Makeup Tips -- How to Apply Makeup

Our best makeup tips in one spot. Once you learn the basics, applying makeup isn't as daunting as it seems when you're standing in the midst of a makeup aisle. There are many tried-and-true tips and tricks that the experts know and we're sharing with you. Get these basics down, and you'll perfect a daytime and nighttime look.

Makeup Tips: Eyes

 Your eyes are what people usually first notice about your appearance. Find out how to apply eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara with these expert makeup tips and tricks.

How to Apply Mascara

 One question I get a lot from people is what mascara I use. I have somewhat small eyes and refuse to leave the house without mascara because the moment mascara is applied my eyes suddenly appear to be of normal size (I was blessed with long lashes, perhaps that helps). I even wore mascara in the 100 degree heat on a trip to Vietnam and my friend was blown away by the staying power of my Lancome Hypose mascara.

Makeup Tips: Eyebrows

 When a woman has perfectly shaped brows, she can look put together even without a drop of makeup. This is why brow-shaping should be the one weekly beauty regimen you should never skip. Get more eyebrow makeup tips.

  How to Pluck Your Brows

 Few things make you appear more groomed than well-plucked eyebrows . Many women have their eyebrows tweezed or threaded professionally and the trend is so hot, eyebrow boutiques are popping up in big cities across the country. I recommend you have a professional do your eyebrows first to set a 'blueprint', then all you have to do is pluck where the hairs grow in. (A pro waxing should set you back about $20 depending on where you live). Here's some tips on how to tweeze your own eyebrows. 

  Here's How:

1. Cleanse your skin with a washcloth which naturally exfoliates the skin. If you want to go all out, use a facial scrub (see my list of the best facial scrubs). Worried about pain? You can actually apply Anbesol, Orajel or any teething gel for babies.
2. Brush brows up and out with a clean toothbrush. I usually use my fingers.
3. Situate yourself near a window with light pouring in or under a bright light with a good mirror (magnifying mirrors are best, but be sure and flip it over to see your overall effect in the regular mirror).
4. Make sure you have a good pair of tweezers with a slanted edge (my favorite, hands down, are Tweezerman slanted tweezers (buy Tweezerman online). They last forever because the company will sharpen them for free.
5. Tweeze hairs in the direction they grow. Don't grab too many hairs at a time. You can hold skin taut as you pluck.
6. You can start anywhere, but I usually tweeze the area under my arch first, then I move above the brow and I clean up in between my brows last. It's a myth that brows should never be tweezed from above. You want both the bottoms and tops to be smooth. So be careful, but tweeze the top AND the bottom.
7. The best brows have a slight arch. To find yours, take a long eyeshadow brush or pencil and hold it parallel to the outside edge of the colored part of your eye (the iris). Where the brush meets the brow is where the highest part of your brow should be. Tweeze the hairs underneath the arch.
8. The space between your brows should be equal to, or a little wider than, your eyes. To find where your brow should go, take the brush or pencil and hold it parallel to the side of your nose. Where the brush meets your brow is where your brow should begin. Tweeze the strays in between.
9. Stop every few hairs to step back and look at the job you're doing. If you overpluck, you're stuck. Unlike most hairs on your body, your brows won't always grow back once they're yanked.
10. Once you're done plucking, you can apply aloe vera gel, which will calm the redness right away.

Makeup Tips: Lips

 So you weren't born with Angelina Jolie lips. Neither were we, but we can show you how to make your lips appear plumper (perhaps not THAT plump) with these makeup tips. Plus: Get the scoop on best glosses, lip balms (are they addictive?) and more.

  How to Get Rid of Scaly Lips

 If you suffer from scaly lips, a simple do-it-yourself trick to exfoliate them takes only a finger scoop of Vaseline and a toothbrush.
Step 1: Slather lips with petroleum jelly Step 2: Use a toothbrush to massage in the jelly in a circular motion. Step 3: Wipe off the excess petroleum jelly. 

  Makeup Tips: Face

 Even skin tone is your first priority (even over your eyes!). Find out how to choose and apply concealer and foundation with these makeup tips, then get the scoop on the proper blush application.

Top 10 Foundation Picks

Finding the best foundation for your complexion can be tricky. Your best bet is to go to a store like Sephora and try out a variety of products in your shade range. In the meantime, here's a rundown of my 13 favorite tried-and-true foundations.

   How to avoid "cake face"

 You know those women who wear so much foundation it looks like they have to remove it every night with a trawl?
That, dear readers, is a fine example of "cake face," wherein one slathers on too much foundation and concealer, the result being a pancake, mask-like makeup. If you have makeup covering every millimeter of your face, it's simply too much and the first thing people are going to think when they see you is, "She wears a lot of makeup." Why not play up, rather than cover up, your natural beauty?
The following are my best "how to avoid cake face" tips.

The Right Way to Wear Foundation & Concealer

In high school I wore a full face of Cover Girl foundation every day despite the fact that I had pretty nice skin for a 16-year-old. What I wish I knew then was that foundation is meant to cover up only your uneven spots like the cheeks, around the nose and maybe the chin. Once the foundation is in place, you can then dot concealer on any ruddy or pimply spots the foundation doesn't cover. Remember, with foundation, apply only on the spots that need it.