Easy Makeup Tips for Newbies

One of the joys of teaching cosmetic and skin care classes is helping people feel good about themselves. I also love teaching people new tricks, techniques, and new styles. I've taught young girls how to apply makeup, and I even had the privilege of helping an older lady apply eyeliner for the first time. There's no shame in never having tried makeup before, whether you are 10 years old or 100 years old. It's never too late to give it a try. Here are some of my favorite tips for budding makeup wearers.

Match. Match your foundation to your face as best as you can. The best way to do this is to pick three colors that look similar to your skin tone, apply them to your jaw line, and examine them with a mirror in the sunlight. Pick the one that disappears into your skin. Bring along a friend for a second opinion.

Blend. Whether it's foundation, blush, or eyeshadow, the key to good makeup application is blending. Make sure you blend your foundation along your jaw line so there is no obvious line.

Flush. The best color of blush is the one that matches your cheek color after you've been hustling around a bit. Or the color that your face turns when you see your latest crush! Apply a light pop of color on the apples of your cheeks so you look slightly flushed (but not TOO red in the face) and don't forget to blend.

Pop. You'll want to make your eyes 'pop' so that they're the first thing people see when they see you. For simplicity, use two colors. Use a pale, pearly color in the inside corners of your eyes and under your brow bones, down to the crease. Don't use white. You just want a hint of pale shimmer. Then choose a soft, taupe, lavender, or peach color for your eyelids. Blend it into the other color just a bit. Line the top eyelid with a creamy, mechanical pencil eyeliner in a sable color (it's the most forgiving). Use tiny little strokes, like you're playing connect the dots with your eyelashes. Finish up with a coat or two of waterproof black mascara.

Gloss. Your lips are easy. Just apply a little bit of gloss in soft pink, peach, or plum.

Use less than you think you need. One of the biggest mistakes people make when applying makeup for the first time is using too much. Just start with a tiny little bit, and add more if you need it.

Play it safe with neutrals. Neutral colors - taupe, soft brown, peach, are very easy to use and go with most skin tones. Play it safe with neutral colors until you get comfortable, then you can start branching out into more fun shades.

Don't worry if applying makeup seems hard for you in the beginning. We all have to start somewhere! Just keep practicing. Before you know it, you'll be a makeup pro.

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