Makeup for Beginners
You may have gone shopping for new beauty products only to end up feeling totally confused because of so many options available in the market. As a result, you may be wondering whether you really need to apply bronzer and contour, the difference between eyebrow gel and eyebrow pencil. At the end of the shopping spree, you may take home a few items or, worse still, none.
If this defines you, then you shouldn't worry because you're not alone. The good news is that we've got you covered, whether you're passionate about the latest trends or never created contoured beauty before.
We will school you with this ultimate beginner's guide to make up, which contains a brief history of makeup, tips and tricks of a flawless finish, makeup techniques and products as well as blunders to avoid when applying your makeup.
Estimated reading time: 14 min
Table of Contents
Brief Makeup History
Throughout history, people have been using makeup to enhance their beauty during ceremonial rituals, beauty adornment, or other interesting reasons.
For instance, the ancient Egyptians made their cosmetics from copper and lead ore while others were innovative such as the use of berries to darken women's lips or ashes of burnt matches to darken their eyes, among others.
Although the ancient world's women were uneducated, they went to extreme lengths to enhance their appearance despite their limited knowledge about safe beauty practices. For instance, some homemade cosmetics included the use of arsenic, leeches, lead and mercury to get a pale beauty that was considered appropriate.
Liquid eyeliner or kohl was considered as a bug repellant rather than a beauty tool in ancient Egypt. Since women were not allowed to perform on stage in ancient Greece, young male performers wore eye makeup and wigs while performing female roles. Wealthy Phoenician women and men of the culture wore powdered metals like gold dust on the eyelids and face.
Elizabeth 1 of England removed her eyebrow, high shaved her hairline and applied pigment powder on her skin to disguise skin discoloration and hair loss from disease. This early 17th-century makeup activity was interrupted by the French, who termed it England's way of distinguishing the socially elite and royalty.
Today’s threading was adopted from ancient Egyptians that used a very fine piece of string to remove a huge amount of hair at ago. At the turn of the century, women graduated from no makeup to intensely colored lips and eyes in the 20s and 30s. Actually, cosmetic technology has grown immensely courtesy of Max Factor. This man created makeup products to be used in films by Hollywood stars as well as the general public. The Polish immigrant-owned company specialized in making makeup items and had his name spread throughout the world. Factor invented the term "Makeup," and today, the brand is the pioneer of many modern techniques.
Further, Today’s women have an unlimited supply of safe products like eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, powders, foundation and so on because there is a direct link between safety, general health and beauty needs.
There are many sources of makeup trends such as political movements, fashion, social trends, music and celebrities. It's also evident that makeup trends are like fashion, for they reemerge in cycles after a certain number of years since the start of the 20th century. They are also given new life through reinterpretation and styling.
Eyeshadow is one part of makeup that has undergone remarkable transformations. The smoky eyeshadow look was highly popular in the roaring 20s while American women were inundated in the 30s with eyeshadow with different colors such as soft pink and green. The 70s were characterized by eyeshadow with a rainbow appearance or one with various colors. The modern eyeshadow has countless colors and finishes.
The makeup and cosmetic industry is ranked among the multi-billion sectors moving the global economy. For that reason, governments regulate the types of products being used in cosmetics in order to ensure consumers' safety across the world. People are using more makeup today than ever before because it consists of skin-safe ingredients, increasing the demand for beauty products. Thus, it's expected that the world of makeup and cosmetics will keep on evolving.
Makeup Products for Beginners
There are thousands of beauty products on offer, and this can be slightly overwhelming. It's true even for certified beauty professionals deciding what products will help them t up their game. The following are basics for makeup beginners and a brief explanation of the purpose of each item.
a) Complexion products
These include products such as;
Blush: It's used to create a sexy, flushed look by adding color. Blush is applied after your foundation and powder, and it can be either cream, liquid or powder.
Bronzer: The skincare product offers a sunkissed glow illusion and warms up the face. Bronzers are similar to contour, but they offer a warm undertone such as orange, thus, more natural-looking. You should dust the bronzer on the bridge of the nose, across the cheekbones and on the forehead.
Concealer: The product is ideal for concealing dark circles and brightening the undereye, covering marks or blemishes, helps with snatch and contours the face. They are available in medium and full coverage formula as well as offers dewy, matte or radiant finish.
