How to Apply Makeup

Playing with makeup can be great fun. It can also be a terrible disaster, especially if you don't know what you are doing — you could end up looking like Frankenstein’s ugly sister. Get the basics right, first time.

The Basics

The beauty industry has loads of beauty secrets and visiting a makeup artist for a makeover can be a great way to learn some of their tricks. But, if you can't afford a makeup artist, here are some quick tips you can start using today for flawless makeup application.

Step 1
Always ensure your face is clean before applying makeup. Cleanse, tone and moisturize before you apply your makeup. Use a warm cloth when cleansing as this opens the pores and allows you to apply moisturizer that will soak up before your foundation goes on.

Step 2
Conceal it. If you have blemishes or problem spots on your skin, cover them up by dabbing a bit of congealer over them.

Step 3
Begin your application with foundation, applying it with a clean foundation brush. This will allow you to apply foundation more easily and without wasting any. Never use your hands as they can contribute to oil and the spread of bacteria. Foundation sponges are also a good option.

Step 4
Finish off your foundation with a matching powder, blending it in circles to give your skin a finished look.

The Fun Part

Step 5
Now you're ready to play and have some fun. Starting with the eyes, begin to apply eye shadow, starting from the inside corner of your eye and blending it outwards. If you want to add some highlighting effects, apply a shimmering shade just beneath your eyebrow arch and blend it in.

You can use a trio of eye shadow that has three different shades. The lighter one would be used for highlighting and can also be applied to the inside corner of the eyelid. The second, darker shade would then be applied on the middle section of the eyelid, while the darker shade will be applied to the outer corner of the eyelid. The golden rule of applying eye makeup trios: Always blend in the shades to create a finished off look. The last thing you want is to have hard, defined color points, especially on your eyes.

Next, apply eyeliner and finish it off with mascara. Always ensure you apply mascara when you have finished making up your eyes.

Step 6
If you'd like, you can subtly apply a blusher. Don't go too dramatic. Remember, your blusher should only brighten up your cheeks, but should always look natural. Again, blend, blend, blend.

Step 7
Complete your makeup application by applying lip-liner to your lips and finish the look off with a matching lipstick and lip-gloss.

Check the mirror one last time and fix up any flaws before packing your makeup-tricks bag away.