What are Some Tips on Applying Makeup?

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.