Makeup can look absolutely stunning and even artistic. It can amplify an outfit or that new hairstyle you are probably contemplating, whether you like it or not. However, as straightforward as it may look to do, especially a natural look, without knowing a few basics, your makeup look may not turn out how you intended. But please, do not let the idea of failure, textured looks, and lack of techniques discourage you from starting your makeup journey and perfecting it. As someone who is in their mid-20s, and finally built the courage to jumpstart my makeup journey, it is never too late to start learning how to apply makeup. If you stick around for a little while, I will give you some simple tips that will lay the foundation for your makeup discovery journey, which includes building a skin care routine, how to build your product collection, and finding ways to master your techniques.

Your Face is a Blank Canvas

It is essential to know that makeup only amplifies what is already present. For example, if you were to paint your walls, would you want to paint over a smooth, clean surface or over the 'Landlord Special,' and paint over a dirty wall? The same concept applies to creating a solid foundation with your bare face before applying makeup. Yes, makeup may hide a few blemishes here and there, but what is on the face will show through the makeup. Do not be discouraged, your skin does not have to be completely flawless to start wearing makeup; however, prioritizing a routine that helps the skin in tandem with getting a flawless makeup look is always helpful. A good way to navigate finding a skincare routine that works for you is to determine your skin type: Is it dry or oily? Each skin type requires a varied care routine and products that provide a perfect balance of moisture. Let's compare the two.

Dry Skin

I have dry and sensitive skin; however, my skin does not require too much to remain clear. My skin relies on me to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, cleansing my face at least once a day, and adding moisture to my face, such as a light-weight moisturizer or butters like Coco Butter. If I do not adhere to this routine, I will start seeing small bumps in my eyebrow area and on my forehead. Here are the products I am using right now:

Oily Skin

"For Oily skin, it is good to utilize products that specialize in the oily areas of the face and maintain a good balance of moisture, but do not have a serious amount of dryness.", says my mother, Tiffany Hardware, who has oily skin. For Tiffany, choosing dry powder foundations is a more feasible method of makeup coverage because liquid foundations tend to make her skin more oily. She has kept up with her skin care routine of 2x a day for a long time, where her skin is okay if she skips a night. Double cleansing, toners, and ingredients that are more water-based than alcohol-based products, a good serum, and sunscreens are good to ensure you find the right products that keep your oily skin moisturized. Urban Skin RX is a product line that Tiffany swears by, which you do not have to break the bank to obtain. It is transparent, even-toned, and clears up blemishes, and body products that moisturize skin. Urban RX is a skincare line that provides practical solutions for oily skin, including products that promote clear, even-toned skin and moisturize the body. It can be found on Urban Skink RX's website, Ulta Beauty, and Target. Urban Skin RX also has these same functions in their body care line to promote a moisturized and even-toned body. Opposed to spending lots of money on steroid creams and going to the dermatologist, Tiffany says Urban Skin RX products have worked wonders for her skin care journey without breaking the bank. They have sales and trial sets that you can try to see if they work well with your skin. Here are the products that Tiffany is using right now:

"Doesn't makeup cause your face to break out?"

Yes, it definitely can; however, the key to preventing further breakouts from applying makeup is to have a solid skin care routine, thoroughly wash off makeup at the end of the day, and clean your makeup brushes weekly. It's important to remove all traces of makeup from your face before going to bed to prevent clogged pores and breakouts, and the same with your makeup brushes. I like to wash my brushes with Dawn Antibacterial Dish Soap and let them sit on a towel to air dry or blow them off with my blow dryer to prevent potential mold. Also, I like using microfiber cloths to wash my makeup off instead of using makeup wipes. Microfiber rags are so much more effective than using scented wipes and multiple wipes, because you can get everything with one rag, throw them in the washing machine, and reuse them. You can find makeup microfiber rags at Marshalls for as low as $6 and come in a pack of three, or you can find them at Ulta Beauty, T.J. Max, and Amazon

How to Find The Right Products For Me?

