17 Easy Makeup Tips Every Beginner Should Know
Get that flawless face with minimal effort. The products in this post were updated in January 2018.
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1. Buy fewer high-quality materials that can be used for multiple things.
Buying brushes is unnecessarily complicated and expensive. When first starting out, it's helpful to get brushes that can be used for multiple steps. There are many ways you can build your own set, but for starters, beauty vlogger Emily Quack recommends the following budget-friendly makeup brushes:
Beauty Blender (dupe) ($7.97): Not technically a brush, but it gives great coverage for foundation and can also be used to blend all makeup from blush to concealer.
Angled Brow Brush ($8.75): Good for eyebrows and smudging eyeshadow under and in the creases of eyes.
Sigma Blending Brush ($15.20): Great for blending all types of eyeshadow and for nose contouring.
Sigma Large Angled Contour ($23): Amazing for contouring and blush application.
Multitasking Brush ($4.49): Great for applying powder after contouring and blush.
If you want to know more about how to use these brushes, check out this detailed explanation here.
2. To avoid cake-face makeup, use finishing spray to give your face an even, natural look.
Not only does this help your makeup stay on longer, but it also gives your face a nice, dewy glow.
Get the MAC Fix+ spray from Amazon for $34.69 or the powder from Jet for $24
Or, if you want a cheaper alternative, you can make it yourself with glycerin, rose water, and a spritzer. Learn how to here.
3. Apply eyeshadow colors over a light, neutral base to make them stand out more.
Try a white base, NARS Smudge Proof, for $26 or a light eyeshadow primer, Radiant Complex, for $15.59.
4. Use eye primer before applying eyeliner and eyeshadow to prevent them from fading or smudging.
Get this popular Thank Me Later eye primer from Amazon for $12.74.
5. For flawless blending, clean a brush before moving onto a new product or area on your face. This way, you won't pack on more product than necessary.
Or use your fingers and then use a brush to blend.
6. If you feel like your concealer is too heavy, mix a little moisturizer (or sunscreen) to make it lighter.
7. Beautifully shaped brows immediately up your makeup game:
If you already have a brow brush, you can fill your brows in with brow powder ($23). If you don't have a brush and would rather use a brow kit, you can get one on Amazon for $4.19
8. If you want to intensify eyeshadow colors, mix a little setting spray into the shade you want to use.
First, spray Fix+ (or an alternative) on the back of your hand. Then, take a brush and dab it in the product before picking up the eyeshadow.
9. If your lip stain dries out your lips, add a drop of essential oil to create moisturizing lip stain.
Get rose hip oil from Amazon for $22.39 Also good for making your own setting spray.
10. Practice eyeliner with pens or brushes on paper.
Different canvases, same flick of the wrist. Learn more about calligraphy eye makeup here.
11. Place a spoon or card under your eyes when applying mascara to avoid messing up your eyeliner or eyeshadow.
12. Follow this simple guide for this classic eyeshadow that'll go well with any look.
13. To make your lips fuller, try this easy trick of applying white eyeliner to the center of your lips.
14. If you want a certain lip color but don't have the lipstick, use eyeshadow and lip gloss.
First apply the lip gloss, then the eyeshadow. Instant shimmery purple lips.
15. Mix old pigments together to create some interesting eyeshadow shades.
You can even try pressing loose pigments to make them pop or shine more. But, before doing this, check the ingredients. According to Alice's Beauty Madness, mica-based pigments are better for pressing, but pigments based on mineral oxides, ultramarine or dyes don't do well pressed. To see how it's done, check out this tutorial.
16. If it's too hot and you're worried about melting mascara, lipstick, etc., go for a soft wash of color over your eyelids.
Lower maintenance is always a win. If you don't have brighter eyeshadow, here's a pretty cheap palette with 40 vivid colors.
17. And of course, get some shut-eye.
But if you're human, sometimes that's just not possible:
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