MAKEUP FOR BEGINNERS

WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE IN ANY MAKEUP ROUTINE?

Makeup is magical. It can brighten and highlight, while concealing any pesky imperfections. Makeup can boost your overall confidence and make you feel like the baddest b…-eautiful person walking! Makeup is super versatile and easy to apply but also long-lasting and a breeze to remove. Makeup is magical honey, and if you don’t know what it’s capable of by now, you’ll know when you’re done reading. Whether you’re completely new to makeup and searching for somewhere to start, or just tweaking your current routine, continue reading for a beginner’s guide on makeup!

MAKEUP 101

SKIN

Clean, dry skin is the best base for any, good makeup look. You want to make sure your skin isn’t inflamed or irritated before starting any new routine. Whether you’re treating skin conditions at home or with a dermatologist, make sure you are aware of the results of applying makeup on top of them. If you’re a beginner to skincare in general, try reading up on skin conditions and skin routines before jumping into makeup!

Pro Tip: Before indulging in makeup, you really need to know your skin! Applying any new products can cause irritation, reactions, breakouts, etc. To reduce the likelihood of any possible mishaps, get familiar with your skin type and your skin concerns.

Did you know that makeup is regulated by the FDA in similar ways that food and beverages are?

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FACE

PRIMER

Now this step is completely optional, especially since I don’t always prime my skin before makeup application. Sometimes your moisturizer or toner can act as a primer for makeup, so you won’t need to actually use a primer. Primers usually give skin a dry, matte base, which makes it easier to apply makeup. Primers can also benefit skin in ways that make your foundation set differently. Stores like Sephora and Ulta have plenty of brands to choose from.

MAKEUP COVERAGE

When deciding on a particular makeup look or a go-to makeup routine, you have to decide the type of coverage (or base) you want to start with. There’s a general range of coverage varying from very lightweight to matte, full-coverage. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can build your desired coverage in layers. Usually those that suffer from acne, hyperpigmentation or other skin concerns aim for full-coverage in order to properly conceal any blemishes. Here’s a list of common products used for coverage and their respective range of coverage:

• Tinted Moisturizer

  • can be worn alone but generally used as a base before applying foundation; very lightweight/ lightweight coverage

• BB Cream

  • “beauty balm”, worn alone as a very light foundation, can have additional benefits built into formula; lightweight coverage

• CC Cream

  • “correcting cream”, worn underneath desired powder, cream, or liquid foundation, formula is usually tinted to target discoloration; lightweight/natural coverage

• Powder Foundation

  • foundation in a powdered form, can be messy but gives a natural look overall; buildable—natural to medium coverage

• Cream/Stick Foundation

  • foundation that is neither powder or liquid; “solid” foundation with smooth application; buildable—natural to medium coverage

• Liquid Foundation

  • most commonly used foundation, super-quick application, “finish” can be sheer or matte; buildable—medium to full coverage

CONCEAL & CONTOUR

This is probably my favorite part of doing makeup. These products give your makeup depth while brightening the overall look. Foundation is super important, but you’ll definitely see your makeup come to life with proper highlighting and contouring. Concealers are generally used to conceal blemishes beneath foundation, since its tint is usually a couple shades lighter than the foundation shade. Concealers are also used in conjunction with contour products to define and highlight desired areas—usually, the forehead, cheekbones, under the eyes, nose, and chin. Contouring products are applied right before, after or during concealer application. Similar to concealers, contouring products can either be powder, liquid, or cream-based. This step can provide definition to any makeup look. It is also important to use the products sparingly to reduce any cakiness (is that even a real word?) or flashback in photos later on. Experimenting with different brands and different shades will help you pick the best contouring and highlighting products for you. Proper technique can be learned through practice, so I’ll link a few tutorials for y’all to get started! Practice makes perfect ☺︎

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FITZPATRICK SKIN TYPES

I, II, & III

(ivory, beige and light brown skin tones)

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VI, V, & VI

(medium brown, dark brown, and very dark brown skin tones)

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EYES

Most people apply eye makeup after foundation but there’s a bunch of folks that do the complete opposite. I’ve seen makeup applied many different ways by many different people so my advice is to apply it in whatever order that works for you! You many find it easier to change the order of application later on in your makeup journey, so just do what works easiest for now. I usually do my eye makeup last unless the eyeshadow is super glittery, then I’ll opt to apply it before my foundation.

