Have you ever wished that there was a guide to applying makeup for dummies? You’re not alone. Putting on cosmetics is an art – and its not always easy to learn. Even someone who has been wearing makeup for years can make mistakes. Thankfully there are some very simple things you can learn that will help accent your features and avoid common errors.
What Not To Do:
In our applying makeup for dummies guide, you should know its just as important to know what NOT to do as it is learning application methods. For example, people with oily skin need to avoid thick foundations because they don’t allow the skin to breath (meaning pimples). Other don’ts include:
- Using too dark or too light foundation
- Putting makeup on too heavily under the eyes
- Not using enough powder to absorb oil
- Forgetting foundation for eye makeup
- Wearing bright red lipstick with smoky eyes
- Choosing blush that’s much too dark
Those of you nodding your head right now, don’t feel badly. These are very, very common mistakes.
Makeup 101
In choosing makeup for your eyes, think about your skin color and the color of your eyes. Brown eyed women are lucky. You can wear nearly any color and pull it off. Whatever you choose, the lighter colors go over the entire lid, while darker hues finish the look up to the eye crease. Once the eye shadow is on, you can apply black, brown, or colored mascara. Try to choose a waterproof brand to avoid smudges.
In terms of lips, the most natural look comes from just using lip gloss. If you want to draw attention to your lips and look kissable, tone down the rest of your makeup and focus on a more dramatic shade (particularly if you have dark toned skin).
Moving to your cheeks never use a blush that’s more than two shades darker than your skin tone. The blush itself goes on the bone of your cheek. Start very lightly. You can always add more if its not dark enough. Remember to look at the other makeup your using. Warm colors go with warm colors, cool with cool. Don’t mix.
Other Helps and Hints:
- Less is more. You don’t need a ton of makeup to create a great look.
- Remember that makeup expires. Check the dates on your foundations, mascara, etc. Mascara has a shelf life of about 5 months whereas foundations are good for a year as is nail polish
- Good makeup requires clean tools. Regularly wash out sponges and brushes. This also avoids bacterial build up.
Last but not least applying makeup for dummies says: practice, practice, practice. The afternoon of a special outing is not the time to be trying a new look! Go with what you know. You can experiment another time.
