When it comes to applying makeup it can enhance features which can bring out ones natural beauty. There are a lot of ways to enhance ones beauty and it all starts with the correct application of makeup. I have come out with a general Do’s and Donts of makeup. This should help give a general idea as to how to apply makeup correctly and the things to avoid when applying makeup.
Do’s and Dont’s Of Eyeshadow Bases
Do’s:
When applying eyeshadow to the eyelids its wise to always wear a base before applying the eyeshadow. Using an eyeshadow primer can make your eyeshadow more vibrant, brighter and prevents it from creasing.
There are three types of primers:
Cream shadow: a cream eyeshadow can be used as a prime to hold the eyeshadow into place. Its usually applied under the eyeshadow. Originally, this is am eyeshadow that can be worn on its own but also has the
Eyeshadow Primer: is usually a cream consistency that usually applies nude and allows the
Concealer: a concealer can be used as an eyeshadow primer as well. When using a concealer as a primer it is a
Don’ts:
When you don’t wear an eyeshadow primer you will find that your eyeshadow won’t last long, it will fade, crease and smudge off the eyelids. The application of the eyeshadow won’t go on as smoothly and will be more problematic and your makeup can look terrible by the end of the night.
When applying an eyeshadow base make sure with the eyeshadow creams you don’t apply a thick layer otherwise this can cause flaking throughout the day. Instead apply a really thin layer.
Do’s and Don’t’s of Eyeshadow
Do’s:
Applying the eyeshadow can really bring out your eyes. By applying the correct color the eyes can stand out from miles away. There are
When applying the eyeshadow always make sure a primer is used underneath so it can help with the longevity of your eye makeup look.
Always consider using a transition shade when doing darker eye makeup looks. A transition shade is usually a earthy toned color which can help two shades to blend into one smoothly.
With powder formulated eyeshadows make sure you use the appropriate brushes to blend out eyeshadows because this can really make or break your look.
Prevent any fall out of eyeshadow on the cheeks because this can really mess up the face. The best thing to do is the “baking trick”
Don’t’s:
Don’t use your fingers to apply an eyeshadow especially if the eyeshadow is in
When doing a smokey eye look don’t wear a bright lip. It’s a good idea to tone the lipstick so that the attention can be focused on the eyes.
Don’t skip the eye primer step because this will mess up your makeup look throughout the day.
Do’s and Don’ts of Eyeshadow Brushes
Dos:
When it comes to applying eyeshadows make sure you use the eyeshadow brushes. Eyeshadow brushes can make a world of a difference in how your eyeshadow will apply. Eyeshadow brushes can help give detail to how an eye makeup look can turn out.
The following are brushes that are used for blending eyeshadows which have different uses:
Eyeshadow Blending Brush: This particular brush is a domed shape and has longer bristles. Its usually longer strands and is soft and fluffy This brush is best used to blend out powdered eyeshadows. This brush can also be used for setting the powder under the eyes and to set the concealer due to its shape.
Medium Head Eyeshadow Brush: this particular brush has compressed bristles that give it that firm feel. The brush is rounded and is the perfect size to reach the rounded parts of our eyes, this brush is used to pack on pressed and loose pigments in the inner corners of the eyes.
Large Head Eyeshadow Brush: this brush is similar to the medium head eyeshadow brush, but covers larger areas of the eye area. This is the brush that you would want to use to pack pigments on the eyelid area.
Don’ts:
Don’t use the eyeshadow with your fingers to apply the pressed pigments because it won’t blend out the product properly. It can also cause sanitary problems such as add oils to the pigmentation.
Don’t use the alcohol to much to sanitize makeup brushes because it can cause the brushes to dry out and it damages the brushes.
Do’s and Donts of Eyeliner
Do’s
When it comes to the eyeliner it is one of the main items that can really help define the shape of your eyes. An Eyeliner is an item that can also give the illusion that your eyelashes are thicker. There are three different types of eyeliners that can be applied to the eyelid.
