There’s no denying how great makeup is! It’s fun to do, it allows you an opportunity to be creative and express yourself, and it can help enhance your already beautiful features and make you feel good!
However, for beginners, makeup can seem overwhelming and a little intimidating. Where do you start? What products should you use? What shouldn’t you do? The list of questions some people may have about makeup goes on and on. But makeup doesn’t need to be hard, or scary. In fact, with just a few tips and tricks, it’s actually much simpler than it first seems!
Here are 10 makeup do’s and don’ts to help make it easy for you! (And you don’t have to be a beginner to follow these!).
10 Makeup Do’s And Don’ts You Need To Know
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Don’t Use Dirty Makeup Brushes
Or dirty hands. Or any dirty tools to apply your makeup.
In case you didn’t know, dirty makeup brushes and tools harbor all kinds of bacteria. Your dirty hands do too! When you use dirty tools to apply makeup, you could end up with breakouts or other skin irritations. And if you already suffer from acne, it could make it worse!
If that’s not enough to make you want to avoid using dirty brushes, they also make it harder to apply makeup. Makeup could look streaky, uneven, or patchy when you use dirty brushes.
Regularly cleaning makeup brushes is essential for keeping your skin clean and for flawless makeup application, even if it’s a daunting task! Just add it to your weekly cleaning routine!
You can use a number of different products to clean makeup brushes. Brush cleaner and a silicone mat make cleaning dirty brushes easy. You can also use baby shampoo, or other mild soap.
And make sure you always thoroughly wash your hands before applying your makeup, whether you’re using brushes or not.
Do Invest In High Quality Makeup Brushes And Tools
When it comes to doing makeup, high quality is the way! And that rings true for the brushes and tools you use as well!
Having a good set of makeup brushes, applicators, and tools can help ensure your makeup easily turns out flawless every time you do it.
If you try to apply your makeup with brushes that aren’t very good, you might end up with makeup that looks harsh, patchy, or unnatural. It may also make applying your makeup harder and way more time consuming. High quality makeup brushes, like Sigma Brushes or It Cosmetics Brushes, ensure that products are applied evenly, blend effortlessly, and they make application a breeze! And if makeup sponges are more your thing, there’s a reason why BeautyBlender is so popular!
Oh, and high quality doesn’t have to mean expensive. Some amazing high quality makeup brushes are actually super affordable! Real Techniques, elf Cosmetics, and Wet N Wild, all make well performing brushes for really affordable prices. (I’m obsessed with the Wet N Wild brushes!).
Don’t Follow Makeup Trends Blindly
It’s natural for us to want to hop on the latest viral makeup trend, especially when everyone who’s doing it is showing amazing results from it. But it’s important to keep in mind that trends don’t always work for everyone.
Whether it’s that super hyped up product everyone is using, or a makeup technique that makes everyone look incredible, sometimes it just won’t work for you. And that’s 100% okay!
Different skin types will benefit from different products. (So that matte foundation everyone seems to be raving about may be a little too drying if you already have dry skin). Some viral makeup shades might not work for certain skin tones. And makeup application techniques will not work for everyone, since we all have different face and eye shapes, and overall makeup preferences.
So don’t be disheartened if something trendy doesn’t work for you. And definitely don’t continue following a trend that doesn’t work for you, or a trend you just don’t like. Instead, focus on finding the products and techniques that do.
Do Know What Works For You And Your Skin
As mentioned above, makeup products and techniques, regardless of how trendy or popular they are, won’t work for everyone. We all have different skin tones, skin types, face shapes, etc. And instead of just following trends that don’t work for you, you should be focusing on the ones that do!
If you have oily skin, you may prefer products that give skin a more matte or shine free finish, like the L’Oreal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder, or the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. If your skin is dry, you may prefer a more hydrating foundation or one that offers a dewier finish, like the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation or the Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation.
Bottom line, no matter now convincing hyped up makeup products or hacks are, always consider your own preferences when trying out new things. And if this week’s viral thing doesn’t work for you, don’t beat yourself up over it.
Don’t Go Too Harsh On Your Brows
I personally believe that eyebrows have a huge impact on the overall appearance of faces. They’re definitely a noticeable and defining feature, that when changed, can transform the entire look of your face.
