Makeup: Tips for Applying Foundation and Concealer

Almost since the beginning of recorded time, women have been painting their faces with various forms of cosmetics. Greek women would use a mixture of minerals to make their faces as light as possible, as any sign of a tan suggested a lower class. Ancient Egyptian women painted their eyes and lips and would even dye their hair. No matter what century (or millennium) we live in, women want to look beautiful.

If you find your makeup makes you look unnatural, here are a few things to be aware of. The first and most important thing to do is to make sure your face is clean before putting anything on. With your face clean, you have the perfect surface with which to apply your makeup. If your face is dirty, however, the makeup will have a rougher surface to apply itself to. A clean face is also essential to healthy skin.

After cleaning your face, put on your foundation evenly; follow the directions of your foundation, since cream is different from liquid, which is different from powder. When applied correctly, no one will even notice you're wearing foundation. Ideally, your foundation is supposed to even out your skin tones so you look natural and healthy. No traces of the foundation should be visible. If others can see you're wearing foundation (or if you can literally feel it lying on your skin) then you have too much on. Also think about what type of foundation you have. To work the way it's supposed to, the foundation needs to match your own skin tone almost seamlessly. If you can't find the right color for you, ask a specialist in the cosmetics department at a store near you. If you think you have the right shade but just have too much on, take a tissue and soak up the excess from your skin. This will get rid of the extra foundation without wasting it.

Not everyone needs concealer, but if you do, apply it gently with your fingertips. It can come in pretty handy to have some on hand, especially to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes. Wherever you need it, make sure to blend it into your foundation well enough so others don't notice it. A concealer that isn't well blended not only defeats the purpose, but it will draw attention to those blemishes. Once the foundation and concealer are applied-and well blended-then you can concentrate on the blush, eye shadow and lipstick.

One tip for those with sensitive skin, since I learned this the hard way: try to buy makeup that's made with ingredients that are as gentle as possible on your face, or you will pay the price later in the day. These means no fragrance-based products, nothing with pulverized shells in it (includes most shimmers) and nothing that tends to dry normal skin. It may seem like most brands out there fall under these categories (because they do) but if you stick to these facts your face will thank you. Tell a cosmetics specialist if you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, and see what they recommend.

Another issue of concern is knowing just what's going on your face. If you find this concerns you, consider buying natural products. Organic cosmetics have flourished in recent years, so both organically-conscious people and those who only buy products not tested on animals will benefit from looking into it.