Step One in Learning Makeup Application: Light or Heavy Look
First, cleanse your face and apply moisturizer or lotion. This is a crucial step in learning makeup and the most fundamental requirement for mastering it. A good moisturizer lays a solid foundation for makeup application before applying foundation. This prevents dry patches from appearing on your face during the next steps and helps your skin look radiant and translucent.
Step Two: Applying Foundation
After applying primer, use a pea-sized amount of foundation and blend it evenly across your face.You can choose to apply foundation with a powder puff or your fingers. The advantage of the former is that it allows for more even coverage, even in delicate areas like the sides of the nose, but the downside is that the finish may not be as sheer. The advantage of the latter is that the warmth of your fingers can help blend the foundation for a more natural, sheer finish.Begin applying foundation horizontally across the forehead, then move down the cheeks and up the bridge of the nose. Use upward strokes from the center outward. Remember to cover delicate areas like the hairline, outer corners of the eyes, eyelids, sides of the nose, around the lips, and the chin.Dot concealer under the eyes, along the sides of the nose, and on blemishes. Press it in with your fingers to blend, but avoid rubbing vigorously to prevent smudging the foundation. Apply a few dots of concealer under the eyes and gently pat it in with your fingertips. The warmth from your fingers helps the concealer adhere better.
Setting Powder: After completing the foundation, remember to sweep on a layer of setting powder. Choose a shade close to your skin tone; pearl-white powders can appear unnatural.
Step 3: Mastering Makeup Application
Shaping and Drawing Eyebrows: First, comb eyebrows with a spiral brush or eyebrow comb to smooth them. Trim excess length with eyebrow scissors, then remove stray hairs around the brows with tweezers.Next, draw the brows: Start from the arch toward the tail, then from the inner corner toward the arch. The secret is to hold the brow pencil at a slight 45-degree angle for a softer, more natural color. Finally, set the shape by fixing any stray hairs to enhance definition. If your hair is light-colored, use tinted brow gel for a more seamless, natural look.
Step Four: Mastering Eye Makeup
Eye makeup primarily involves three elements: eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lashes.
(1) Eyeshadow Application: Apply two or more shades horizontally across the upper eyelid from inner to outer corner, blending them to enhance eye movement, create a lively, expressive look, and add dimension.
(2) Applying Eyeliner: Close your eyes. Use one hand to gently lift the upper eyelid, fully exposing the base of the upper lashes. Use an eyeliner pencil to draw along this line. When lining the lower lash line, look upward and draw from the outer corner toward the inner corner.Hold the brush at a 30–40 degree angle to the eyelid for a softer, more fluid line. Use the side of the brush tip to create lines with varied thickness. Work in 5cm increments, building up gradually toward the outer corner for precise, fully pigmented lines.
(3) Curling lashes: Look downward. Position the eyelash curler at the lash roots, aligning its curve with your eyelid. Clamp firmly for about 5 seconds, then release. Repeat 1-2 times without moving the curler to set the curl.Next, clamp the middle section of lashes, following their natural upward curve, hold for 5 seconds, then release. Finally, clamp the front tips for 2-3 seconds to create a natural arch.
(4) Applying Mascara: When applying mascara to upper lashes, look downward. Move the wand downward and outward from the roots. For lower lashes, look upward. First apply horizontally with the wand tip, then sweep inward to outward from the roots.When applying mascara to lower lashes, look upward. Hold the wand straight and move it side-to-side, first coating the tips and then the roots. Finally, separate any clumped lashes. If each lash is evenly coated with thick, uniform mascara, the desired effect is achieved once the mascara dries.For those with particularly short or sparse lashes, false lashes can create a seamless illusion. Trim them to match your natural lash length and thin out any overly dense sections. First, curl your own lashes with an eyelash curler and apply mascara.Apply adhesive to the base of the false lashes. Gently open your eyes and press the false lashes onto your natural lash line, starting from the inner corner and working toward the outer corner. The result is a pair of captivatingly alluring eyes.
Step Five: Mastering Blush Application
Apply blush appropriately, starting from the hollow beneath the cheekbone and blending inward toward the hairline. Blush can make you appear healthy and vibrant while compensating for facial imperfections.Experts note that the current trend is to apply blush on the cheekbones and under the eyes, creating a youthful, adorable appearance. A key point to remember when applying blush: centering it on the cheekbones and blending outward gives a mature vibe; applying it below the cheekbones can make you look older than you are.
Step 6: Mastering Bold vs. Subtle Makeup