The Correct Way to Apply Makeup (and What Not to Do)

When did make-up get so complicated? With all of the tutorials for contouring, smokey eyes, winged eyeliner, plump lips and the like out there, it’s hard to know what advice to take and what to ignore. Plus, most of the time a tutorial either shows us mistakes without telling us how to correct them, OR it speeds through the correct way without addressing common questions.

Not so with this one from Stephanie Lange! Today she’s showing us the right AND the wrong way to do make-up, side-by-side, so we can all finally get this stuff down once and for all.

Here are some of our favorite do’s and don’t’s that Stephanie mentions in her video – watch and learn.

 

Do Apply Moisturizer

This is a crucial step in making sure you have a smooth finish on your foundation! Applying foundation WITHOUT moisturizing will only result in cakey patches across your face, and more than likely, breakouts.

Apply your moisturizer of choice all over your face and let it sit for 3-5 minutes before you move onto your foundation.

Don’t Use the Wrong Color Foundation

Choosing a foundation that’s too dark or light for your natural skin tone is going to spell nothing but disaster for you. Select the CORRECT color by swiping a few different tones onto your cheek; the one that disappears into your skin is your correct tone.

Also, when it comes to foundation, DO NOT rub the product in using your fingers. As Stephanie says, this will just point out the rough, dry patches of your skin and cause acne.

Instead, dab your foundation on with a sponge.

Do Use a Neutral Eyeshadow

Rather than starting with a shimmering eyeshadow all over your lids, brush a neutral to start. A matte neutral will make your eyes look big and bright, rather than define all your eye lines – which shimmer shadow will do if used first.

If you want to add a little sparkle, you can! Just make sure to bring it above the eyelid.

Don’t Fill Your Brows Too Dark

Without a doubt, it’s the age of the brow. Having full brows is all the rage, but you don’t want to create “block brow”; this essentially means that you’ve filled in your brows with thick, harsh makeup. All this does is harden your look and make your eyebrows look, well, fake.

Instead, leave the start of your brow (at the bridge of your nose) more open and natural; this will open up your eyes. Then, lightly fill in the rest of your brow with long, gentle strokes. This will get you the trendy look without going too far.

 

And these tips only scratch the surface! To get all of Stephanie’s amazing do’s and don’t’s, make sure to watch her video below. Then share your thoughts on the makeup tutorial (and any tricks you live by) in the comments section below.