BROWS

Though they don’t serve much purpose on a daily basis, eyebrows are important. Eyebrows are pretty much the framework for the face, so a slight difference in just one can affect how your entire face looks. Some people have naturally thin brows and some have thick brows—either way, makeup can help you achieve the brow look you’re aiming for. If your brows are super thick, I would first recommend getting them waxed or threaded to clean them up—it’ll be easier to work with an even slate. Now I won’t lie, filling in eyebrows can be tricky so make sure you get plenty of practice. Brows can be filled in with an eyebrow pencil (my favorite), gel liner, or they can be tinted with an eyebrow tinter (at home or professionally). The key to this step is practicing to make sure both your eyebrows aren’t identical but very similar.

EYESHADOW

COLOR! You can get the most creative with your makeup looks at this step. Eyeshadow looks can be super simple or super complex, just depending on what look you want in the end. Eyeshadow can come in many forms including: loose powder, pressed powder, pencil and cream form. Eyeshadow palettes are a good start for beginners since they almost always come with several, complimentary colors to try out. When trying new eyeshadow colors, pay attention to your skin tone and your lip color—this will help determine which shades are appropriate for your look. You never want to have too many distracting colors, so start neutral and add a little color as you get more comfortable. Try experimenting with different shades and brands to see if and how they compliment one another. Make sure you write down or mark the shades you used while creating a new look—that way you can always go back and recreate it!

EYELINER

You can never go wrong with a simple black eyeliner. Eyeliner has been used since the beginning of time and it was personally one of my first makeup products aside from lipgloss. Eyeliner does exactly what its name hints—it lines your eyes. One swipe of this magic can either brighten or darker your eyes in an instant. Similar to every other makeup product, eyeliners can come in different textures. Gel eyeliner is the most popular as of late, but pencil and liquid eyeliners are decent runner-ups. For a beginner, pencil eyeliner is best, since it’s extremely easy to use and there’s no real mess involved. Eyeliner is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Gel and liquid eyeliners give a much cleaner look compared to pencil eyeliners, but it’s definitely messier to apply.

FALSIES & MASCARA

A good mascara and a great pair of false eyelashes can draw all attention straight to your eyes. Mascara works by giving eyelashes a darkening and volumizing boost. False eyelashes (falsies) work similarly by basically attaching to your real eyelashes, giving an extra boost of length and volume. Various mascaras give eyelashes different appearances, so choose wisely. There’s also so many types of falsies that you can probably find a different pair for everyday of the year. Explore your options and find the best mascara and pair of falsies to apply with any look!

THE END - THE FINAL TOUCH

LIPS

Whether you choose to do chapstick, lipstick, lipgloss or a lip stain, your options are endless for picking out a lip color. Experimenting with lip products and colors can be super fun and adventurous. Remember that all lip products vary in texture and finish, so this will affect how the product dries and sets on your lips. Some products are matte, others are sheer, so keep that in mind when choosing a new lip product. As with a lot of other makeup products, picking the right shade can be tricky, so I’ll dedicate a detailed post to that soon.

FIX IT!

Now we all make mistakes, so one of the final steps in any makeup routine should be to go back and fix any boo-boos. This can be done with a little makeup remover and a cotton swap, cotton ball, or just a napkin if that’s what you have. I usually have to go back and clean up my eyeliner or re-apply a little eyeshadow. Be careful not to remove too much of anything because it’s hard to go back after you’ve wiped all your hard work off.

HIGHLIGHT

Highlighting is usually the final step in actually applying your makeup. It’s usually lightly applied to the same areas the concealer was used earlier (except highlighter doesn’t go beneath the eyes). Highlighters work by adding a little sparkle and glam to any area where it is applied. Highlighters are generally applied just above the cheekbone, to the cupid’s bow, and the tip of the nose.

SETTING SPRAY

YOU’RE DONE! This is essentially the last step before you’re ready to sport your new makeup look. Many different brands have setting sprays and you can experiment to find one that works best for you. I’ve tried plenty and I can say that they are all not equal, so keep that in mind. Make sure you’re holding it at least six inches away, and you’re not overspraying—usually three to four pumps are enough. Setting sprays work by “setting” your makeup in place for a long-lasting look.

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