How to Apply Makeup
Creating a beautiful appearance with makeup is not that hard, as long as you know how to go about it. Here are the basics of properly applying makeup so that you can keep your face looking prim and polished.
Beginnings
Before you put on anything else, rinse your face thoroughly, making sure there is no residue of old makeup, or any oils that may interfere with the applications. With your face completely bare, check for any small spots or blotches that may interrupt the even coloration of your facial skin. This includes any dark circles under your eyes. To cover up these effectively, you will start with concealer. Your choice of concealer should be one shade lighter than the foundation you will be applying later in the makeup process. Dot the concealer over the darker areas and use your fingertips to blend in, so the spots are less noticeable. If you do not want to use your fingertips, then utilize a makeup sponge to evenly apply the concealer.
Moving On To the Foundation
The next layer you will apply is called the foundation. Here you want to choose a foundation that is the exact shade of your skin. Using something darker or lighter will be very obvious and make you look a bit like a circus clown. Apply the foundation in dots around the central part of the face and then gradually sponge or smooth the dots out and over your entire face, until the foundation is evenly applied across the face and blends into the neckline without easy detection. Depending on the type of foundation you are using, a light dusting with loose powder may be required to keep the foundation from running.
The Eyes Have It
Your next step is to address the eyebrows. While eyebrow pencils are popular, you may want to go with the more natural look that powdered eyebrow shadow provides. Using a firm slanted brush, gradually blend the powder into the brows for a uniform look that accentuates the natural arch of the brows.
Next, move on to the eye shadow. You will want to choose three hues of eye shadow, moving from a light, to a medium and to a dark shade. The dark eye shadow will be used to outline the upper eyelid along the line of the lashes. Use the medium shade for the crease area of your eyelid and apply the lighter shade directly underneath the eyebrow. While different trends may reverse some of the order of the shades, this combination has proven to be one that transcends fads and provides a striking and elegant look for the eyes.
Eyeliner will complete the look. Apply eyeliner to the lower eyelid, just below the lashes. The outer two thirds of the lower lid is sufficient. For a complete look, use the eyeliner across the upper lid, just above the lashes.
Applying the Mascara
Gently flesh out your eyelashes using mascara. Women with lighter skin may want to use brown mascara. Women with darker skin will accentuate the lashes by using deep brown or black mascara. For a change or just to have fun, you can experiment with various shades in other colors, to see what type of effect they create for you.
At Last, the Lips
Your choice of lip color will depend on the occasion and your personal preferences. In general, think a darker subdued color for formal events and something lighter for daywear and casual affairs. One rule of thumb is to never apply lip liner until you have put on the lipstick. This will prevent a dark line on your lips after the lipstick has begun to fade. Also, keep the shade of lipstick and lip liner in the same family and close in hue. For example, avoid using a dark lip liner with a light lipstick.
While blush is not used often these days, it should be the last makeup accessory to be applied if you choose to wear it. Keep in mind that blush is meant to accentuate the cheeks, not make them stand out. Gently apply a light dusting of blush below each cheekbone, using a brush to sweep the blush upward. The end result should be a hint of color, but not an obvious line of hue on the cheeks.