It’s taken me an embarrassingly long time to learn how to apply makeup. And I’ve had a lot of help in the process – from my sister, my sister-in-law, a coworker, the women at Ulta and Clinique… After many years, I feel like I am finally coming close to liking what I am seeing.
I thought I should share some of the tips I’ve learned – most of which seem to be related to eye makeup. Maybe this knowledge is natural to some women – but it sure wasn’t to me! (I apologize for the long post, and the fact that it has a more specific audience.)
Brand Loyalty Isn’t Always a Good Thing!
I think the first mistake I made was that I was trying to stay loyal to a drugstore brand – Maybelline. Seriously, I had been buying their products since 2000. When I wanted to try a new color, I would stick to Maybelline, and often be disappointed. This resulted in tubes of unused lipstick and stacks of barely-touched eyeshadow (Do people ever return those things? I feel guilty, since I used it ONCE).
Now I’ve realized that just because I love ONE Maybelline product (their liquid eyeliner) doesn’t mean I need to stick with them for EVERYTHING. I’m branching out.
The Brows Frame Your Face
I’m not sure if I was looking for an eyebrow pencil and gel when I went into Ulta a few months before our wedding, but I ended up with Sue Devitt’s “Sudan” pencil and gel (I’ve since moved on to Maybelline gel – it works the same for half the price) in my shopping bag when I left.
Wow, penciling in my eyebrows really helped me look more polished. Of course, it’s taken me quite awhile to learn how to use the right amount of pencil. At first, I was using the side of the pencil, drawing long, flat strokes. Ugh… no! No wonder that pencil lasted a whole year!
I recently read in Allure’s Confessions of a Beauty Editor (you know I was thinking of you, Diane, when I checked it out at the library) that the pencil should be sharp, and the strokes more “hair-like.” Yeah. Duh. That’s helped. A LOT.
Add a beautiful Mario Tricoci eyebrow wax (because they don’t do threading) and some gel and voila – muchos polished.
Use an Artist’s Tools for Your Canvas
I took my mother to Ulta the day before the wedding for a makeover, and to surprise her by buying some of the products. (My mother RARELY wears makeup. I’m not even sure if she brought any with her! Maybe some lipstick.)
The makeup artist used an assortment of brushes to apply her eyeshadow. Larger, softer brushes for the entire eyelid and up to the brow, and angular, flatter brushes for close to the eyelid. I was hooked. These brushes can be expensive, but I feel like I have so much more control with them – compared to the ones that come with the shadows. Of course, I am still learning how to blend colors and create different effects.
Get a Professional’s Advice
A month ago, I dug out all those old eyeshadows to look for something “new” to try. I tend to wear the same shadow everyday, but vary it by season. And it was time for a “Fall” look.
I saw nothing I liked at home. I finally dumped all that old crap into the garbage and made my way to the Clinique counter. I told the stylist the look I was going for, and she recommended the Strawberry Fudge Duo.
I’m liking it so much, I am considering trying another duo for a different, more dramatic, evening look. I am applying the shadow the same way – with the brushes – bit first using a bit of foundation on my eyelids to give the powder something to stick to all day. They had a product for this purpose at Clinique, but foundation works well for it.
Clump Free Is the Way To Be
I think I’ve tried every Maybelline mascara. Thick, Volume, Extending, Rubber Applicator – they all clumped and made my lashes look like nasty spider legs!
I decided to go out on a limb and try the CoverGirl Last Blast.
THAT was an extreme help.
Then, a coworker recommended using a round mascara-wand-like brush to comb my lashes before and after applying mascara (then clean the brush).
Wow. This helps so much more. The wand separates the lashes and you can actually tell I have individual eyelashes! I am only embarrassed that they were clumpy for so long!
Fin
Well, these are all of my tips as of now. I am still working on figuring out lips and face! What tips do you have to share?
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