Contour: It creates shadows on your face in order to help chisel and sculpt your features. A beginner should use powder because it's quick and easy, while crème and liquid formulas are excellent options for creating more natural contour. Alternatively, you can layer products by starting with cream contour and finishing with powder. An illusion of shadow is created by the contour formulas that tend to have a cool greyish-brownish undertone.
Foundation: The goal of applying foundation is to even out and smoothen your complexion. You should consider the amount of coverage your foundation application should have. For instance, light coverage offers a thin veil and suitable for individuals who appreciate a natural look or those that want freckles to appear through their makeup. On the other hand, a full-coverage foundation provides a thicker consistency and an excellent option for masking the acne, acne scars, or pigmentation.
Highlighter: The primary purpose of applying highlighter is to bring out the high points on your face through a glowing, dewy finish. The shimmery formula is available as either as a cream, liquid or in powder form.
Primer: It offers an even base for your makeup application, thus helping it to last longer. More so, based on its type, a primer can hydrate the skin, balance redness, protect it from free radicals and diminish the likelihood of pores appearance. Primers can also give you different finishes, such as dewy or matte, that cater to your skin type. Remember that primers are only applied after SPF and skincare routine.
Setting powder: It can be skin-tone-colored or translucent powder. It is used after applying the foundation to set the makeup in place, thus preventing it from being patchy during the day. There are different formulas that you can use to mattify, brighten or control oil. Further, you apply setting powder under the eyes to bake the area, thus giving it a brightening finish as well as setting concealer to prevent it from creasing.
b) Blow Products
They include products such as;
Brow Gel: You use a brow gel to keep your unruly brows in place, add to their thickness or definition, especially when using a tinted one.
Brow Pencil: It's an excellent option for mimicking your real hairs as well as creating a natural brow. You should opt for a pencil with a finer tip to help you be more precise.
Brow Pomade: The waxy formula gives you a more defined brow and keeps your brows in place. Pomade is available in small pots and applied using a small angled brush.
Brow Powder: You can get fuller, thicker brows using a brow powder or use it to fill in sparse areas to create a natural finish.
c) Eye Makeup
Eyeshadow: It's a colored powder with a matte, shimmering, glittery or duo-chrome finish. Consider the pigment-payoff (how bold its color is) when buying your eyeshadow because you will use less product when it's more pigmented, but you will be required to blend it more.
Liquid Eyeshadow: The super-long-wearing eyeshadow that sets to a powder finish, although it's in liquid form. It can be water-resistant and last longer.
Eyeshadow Primer: It's used to create an even base for the application of eyeshadow, thus helping the color pop throughout the day.
Gel liner: The creamy formula is available in a small pot and applied using a small angled brush. Although it's difficult to apply it compared to liquid liner, gel liner lasts longer.
Liquid Eyeliner: It's a highly pigmented liquid formula applied using a small brush or a felt tip applicator. Opt for a precise applicator because it has a more fluid, and it's easier to apply.
Pencil Liner: The soft pencil is available in a ton of colors. These liners are ideal for the lower lash line.
Mascara: The standard or waterproof formula gives you thicker, fuller lashes. You can use plastic wands to separate or lengthen the lashes. Further, natural bristle brushes are useful in thickening and adding more drama.
d) Lip Products
Lipstick: It has a creamy formula and is presented in a bullet-shaped format. They are available in shiny or matte finish as well as sheer or full coverage.
Liquid Lipstick: It's available in a tube and applied using a doe-foot applicator. The liquid formula makes the lining and shaping of your lips easy. The formula lasts longer compared to the classic lipstick and dries faster, giving you a matte finish.
Lip Liner: You use a lip pencil to line your lips after applying lipstick, thus preventing it from bleeding. Further, it can contour your lips, thus giving it a fuller pout appearance and help it to last longer. Alternatively, you can use the lip liner before applying your lipstick to shape your lips and smoothen the process.
Lip gloss: It's a liquid formula with an intense shine. Lip gloss can give you a plumping effect and is either clear, colored or shimmery.
