10 MAKEUP TERMS YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW

Think you know it all when it comes to your makeup routine? Well, you might be a pro at contouring and know exactly where the apples of your cheeks are, but we bet there are still a few makeup terms you’re not quite as familiar with.

Don’t worry, this is perfectly understandable. After all, new trends with fancy names crop up every single day. And while some come and go – meaning they’re not really worth worrying about – others last the distance. And they're the ones we (and you!) should definitely know about.

On that note, keep scrolling for 10 makeup terms you’d be wise to have in your beauty repertoire. Knowledge is power and all that…

1. Overlining

It might not have been called this back in the ‘90s but overlining was a makeup trick loved by the masses back in the decade of the Spice Girls and Pretty Woman.

Overlining is a technique in which you use lip liner to trace slightly outside your natural lip line in a bid to make them look fuller. Of course, back in the day this often got a little out of control (let’s blame youth, yes?) but if you want to get on the overlining train now that you’re older and wiser, you need to make it natural-looking and above all else, believable.

The key is to keep your line as close as possible to the shape of your mouth and to either stick with a color that’s similar to your lips, or use the same product you’ll use to fill them in. We like to do the latter, using Monogamous™ Lip Stain. This long-lasting, comfortable lip stain has a fabulous, calligraphy-style applicator tip which lines your lips and then flips around to fill them in.

Genius, some might call it. 'Some' meaning us!

2. The Waterline

You may know this one, but just in case, your waterline is the inner rim of your eye; the thin line of skin that sits behind your eyelashes and next to your actual eyes. It’s called the waterline because it looks, well, kind of watery. And the reason for this? It contains meibomian glands which secrete oil to coat the surface of your eyes and keep tears from evaporating. 

3. Tightlining

While we’re on the subject of the waterline, let’s talk about the makeup technique that’s been on everyone’s lips for the past few years: tightlining. Tightlining is often called ‘invisible eyeliner’ because it involves lining your upper waterline – the area you can’t really see. So what’s the point you may ask? Well, this clever little trick helps give the appearance of thicker lashes, plus it enhances and frames the shape of your eyes without anyone knowing that you’re wearing makeup.

As a sidenote, waterlining is the same thing but usually refers to lining both the top and bottom waterline, creating an entirely different look.

4. Blush Draping

Also known as blush contouring or blow-out blush, blush draping might sound tricky but it’s likely something you do without really thinking about it. 

This technique basically uses Blush to enhance your facial structure, applying it slightly higher than the apples of your cheeks to add definition and lift to your face.

Draping your blush simply moves it upwards so that it sits on top of your cheekbones and up to the temples. You can even take it up and around your eyes if that floats your boat. Just remember to a) keep the color natural looking (otherwise it looks far too ‘80s, and not in a good way!) b) use an angled brush to help get the placement right (our Essential Contour Brush is a great choice), and c) blend like your life depended on it.

5. Tubing Mascara

We often talk about tubing mascara because our Like Magic Mascara is such a fine example. But what exactly is tubing mascara? Good question. And here’s the answer. Unlike regular mascara that simply coats your lashes in layers of pigment, tubing mascara contains polymers that literally wrap color around each lash, creating a tubular film of color that doesn’t flake or smudge and lasts infinitely longer. Far superior, we think you’ll agree.

6. Lash Backcombing

If the word ‘backcombing’ has you breaking out in a hot sweat as you remember the days of frantically backcombing (and consequently ruining!) your hair in your teenage years, don’t panic. No lashes are harmed in this kind of backcombing. Instead, it’s a technique of layering mascara to give your lashes double the volume.

First, you apply Like Magic Mascara to the topside of your lashes (not the underside as normal), and instead of working from root to tip, you go from tip to root. This takes a little practice, but if you lift your eyelid slightly using our Mascara Shield, then look down and roll the wand rather than sweeping it up and down, this will help keep the color on your lashes, rather than all over your eyelids! Once you’ve done this, apply another layer of mascara on the underside of your lashes as normal, working from roots to tips as you lift and curl.

Wow lashes, here we come!

7. Root Stamping

Sticking with your eyelashes for a hot minute, root stamping is another fabulous way to create the illusion of fuller, more lifted lashes – without overapplying mascara and ending up with clumpy, fake-looking lashes.

To nail it, you apply mascara as normal (see above for the thickest-looking lashes ever!) then, once you’re done, press the brush of your mascara wand against the roots of your lashes and hold it there for a few seconds. Simple. And quick. Two of our favorite adjectives for makeup application!

8. Cut Crease

A great trick for hooded eyes, the cut crease is when you define your eyelid crease with a distinct line to help make your eyes look more open, contoured and defined.

To get the look and create a really strong, defined line, apply a neutral shade all over your lids first, then work a darker Eye Shadow above the crease, close to the brow bone. Fun fact: the Arc Brush was designed to do exactly this! Next, apply Creamy Concealer across the lids only, taking it up to the crease and brushing it out in a curved arc shape that follows the line of your eyeballs. To finish, pack a paler, slightly shimmery eye shadow onto your eyelid, below the crease line. And you're done.

9. Strobing

Strobing works like contouring, but instead of using dark face makeup to create shade and definition, it’s all about capturing light and drawing attention to the high points of your face. Sounds like highlighting, right? True, it is similar. However, highlighting is usually paired with contouring, whereas strobing is a lone horse, done without the contrast of darker contouring powders. Now you know.

Where are the best place to strobe? The top of your cheekbones, brow bones, tip of your nose, cupid’s bow, inner corners of your eyes and center of your chin are the usual suspects for getting your glow on. Just remember to keep it natural-looking (less is more, yes?) using shimmer, never glitter and sticking with tones that work with your complexion. The good news is Fold Out Face® Palettes and Complexion Kits always come with your ideal Shimmer shade. Because we’re good like that. 

10. The Tape Method

This is when you stick tape to the outer edges of your eyes to help guide your eye makeup. It’s an age old trick for helping to do winged eyeliner, for example. And sure, it works, but answer us this, do you really want to stick tape on the sensitive skin around your eyes? More importantly do you want to pull it off afterwards? Us neither. And this is why we created our Even Eye Stencils.

Made from 100% medical grade silicone and way gentler on your skin than sticky tape, these stencils help you perfect countless eye shadow AND eye liner looks, plus they protect the area below your eyes from product fallout. Plus, they're washable and reusable. 

Tape method? Get outta here!