Step By Step Makeup Application

Before you begin....

It’s essential when putting on makeup to have a clean face (you wouldn’t start painting on a dirty canvas?).  A clean face will prevent clogged pores, breakouts and uneven makeup. Firstly wash your face with a cleanser to suit your skin type. Then use a toner to tighten pores and get rid your face of excess cleanser. Alternatively if you don’t own a toner just give your face one
final rinse with cold water to tighten up the pores.

Next thing to do is moisturise. This will prevent flaking if you have dry skin and will provide a base for your makeup to cling to. Make sure to note if your moisturiser is oil based or water based (you can note this by checking what the main ingredient in your moisturiser is) because you want your moisturiser to match your foundation e.g. oil based moisturiser-oil based foundation, because as you know water and oil don’t mix well and your makeup will just end up slipping off.

Make sure to wait 5-10 minutes before applying makeup to allow the moisturiser to sink in.

Primer (optional)

Primer is not a necessity but you can choose to use it. I like to use a primer when I’m going out because it provides great staying power for my foundation and by the time I get home my makeup will still be perfectly in place. A primer is also great because it can control oil and minimise pores. Get a primer that works best for your skin type that won’t make your skin oily

Concealer

Only apply your concealer where you need it, like on pesky spots and under eye area. Use a concealer that’s either the same shade as your foundation or a shade lighter to brighten up the undereyes. Apply in little strips and blend using a concealer brush or your ring finger but be careful not to tug at your skin when blending.

Foundation

Make sure your foundation matches your skin tone. Shake your bottle to make sure your foundation is mixed.  Pour the foundation on the back of your hand to warm it up slightly to help it glide onto your face. Apply the foundation to the centre of the face, cheeks and forehead and blend out using a foundation brush, stippling brush, makeup sponge or your fingers. Blend blend blend! Make sure that your foundation blends smoothly onto your neck so that you aren’t left with a gross orange ring around your face.

Setting Powder and Bronzer

Your powder is used to set your makeup. Apply over your concealer and forehead (and anywhere else you’d like the extra coverage) using a big fluffy brush. Dust some bronzer over your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin if you’re very pale like me and would like to add some warmth to your face

Blusher

Smile! Now you can see where the apples of your cheeks are. Dust blusher softly on the apples of your cheek. Then blend the colour softly up towards your temples.

Lipstick

Apply some lip balm first to soften your lips and let it sink in. Use a flattering lipstick colour that’s close to your lip colour or slightly darker. Apply to the center of your mouth using a lipstick brush, your fingers or just straight from the tube and blend it out over your lips. Rub your lips together slightly and dab away any excess using a tissue. Line your lips after you’ve applied your lipstick to add definition. Make sure your lip liner matches (or is very close to) the colour of your lipstick.

Brows

Find an eyeshadow or eyebrow pencil that matches your hair colour. Start at the inner corner of the brow and follow through to the end using the natural shape of the brow. Use light feathery strokes. Remember you’re not drawing new brows just filling in the spaces between the hairs so as to define your eyebrow. Set using a brow gel.

Eyeshadow

Prime your eyelids, this will set your eyeshadow and keep it there for hours (this is especially useful if your eyelids tend to get oily). Apply a neutral (matte or shimmer) shade of eyeshadow all over the eyelid. Then apply a darker (bronze, purple, navy....etc...) to the crease of your eyelid and blend using a fluffy brush but avoid going up to the brow bone. Once again blend blend blend! When you are done it should be seamless. Next apply a highlighter just under your brows to add definition

Eyeliner

Start at the outer corner of your eye and move in slowly using short strokes to the inner corner. Make sure the eyeliner is a nice thin line as close to the lash line as possible. Apply to your lower lid just below the lashes for added drama but be warned this will make your eyes appear smaller if the line extends all along your eye.

Eyelashes

Curl your lashes using a curling wand and apply the mascara from the base to the tips wiggling the wand slightly.

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