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When you start a new thing, more often than not you have almost no idea what you’re doing. That’s exactly how I was when I began to develop my love for makeup. I had absolutely no clue what I was even supposed to do first. Learning was one of the most trying, but still fun things I’ve ever done. I’ve been doing my own makeup (fairly heavily, I might add) for about six years now. Since then, my entire routine has changed; from the numbers of steps and products, to the products themselves. Although it depends on the person, there are a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way that have improved the way my makeup looks and lasts. Below is a list of the most helpful ones.

                                                      The Tips

1. Before putting on complexion products, it is good to make sure your skin is clean and moisturized with a light-weight moisturizer. This will give you the best starting point possible for beautiful makeup.

2. Primer can make the LARGEST difference in the wear, and even initial application of your makeup. Choosing the correct one for your foundation and skin type is the most important thing.

3. Primers can do so many different things, depending on what they are. Primers can pore-fill, smooth, mattify, moisturize, and improve the longevity of your makeup. 

4. Before you apply your foundation, let your primer sink in for at least a minute. This way it will have time to do what it’s supposed to do and won’t mess up the application of your face products.

5. The tools you use to apply your foundation will usually change the coverage and sometimes the finish as well. You can use either a brush or sponge.

6. The foundation you choose is based on your skin type and the finish you’re wanting to achieve. There are three main skin types: oily, combination/normal, and dry.

7. Matching your foundation color is fairly easy, if you know your undertone. There are five basic undertones: pink (cool), neutral, yellow/golden (warm), olive, and peach. 

8. There are also three main finishes of foundations. There’s matte, natural/demi-matte, and radiant/dewy. 

9. When applying concealer, it is helpful to have a slightly lighter shade under your eyes and on the high points to add more definition to the face. However, for any blemishes, it would be better to find a shade closer to your skin tone.

10. To get more coverage out your concealer, you can let it sit until it dries down a little bit, and then blend. If you’re using a matte concealer, beware! You don’t want to leave it on too long and then not be able to blend it. However, an easy fix for this (should it happen) is to spray a setting spray on your face and blend it out then.

11. Applying loose powder with a slightly damp beauty sponge is referred to as “baking”. It can be used to clean up contour and brighten areas. This way, the powder is pushed into the skin, rather than just sitting on top of it. Be sure to wipe the excess powder off.

12. With bronzer or contour, apply it in a three; on the forehead, the hollows of the cheeks, and the jawline. Bronzer and contour will give more definition to the face and bring back color.

13. When applying blush, place it on the apples of the cheeks and blend it back for the most natural look. To look sun-kissed, you can also apply it on the nose.

14. Highlighter can make or break a look, in my opinion. It can bring back a healthy glow to the face, depending on the highlighter you use. Highlighter goes on the highest points of the face.

15. To make your eyebrows sharper, you can “carve” them out by putting concealer under and on top of your eyebrow. This will give you more control of the shape.

16. To make a clean base for eyeshadow, you can use concealer or eye primer. Setting it with powder will make the shadows blend better, similar to the face products.

17. To begin an eye look, it helps to start with a light brown shade, or a transition color, then build up from there.

18. If a shimmer eyeshadow isn’t showing up as pigmented as you would like it to, spray the brush after picking up the shade and then apply it. This will enhance the shimmer and make it stand out much more.

19. If mascara gets on your skin, wait for it to dry and then gently scratch it off with a spoolie (eyebrow brush). The makeup underneath will be safe, and the mascara will flake right off.

20. Before applying false lashes, make sure the glue has around 30 seconds to become tacky. Otherwise, it won’t stick to your eye correctly. Additionally, using tweezers can help you have more control of where you’re placing it. The goal is to get the lash band as close to your lash line as possible.

21. Lip liner is very useful when using bolder colors, or even nudes. It’ll make it easier to define your lip shape as well as keep the color from bleeding throughout the day.

22. After all your makeup is done, setting it again with a setting spray will help your makeup sink into your skin and feel more comfortable.