Working in cosmetics for years, I've heard quite a few things that would make me raise a brow...or two. I can't tell you how many times I've had a client complain about their makeup, stop mid rant and say, "I want my makeup to look like yours." One of my first questions is, "how much time do you normally spend doing your makeup in the morning?" Of course, the response is usually pretty much the same, "Oh, about fifteen minutes." Girl, you've got to dedicate just a little bit more time if you want to achieve your makeup goals. I'm not saying that you have to spend the better part of your morning in the mirror trying for dear life to blend out that eye shadow. However, making sure that you are beat to the high heavens will take a little bit of work regarding both technique and time. Here are some things that you're probably doing right now that sabotages your makeup goals:
1.) Not having a solid skincare routine
I don't care what anyone says, your makeup will only look as great as your skin. Yes, I've seen the magicians on YouTube that can make cystic acne "disappear" with the right foundation and tool, but let's be clear...there is still texture, possible discoloration, and other various issues present. You have to take care of the root of the problem. Piling makeup on your face to "hide" acne, pores, and everything else of that nature is like trying to paint over a moldy wall. That will only take care of the issue for a moment.
2.) Not priming before applying makeup
Would you paint your entire house without priming it? No. So, why would you do that to your face? Listen. There is controversy around the notion that you have to wear primers and I get it. There are people who can get away without wearing primers at all. For most of us (including myself), primer is a necessity. Aside from the binding properties of primers (which allows the primer to grip your makeup throughout the day), it's a little protective barrier between your skin and the makeup and it allows your skincare that was previously applied to absorb a lot better. Not to mention that there are different formulas of primer that help to address immediate concerns like oiliness, dryness, texture, and dullness just to name a few. Your makeup will go on much more smoothly and stay on all day long. Thank me later.
3.) Not setting your makeup
The nerve of you to spend all of that time on your makeup and not even set it! I have had so many clients reveal that they set their makeup with absolutely nothing at all. Side note: for those of you that wear just powder foundation, it's not necessary to do any further setting, but sprays are optional. However, my liquid and cream foundation wearing ladies have to set with a powder. This is not optional especially if you want flawless foundation all day. I know, I know. You're dry, you don't want to look cakey, you hate the way powder feels, you've had a bad experience with powder...all the reasons to opt out of a powder and either set with nothing at all or just do a spray. Let's think about this, though. How many times has that liquid or cream makeup transferred or slid right off of your face when you haven't set it with a powder? No, setting it with a powder will not eliminate transfer, but it will minimize it tremendously and prevent everything from shifting and breaking up throughout the day. As for wearing just a spray on top of liquid or cream, just...no. At least set your "hot spots" with powder (i.e. T-zone area) then use a spray. Otherwise, you'll be a nice and shiny disco ball by mid day.
4.) Applying product using the incorrect tool or technique
This one can get complicated, so I may have to do any entirely different blog post later. For now, I'll keep it as straight to the point as possible. The main areas that seem to cause a lot of trouble are foundation and eye shadow. Here's a crash course:
Foundation: Do not use your fingers! BB creams/tinted moisturizers are the exception. The warmth and natural oils on your fingers can sometimes break down the foundation and you won't get as much coverage and it won't be as even. Using a synthetic brush or a sponge is best. Make sure the brush you choose is not too big or too small and isn't too dense or too fluffy. Take your skin into consideration when applying the makeup. Smooth skin? Have it your way: you can buff, paint, stipple, etc. Textured/dry skin? Stippling is your best bet. Peach fuzz? Use downward sweeping motions so the makeup can't get caked into the hairs making peach fuzz more visible.
Eye shadows: Use dense, synthetic brushes for the lid and somewhat fluffy synthetic/natural fiber brushes for the crease. Be gentle! Applying too much pressure means you're probably applying too much product. You can go from natural to drag queen really quick. No shade.
Note: when working with any brush on any part of the face remember: the denser the brush, the fuller the coverage. Same goes for how much pressure you're applying. Adjust accordingly.
5.) Using something simply because it looks good on someone else
You know that old school saying, "What's good for the goose is good for the gander"? That's not always true. If your skin is desert dry, trust me, you do not want to use my skincare or wear my foundation. I know we can can become so caught up in the magic of makeup and what so many of us can do with it. Just keep in mind that some cosmetics are not one size fits all. Something that can work really well for me can cause an adverse reaction on you. This concept goes for makeup styles as well. Winged liner is the perfect example. Not everyone's eye shape can "support" a winged liner. Knowing what truly works for you and your unique look will enhance your makeup more than you could ever imagine.
6.) Using too many products with the same formula/texture
Have you ever seen someone with a bunch of shimmer eye shadow on? Literally from their lash line all the way up to their brow bone? I'm not referring to the abstract, avant garde, or editorial makeup. No, I'm referring to that poor soul walking down the street with blue and silver shimmer all over the place. Doesn't look too appealing, right? It's called being unbalanced. Using a mixture of formulas and textures will keep everything balanced and translating a bit more natural and aesthetically pleasing. This also applies to face makeup. Too much matte or too much dewiness can come across as harsh and unnatural. Make sure to switch it up.
7.) Following all of the "rules"
I know. You're probably staring at the screen like,"Wtf?" As I have told you before, I vowed to keep it all the way real with you and this is me living up to that. Yes, there are a million techniques, guidelines, and "rules" in makeup. But it would be foolish to think that those things apply to everyone. Makeup is truly a trial and error game. You have to play and experiment to figure out what works best for you. The rules are there as your blueprint and you just may have to deviate sometimes. And that's okay. You do what is most comfortable for you.
Did you have any "a-ha" moments while reading this blog? I'd love to hear all about it. Please, leave your thoughts in the comment section. Let's have a discussion!