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What are Some Tips on Applying Makeup?

By Bethany Keene
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,001
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One of the most important things to remember when applying makeup is that makeup should enhance your natural beauty and your best features; it should not be caked on. Makeup that is properly applied can give you a more finished, polished appearance. There are a few simple makeup tips to help you look your best everyday.

Before you begin applying makeup, you should develop a skin care regimen to care for and maintain your delicate facial skin. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser in the morning and the evening to remove makeup or residue. In the morning, apply a moisturizer that contains SPF to prevent sun damage and wrinkles. In the evening, you may wish to apply a heavier moisturizer without SPF, along with an eye cream to hydrate skin overnight.

Every woman's makeup routine may be different, and if you find something that works well for you, then you should certainly continue to do it. These are simply some general tips you may try if you are unsure how to apply makeup. In general, you should always remember that less is more.

The first step when applying makeup is generally to apply foundation. This can come in a liquid or powder, and should be applied using a cosmetic sponge or brush. Blend the foundation well, making sure to blend especially well around your forehead, chin and neck for a more natural look. Foundation is the first step to evening out your skin tone. If you can still see blemishes and redness after applying foundation, lightly dabbing concealer on top of the problem areas and blending well can better hide the redness.

Because the skin under the eyes is thinner than elsewhere on the face, concealer or brightening cream may also be applied gently underneath the eyes to improve the appearance of dark circles. To make the eyes appear brighter, a bit of brightening cream or pale eyeshadow applied to the inner corners of the eyes will make a big difference.

When applying makeup, most beauty experts suggest trying to balance out your face. For example, if you are putting on a lot of eye makeup, you might then apply a more natural looking lipstick or lip gloss. Applying makeup to the eyes is a great way to enhance your face.

If you choose to use eyeliner, one important tip to remember is not to line your whole eye all the way around. This will actually make your eyes look smaller. Instead, starting from the middle of the lash line on the top and bottom, draw a line to the outer corner of the eye. You may also just place eyeliner on the top lash line, but leave the bottom lash line natural. Slightly smudging the line with a makeup brush can create a more natural look. Curling your eyelashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara can also make the eyes look bigger.

Remember, never pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube before applying mascara. This can introduce oxygen and bacteria in the mascara tube, which could then cause an eye infection. If you've applied eyeliner and mascara, you may want to finish up with eye shadow. Sweeping a light color across the eye but applying a darker color on the outer corner and the crease can also make the eyes look bigger, but you can experiment to see what colors look best on your face.

When applying makeup to lips, a darker lipstick may look better for evenings, while a lighter lip gloss or lipstick might be more appropriate for the workday. Once you've applied your lipstick, blot your lips with a tissue to remove any excess. Lipstick will look best on well-moisturized lips, so you may want to apply a hydrating lip balm when you go to bed at night to keep lips healthy and smooth.

Blush may also be used to brighten the cheeks. Apply blush with a light touch along the cheekbone for a more natural appearance. You may also use eyebrow pencil, powder or gel to fill in thin eyebrows. These are generally waterproof once they have set. Remember, the goal when applying makeup is to look natural, so try to choose colors that complement your complexion, skin tone and overall appearance.

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Discussion Comments
By candyquilt — On Mar 07, 2011

@simrin-- I know how you feel! I have Asian features also. It took me some time to find the perfect way to do makeup and I can share a few of those tips.

I apply a white eye pencil in the inner eyelash to make eyes bigger. You can apply black eyeliner, but only to the outer eyelashes. Also, wear mascara because it opens up the eyes and makes them look bigger. You can also apply fake lashes to your outer lashes, they also make eyes look really big.

I don't know many tips to make the face look long. But I have heard that if you apply a shimmery white shadow longways on your nose, it makes the face look longer.

Try these and see. I hope you will like it. Good luck!

By SteamLouis — On Mar 05, 2011

I am just starting to learn how to apply eye and face makeup. I have Asian features: small eyes and round face. I am applying shadow only on the outer part of my eye and no eyeliner. What else can I do to make my eyes look bigger? And is there a way to make my face look longer?

By serenesurface — On Mar 03, 2011

The best makeup tip I have heard is that makeup should look like you really don't have any on. It's meant to look natural; only you should know how much work it took to get that look.

One thing that I use before foundation is a face primer or base. This is a gel or cream that makes the face really smooth and even so that when you put on foundation, it looks perfectly even. Otherwise, if you have small scabs from dry skin or acne that is in the process of healing, the foundation will show it.

Something else that I do for long days or when I am going out at night is to use translucent powder after all my makeup is done. Just like a primer that can be the first step of makeup, translucent powder is like the last step. It fixes the makeup on your face and makes it last longer.

I only use these when its a long and important day or an evening out though. I usually don't have enough time to apply everything during the week. For most days, its powder foundation, eyeliner and mascara for me.

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