Wing eye, contouring, highlighter… if these words don’t make sense to you, you might be a makeup beginner. There are millions of techniques and guides out there to help you with makeup application, but they can be overwhelming and hard to follow if you’re new to makeup.
For makeup newbies, there are a few simple strategies you can use to easily and effectively apply makeup. We’ll cover how to apply makeup to your face, eyes, and lips for beginners so read on for the ultimate guide!
Where Do I Start?
If you think of makeup as wearable art, then your face is your canvas. As every artist knows, you can’t begin until the canvas is prepped and ready! We need to start by getting your skin ready for makeup application.
Wash Your Face
You might be rolling your eyes right now, but trust us; this is important! Make sure your face is thoroughly cleansed before you start with makeup application.
Most people wash their face at the end of the day, but if you’re applying makeup in the morning consider adding a morning rinse as well. Any leftover makeup from the day before will make the new makeup uneven and won’t allow for seamless application.
Using lukewarm water, gently apply a cleanser in a circular motion across your face. With your fingertips, rub the cleanser into your face for 20-30 seconds, being careful not to rub too hard. Once done, rinse your face and pat dry with a towel. Now you’re fresh and clean!
Moisturize Your Face
We all know dry skin isn’t comfortable, but do you know how it affects your makeup? If your skin is dry, dry patches and cracks can form and your makeup will not be able to evenly apply. Clumpy, uneven makeup is not the look we’re going for so we need to moisturize our skin!
After cleaning your face, apply a pea-size portion of moisturizer to your hands. Warm it up in your hands to apply much more smoothly. Once done, gently apply to the face in circular motions.
Pay attention to which areas of your skin get driest, as you might need to apply a second layer there. Remember—moisturized skin is healthy skin and healthy skin is goals!
How Do I Apply Makeup To My Eyes?
It’s time to start applying makeup! Some people like to start with foundation and face makeup, but a great trick for beginners is to start with your eyes. This way if any eyeshadow falls off or gets smeared, you can remove it without removing any face makeup. How’s that for a genius trick?
Prime Your Eyes
Smeared or bumpy eyeshadow is not in, so make sure you don’t skip eyeshadow primer. Similar to other primers, eyeshadow primer helps smooth out the appearance of any wrinkles or imperfections on your eyelids, allowing an easy eyeshadow application.
Eyeshadow primer is extremely important when it comes to making your eyeshadow last longer. Without primer, the normal oils on your eyelids can smudge the shadow and ruin your look, but primer can act as a barrier that helps prevent oils from getting to the shadow. If you’re going to take the time to apply eyeshadow, make sure it lasts all day!
Apply Eyeshadow
Grab an eyeshadow palette for an easy way to ensure the colors go together. Starting with the light color as a base, apply eyeshadow all over your eyelid.
Use a darker color to add depth to your eyes. Apply this color to the crease of your eye to add depth and make your eyes pop. Be sure to gently shake off any excess color before applying as we definitely don’t want this spilling all over!
If any loose eyeshadow falls to your face or ends up outside the edges of your eyes, don’t panic. Take a tissue and gently blot it off. If you need something stronger, a little bit of micellar water will take it off without damaging your skin. Crisis averted!
Apply Mascara
Now that your shadow is done, we want to apply a quick coat of mascara to make sure your eyes are popping. Start by applying an eyelash primer to make your lashes look thicker and fuller. Primers can be white, clear, or other colors so don’t be alarmed when you first apply. Luckily the color of your mascara will cover this right up.
Pick a mascara that’s designed to go with your primer and apply it starting at the base of your lashes. Make a slight wiggling motion back and forth to help curl your lashes as you apply. Repeat for another coat or two until your lashes are flirty and fabulous!
How Do I Apply Makeup to My Face?
Now that your eyes are on fleek, let’s focus on your face! You might have heard of contouring, but we’re going to skip this advanced technique and focus on the basics for now.
Foundation
The very first step in face makeup is to apply foundation. Foundation should be applied first because it helps even out your skin tone. You won’t know what areas of your face need a little extra love until you see what magic is worked by the foundation!
To apply foundation, use a brush and put a few dots on your face, starting at the center and working outwards. Grab a damp makeup sponge and dab the foundation over your face to blend it in.
Be careful to dab without smearing or smudging! You’ll also want to ensure the line between your face and neck is smooth. A harsh makeup line is not what we want!
Concealer
After your foundation is on, take a look at your face and see what areas you want to accentuate. Do you have redness around your nose, dark circles under your eyes, or a blemish that’s still peaking out? Concealer to the rescue!
Pick a concealer color that’s slightly lighter than your foundation. A yellow-tinted concealer can help brighten dark circles, and a green-tinted concealer will help hide the appearance of redness and blemishes.
Draw a triangle under your eyes with the tip pointing towards your nose. Use your (clean!) finger to gently dab the concealer into your skin and blend. If you’re covering a blemish, use the same technique but apply a small dot of concealer over the blemish.
Blush
Now that your base makeup is ready to go, let’s add a little rosiness to the cheeks! A little bit of blush can help brighten the appearance of your skin during those dark winter months and can help you look a little more refreshed and awake.
The goal with blush is to help draw attention to your cheekbones, making your face look slimmer. Apply a little bit of blush along your cheekbones or right under. Use an upward motion to blend into your skin. If you want a little more color, add a second coat, but be careful not to look like a clown!
How Do I Apply Makeup to My Lips?
We’re almost done with the beginner’s guide to makeup. Hopefully, you’re already feeling like a million bucks, but there’s one final step to seal the deal!
Prime Your Lips
Not only are chapped lips not comfortable, but they also won’t allow for easy lipstick application. Make sure your lips are moisturized before you apply lipstick. You can use a lip mask or lip balm to hydrate.
If applying a dark or deep shade of lipstick, consider using a lip primer as well. A primer will also help your lipstick stay longer. We know there’s nothing worse than smeared lipstick or leaving lipstick behind on your glass, so don’t skip the primer!
Apply Lipstick
There are many colors of lipstick to choose from. Pick a deep red, or dark cranberry if you want a more dramatic look. If you want a natural look, go for a coral or pink color.
Start by applying lipstick in the center of your lip and move outwards. Use a brush or a clean finger to ensure your lipstick is completely rubbed in and covers your whole lips.
Depending on the type of lipstick you use, you might want to apply a couple of coats for full coverage. Take a moment between each coat to smile and see how the lipstick looks. Double-check to make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth too.
You’re Basically a Pro Now
Are you totally wowed when you look in the mirror? You have a flawless face of makeup on with hardly any work!
Once you master these tips, you can experiment with different colors of eyeshadow, blush, or lipstick. You can also try incorporating eyeliner or lip liner into your routine for a more distinct look.
Whatever you decide to wear on your face, don’t be intimidated by makeup application. If you follow these techniques and go carefully, you’ll be an expert at face, eye, and lip makeup in no time!
Sources:
15 Rules To Wash Your Face | Healthline