Basic Makeup Tools for Beginners
There are different products that you can blend into your face to achieve a flawless-looking face. However, you can't achieve this without specific makeup tools. The following are some of the essential grooming items that each woman should have. They will help you to blend your foundation as well as curl your eyelashes.
a) Makeup Sponge
They include;
Beauty Blender Sponge: A damp sponge is used to apply liquid foundation, thus giving you a light, natural finish. Many beauty editors, makeup artists, as well as the general makeup-enthusiasts population, prefer the iconic pink egg-shaped sponge. You can achieve a skin flawless skin when applying a coat of gel, liquid or cream formulas using a soft latex-free foam ball while other options will it looking coated and clumpy.
Triangle Sponge: They are available in different shapes and sizes and used to apply liquid foundation. The sharp-edged one is recommended for the application of concealers.
b) Makeup Brushes
A brush is a vital tool when applying makeup. For instance, brushes are essential tools for blending, and the size, texture and shape of this tool determine the amount of powder that will be picked up and how the product will blend on your face.
To achieve a natural, softer blend, you will need natural hair bristles. Bigger brushes for the eyebrow, powder and blusher should be soft to allow them to sweep gently across the face without scratching your skin. Synthetic brushes are more durable, cheaper, and stiffer than the natural ones, which are softer but more costly.
The following are 7 basic must-have brushes for your makeup routine.
Powder Brush: It's a soft, big and fluffy suitable for picking up light, loose powder dusting. This type of brush is able to evenly distribute powder on your face due to its big round head. It’s also useful when blending and dusting off excess powder.
Blusher Brush: The brush has a dense, medium-sized head thus used when seeking a more concentrated shade or applying blusher powder.
Full Eyeshadow Brush: It’s a full, flat brush used for the shimmer and matte eyeshadows application, blending eyeshadow colors as well as applying highlighter. You need two eyeshadow brushes for lighter colors and darker colors.
Small Eyeshadow Brush: It’s a small, firm brush that gives your eyeliner a concentrated shade. Use the brush when applying eyeshadow on the lower lash line or give your eyes a softer look when smudging eyeliner powder.
Flat-Head Concealer Brush: It’s a short, flat brush used when concealing dark under-eye circles and blemishes.
Tiny Concealer Brush: This small brush has few bristles, making it a perfect choice for concealing spots, freckles, uneven skin surface and pimples.
Eyebrow Brush: It’s a firm brush with angled bristles that can double as an eyeliner brush or apply eyebrow powder.
You can use a dual sponge-tipped applicator in place of eyeshadow brushes. Other optional brushes are a fan-shaped brush, highlighter brush, angled blush brush, foundation brush, eyeshadow blending brush, sponge-tipped applicator, lip brush, lash brush, and eyeliner brush.
c) A Grooming Kit
It comprises of the following key items.
Tweezers: It can be angled or flat for plucking eyebrows or pointed tips for removing ingrown hairs.
Eyebrow Razor: You can either have your eyebrows plucked or shaved using a razor. One advantage of this option is that the brows are able to grow to their natural thickness again.
Sharp-Tipped Scissors: These are small stainless steel scissors for trimming your eyebrow.
Eyelash Glue: It's used to fix false eyelashes or to keep an unruly eyebrow in place.
False lashes: There are different types of false lashes available in the market.
Eye Curler: Metal curlers are preferable than plastic ones because they have a better grip. Some are more deeply curved for individuals with bigger eyes, while others have a shorter width. Therefore, you select an eye curler that will allow you to grip all lashes, including those growing on the inner and outer sides of your eyes.
Brush Cleaner: It's a vital tool that cleans and dries all types of brushes in seconds. You should regularly clean your brushes to keep them clean and reduce the likelihood of skin infection due to a buildup of bacteria and germs. They are also better than other traditional cleaning methods that are time-consuming and leaves your brushes wet for an extended period.
Sharpener: It’s in sharpening pencils into different thicknesses. Opt for a sharpener with two holes than a single one.
Makeup Tips for Beginners
Getting into makeup as a beginner goes beyond stocking your vanity with a wide range of latest and greatest products in the market. It involves getting familiar with different makeup techniques and tools. You’re also expected to master various makeup looks. The following are the makeup basics that each beginner should be aware of.
1. Understand Your Skin Type
There are different products for dry and oily skin. Thus your skin type determines the kind of makeup formulas you should use. For that reason, you should apply makeup formulas that work well with your complexion. You should use matte products for oily skin and hydrating formulas for dry skin.