Pencil eyeliner: which can be worn on both the bottom and top of the eyelid. You can wear a pencil liner to the water line to make your eyes look more defined. The Pencil liner is suitable for those of us who are just starting off with makeup. Its easy to control and use on the eye area. The look you can achieve with a pencil liner is a more natural look.
Gel liner: gel liner is a gel consistency. A Gel liner requires an angled brush to apply the product on. It can be used on the top lid along with the waterline. With a gel liner you are able to achieve a natural to dramatic look.
Liquid liner: is a liner is usually applied with a felt tip or a thin brush. Liquid liner is always applied to the upper eyelid. Never use liquid liner to the waterline because most formulations will
When applying eyeliner its always good to look at ways to enhance your eye shape a good tip is to find the correct placement of where to put the eyeliner on your eyelids. It’s also a good idea to look at waterproof formulations when it comes to eyeliner’s so that it doesn’t smudge or smear during the day. It’s also a really good idea to set the eyeliner on the waterline with cake liner (black eyeshadow)
Don’ts:
When it comes to eyeliners it can really make a huge difference with how our eye makeup can look. Sometimes there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent any disasters.
- Do not overline the eyes because for certain eye shapes the eyes may appear smaller
- Do not apply the liquid liner to the waterline
- Don’t use liquid eyeliner on the bottom lashes because its most likely to bleed
Does and Donts of A Concealer
Do’s
What is concealer used for
Concealer is something to really consider when doing eye makeup. It usually is two shades lighter than your normal skin color which helps brighten up the eye area. It has multiple purposes such has being used as a base for eyeshadows to stick on. It can also help brighten the eye area and helps cover up any discoloration.
There are two main formulas when it comes to concealer there is cream concealer and liquid concealer. There
A green concealer cancels out red pigmentation
Orange concealer cancels out dark circles for people with darker skin
Yellow concealer is good at hiding purple bruises, under eye circles and veins
Pink(salmon) is good for lighter skin tones to cancel out any dark circles under the eyes.
Use a concealer on top of your foundation to cover imperfections such as pimples or scaring it may rub off while trying to apply foundation on top.
Don’ts:
Don’t wear concealer on its own without a foundation because it will make the skin look uneven and chalky.
Don’t wear a concealer all over the face because the formulation is usually a lot
Do’s and Don’ts of Mascara
Do’s
Mascara is a makeup item that is out in every handbag. By applying mascara to the eyelashes it can make them seem a lot more thicker, defined, longer and full of volume, this usually depends on the various formulations out there.
By applying mascara to the eyelashes it opens up the eyelids giving the illusion that the lashes longer and thicker. By adding mascara to any makeup look it makes the eyes seem more open and polishes the final makeup look.
Don’ts:
Its not a good idea to apply too much mascara to the lashes because it may clump and its not a flattering look.
Don’t pump your mascara wand into the tube because it can dry out your mascara faster.
Don’t use water to revive your dried mascara it may cause more bacteria growth.
Dos and don’ts of Eyebrows
Do’s
Eyebrows is the one thing that can compliment the features on our face. If groomed well and shaped properly it can really compliment a makeup look.
Eyebrows should be groomed every two weeks either through tweezing, threading and waxing in order to keep a beautiful eyebrow shape. It may be wise to console with a beautician.
When filling the eyebrows always use a spoolie to brush out the eyebrows. Then fill in the eyebrows by using gentle strokes mimicking your natural brows the most attention should be focused on the sparse areas of the eyebrows.
To set the eyebrows always use a clear gel to set in pencil and powder formulations.
Don’ts:
Don’t over fill the eyebrows because it can really take the attention away from your other features.
Don’t wear the wrong color to fill in your eyebrows always go for the same color as your natural brow.
Don’t over pluck the eyebrows because it can be a while till the natural hairs grow in.
