Every year, companies large and small in the world of cosmetics roll out new colors, textures and products. As the improvements come (kiss-safe lipstick!) and the range of products increases, prices look set to remain as high as ever. But the right makeup, badly applied, is always the wrong makeup. Nearly every one of us has grimaced at the sight of a lazy pancake job or just-too-much! eye makeup. The sad thing is, most badly made up women probably have good taste, but simply don't know how to go about achieving the look they desire. While there's no guarantee that the following tips will leave you looking like Monica Belluci, they're a good start.
Take a good look at your face before you begin. Take particular note of flaws such as blemishes or rings under your eyes. Now take another look, and observe what it is you want to bring out in your face. There are several concealers and tinted bases that you can apply before reaching the foundation, and you really should, as with the blemishes smoothed out and the highlights played up, you’ll achieve a much better overall effect. For help with your specific flaws, consider asking a friend whose makeup skills you admire, or a friendly looking store clerk.
When you're ready to apply foundation, make sure you cover your skin to the neckline and the hairline. Remember that the light of your vanity mirror may be more forgiving than that of the sun, and in the light of day, nothing stands out like foundation that ends at the jaw. That said, approach this task with the ideal of consistency rather than perfection, and use quick motions of the fingers to cover areas around the eyes (including eyelids), not forgetting your neck. A single sheet of tissue gently applied will do wonders to collect any mounds, leaving you with an even foundation.
Blush can be put to dramatic effect or left as a half-spoken bit of intrigue. The line of application should follow the apple of your cheek toward the top of your ear. If you really want to stand out, use a bold shade without accompanying touch-ups. If you want to be sure your blush stays out of the way of your lipstick and eye makeup, use a more muted tone and add a light brush of blush to your forehead and chin.
Powder is applied in direct puffs, with no friction. Once the powder is on, you can use a brush to smooth out the application with downward strokes. Now that you've applied concealer, blush and powder, you're ready to move on to the eyes and lips and makeup success!
