the powder, use a large fluffy brush and lightly dust it all over your face, focusing on the T-zone. You can also use a smaller brush to set the areas where you applied concealer.
6. Define your brows
Your brows frame your face and can make a big difference in your overall look. To define your brows, you can use a brow pencil, powder, gel, or pomade, depending on the effect you want. To use a pencil, draw short and light strokes along the natural shape of your brows, filling in any gaps or sparse areas. To use a powder, use an angled brush and apply the powder in the same direction as your hair growth. To use a gel or pomade, use a spoolie brush and apply the product from the inner to the outer corner of your brows, following the arch. To finish, you can use a clear or tinted brow gel to set your brows and keep them in place.
7. Apply eyeshadow primer
To make your eyeshadow pop and last longer, you need to apply an eyeshadow primer on your eyelids. This will create a smooth and even base for your eyeshadow, as well as prevent it from creasing or fading. You can use a dedicated eyeshadow primer, or a concealer or foundation that matches your skin tone. To apply the primer, use your finger or a small brush and blend it all over your eyelid, up to your brow bone.
8. Choose the right eyeshadow colors
To choose the right eyeshadow colors for your eye color and shape, you need to consider the color wheel and the contrast. The color wheel is a tool that shows the relationship between colors, and how they complement or contrast each other. To make your eye color stand out, you can choose eyeshadow colors that are opposite to your eye color on the color wheel. For example, if you have blue eyes, you can use orange, copper, or gold eyeshadows. If you have brown eyes, you can use purple, green, or blue eyeshadows. If you have green eyes, you can use pink, red, or plum eyeshadows. To create depth and dimension, you can also use eyeshadow colors that are darker or lighter than your eye color, or that have different undertones.
9. Apply eyeshadow in three steps
To apply eyeshadow, you can follow these three simple steps: base, crease, and lid. First, apply a base color that matches your skin tone or is slightly lighter, all over your eyelid and up to your brow bone. This will help blend the other colors and create a smooth transition. Second, apply a crease color that is darker than your base color, on the outer half of your crease and blend it with a fluffy brush. This will create depth and definition. Third, apply a lid color that is brighter or more shimmery than your base color, on the center of your eyelid and blend it with a flat brush. This will create contrast and highlight.
10. Create a smokey eye
To create a smokey eye, you can use the same three steps as above, but with darker and more dramatic colors. You can use black, gray, brown, or any other dark color for your crease and lid, and a lighter or metallic color for your inner corner and brow bone. To make your smokey eye more intense, you can also apply a black eyeliner on your upper and lower lash line, and smudge it with a small brush or a cotton bud. To finish, apply a generous coat of mascara on your lashes.
11. Curl your lashes and apply mascara
To make your eyes look bigger and more awake, you can curl your lashes and apply mascara. To curl your lashes, use an eyelash curler and gently squeeze your lashes at the base, the middle, and the tip, holding for a few seconds each time. To apply mascara, wiggle the wand from the root to the tip of your lashes, coating them evenly. You can apply one or more coats, depending on the effect you want. You can also use a lash comb to separate your lashes and remove any clumps.
12. Apply blush and highlighter
To add some color and glow to your face, you can apply blush and highlighter. Blush will give you a healthy and natural flush, while highlighter will accentuate your features and make you look radiant. To apply blush, use a fluffy brush and smile to find the apples of your cheeks. Then, apply the blush on the apples and blend it upwards and outwards, towards your temples. You can use a pink, peach, or coral blush, depending on your skin tone and the look you want. To apply highlighter, use a fan brush or your finger and apply the highlighter on the high points of your face, such as your cheekbones, brow bone, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and chin. You can use a champagne, gold, or rose gold highlighter, depending on your skin tone and the look you want.
13. Contour your face
To sculpt and shape your face, you can contour your face. Contouring is the technique of using a darker color to create shadows and a lighter color to create highlights, to enhance or alter your facial features. To contour your face, you need a contour product that is two shades darker than your skin tone, and a highlight product that is two shades lighter than your skin tone. You can use a cream, powder, or stick product, depending on your preference and the type of foundation you are using. To apply the contour product, use an angled brush and apply it on the areas where you want to create shadows, such as your temples, cheekbones, jawline, and nose. To apply the highlight product, use a small brush or your finger and apply it on the areas where you want to create highlights, such as your forehead, under your eyes, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and chin. To blend the contour and highlight products, use a sponge or a brush and blend them with circular motions, until there are no harsh lines or edges.
14. Apply lipstick or gloss
To complete your make up look, you can apply lipstick or gloss on your lips. Lipstick will give you a more defined and polished look, while gloss will give you a more plump and shiny look.
To apply lipstick, you can use a lip liner to outline and fill in your lips, or apply the lipstick directly from the tube or with a lip brush. To apply gloss, you can use a wand or your finger and apply the gloss on top of your lipstick or on your bare lips. You can use any color or finish you like, depending on your mood and the look you want. Some popular choices are nude, pink, red, coral, berry, matte, glossy, or metallic.
And there you have it, 14 make up tips and tricks that will help you enhance your beauty and express your personality. Remember, make up is not a mask, but a tool to highlight your best features and have fun. Experiment with different colors, products, and techniques, and find what works best for you. And most importantly, enjoy the process and the results. You are beautiful, with or without make up.
