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Makeup is an art, and so there isn't necessarily a set of rules that you HAVE to follow. Makeup should allow for freedom of expression and creativity, although it does help to know some helpful tips and tricks to really master the technique. Once you've got that down, you can let your creativity run wild! My name is Christine, pro MUA and owner & founder of Lotis Beauty. I've been in the industry for about 6 years, and while i'm still learning myself, there have been some important things that i've learnt along the way, that i'm going to share with you.
The first pro tip is to match your foundation to your chest. The wrong shade of foundation really upsets the rest of the look. It's called foundation for a reason, as it lays the blank canvas for the rest of your makeup. When it comes to choosing foundation, there are 3 steps to follow: 1. Determine whether you want a matte, dewy or semi-matte foundation. You can decide this by testing whether you have dry, oily or combination skin. This is sort of a trial and error process when it comes t foundation, but there are a few more tips i'll share with you later on. Okay, step number 2 for foundation matching is to determine your undertone. Look at the veins on your wrist; if they look blue/purple, you have a cool undertone. If they are more green/olive toned, you have a warm undertone, and if they're somewhere in between, you're neutral. Then, step number 3 is to actually match the foundation correctly to your skin tone. Dab a small amount of the foundation onto your chest and blend out. If you can clearly see the foundation, it's not the right colour. If the foundation seamlessly blends with your skin, you've got yourself a match. You want your face and neck to match your chest & the rest of your body (oh, another pro tip: blend your foundation down into your neck).
The 2nd pro tip relates to foundation as well. If you've got a foundation that is too matte, you can prime the skin with a dewy primer, or mix in a bit of oil into the foundation to give it a more dewy effect. This is a great tip for switching up your makeup routine during winter months when you may need a bit more hydration. If your foundation is too runny and you want to make it a bit thicker, mix in a touch of loose powder. Your foundations can also be lightened or darkened with a bit of concealer in a lighter or slightly darker shades. This is also great depending on the seasons and means you can avoid buying different foundations entirely for summer and winter.
The 3rd pro tip is to use the same product for different techniques. For example, you can use a pink/coral eyeshadow as a powder blush, or mix it with a balm or vaseline to create a cream blush. The same goes for liquid lipsticks - use them as a cream blush for a dewy, hydrated look. Lip liners can also be used as eyeliner pencils when you want to add a pop of colour. Use your concealer as an eyeshadow primer to help ensure your eyeshadow sticks and is perfectly pigmented when applied. Shimmer powder eyeshadows can also be used as highlighters, and eyeshadows mixed with a drop of micellar water turn into liquid liners! The options are literally endless! Don't be afraid to mix things up and try something you've never tried before, you might just discover your new favourite product or look!
Tip number 4 isn't necessarily about makeup, but it definitely affects the outcome and overall look of your makeup. This tip is about prepping the skin! How your skin looks & feels underneath the makeup WILL affect how the makeup looks, and lasts. Make sure to clean your face with a cleanser, apply a serum and a moisturiser that has an SPF in it. Then use a primer. Depending on your skin and makeup needs, you might go with a mattifying primer, or a dewy primer, a pore-minimizing primer, or my favourite for dry skin; jojoba oil. Allow your primer to work its magic on the skin for a few minutes before you start with the makeup, to really get the best effects. Skin prep is SO important, so don't skip this step!
And last but not least, tip number 5 is to start your makeup with your brows. The brows make such a difference to any makeup look and shape the face. They also provide a map for the eyeshadow application as well as the rest of the makeup. I like to follow this process when I apply makeup on myself and my clients (if this doesn't work for you, that's fine. Do what makes you comfortable). I firstly start with the brows (after we have prepped the skin, of course), followed by the eyeshadow (eyes prepped with concealer), then comes the foundation - it helps to do foundation after eyeshadow, because if there was any eyeshadow fallout we can clean it up without ruining our foundation), and then comes concealer, contour & liquid blush (if i'm using powder contour & powder blush, i'll do this after I set the makeup). Then I set the makeup with translucent setting powder, do the mascara or lashes, highlighter, lip liner & lipstick, and finally setting spray!
There are so many more tips I could share with you, but here are 5 to start you off! I hope these tricks help you out with your makeup application. Remember, practice makes perfect! Finding what works for you and your skin is a process of trial and error, and what works for someone else may not work for you. Use these tips as a guideline and don't take it too seriously, have fun with it!