If you're unhappy with how you look or just want a change but don't want people to know you're wearing make-up (or if you're not allowed, like at school), try these tips. Here you can read all about how to apply makeup so you look naturally beautiful.
Steps
- Make sure your face is clean of any previous makeup. In general you don't want to over wash your face because that can dry it out. Just take a cotton ball and put either makeup remover or water and just dab or rub in small circles to remove old makeup.
- Determine your skin type and cleanse, tone and moisturize with suitable products twice daily. If you have skin problems e.g. spots/blackheads, exfoliate your skin.
- Moisturize. Using a small dab the size of a pea, gently rub in an unscented, oil free lotion. Scented lotions can aggravate skin and cause breakouts or an allergic reaction.
- Determine your right color of foundation. Get in a natural light and test the foundation to make sure it's the right color for your skin. Dab a few marks on your cheek and angle your face different ways to see if the color matches. Make sure to go underneath your jaw line otherwise the foundation will show the different colors.
- Take your finger or a sponge dab in the foundation, and dab it on your face, blending it until it looks like your skin tone.
- If you have bags or discoloration under your eyes, take the cotton swab and make 3 dots on the line of the circles under your eyes. Take your ring finger and dab it in gently.
- After you have applied the foundation make sure you blend! Blend down to your neck to avoid the tell-tale line along the jaw.
- Tinted moisturizer is better for a more natural look, it blends in while evening out your skin tone. It commonly has SPF, and it moisturizes. Those with clearer skin will look best with this.
- Use concealer on dark or red spots. Be sure you apply a skintone color directly on the spot and not around it, to avoid a halo effect and emphasize the spot. Optionally set with beige powder.
- Curl your eyelashes. It's not as scary as it sounds, and it gives you a natural-looking lift to them without having makeup on them. Follow with one coat of brown or soft black (for darker skin) mascara. You may find it easier to apply mascara after applying eyeshadow.
- Use two eyeshadows for a professional look. Apply an oatmeal tone all over your lid and just above your crease, and use a caramel tone to softly line the top lid and outline your crease. For a natural look, remember to blend the colours, which should be golds, browns or silvers, depending on your skin tone and colouring.
- Line your eyes with a roasted-colored pencil liner. Pencil looks more natural than liquid or gel liner and it is easier to blend. Line one third of your top lashline and two thirds of your bottom lashline or waterline. Smudge the line with a cotton bud.
- Apply either bronzer or blush.
- Bronzer: Bronzer is a great way to make it look like you have a natural glow. Lightly brush bronzer all over your face, or just along your cheekbones and T-Zone for a natural suntan appearance. However, bronzer can look silly on people with pale skin if you apply it incorrectly. Practice at home with bronzer to see if it looks good on you before going out with it on.
- Blush: Creme blush generally works better than powder because it gives you a dewy look and lasts longer. Using a champagne-tinted creme blush, rub a little on your ring finger and blend onto your cheekbones.
- Apply a neutral lip color. Avoid using chalky lipsticks or shiny lip glosses. Lip stain is generally best because it looks natural and lasts all day. Use a color that's close to your natural lip color, such as a dewy-rose or pearly salmon and apply it lightly within your natural lip line. Before you apply lipstick, make sure you apply lip balm or ChapStick so your lips don't dry out.
- Relax. Constantly checking a mirror, and fussing over your face can ruin a day. Smile, and have lots of confidence.
Tips
- Make sure you blend everything well to avoid obvious streaks of color.
- Using natural makeup is healthier for your skin, and can avoid blemishes from forming caused by it.
- Avoid going behind your parents' back by doing this - they will catch you.
- If you use mascara, avoid clumping by wiping the wand on a tissue before applying.
- Be sure that any lip products you use do not add much shine, stickiness, or coloring. Stick to light matte lip colors, or just a simple swipe of lip balm. If you wear gloss during summer, the sun will burn your lips.
- As always, avoid using old makeup - this includes expired expiration dates, smelly products, and clumpy cremes and mascaras. As a rule, mascara should be thrown out every three months, and any liquid makeup should be thrown out every year. Anything with an odd smell, of course, should be immediatly tossed.
- Using mineral foundation doesn't clog your pores and is actually good for your skin, so you may want to invest in a good one.
- Apply makeup in the light you will be in; for example, apply your makeup with a lot of light if you are going out on a sunny day, or if you are going clubbing use dimmer lights.
- Remember that makeup is to enhance your natural features, not to cover them up. Most importantly, have fun with your makeup as it shouldn't become a chore.
- Try to add a twist to your makeup, or change up looks every once in a while. This way you can always feel fresh faced, and let a little creativity through.
- Watch makeup tutorials online for extra help and you might just find a new cool style to try out!