2. Know Your Skin Color
You may have realized that some of your clothing colors look better on you than others due to your skin tone. The same concept applies to your makeup. Thus different makeup shades will be more flattering depending on your eye color, skin tone and hair color.
3.The Quality of the Products
It’s important to invest in superior or best beauty products. However, this doesn't mean that you should spend a lot of money. Instead, you should opt for the top drugstore products.
4. Invest in the Right Tools
The right tools should accompany high-quality products. The combination will create a seamless, blended makeup look or appearance. That means that you should line your makeup bag with appropriate face to eye makeup tools such as applicators, sponges and brushes.
5. Keep Your Tools Always Clean
Your makeup brushes and sponges become dirty after each use; thus, you should clean them before your next application. The benefit of keeping your tools clean is that you avoid skin breakouts caused by dirty brushes, and it makes your makeup application process smooth.
6. Begin With Makeup Primer
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced person, your makeup look should begin with a makeup primer. That means it should be the initial step before engaging in your makeup routine. One of the advantages of using a makeup primer is that it makes the application process smooth and lasts all day.
7. Finalize With Setting Spray
The last step in your makeup routine should be setting spray. The spritzes keep you looking fresh and help it last whole day and night or have a "just applied" appearance.
8.Don’t Ignore Your Brows
It’s important to perfect your eye shadow and foundation when applying your makeup. However, don't skip your brows for groomed, filled-in brows can have a powerful effect. Thus maintain your brows even when you opt for a no-makeup routine.
Steps to Applying Your Makeup like a Pro
Skin Prepping
Any makeup application is preceded by washing and moisturizing your face. You should cleanse and prep with the right moisturizer for your skin type to help the makeup lay properly. Otherwise, a skin that is not properly prepped will not give you an even flawless finish. For instance, the foundation will appear heavy and gravitate to your complexion's dry parts, and the concealer will get cakey.
Select the Right Primer
Different primers have different results; thus, for best results, go for the right primer for your skin type. Primers should be applied in fine, sheer layers; otherwise, a heavy hand will cause the primer to ball or pill. Focus on the T-zone or the forehead, cheeks and chin for it blurs or mattify them for they are the oiliest parts of the face.
Apply Foundation and Concealer
You can begin applying your makeup once your skin is prepped and primed. Normally you start with foundation followed by concealer; however, there are instances where it's recommended to apply concealer first.
Begin by dabbing your T-zone with some dots of foundation followed by blending it in using the foundation brush, thus a natural finish. A brush makes the application process easier and quicker compared to a sponge or young fingers. Thus the best option for beginners or any women seeking to simplify their makeup routine.
The next step is to apply concealer, which covers dark spots and blemishes, particularly around the nostrils and under the eyes. The best way of concealing these weaknesses is by dabbing rather than dragging. That means you should spot apply the makeup on the affected parts and then carry out a light dab with a concealer brush, ring finger or sponge.
Use an inverted triangle under the eyes, which is an excellent foolproof technique that brightens the whole face, giving you a gorgeous glow.
Put on the Setting Powder
Use a velvet puff or a brush when applying the setting powder. You can tap it first to remove excess powder, thus ensuring that it’s even before dabbing it on your complexion. Press it on your face to avoid moving your makeup during the process.
Your main focus should be on the T-zone, for these are the areas that may need a touch-up in the course of the day.
Don’t Ignore Highlight and Contour
While contour is available in cream, liquid and powder formulas, the latter is foolproof thus suitable for beginners. You should use an angled brush to create dimension on focus areas. You can begin under the jawline first, followed by under the cheekbones, on the sides of the nose and around your hairline.
It takes a little longer to perfect contour; however, they make a huge difference, especially in photos. You can practice the idea of contouring using a bronzer, especially a non-orange matte or beigey bronzer. Apply it under the jawline, the perimeter of your forehead and on the sides of your cheeks similarly to contour.
Highlighter is applied on the high points of your face that are usually hit by the sun. These are cheekbones, eyebrow arch, as well as the bridge of the nose. Blending it very well will offer you a realistic dimension. There are different highlighter; however, powder highlighter is the most ideal for you as a beginner.
Begin by dipping the brush in the powder highlighter and tap it take out the extra powder, then glide it lightly over the areas you want to highlight.