Dos and don’ts of Foundations
Do’s:
Foundation is one of those products that are great to have in your makeup bag. It helps cover uneven pigmentation on the skin giving it an even finish. It also gives the illusion that the skin is clear and gives it a healthy look. The formulations that foundations come in are in liquid, gels, powders and mousse formulations.
Foundations come in two main finishes dewy and matte. When you have dry skin it’s a good idea to try out dewy foundations because it will help hydrate the skin. For more oily skin types it’s a good idea to go with foundations that are powder because it will help absorb any oils on the skin.
When choosing a foundation shade always make sure the foundation shades blend into your skin complexion which is usually fair, medium, tan and dark (deep) skin complexions. Fair complexions are usually a porcelain light color to the point where you can see the veins. A medium complexion usually has more color in the skin and can tan easy.
A tan complexion is
Always apply either a setting spray or a translucent powder to set the foundation so that it stays in place all day.
Don’ts:
Don’t wear the wrong colored foundation, whether it be too light or too dark.
Don’t wear the wrong undertone because that can still make your foundation color look off.
Don’t wear shimmery foundation if you have oily skin, it may make the skin look even more oily
Don’t wear powdered foundations on dry skin, it can stick to the texture of the skin accentuating a rough texture.
If you have sensitive skin try your best not to use heavily fragranced foundations it may irritate the skin, look into hypoallergic foundations for sensitive skin types.
Don’t use your fingers to blend the foundation because it won’t blend into the skin properly. Invest in some good brushes or a beauty blending sponge.
Do’s and Don’ts of lipstick
Do’s
The lips are a feature that everyone notices especially when it comes to makeup application. Lipstick usually makes a statement. There are few tricks and tips to consider applying in order to create the perfect lip.
The first thing to consider is to create a perfect canvass for your lipstick is to exfoliate the lips with a lip scrub. This will help remove dead skin cells which will allow your lipstick to apply a lot smoother.
The second thing to consider is applying a moisturizing lip balm this will help hydrate the lips which help to prevent dried lips.
Another thing to consider is to choose a
Lastly make sure you’re
After you have applied your lipliner and lipstick make sure you press your lips into a piece of paper towel to remove any excess lipstick off.
Don’ts:
Don’t apply lipstick or any lip color on dried lips it can accentuate the texture which will not look flattering.
Don’t overline the lips with lipliner because it can make the lip shape look false
Don’t use a lipliner darker than your lipstick because it can change the color of your lipstick and makes the lips less flattering.
Don’t apply layers upon layers of lipstick because it can get on your teeth which is also not a flattering look.
Do’s and Don’ts of Blush
Do’s:
There is no doubt that blush is something that can make our skin appear to have a healthy glow. It can be your best friend if you know how to apply it properly or your worst enemy. There are different formulations to consider when applying blush there is powder blush, crème blush, gel blush and liquid blush.
When applying blush this should be applied to the center of the apples of your cheeks. This can be determined by you smiling and placing the index finger in the center of the apples of the cheeks. Once that’s determined to take your thumb on top of the ear. This will help locate the cheekbone, there for the bone that you feel between the cheekbone and index finger is where the blush should be placed.
You can find the right blush color by pinching the cheeks and seeing what color your skin flushes too. This will determine a natural blush color.
When it comes to blushes just like the lipstick shades you can determine your correct blush shade by looking at what lipsticks complimented your lips. (please download the pdf to get an idea what your complimentary blush color would be)
A general guide would be:
For fair skin to wear more soft rosey pinks
For medium skin tones should wear peach colors and more coral colors
For darker and deeper skin tones they should look at wearing more berries
Don’ts
Don’t apply blush directly to the apples of the cheek
Don’t apply blush with a heavy hand go in lightly with a makeup brush
Don’t apply blush with your fingers unless the formula is a gel or cream
Don’t apply blush closer to your nose
If you have oily skin don’t apply a cream blush to the skin it will smear off and add more oil to the skin
Do’s and Dont’s for Bronzing
Dos:
Bronzer provides a
Where do you put the bronzer on the face
Using a large fluffy bronzing brush the best and easiest way to apply bronzer is by applying it on the right side of the face starting on the temples of the head going down to the back of the cheekbone and down to the jawline this is known as the letter “E” shape. Now on the left side of the face it would be the same thing only it would be known as the number “3” where it would start on the temple and make your way down to the back of the cheekbone and then the jawline.
