Makeup for Beginners: An Easy 4-Step Application
Are you just starting to learn about makeup? If yes, makeup can seem very confusing at first. Here are easy makeup tips and tricks to help you look your best.
There isn’t just one right way to put on makeup. The best way is the one that makes you feel good because makeup is very personal. Like I sometimes say in my book, makeup is like a special accessory that shows who you are.
Finding your own personalized makeup routine and knowing the best options for each makeup category will make your life so much easier.
You can keep watching YouTube videos and trying makeup tutorials (but they might not always work; find out why here). The best way to learn how to wear makeup is by getting personalized lessons, and that’s what I do best. I’m happy to help you learn about makeup and would love for you to share your favorite tip in the comments below.
Introduction: The Business of Beauty
There are lots of makeup bloggers and vloggers making videos about how to put on makeup. It can be tricky to know which tips to trust and which ones to ignore. Finding a very simple makeup look is also hard because simple styles don’t usually help sell products.
Most of my students come to me after trying to do their own makeup for many years and feeling frustrated, while some know right away they need to learn from a trusted expert. The decision is yours.
I’m not here to sell you another eyeshadow set or a special skin serum. I’m not here to tell you about the latest must-have products or share my favorite concealer. There are already many people doing that. And you probably don’t need another beauty product that you might not know how to use. Even if I did, those products would only work for you if your skin is the same as mine, like the same skin type, skin worries, and skin color.
It’s not about the makeup, it’s about the knowledge
Picking the best products means understanding what’s inside them, how they fit your skin type, and the best way to use them. Don’t worry, this isn’t a long list of rules to follow—just helpful tips to make you look and feel great!
I’m going to show you four easy steps to put on makeup, and you can change them to fit your skin, what you like, and your daily routine. I don’t want to give you a one-size-fits-all guide. I want to help you find your most beautiful and confident self by using simple makeup steps that even beginners can do easily.
Step 1: Skincare
First, it’s not really about makeup at the start. It’s about taking care of your skin! Most of us want our skin to look healthy and shiny all the time. The best way to do that is by caring for your skin every day. That’s the most important thing.
Taking care of your skin is like brushing your teeth—you should do it at least two times a day, once in the morning and once before bed.
Your skincare routine should help with your skin goals. Do you have dark spots or dark circles? Make sure to take care of them at night. Fine lines happen as we get older, so if you want to make them look smaller or slow down their appearance, you should have a good skincare plan.
Getting your skin ready for makeup might change each day based on how much sleep you got, if it’s hot or cold outside, or if you’re staying inside or going outside. It can also depend on what skincare stuff you use.
What About Face Primers?
Face primers have become very popular recently and can help your makeup last longer or help you get a special look. But most people don’t need them if they already take good care of their skin and prepare it well.
Everyone has little skin flaws that nobody else really notices. But taking good care of your skin every day is super important. It can make your skin healthier and might even help with pimples and wrinkles.
What If I Don’t Know My Skin Type?
If you don’t have a skin care routine yet, get my free skin type guide that has helpful tips. It’s free because everyone should know how to find out their skin type and take care of their skin.
Skin Types included in the guide:
- oily skin
- dry skin
- combination skin
- mature or aging skin
- acne-prone skin
- (touch on pregnancy skin)
I give tips on choosing the right skincare products for your skin and more. Remember to eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water. This helps your skin look great even without makeup!
Step 2: Complexion
Foundation
Because there is so much makeup information online, many people think they need to use a lot of makeup to look perfect. With so many makeup products available, it can be confusing to know which ones are best for your skin color or type.
Many of my clients and students want a foundation that makes their skin look natural or like they are wearing very little makeup. Because of this, it’s very important to spend time on the first step and learn about different kinds of foundations. Some are very light and see-through, while others are thick and cover everything.
Applying Foundation: Things To Think About
My go-to formula is a liquid foundation.
Liquid foundation comes in many different types for all kinds of skin. That’s why it’s important to choose the right one in Step 1. Liquid foundation is inside a tube and can be easily put on with your finger, a brush, or a sponge.
Some foundations can dry and become firm on their own. Check the bottle or box of the foundation! If you don’t see the words “self-setting,” then it probably isn’t self-setting.
If you have a foundation that sets itself and you’re sure you’re using the right kind for your skin, believe that it’s correct. Putting extra powder on top, especially loose or pressed powder, can make the foundation look heavy or cakey after a while.
If your makeup doesn’t set on its own, try using a setting spray or a light layer of translucent powder to help keep your foundation in place.
If you want to use a setting spray, wait until the very end unless the instructions say to do it differently.
Concealer
Just like foundation, whether you use concealer depends on your skin type, the kind of foundation you have, and how much coverage you want.
YouTubers and online makeup artists can wear more makeup and use lots of concealer because they are on camera and have bright studio lights. But if you see how they look outside in natural light, I bet their makeup would look very thick and heavy.
I use concealer by itself when I want to hide little pimples or dark spots. I always set my concealer with a special powder and a small brush that fits just right. .
Since I want my foundation to cover everything well, I only use concealer after applying my foundation to make my look look even better or to help my makeup last longer that day.
Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter
I call these three makeup products the holy trinity because they are very powerful and can be used in many ways. They can make your face look amazing or not so great. Sometimes, they can make you look older quickly or help you look younger.
If you want to make your skin color look even with foundation, you need to use at least one of these three products. These products can make your makeup look more lifted and make you feel more energized.