With so many makeup products out there and it being very costly to build, it is essential to know what you are buying and why. This is where the advice of professionals who specialize in makeup products becomes invaluable. As I developed my makeup collection, I would build it product by product, ensuring I received insight from a Ulta, Sephora, or a MAC employee on which products would work with my skin type and match my complexion the best. I would also take pictures of my final makeup looks or wear my makeup look, then go into the store to ask for feedback on how I did. The employees at these beauty department stores will take the time, if applicable, to give you feedback on how you did. (Keep in mind makeup is subjective.) From my experience, these beauty advisors have given me a quick color match for my foundation, to concealers, shown me which brushes will blend out those products, and even briefly showed me where to place my base makeup, such as my foundation, concealer, bronzer, and blush, and how to set it in place. Their honest reviews of products and opinions on popular brands have been particularly valuable, as they helped me form my own opinion on whether that product may work for me. Another thing that helped me build my makeup lineup was saving the many samples I received from any makeup retailer. Before you know it, when you look at all the samples you have collected and the bits of makeup you purchased along the way, you already have everything you need to have a reasonable basis for a basic makeup look. Then you can go from there with what you like from what you already have and what you do not want.

Beginner Makeup Starter Pack

It is highly encouraged that each beginner start their makeup with these few products: primer, foundation, concealer, blush, lip liner, lip glosses or lipsticks, pressing powder, bronzer, setting powder, finishing or setting spray, mascara, and a pack of brushes with good fibers that do not pull apart when you pull them. Good-quality makeup brushes are essential for a flawless makeup application. They help in the even distribution of products, blending, and creating precise looks. When choosing brushes, look for ones with soft, synthetic fibers that are durable and do not shed. A good makeup brush set is Real Techniques, which can be found at Ulta Beauty or Target, and includes a blender sponge, eyeshadow, blush, setting, and a foundation dense brush, blush brush, lip brush, and eyeshadow brush to get you started. On the back, it reinforces a detailed function of each brush so you can know and remember which brush is suitable for a specific application method.

Speaking of Techniques, Let's Master Them

Once you build your starter makeup collection, you must learn and master the techniques of your makeup applications and have products to help you blend your makeup well. Makeup techniques entail blending products, creating eyeshadow looks, filling in your eyebrows, applying eyeliner, and more. Learning the methods of how to do your makeup sets you up for success in having a seamless makeup look. Outside of asking your local beauty advisors for brief insight on makeup matches and feedback, you can set up a class with them as low as $30 for 30 minutes (at Ulta) to focus on one area of the face and master one section at a time. Another good option is to go on TikTok Live with people who are doing their makeup. Most of the time, as they are doing their makeup in real time, you can ask them questions and understand why they are doing what they are doing, and many of these content creators are responsive as they enjoy being able to talk to someone while doing their makeup. They will also have recaps and clips of their lives, if you missed a crucial part you wish you could have been a part of. You can give them a follow if you love their technique style and be in community with many more people in the makeup world of TikTok, which ranges in many styles of glam, artistic abilities, and age.

Conclusion

Makeup is a beautiful, enhanced illusion that helps bring out the features that you already have. It is normal to see texture with your makeup, and no matter if the fixing sprays say that it will make your makeup smear or waterproof, it can still come off because it is, in fact, makeup on your face. We may see pictures of matte filter makeup looks from afar, but close up, the texture of your makeup may be visible within the base. The key to getting into makeup is to have fun with the many different colors and looks you can curate for yourself, but it is also a practice to help you focus on what you may need to correct on the inside, which is your skincare routine. Working towards a clear canvas allows you to create a smooth foundation for your artwork. Another thing that will be pivotal in ensuring flawless makeup, whether using drug-store products or luxury makeup lines, is finding products and brushes that will blend your makeup.

Most importantly, practice makes perfect, so prioritize perfecting your techniques and utilize your local specialized Sephora, Ulta, Department store makeup consultants, and makeup content creators who go on lives doing GWRM. They will be happy to help provide feedback and pointers on your techniques. Also, if you are more hands-on, do not be afraid to invest in makeup application sessions where someone can work one-on-one to master your technique.

In the meantime, feel free to watch my beginner-friendly makeup get-ready with me to see how I have learned some techniques along my beginner journey.