5 EXPERT TIPS THAT’LL INSTANTLY UPGRADE YOUR MAKEUP GAME
We don’t like to blow our own trumpets too much, but we know a thing or two about makeup. Ask us to whip up a sexy, smokey eye in just a couple of minutes and we wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Ha, see what we did there? Show you how to contour your cheekbones with just some powder and a brush? Yeah, we could probably do that with our eyes closed, too.
You see, we’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the best in the beauty business over the years. Top makeup artists, beauticians, cosmetic scientists, product developers, we’ve got up close and personal with them all. And this means we've been able to craft some of the best makeup and tools money can buy (anyone else hear that trumpet blowing again?).
We've also picked up countless makeup tricks along the way.
Makeup is a funny thing. It exists to not only help you look good, but also to feel good. Yet choosing the right formulations and applying them correctly can sometimes have the exact opposite effect, tying you up in knots and often taking so long to master, you eventually give up.
We like to think our products work hard so you don't have to. Unique, patented brushes like our one-of-a-kind Corner Brush, plus clever tools like our Mascara Shield help guide your makeup with ease and take the stress away from your daily routine. But we don't know it all and, just like you, we learn something new every day.
So, on that note, here's just a sprinkling of the most effective makeup tricks we've learned so far...
1. Don’t Look Down!
You’ve likely never thought about the placement of your makeup mirror before, right? Well, hopefully, from now on, you will. Because the thing is, looking down into a mirror that’s too low will create weird shadows and unflattering angles to your face. This can screw up where you place your makeup, and may even trick you into applying more than you really need.
Make sure your mirror is in a position that's level with or slightly higher than your face. This creates the best angles for your face which, in turn, makes you feel good about how you look while applying your makeup. It’s a really simple trick, but trust us, it’ll allow you to create a much more natural finish and will make you way happier with your finished results.
Just quickly, while we’re on the subject of mirrors, have you gotten your hands on our rechargeable Fold Out™ Mirror yet? It has two separate mirrors for real-life as well as 10x magnification, plus dimmable, custom lighting to give you a gorgeous, color-exact reflection wherever you are. Figured we'd throw that out there!
2. Know That Makeup Brushes Make A Difference
Your fingers are fine for applying makeup in a pinch, but for a truly professional finish, brushes are everything. For starters, no matter how often you wash your hands, your fingertips are notoriously sweaty (fun fact: they’re home to the highest concentration of sweat glands on your entire body) and you don’t really want to transfer all that sweat to your face, do you? Exactly. Also, the warmth of your fingers can often cause you to unknowingly pick up too much product, especially when using something like our creamy Concealers. Finally, your fingers might work for a quick sweep of natural-toned eyeshadow but they’re kind of big – no offense! – so they don’t get into smaller areas like the corner of your eyes or around the edges of your nose.
Makeup brushes, however, are designed for specific jobs, giving them the upper hand when it comes to precision. Some are big, fluffy and perfect for dusting foundation over larger surface areas like your face and neck, while others are finely chiseled to create a superfine line around the eyes. Now, that is definitely not something you can do with your fingers!
One caveat: makeup brushes need to be washed regularly for them to function at their best. Otherwise they’ll get clogged with makeup, oil, sweat and grime. Cue bacteria and potential breakouts. No. Thank. You. Depending on how often you use your makeup brushes, we advise washing them with gentle shampoo or hand wash at least once a week, more if you’re using liquid or cream formulations as these breed bacteria much quicker.
3. Underestimate Blush At Your Peril
Often overlooked, Blush is one of the most important ways to add an instant healthy-looking glow to your entire face. In fact, dust a little blusher over your cheeks and you may find you don't need to apply much else. Go on, try it.
If you’re never quite sure where to apply your blush, a great trick is to look straight ahead in the mirror and draw an invisible line down from your pupil to the peak of your cheek. This is the perfect place to start, then simply work your blush out and up along your cheekbones in a diagonal shape towards the temples. This helps create lift – something we all want as the clocks continue to tick ;)
4. Add Volume To Lashes & Brows With Foundation Powder
If you have barely-there brows or very fine eyelashes, give them a little extra volume with a light dusting of Foundation Powder.
For your brows, brush the powder against the growth of the hairs, then smooth them back into shape before filling them in with brow powder. And for your lashes, we like to dust the powder between two coats of Like Magic® Mascara. Honestly, it’s a great cheat for plumping up the lashes big time, plus powder helps give your mascara a little extra grip.
5. Cheat A Cupid’s Bow
Were you at the back of the queue when cupid’s bows were being handed out? Don’t despair. A great way to create a more defined shape is to draw an ‘x’ in the middle of your top lip, with the top corners and the middle dip of the ‘x’ lining up with the upper line of your lip – exactly where your cupid's bow would be (if you had one, of course!).
Once you’ve done this, fill your lips in as normal and voila, sharp cupid’s bow, ftw!
Our new Monogamous™ Lip Stains are insanely good for this because they each have a smart, calligraphy-style tip that can be flipped 90 degrees to line your lips with absolute precision. Try Steadfast for fall’s hottest plum lip that's guaranteed to last all day.