Usually, when you start putting on blush, put it on the upper outer part of the round parts of your cheeks. Your highlighter should go on the highest spots of your cheeks. Bronzer, which is a darker color than your skin, is put where the sun naturally touches your face. It’s hard to explain exactly where to put each one because everyone has a different face shape! There is a helpful picture in my book that shows exactly where to put blush, bronzer, and highlighter.
There are lots of makeup products like primers, neutralizers, concealers, foundations, powders, bronzers, highlighters, blush, and more. It can be really confusing to figure out which ones you need.
Step 3: Eye Makeup
The third step in putting on makeup is doing your eyes and eyebrows.
There are lots of different eye makeup colors to pick from, so choosing what to wear or not wear can feel a little tricky.
Once you learn how to do it like a pro, putting on eye makeup isn’t as hard as you thought. Most days, you can keep it simple and still look great. Unless you want to wear fancy smoky eyes with fake lashes every day—which is okay if that’s what you like—it’s good to start with the basics first!
Instead of buying lots of new shiny eyeshadow palettes with many colors, you can choose just a few shades that make your eyes and skin look their best.
Sometimes just using simple colors like brown, black, or cream is enough! You don’t need a lot of different colors unless you want a very fancy and shiny look.
Prerequisite: Determine Your Eye Shape
This might seem simple, but it’s really important. There are lots of tutorials and articles that teach how to figure out your eye shape. I also have a part in my course with pictures and explanations to help you scientifically find out your eye shape (because I love makeup!). No matter what, you need to know your eye shape first so you can choose the right makeup for you.
Step 1: Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow is a makeup product that many people try first when they start wearing makeup. I could fill a whole book just about eyeshadow! Actually, there are books all about eyeshadow!
Step 2: Eyebrows
But if there isn’t much contrast between your brow color and your skin tone (ex. fair skin, blonde hair or deep skin, light brown hair), then investing in quality eyebrow products is going to be a solid investment.
Getting your eyebrows done can really change how you look.
Step 3: Mascara
My favorite thing in my makeup kit is mascara!
I really like wearing mascara because it makes my eyes stand out the most. I feel like I’m missing something if I don’t wear it.
Did you know that the real magic isn’t just in the mascara itself, but in the wand? Different wands make different effects. My favorite picture in my book shows this. Usually, if the wand is thick, it makes your eyelashes look fuller. If the wand is thin and tapered, it helps you make your eyelashes look more detailed.
Bending your eyelashes before putting on mascara is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make your eyes look more awake and lifted. It only takes about 30 seconds, so it’s definitely worth trying.
Remember to put mascara on your bottom lashes too. People often forget because they don’t want to highlight their under-eye area, especially as they get older. But making your eye makeup look even and balanced is important. You don’t need a lot of mascara—just use whatever is left on your brush.
Step 4: Eyeliner
If you’re just starting to learn makeup, it’s best to wait on using eyeliner until you’re really good at applying mascara. But if you can’t wear mascara or already know how to do it well, then try tightlining first, which is putting a thin line of eyeliner very close to your eyelashes.
Tightlining is a makeup trick I really like because, like mascara, it makes your eyes look brighter and bigger.
Step 4: Lips
Lip makeup can seem scary because there are so many colors and types of products, like lip balm, gloss, or liquid lipstick. It can be confusing to figure out which one is best for you. You might also wonder if you need a lip liner to make your lips look even better.
Have you ever gone to a store like Sephora and wanted to try new, bright makeup colors? There are so many different reds—some have orange, blue, or brown undertones. How do you know which one will make you look and feel pretty, and which ones might not look good on you?
Here’s a pro tip when it comes to lips (well, pro tips)…
- Find the lightest color on your lip… that’s your daytime nude color.
- Find the darkest color on your lip… that’s your evening nude color.
You can get a matte lipstick in those colors and make it lighter by putting on some lip balm or leave it the way it is and add shiny gloss on top for a bolder look.
I believe you don’t need to wear bright lipstick to have nice makeup, but I don’t think your lips should be completely bare. If you want a soft, natural look, try using a tinted balm… that’s my favorite simple lip look for every day!
Bonus Step: Define Your Makeup Style!
You need to know what kind of makeup look you want before you start putting it on. Having a picture in your mind of your final look helps you do your makeup better!
You have to decide if you want your makeup to look more natural or more fancy. Remember, making your face look natural with makeup needs the same skill as making it look glamorous. It’s just about using different colors and types of makeup. That’s right… even a “no makeup” look still uses makeup!
I wanted to share some helpful beauty tips, but I didn’t go into detail about makeup brushes. You need the right brushes to do a good job, and using good tools can make your cheap makeup look really fancy.
Are you ready to learn how to put on makeup?
Learn to feel confident when shopping for and using makeup that matches your special features and daily life. My “Learn Makeup in 5 Days” course has simple video lessons that teach you how to do a quick and easy four-step makeup look you can do every morning.
You will learn how to tell what kind of skin you have and the shapes of your face, eyes, eyebrows, and lips. You’ll also find out which makeup products and colors look best on you. Plus, I’ll share some easy and clever makeup tips that experts use to save time and money.
Beauty is about how you see and feel about yourself, not just about wearing makeup. I believe that the first step to being beautiful is knowing who you are and liking yourself. You can’t have fun putting on makeup, choosing clothes, or fixing your hair if you’re doing it because you think there’s something wrong with you.
Thank you for visiting