Learn How to Apply Makeup

Face First: Applying Foundation

There are many different types of foundation, so it's important to choose for both your skin tone and type.

Tinted Moisturizer

For teens and those with fairly even skin tones, tinted moisturizer is a good option, providing light coverage and essential moisture at the same time. To apply, squeeze a small amount of product onto fingertips and smooth from the center of the face outward until it is blended into the hair and jaw line.

Liquid Foundation

Liquid foundation is one of the most popular types of face makeup. It offers great coverage for minor flaws and evens out the skin. You can apply with clean fingertips or a cosmetic wedge or round. Fingertip application provides more coverage, while applying with a cosmetic wedge will give a more sheer foundation. Don't spread the makeup all over your face; instead, start by dotting the foundation on your forehead, nose, cheeks and skin. Then blend gently outward until evenly applied.

Other Foundation

Other types of foundation include crème, cream to powder, and mineral makeup. Crème and cream to powder foundations should be applied using a round or wedge, and mineral makeup is applied with a brush in a circular motion. With any foundation, however, the same principle applies -- start in the center of the face and blend outward to avoid a harsh makeup line at the jaw or hairline.

Coverup and Concealer

Conceal flaws for natural-looking beauty!

Opinions differ as whether to apply concealer and coverup before or after foundation. You may want to try both methods to see what works best for you. Concealers come in stick, wand, and tube forms.

For concealing pimples or other blemishes or flaws, gently dab a tiny amount of concealer onto the blemish and let dry. To use under eye coverup or concealer, gently dab a small amount under the eye and carefully smooth inward with your ring finger to avoid stress to the delicate eye tissue.

Blush

Blush comes in powders, creams, and gels. Apply gel or crème blush with your fingertips or cosmetic sponge, and apply powder with a medium sized blush brush. For powder blush, it's best to avoid the tiny brushes that come with many department store blush compact - these can give a streaky blush line.

For any type of blush, first look into the mirror and smile naturally. Apply blush to the round part (commonly referred to as the 'apple' if your cheek) and then upward at an angle to define the cheekbone.

Powder Perfect

Learning to apply face powder is one of the easiest makeup steps. Loose powder should be applied after liquid foundations and blush to set the makeup. Dip a large makeup brush into loose powder; gently tap the side of the container to tap off the excess, and gently dust all over the face.

Pressed powder can be applied after foundation, or alone to set makeup or reduce shine. Most come in compact form and a pressed powder puff. Just press the powder gently and smooth onto the face.

Learn How to Apply Makeup for Beautiful Eyes

When learning to apply makeup to the eyes, keep a light touch. A simple sweep of eye shadow and mascara can set off the eyes beautifully without a lot of fuss.

Shadow and Liner

For a basic, clean look, start with this simple look:

• Apply a light colored eye shadow to the lid and near the brow bone .
• Apply a slightly darker shadow at outer crease of the eye, and gently blend outward.
• Using a medium shade of eyeliner, line along the upper lash line.

Eye shadow comes in powders, creams, and other forms. Apply using an eye shadow brush or a sponge applicator for the best control. Eyeliner come primarily in pencil and liquid forms, and can be applied directly and smudged if desired using a fingertip or sponge applicator.

LoveToKnow has hundreds of articles on eye makeup, including a tutorial on makeup for your eye shape and how to create gorgeous smoky eyes. Browse the articles in our Eye Makeup Techniques category for more.

Learn to Apply Mascara

Mascara really finishes off the eyes, and can even look tremendous without any additional eye makeup as well. To start, curl you lashes with an eyelash curler by gently holding pushing the curler together at the base of the lashes. Hold for a few seconds, then carefully 'walk' the curler up the top lashes and repeat.

To apply mascara, hold the mascara wand vertically and move upwards from the base of the top lashes. Let dry, comb through lashes with and eyelash comb, and then apply a second coat if needed. For lower lashes, hold the wand vertically and move across the lashes to give greater definition.

Learning to Apply Lipstick and Liner

Experiment with different Lipstick Shades!

Lips can be finished off with a simple sweep of gloss, but for lasting color, line your moisturized lips along the natural lip line. Fill in with a coordinating color of lipstick, starting with the top lip and moving downward, then across the bottom lip. For a fuller lip look, apply a dab of light-colored lip gloss in the center of the bottom lip and blend into the lip color.

Although tube lipsticks are quick and easy, using a lipstick brush offers you greater control and coverage options. To use a lipstick brush, place a small amount of color on the rush and apply in small motions for the coverage you want.

More Resources

For visual aids that help you learn how to apply makeup, check out the following videos on YouTube:

• Learn to Apply Natural Looking Makeup
• How to Apply Eye Makeup from Maybelline Makeup Artist
• Applying Natural Prom or Evening Makeup