Bronzing and Blushing
It's advisable to use a bronzer that is a shade or two darker than your regular skin complexion. Use a brush to blend bronzer on your cheekbones, jawline and around your hairline using circular, sweeping motions to achieve a flawless finish. Your sunkissed glow can't be complete without dusting the bridge of your nose.
For a blush, select a hue that highlights your skin's natural undertone. For instance, apply blush using circular motions on the apples of your cheeks (the area that forms when you smile). A brush will help you create a subtle, natural-looking flush, and the circular motions will help it blend as you apply.
Eye Makeup
It’s up to you to choose your eye makeup because each choice is based on where you’re headed. For instance, a natural makeup look is the best option for an office day but not for a sexy date night, so a smoky eye will do.
Eye makeup is also influenced by what you’re planning to wear. Thus, use your eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara to match your mood and create a perfect glam.
Give your brows adequate attention. Use different products such as gels, powders or pencils to enhance their natural shape or make them appear fuller. The pencil will mimic the real hair leaving them looking natural. Brow powder will fill in sparse spots while brow gel will lock your unruly brows.
Lip Makeup
Prep your lips the same way you did to the face. You can begin with a lip primer followed with a lip liner that outlines your mouth. Contour your lips and slightly line over them to create a larger pout illusion.
Following the above expert tips will take your makeup routine to a higher level. However, you need the right products, tools and a little practice.
Eyeliner Guide for Beginners
Perfectly lined eyes can leave you looking classy; on the other hand, a wrong one can cause you to appear like pandas. Although pandas are cute, they won't look nice on your eyes, especially when attending a function.
Therefore, it’s important to have basic knowledge of applying makeup, and you can learn the technique through practice if you love doing so.
You need to have items such as eyeliner, a brush, primer and concealer when applying eyeliner. Eyeliners are available in different forms, such as gel eyeliner, liquid eyeliner, and pencil eyeliner.
The following is a step by step tutorial of applying eyeliner perfectly.
Prep Your Eyes
Many people tend to overlook this initial step, yet it's the most important one. You should cleanse your face first, then apply moisturizer and eye cream. The cream is essential because it evens any discoloration or redness near the eyes as well as prevent premature wrinkles around this area.
Create a Clean Base
Apply the primer under the eyes, on the eyelid and around the eye region to be covered by makeup. This procedure is geared towards making the skin around the eye smoother, thus an easy application of makeup. It also helps your makeup to last longer and have a flawless finish.
Additionally, apply a concealer under the eyes and on top of your eyelid as well as set it using a setting powder.
Apply the Eyeliner
Use a brush to apply the eyeliner. Begin with the line above the lashes where you use small strokes and lines to avoid messing. You can build it up until you're satisfied with it. Do the same on the second eye, and try to keep it symmetrical as much as you. This is a basic eyeliner application, but you may go a notch higher, follow the natural line and wing out.
Complete the Look
Line your lower lash line using a pencil liner and apply some mascara. This is the last step that completes your look.
Tips for Applying the Eyeliner like a Pro
1. Rest your elbow on a table or vanity when applying your makeup to make it steady, thus creating a clean and precise finish.
2. Use a cosmetic mirror because it has double sides. One side is magnified while the other is normal. The magnified one gives you a closer look, thus s cleaner finish.
3. Face downwards when applying your liner to avoid getting the shape wrong.
Highlighting and contouring guide for Beginners
The world's beauty fanatics now endorse highlighting and contouring due to the influence of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, who regularly share their makeup secrets on social media. Thus makeup lovers are using highlights and contours to create a flawless look.
To achieve that, you need powder, foundation and concealer at least a shade or two darker and lighter than your skin tone, blending sponge or brush, illuminators and highlighters. Setting spray and translucent powder are essential, although optional.
Establish the Shape of Your Face
You need to establish the shape of your face before highlighting and contouring. Each shape has a unique highlight and contour placement. Thus is your face oval, long, round, square, heart or diamond?
Contouring
Use foundation, powder, or cream-based products when contouring. You can use a single item or combine the three. Use a lighter concealer one to two shades to highlight specific areas such as the bridge of the nose, under the eyes, chin and the middle of your forehead.