When using a cream or liquid formulation a beauty blending sponge is more suitable.
Dont’s:
Don’t over bronze the face because you can give the wrong effect making the face seem false
Wear the correct bronzer because by wearing a color that may be too warm for your skin complexion can make it seem too orange. Also if you wear a color that is too cool on a warm skin tone it can look ashy and won’t have the effect the bronzer is supposed to have on the skin.
Don’t use the same brush that you would use to apply the blush because this can ruin the effect of the bronzing
Do’s and Dont’s of Highlighting
Do’s:
Adding highlights to your daily makeup look can really give the illusion that the skin has a healthy glow. It’s supposed to give the “lite within” type of a look. It makes the skin look like it is well hydrated with a beautiful glow. When it comes to highlighting the face highlighter it is supposed to be applied to the areas where the natural lighting would normally hit. Such places would be on top of the cheekbones, under the eyebrow bone, the top of the lips on top of the cupids bow and the tip of the nose. Once you’re able to determine the high points on the face you can apply a highlight to the skin.
A Highlighter should be used on top of a foundation to get a full look
When applying a highlighter use the appropriate brush which can either be a fan brush or a small fluffy brush.
When applying liquid or cream highlighters use a beauty blending sponge, it will blend out the
What color highlight should I get
Finding a complimentary color for your skin type is essential when highlighting the skin. If you use the wrong colors it can give the opposite effect of a highlight which may give off the wrong illusion of glowing skin. fair skin tones would wear more icy blue tone highlights these types of highlighters usually have a dual chrome effect.
Light to medium shades can wear more champagne colors because this give a natural glow to the skin. Dark to deeper skin tones would wear more bronze
Dont’s:
Don’t apply the highlighter all over the face because it can over power the look of your makeup
Don’t apply the highlighter that is darker tha your normal skin tone it may not look like highlighting anymore.
Do’s and Don’ts of Contouring
Do’s
Contouring is a technique which gives your face more definition. Unlike highlighting where it focuses on bring out features forward with lighting. Contouring is the opposite it requires your to apply a contour shade to the shadows of your face. This technique can slim down a face shape and certain features. Highlighting and contouring are both opposite of each other and compliment each other.
When applying a contour shade its always good to determine your undertone to find the right shade. For warmer tones it’s a good idea to look at contours that have more warmer based colors. Where as if you have cool skin tones its wise to use a more cooler contour color.
How dark should your contour be
When it comes to finding the correct shade of a contour powder it should be two shades darker than your normal foundation. This will blend in easier and give a more natural contour to the face.
Where does contour go on your face
Cheekbones: When contouring the face it will usually be under the cheekbone to create definition and create cheekbones, this can help slim down the face.
Temples: the temples of the face is another area where contour can be placed because it helps slim down the forehead.
Eye Crease: most of us that apply eyeshadow on a daily basis apply contour above the crease which usually gives us more depth.
Nose: contouring can help shorten the nose or it can help slim down the nose when applied to the sides of the nose.
For more tips and tricks on highlighting and contouring please refer back to my article on how to contour and highlight for beginners.
Always set your contour with a powder if your using cream and liquid formulations.
Don’ts:
Don’t leave your contour shade unblended, there should be no harsh lines
If you have oily skin don’t use cream-based contour products unless the product is a cream to powder finish. Therefore, it can help absorb oil rather than smear it around causing the contour to be more oily.
Don’t use a contour shade that isn’t suited for your skins undertone it can make you either look to orange or too ashy.