Makeup is subjective and you’re of course, always free to do whatever you like and works best for you. But if you’re going for a natural eyebrow look, avoid going too harsh with your eyebrow products. When eyebrows are drawn on or filled in too dark or harshly, they look unnatural. Instead of people noticing all of your other beautiful features, they may become distracted by your brows.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to eyebrows, is to use a very light hand. Apply product sparingly and lightly, you can always build it up if you want or need to. When you fill your brows in with light strokes of your true brow shade, and in the direction your brows grow in, you’ll be able to easily achieve a more natural look.
Do Experiment With Different Eyebrow Techniques
If your interested in switching things up a little with your makeup, get experimental and try a new eyebrow technique!
Whether you want to add a little something extra to your eyebrows, or if just filling them in doesn’t work for you, try something new!
There are so many different methods people use to make their brows look amazing. A current popular eyebrow technique is the brow lamination method. You can use an eyebrow wax, like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze or a gel like the NYX Brow Glue, to give your brows a fuller, yet still very natural, appearance. If you’re looking to try something more defining, you can use a concealer to carve your brows out. And if you’re into minimal effort you can just brush through your eyebrows with a spoolie and then fill them in with some color using a pen like the NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen.
Get creative, play around, and step outside that comfort zone a little and see what you like! You may be surprised!
Don’t Use Too Much Bronzer
Bronzer is great for adding a little depth and definition to your makeup. But watch out! There is such a thing as too much bronzer!
When you apply too much bronzer, or if you use one that doesn’t suit your skin tone, it could end up looking too harsh and unnatural. Instead of defining your features, you’ll just end up looking a little messy.
When choosing a bronzer, always pick one a shade or two darker than your skin tone, no more than that. Start with a little product at a time and blend, adding more if needed. Your entire makeup look will turn out so much more natural and flawless.
If you’re currently on the hunt for a good bronzer some popular picks include the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer, the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer, and the classic Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer.
Do Try Applying Your Bronzer Higher
You may have been taught to always apply your bronzer in specific spots on your face every time you do your makeup. (Like the hollows of your cheeks). And this is generally a good way to do it, but it’s okay to throw out the rule book every once in a while!
Instead of applying your bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, try applying it higher! I love putting my bronzer above the hollows of my cheeks, bringing my entire makeup look “up” or lifted.
Experiment with different places to apply you bronzer and see which works best for you! You may find that the way you’ve been doing it all these years works, or maybe it doesn’t and you discover a new way to do your makeup!
Don’t Use A Concealer That Is Too Light
Yes, when using concealer to highlight or brighten certain areas of your face, it should always be lighter than your foundation. But there is such a thing as too light!
Your concealer should never be more than a shade or two lighter than your foundation. A concealer that’s too light can give your finished look an uneven appearance, it could attract too much light, (which could result in some flashback if taking pics), and can even make your dark circles appear greyish!
A concealer that’s just a little bit lighter than your foundation can help cover those circles and highlight the features of your face naturally. The end result? A truly flawless base!
And if you’re using a concealer to cover up pimples or other blemishes, try using a concealer that’s as close to your foundation shade as possible. A concealer that’s lighter may draw more light to it and actually enhance the appearance of whatever it is you’re trying to hide.
Do Use Concealer To Give Yourself An “Eye Lift”
Did you know you can actually change the look of your face just by applying your concealer to a different place? I recently learned about this and, no joke, it changed my life!
Gone are the days where a giant triangle under your eyes is the way to apply concealer. Instead, try applying just a little under your eye, and then at the outer corner of your eye, in an upwards direction. Don’t forget to blend, bringing your concealer up and out. Boom! Instant eye lift!
Try it yourself and see how much more lifted your face looks!
Don’t Pack Products On Too Heavily
Makeup that’s packed or caked on, or applied too harshly, never looks natural.
This is especially true with face products! If you put too much foundation on, it could end up looking really cakey and actually make any blemishes more noticeable. Contour that’s too harsh and not blended can look a little strange. And if you’re going for an eye look that’s natural, unblended shadows won’t help you achieve that.
Whenever you do your makeup, make sure you’re starting lightly!
Do Blend And Build Up Products
The best way to ensure your makeup always looks stunning and natural is to blend! There are very few makeup products that wouldn’t benefit from being blended out.
Whether it’s foundation, concealer, or contour. Blush, bronzer, or highlight. Pretty much any product you put on your face should be applied lightly and evenly before blending into skin. This helps you avoid any harsh lines, or makeup that looks unnatural.