The darker concealer should be used to add more depth in areas such as the jawline, sides of your nose, the temples, the hollows of your cheeks and the forehead perimeter. Other areas that you can contour are the neck and eyes.
Blending
This is one of the easiest but crucial processes in makeup application. It helps you to blend out what you have done in the previous steps because contouring should have a natural look as much as possible.
You need a beauty blender sponge or brush to blend and conclude this step by setting your makeup using a translucent powder to prevent it from getting wiped off easily. However, only set your makeup when you use foundation or cream to contour but not when using powder.
Highlighting
Highlighting or strobing another favorite beauty step for makeup lovers. You highlight using any shade or color and can be liquid, creams, powders or baked products.
You highlight the bridge and tip of the nose, cheekbones, cupids, bow, and chin as well as above the temples. Additionally, you can touch your brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes.
Highlighters are supposed to create a dewy effect or simply add a bit of sparkle, thus brightening your face.
Tips for highlighting
Although it's not a must, you use the setting spray; it's highly recommended to help your makeup last the entire day, looking natural but not cakey. Thus, you can add it to your makeup item.
Eyeshadow for Beginners
Eyeshadow application is one of the intimidating parts of makeup. You have to decide on the color and the kind of brushes to use. Poor choice of these two items can cause you to look like a Halloween party attendee.
The main purpose of applying eyeshadow is to add depth and dimension to your eyes. The secret to an excellent look lies in a proper blending of colors. Thus you can have a cut crease, smokey eye, glitter and so on. The good news is that this foolproof guide will help you to apply your eyeshadow like an expert.
First of all, you need eyeshadow, a fluffy blending eyeshadow brush, mascara, false eyelashes and brown kohl line.
Prepping
Create a fresh base by applying an eyeshadow primer to your lids. This will help your eye makeup to last the whole day.
Apply a Nude Base
Use your fluffy blending eyeshadow brush when applying the nude shadow. The purpose is to increase the longevity and intensity of your preferred colors.
Improve the Crease
You enhance the crease using medium brown –toned eyeshadow. Add color on your lower lash line using a fluffy blending brush and blend it properly towards the outer corners.
Apply Color
Add some color such as dark burgundy stretching from the outer corners beyond the crease and onto the lower lash line. A fluffy brush is ideal for it smokes out the color and blends the shadow well.
Make a Gradient
You create a gradient using nude eyeshadow that you had used previously to make a softer effect, which is achieved when you blend out the burgundy eyeshadow edges.
Define the Lower Lashline
Use a brown kohl pencil on the waterline and smudge it in to create a gorgeous smokey effect.
Double Up Your Lashes
You can create a glamorous effect using a pair of falsies, and on your lower lashes, use a heavy coat of mascara to balance the upper and lower sides. Complete the rest of your makeup by adding bronzer, highlighter and lipstick.
Tips for Eyeshadow Application
1. Prepping your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer is essential; however, you can create your makeshift primer using a concealer and then top that up with translucent powder.
2. Always finish your eye makeup first before proceeding with your bade makeup. This will allow you to clean eyeshadow that fell under or around the eyes without spoiling the base makeup.
3. Keep your brushes clean for a better transition.
Makeup Books for Beginners
You can study the art of makeup by reading books authored by skilled beauty professionals. The following are some of the best makeup books for beauty lovers.
Bobby Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro
The book is written by an artist, and she delves deeper into face makeup basics, the tools you need as well as the industry secrets.
Everything Eyes by Bobbi Brown
In this book, Brown focuses on eye makeup, thus offering you an in-depth insight into products, tools and techniques that can help you perfect the look of your eyes.
Face Forward by Kevyn Aucoin
This is a step by step guide that helps you to recreate particular celebrity looks. You would need some makeup basics if you were to benefit from this book.
Face Paint: The Story of Makeup by Lisa Eldridge
The author provides the chronicles of face painting and the history of commercial makeup we see today. The author goes back to Egyptian and Classical times.
Jemma Kidd Make-Up Secrets: Solutions to Every Woman’s Beauty Issues and Make-Up Dilemmas
The book is broken into two parts. The first part covers various makeup products and how you can apply them. The other parts address some of the beauty dilemmas and how to solve them.
Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin
The author discusses the basics of applying makeup and offers amazing tips and tricks vital for beginners. Further, Aucoin helps you to put some techniques into practice that trains you to create different looks.
