How to Apply Makeup

Applying makeup is an art form in general. Anyone who has used makeup has watched a tutorial or two. That said, most people would agree that there’s not one specific way to apply makeup. However, there is a general way to apply makeup that the majority of people will follow to a certain extent.

Apply Moisturizer

First off, you have to apply moisturizer. You can apply face mists, serums, lotions, creams, and oils. Face mists are water-based. Usually, face mists will contain skin-boosting vitamins and fragrances. These mists aren’t necessarily designed to return the moisture to your skin but they help make the dewy look stay all day. If you continue to apply throughout the day.

Learning how to apply moisturizer correctly is half the battle. Put a small amount of the moisturizer of your choosing on your fingers and start to spread the moisturizer from the middle of the face to the outer part of the face. Rub the moisturizer into your skin and allow it to dry a minute or two before starting your look for the day.

Apply Primer 

The second step is to apply primer. Whether you’re doing a full glam look or a natural day you want to use primer as your first step in applying your makeup. Primer is the base of your foundation it helps to make your makeup last all day while keeping your face smooth.

A little bit of primer goes a long way when applying makeup. You want to put a small amount of primer onto your fingers and apply it evenly on your face. Some people will apply a small amount more to sensitive areas such as the eyes to keep the eyeshadow looking perfect throughout the day.  

Apply Liquid Foundation 

After your primer sets it’s time to apply the foundation for your makeup look. The number one hardest part about applying foundation is finding the perfect shade for you. You don’t want to look too pale, but you also don’t want to look like a carrot. 

Applying a foundation can be done in multiple ways. You can use your fingers, a makeup brush, or a beauty blender. If you want to use your fingers make sure that your hands are thoroughly washed before touching your face. Your fingers will give you a nice light coverage for your makeup look. Using a beauty blender or a foundation brush will give your makeup look more of a full coverage look. 

Start by applying the foundation to the center of your face and work your way outwards. Some people will dab a bit of foundation on each part of their face to make sure they cover their entire face evenly when applying their foundation.

Apply Your Concealer

Now we move on to concealer. There is liquid concealer and stick concealer. Liquid concealer is best used when you want light coverage. It works well, especially around the eyes. 

Stick concealer generally is used for heavier coverage and smaller areas of the face. However, picking the color of your concealer can be one of the toughest things. It can be so complicated that many people will have 2 different shades of concealer to use when applying their makeup. 

Some people will apply their concealer before they apply their foundation to their makeup look. Some people will apply it after their foundation. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to applying your concealer.

Apply Your Setting Powder and Your bronzer

Setting powder is a step that most people will forget when applying makeup to their faces. When applying setting powder you want to make sure you don’t turn yourself into a cake face. You also want to make sure you’re putting enough setting powder on when applying makeup to keep it set throughout the day. 

Then bronzer is the next step. Bronzer will give more of a contoured look to your face when applying makeup. You will have a sun kissed glow year-round with bronzer. Most people will use a powder bronzer, as it is easier to control when applying rather than a bronzer stick. It’s easiest to take the bronzer and gently apply it to the lower part of your cheek, usually under the cheekbone. 

Apply bronzer to the forehead and under your jawline so that your makeup look is even. You do not want to have hot spots on your face.

Next step, Apply Your Blush

Flushed cheeks have been a staple when applying makeup for centuries. Blush adds a little bit of color to your face to brighten it up. When applying your blush you want to use a dense brush with plenty of bristles. That said applying blush is not a “one size” fits everyone kind of deal. You can add more or less depending on your preference. 

Some people like a more intense look when applying their blush and others like a more natural just emphasis look. Either way is correct! Getting the right look also depends on which tone of blush you use. The main tones of blush are pink, plum, and peach. 

Pink blush is usually used when you’re applying blush only to the apples of your cheeks. When pink blush is applied to your makeup it should mimic the natural flush your body creates. If you don’t know where the apples of your cheeks are when you smile it’s the most pronounced part of your cheeks.

Then there’s plum blush, plum blush is effective for medium to dark skin tones. Anyone with these skin tones can use the plum blush the same way a fairer skin person would use the pink blush. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks when applying your makeup!

Lastly, there is peach blush. Instead of using your pink blush on just the apples of your cheeks, you can use the peach blush to help sculpt your face adding just a tiny bit of color. Peach blush can really be put anywhere you want to add an extra ounce of color. 

Time to Apply Your Highlighter

Highlighter adds a touch of glam and glow to the makeup look. Highlighters like most makeup come in a variety of forms including liquid, creams, and powders. The great thing about applying highlight to your makeup is that you can use one version of highlighter, 2 versions, or all 3 versions. Whichever you prefer the process is the same to apply it.

Most people will put a highlight on the bridge of their nose, across the tops of their cheekbones, and in the inner corner of their eyelids. You can also put a highlight on the brow bone and the indent above your upper lip, also known as the cupid’s bow.

If you use liquid highlight after blending it with your fingertips or sponge, you can then go back and apply a cream or powder highlighter to accentuate the areas you wish to.

Eyeshadow is Next

Eyeshadow adds interest to your makeup look. When applying eyeshadow you can use colorful eyeshadow or neutral colors. Wherever you choose to use grab one lighter shade and one darker shade. 

When you start to apply your eyeshadow you want to dip your eyeshadow brush in a lighter shade. Tap your brush to remove the excess color, then apply the lighter shade to the entire eyelid. Start on the lash line and move up until you reach the crease of your eyelid. 

Next, take the darker shade, and tap the excess color off as you did previously. Apply this color to the outer corner of your eye just above the lash line. Sweep the darker color across your eyelid crease, just under the brow bone. Finally, take a clean shadow brush and blend the two colors together so there are no lines, the idea is to make the colors look like an ombre on your eyelid. 

Eyeliner, Eyeliner, Eyeliner

Eyeliner might be the most daunting part of applying makeup for people. There are different kinds of eyeliner liquid, gel, and pencil eyeliner. The easiest eyeliner is probably pencil and the most complicated eyeliner is probably liquid. But don’t worry because you got this. 

If you’re looking for precision with your eyeliner you are going to want to use liquid eyeliner. When using liquid eyeliner you want to start at the inner corner of your eye and work your way out, do not rush this process. As you make your way out you can create a thicker line toward the outer part of your eye. When you have your eyeliner the way you want it, apply a little makeup remover to a q-tip and clean up the area as needed.

Gel eyeliner is more for creating the cat-eye look. You take a flat angled brush and dip it in your gel pod. Make sure there is gel on both sides of the brush and start applying to the eyeliner. Start at the middle of the eye by your lash line and work your way out, you can then add eyeliner to the inner corner of the eye and connect it to the middle.

Pencil eyeliner is usually the best eyeliner for beginners. The best kind of pencil eyeliner to use is the Amina Pencil Eyeliner. When applying pencil eyeliner to your makeup look pull out your eyelid just a bit and draw small light lines on your lash line starting from the inner corner and working your way out. You can make these lines darker as you wish!

Finally, Apply Mascara and Lip Gloss

If you use any kind of makeup you want to be using mascara. Mascara is magic, it can make your eyes look brighter with the flick of a brush. Mascara comes in a million different colors but the best mascara to use is the Amina Mascara.

If you choose to curl your eyelashes you will want to do that prior to applying your mascara. When you have your lashes curled then you will want to start applying your mascara. If your lashes clump it's helpful to have a clean wand and brush through them. Apply as many coats as you like to get to your ideal volume.

To complete your make-up look you can add lipstick or lipgloss, even lip balm. If not for any other reason than to moisturize your lips for the day.