Who among us looks in the mirror at the beginning of each day and thinks, "Yep, I've got it all"? Is anyone wrinkle free, shadow free, and blemish free? Who is completely comfortable with the blank canvas that we've been given, and does not feel the need to enhance our natural features or play up some of our best ones?
Why do we wear makeup, anyway?
Whether it's a quick coat of sparkle on the lips or a full set of lashes and some serious contouring, the reason why we choose to enhance is simple---we want to look and feel our best. While that means different things to different people, there comes a time when we must invest a bit of time and energy into the fine art of makeup application in order to avoid looking like Pennywise after a night of carousing. We've come a long way from the waxy red lipstick and dusty blue eyeshadow that grandma used to wear---there is a fine art to makeup application that, when used, can literally transform a person from "ho hum" to "come and get some". Read on to see some simple tips for makeup application that you can begin to use today in anticipation of creating your best self.
Tips for transformative success
- Map out your contours. To create your best look, you'll need to map out your facial contours to reflect the facial shape that you desire most. Have a broad nose? Highlight the center while shading the sides to create a narrow, refined look. What about those bags under the eyes? A simple swipe of moisturizer and highlighter will do just fine. When it comes to highlighting and shading, less is more. Use product sparingly, especially if you are over forty, as these products tend to settle into fine lines and wrinkles. For more information on how to highlight and shade properly, click here.
- Go easy on the eyes. If you are just starting out on your makeup journey, don't go for the gusto right away with the fake lashes and liquid eyeliner. You'll wind up washing off more than you actually apply. Look instead for an eyeshadow product that offers three different shades of shadow---light, medium, and dark. Sweep the medium shade across your eyelid, and use the dark shade for the crease of your eye to create depth, while you save the highlighting shade to dust your brow bone, giving your eyes that extra sparkle that we just can't get enough of. Once you've mastered the art of shading with these simple colors, play around with bold color combinations that compliment your natural eye shade. There will be time for winged liner and lashes later.
- Don't neglect your brows. A freshly made up face with un-groomed eyebrows is like a Christmas present with a hole in the package; it tends to ruin the whole presentation. Pay attention to your eyebrows, and at least groom or pluck them before attempting to apply makeup. If you are really nervous about caring for your brows yourself, make a spa appointment and get them groomed professionally. This will polish your presentation like you would not believe.
- Choose a lip color that you can rock. Whether you fancy cotton candy pink or candy apple red, make sure you can correctly apply and wear your chosen shade. Line your lips with a quality lip pencil that is close in color to your lip shade, then fill in, taking great care to color within the lines. When it comes to lip color, less is more---the more artfully you can apply even a glimpse of color, the more pleasing your palette will be.
- Choose wisely when it comes to foundation. If you struggle with five o'clock shadow, you'll want to get some advice on how to cover it with a foundation that won't clog your pores or start to slide off at 7 p.m. Select a shade that closely matches your skin tone yet covers some of your blemishes effectively. Start with a moisturized face, apply lightly, and dust with a LIGHT coat of powder to seal the deal. Again, less is more to achieve the desired look.
- Don't make any apologies for your process. Whether you are a novice to makeup application or a seasoned veteran, we all make mistakes. We have good days, and we have days where we look as if we've had a personal consultation with Tammy Fay Baker. Regardless of your experience, commit to learning more with each application, each purchase, and experiment with products until you find your tried and true pieces that make you feel beautiful. Do your research, put your study into practice, and you'll become proficient in no time. See you soon, beautiful!