Makeup Masterclass by Robert Jones
Jones offers thorough explanations and plenty of photos, helping both beginners and pros understand makeup application precisely. Further, the book covers makeup for various age groups, helping mature beauty lovers continue having the best faces as they age. The author has a huge wealth of experience working with celebrities and writing numerous books.
Makeup Mistakes to Avoid
It will take you a lot of experimentation to get your makeup right. Thus you need to ready for hours of struggling in front of your mirror as you try to create a flawless look. The internet is full of inspiration from different celebrities' mulberry obsession or bronzed cheeks. However, not everything will look good on you or meant for you.
The following are makeup faux pas that you should avoid as much as possible.
i. Applying Makeup on an Unwashed Face
The first and foremost step in makeup application is cleansing and washing your face. However, you should avoid over-washing your face because doing so will cause your skin to appear dry and flaky when you apply foundation. Thus wash your face in the morning and at night using a mild, gentle cleanser.
ii. Applying Makeup on a Dry Skin
This is one of the greatest makeup mistakes a woman can make. You need to understand that every good thing is built on a solid foundation, and this also applies to beauty. Thus have your face properly moisturized and hydrated before you begin your makeup application.
iii. Applying Makeup in the Wrong Lighting
Test all makeup products in natural lighting; otherwise, unnatural lighting causes the products to look flattering. Thus select the products that suit you best when tested in natural lighting.
iv. Poor Blending Techniques
Wrong blending can cause a neutral shade to appear out of place. Thus it’s crucial to master the art of blending in order to have a natural looking makeup. You can invest in good brushes, read tutorials online, watch makeup videos, plus a lot of practice.
v. Over Applying Foundation
Some women apply too much foundation causing their makeup to appear cakey and worse still, like a clown in costume. You can actually apply foundation on certain parts of your face such as the nose, cheeks, and under-eye areas instead of the entire face. Use concealer to cover blemishes instead of foundation and select the right shade to match your skin tone. A lighter foundation accentuates fine lines and blemishes; thus, use the right shade to get that flawless face.
vi. Eyebrow Nightmare
Ensure your eyebrows are neatly shaped because bushy ones look unkempt while tadpole-shaped changes the look entirely. Thus practice shaping your eyebrows professionally.
vii. Mascara Disaster
Use mascara that is two shades darker than the color of your eyebrow color. Further, applying beyond two mascara coats causes the eyelashes to look too clumpy. Also, replace your mascara every 3-4 months to avoid creating a clumpy look on your lashes.
viii. Sticky Lipstick Color
Lipstick is one makeup item that can make or break your looks. It's recommended to stick to natural colors and those that suit your skin tone. For instance, dark shades may appear tacky and create a much older look than you actually are. Alternatively, you can make the rest of your makeup light and blend it with a dark-colored lipstick.
ix. Face Powder Mess
Face powder is meant to lock your entire makeup and prevent the shiny look. This makeup product can also make you look aged as it emphasizes wrinkles and fine lines. Therefore, use face powder on your T-zone and limit its use as you age.
x. Sleeping with Makeup On
Nobody should go to bed with makeup on. Thus remove all traces of makeup before going to bed to keep your skin healthy. Failure to clean your face exposes the skin to infections and acne.
xi. Matching Your Makeup with Your Outfits
The art of matching items has been in use for several years; however, the practice can cause your look to appear tacky. Makeup artists have several tips or tricks of matching your makeup and clothes without looking like you're attending a Halloween party.
For instance, you can opt for a neutral palette makeup when wearing vibrant clothes or a classic smoky eye for a metallic wardrobe.
xii.Wearing Too Much Glitter is a Big NO
While shimmer is fun for it sets the mood for the festivities, you should avoid dipping your face in glitters.
xiii. Omitting Primer
Omitting primer will cause your makeup to fade, bleed or shine. Keep your makeup intact throughout the day by beginning the process with a primer.
Parting Shot
Things might seem a bit overwhelming now that you're getting into makeup. You need to stock your vanity with the latest makeup products, familiarize yourself with tools and techniques, and master several makeups looks.
The ultimate beginner's guide to makeup will help you get started and enjoy the journey. Start practicing today, and within no time, you will master that celebrity look that you admire so much.