And if you find that whatever you put on isn’t enough, you can always add more! Which is much easier than trying to fix or remove makeup when you put too much on!
Don’t Be Afraid Of Using Blush
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I hear people say that they hate blush or never use it because it makes them “look like a clown” or “it’s too much” or “it’s too hard to use”. And I get it. But blush has come a long way, and so have the methods for applying it, and I think everyone should give it a chance because it’s such a game-changing makeup product!
Blush, when used correctly, can enhance anyone’s makeup and natural features. It can add depth and highlight areas of your face. It also adds a flush of color, which can give skin a healthy, and absolutely beautiful, glowy look. It’s such a versatile makeup product, that in my opinion, should never be skipped!
So stop being afraid of blush, play around with it and see what works for you!
Do Learn How More About How To Apply Blush
If you want to use blush but you don’t know how to, or you’re convinced that it just won’t work for you, you should definitely learn more about it and how to apply it to make it work for you.
Blush comes in a few different formulas, (like powder, cream, and liquid), so you’re going to want to find the one, or ones, that you like the best. Some people swear by powder blush and others love the way cream blushes look, so play around and find what works for you.
When it comes to applying blush, you should always start with very little product, and a super light hand. This will give you a very natural pop of color. If the color isn’t intense enough for you, you can always add some more.
If you learn new tips and techniques for applying and wearing blush. I guarantee you’re gonna love it! (I promise!).
For more blush tips, check out Blush Tips For Beginners | How to Wear Blush.
Don’t Overline Your Lips Too Much
No lip fillers? No problem! Overlining your lips can easily give them a bigger and fuller appearance. But, there is a technique to it, and over-doing it can make your lips look super unnatural.
For starters, whenever you’re overlining your lips, you want to start with a good lip liner. It should be pigmented and glide on easily. (Some of my favorites include the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner, and the Colourpop Lippie Pencil.) When overlining your lips, you want to stay as close to your lips as possible, only going ever so slightly over. If you line too far away from your lips, it won’t look natural. For fuller looking lips, avoid lining the inner corners of your lips, where the top and bottom meet. Then, make sure you’re using your liner to shade your lips too. Then, just go in with your lipstick of choice!
Do Use Other Products To Make Your Lips Look Bigger + Fuller
There are actually a few other ways to fake bigger or fuller lips with your makeup!
First, make sure your lips are properly hydrated. Use a lip scrub and balm before anything else. Hydrated lips already look fuller and healthier on their own, so it makes everything else easier.
Some people like to do some contouring to create the illusion of bigger lips. You can easily do this with a contour or matte bronzer, taking it around the top and bottom of your lips. Make sure you blend!
And for really full and juicy looking lips, don’t forget a regular or plumping lip gloss! A couple of my favorites include the Maybelline Lifter Gloss and the Kosas Wet Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss,
Don’t Sleep With Makeup On
The biggest makeup don’t! Don’t go to bed with your makeup still on!
Not removing your makeup before going to bed can result in a number of skin problems. It can cause breakouts, make acne worse, and cause other skin irritations. It can also age your skin and just make it look unhealthy altogether.
Always remove your makeup completely before climbing into bed. You can use a cleansing balm like the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, or a micellar water like the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Miccellar Water Makeup Remover to get makeup off. Then just follow up with a skin care routine that works for you!
Do Take Good Care Of Your Skin
A huge part of having makeup that looks amazing is starting with skin that is well taken care of. When your skin is healthy and well hydrated, your makeup is guaranteed to look so much better!
Taking good care of your skin isn’t hard either. Most people don’t need much, and actually benefit from a simple routine. The basics are cleansing, moisturizing and applying, (and reapplying), SPF 30 or higher daily. Then add in other products that help with whatever skin concerns you have.
For some helpful skincare advice, check out 17 Skincare Tips That Will Transform Your Skin.
Don’t Be Afraid To Try New Things
Makeup is used to highlight our features and enhance our appearance, but it’s also an art form. Makeup is fun! So have fun with it!
Don’t be afraid to try out new makeup products or application methods. Trends and techniques change so frequently that if you strongly stick to your old ways, you might miss out on something totally life changing!
Do Continue Learning + Experimenting
And also keep learning about makeup!
It’s so cool that we live in a time where information is everywhere. We’re always learning new things, and that includes learning all about new makeup products and application techniques!
So keep learning, keep testing new products and methods, and keep experimenting!
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