For me, makeup is a way of expression. It's an art, although many people do not see it that way. Makeup, for me, is my escape. I love doing makeup and I love practicing new techniques and different eyeshadow looks. I spend hours watching tutorials and practicing. It's my hobby. Here, I'll be sharing my tips, tricks, techniques, dupes for high end products and must-have items. Enjoy!
First things first: my tips and tricks!
1.) The first and most basic rule, always use a moisturizer. Now, which moisturizer you use depends on your skin type. If you have oily skin like me, I HIGHLY recommend a moisturizer with no oils. If you aren't looking to spend a fortune, try the Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Moisturizer. If you have dry skin, use the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum. It is bit on the pricey side, but well worth it, especially in the summer!
2.) After moisturizing, primer is always a necessity, especially if you plan on wearing your makeup throughout the day. I'll list primers below in the must-have items!
3.) For Foundation, like moisturizer, always use one that fits your facial need (dry or oily skin). ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS remember to find a color that matches your neck! Each part of your skin is colored differently due to the way the sun hits you. When finding your shade, try the shade on your jawline. This is your best bet for accurately matching your shade.
4.) Concealer. Always find one 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone to highlight and to cover the marks your foundation did not cover.
5.) Always set your makeup using a translucent powder. Powder helps to keep your makeup in place all day. If you don't have a powder, setting spray is also a must!
6.) My last tip is, if you have discoloration on your face, use a color correcting palette. Use green to cancel out any redness because they are opposites on the color wheel. Use purple to cancel out any yellow spots. Use yellow to cancel out under-eye circles or bruises. And lastly, use white to highlight dark spots.
Now, techniques!
If you're me, you try every technique that is used in the beauty world — contouring, baking, strobing, etc!
Contouring is different for every single person. Before you start contouring, determine your face shape. Determining your face shape will help you to know where to contour your cheekbones and jawline. A technique for this, if you have trouble knowing where to contour — use any flat edge or something with a curve (spoon, ruler, etc!). To find your cheekbones, take a brush and draw it from the outside corner of your mouth to your earlobe. The contour will go underneath the cheekbone!
Baking is a method used by Makeup Artists and beauty gurus to keep their makeup flawless all day. Using a beauty blender, pick up the powder and apply it heavily underneath the eyes, on your chin, in-between your eyebrows and underneath your cheekbones. Let it set for 10 minutes and brush it off with a powder brush!
Dupes for high end products — As much as we love our Benefit, Becca, and Laura Mercier, sometimes our bank accounts can't keep up with our addiction. But luckily, there are so many AMAZING drug store dupes for practically any high end product!
Kylie Jenner Lip Kits = ColourPop Ultra Matte Lippie's for $6! (Candy K: Clueless, Dolce K: Beeper, and True Brown K: Limbo!)
Nars Blush in Orgasm ($30) = Milani Baked Powder Blush in Luminous ($6)
Benefit High Beam Highlighter ($26) = Elf Essential Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal ($1)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In Place Foundation ($50) = Revlon Color Stay ($11)
Last but not least, the must-have products! These products have absolutely saved my life — They are so worth the price!
1.) Nars Creamy Concealer
2.) Becca Highlighter in Opal
3.) Bare Minerals Mineral Veil foundation
4.) Coty Air Spun Translucent Powder in Translucent Extra Coverage
5.) Benefit Stay Don't Stay eyeshadow primer
6.) Benefit They're Real mascara
6.) E.L.F. liquid liner
7.) Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette
8.) Vaseline Lip Therapy
9.) Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer
10.) Benefit POREfessional Pore Primer
11.) KISS False Lashes in Posh
12.) Anastasia Powder Contour Kit in Fair
13. IT Cosmetics Vitality Disc in Live, Laugh, Love
14.) Wet N Wild Color Correcting Palette
15. Urban Decay Prep B-12 Spray and De-Slick Setting Spray for Oil Control
16.) Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
17.) Too Faced Brow Kit
Although I could talk about makeup forever, I will leave you with this: Makeup is not a tool to make an ugly thing beautiful. It is a tool to enhance natural beauty. I hope these tips and tricks help you out if you were looking to better your makeup routine. I hope you all learned new ways to expand your makeup ways.
