Q&A for How to Apply Makeup

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  • Question
    Where do I start with makeup?
    Melissa Jannes
    Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
    Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.
    Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
    Expert Answer
    Lipstick will amplify the look of your whole face. Choose a fun color and try wearing only lipstick for an easy and simple makeup look. It will seem like you put in more effort than you actually did!
  • Question
    How can you get rid of clumps in mascara?
    Community Answer
    Fill a heatproof mug or cup with near boiling water. Just make sure it's not too hot, if you can drink it, the temperature should be good. Close your mascara firmly and swirl it in the water for about 5 minutes. That should loosen up the particles and liquefy so that it works smoothly again.
  • Question
    How do I know what colors suit me best (for eyeshadow and lipstick specifically)?
    Community Answer
    If you are a brunette, your best makeup includes berry shades on your lips. Your eyeshadow should be pretty neutral, nothing too bold. A two-toned blush is also ideal. If you have red hair, coral, bright pink, or orange lipsticks or glosses will look best on you. Browns, whites, nudes, and grays will look best on your eyes. If you are a blonde, you will look best in shimmery pink lips and marbled blushes. Don't be afraid to try a sparkly eyeshadow.; it will highlight the golden tones in your hair. If you have black hair, try sticking with nude-coloured palettes on your lips and eyelids. Your lashes will look great, especially if you apply mascara. Gold will also look stunning on your eyes.
  • Question
    Is twelve a good age to wear makeup?
    Community Answer
    There's no "right age" for makeup, but you should never want to wear it just because everyone else is doing it. Makeup costs quite a bit of money and takes time to learn how to use correctly, so you should only pick it up when you have an interest in it. Ask your parents if it's okay first, and see if your mom can give you tips. Many people feel that young girls shouldn't wear any or heavy makeup, but that decision is up to you and your parents.
  • Question
    When do I put mineral powder on my face?
    Community Answer
    You can apply mineral powder to your face alone as your foundation for lighter coverage. You can also apply it after your foundation and concealer as a finishing powder.
  • Question
    Is lip liner compulsory? Why do we use it?
    Community Answer
    No, it isn't compulsory, but if you're wearing a very bright or dark lipstick, lip liner will prevent it from bleeding or rubbing off. Read about how to apply lip liner for more details.
  • Question
    How do you find out what skin tone you have?
    Community Answer
    One quick test is to look at the veins on your wrist. Blue or purple veins mean a cool skin tone. Green veins mean a warm skin tone. If you're not sure which color they are, you have a neutral skin tone.
  • Question
    How can I find the best lipstick color for my complexion?
    Community Answer
    There are a few ways you can do this. When thinking about a certain shade, apply some from a tester (or compare the color swatch if you can't try it) to your bottom lip. If it's 1-2 shades different from your natural lip color, it works. These are good suggestions to jump off from: Fair skin looks good in pinkish/peachy nudes, corals, and soft pinks--keep away from browns. Medium skins looks good in dark shades like darker pinks and rose and berry shades. Dark skin looks good with deep colors like purples and browns. However, it can get boring to stick with those rules, so get out of your comfort zone! Perhaps try an orange, or a dark plum. If you look confident, you'll look good.
  • Question
    How do you stop red lipstick from smudging?
    Community Answer
    Before you apply it, fill in your lips with a lip liner that either matches your natural lip color or the lipstick color. Apply the lipstick, then blot with a tissue. Then dust a little translucent face powder on your lips. Your color should stay put.
  • Question
    What if my lipstick doesn't show up well?
    Community Answer
    Apply multiple coats, layer the light lipstick and another one together to create a whole new shade, add a little lip gloss on top, or mix the lipstick with some eye shadow of roughly the same shade (which should darken it) and apply with a makeup brush.
  • Question
    I like makeup, but I don't have any concealer, bronzer, or foundation and can't afford to buy them--what can I do?
    Community Answer
    You can make do by using other products in their place. You can also ask for free samples of things at makeup stores, make your own, or buy things on clearance. Ask for birthday gift vouchers to department or beauty stores too.
  • Question
    What colours look good on an olive skin tone?
    Community Answer
    For olive tones, you will need plum blushes, eyeliner on the lower eye and a great mascara. If you like to wear eyeshadow, experiment with ones that enhance the look of your eyes but look great with your skin tone. For your lips, go with burgundy and plum colors, as the color enhances your beautiful skin tone.
  • Question
    How can I apply concealer on the eyebrows?
    Community Answer
    If you want to make your eyebrows invisible, apply a nontoxic glue stick over your eyebrows, followed by concealer; set the look with setting powder. If you just want to "shape" your eyebrows, then just choose a thick concealer and apply it. Be sure to set it with setting powder when you are done!
  • Question
    Can you make foundation at home?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can check out wikiHow's articles on the subject: How to Make Liquid Foundation (which has a section about making mineral powder foundation as well), and How to Make Foundation With Eyeshadow.
  • Question
    Do we contour and highlight before face powder or after?
    Community Answer
    If you mean setting powder, contour and highlight before putting it on. Setting powder is meant to "set" your makeup. If you mean foundation, apply it after the foundation.
  • Question
    How can you use makeup to cover up acne?
    Community Answer
    Apply a small amount of concealer to any areas with acne on them, and blend carefully. Generally, to put on foundation is already to apply coverage; you only need concealer for more significant blemishes that are proving difficult to cover up. Remove your makeup every day before going to sleep, to ensure that there is no clogging in the pores; otherwise, more acne may show up.
  • Question
    Should I put a makeup if I have an allergy to makeup?
    Community Answer
    Try to use clinically approved, hypoallergenic makeup. Water based makeup might just be the thing for you. Before buying any, test a small bit on your palm and look at the reaction. However, some people find they can't wear makeup, especially those with sensitive skin, and other sensitivities such as odor and texture. In such cases, it would be wise to avoid makeup and to focus on styling your hair to suit your face as your priority.
  • Question
    There are so many eyebrow products to use -- how do I know which one is good for me?
    Community Answer
    Think about what you want from a product. Do you want to keep your eyebrows looking thick? Then try a filling powder. If you want to keep product and/or the hairs in place, try an eyebrow gel. Read reviews online, as people you know or clerks at makeup stores about product recommendations, and try to find the exact product that fits your needs.
  • Question
    Is it okay to buy a cheap make up?
    Community Answer
    Yes it is, provided you know which cheap makeup is good and which isn't. Consider reading online for tips about people's suggestions regarding saving money on makeup and there is a good book called "Don't Go the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" that can be helpful for choosing budget makeup. High prices do not always equate with better quality. Get your makeup from reputable places such as drugstores and departments stores; cheap makeup offered in dollar stores may not always be the healthiest option.
  • Question
    How do I know which brush to use for the different products?
    Community Answer
    Choose a brush based on the area you want to cover and the amount of blending you want. For example, to apply foundation with a brush, you will need a big flat brush to cover all the face quickly and completely. To apply blush, you'll need a smaller, rounded brush to make the edges faded and natural looking. To apply eyeliner, you'll need a small, sharp brush to get a thin line in the perfect place. Eyeshadow can require several brushes, including a small, rounded brush to put on the eyeshadow, and a bigger one that is kind of pointy or more rounded to fade the edges and blend the colors.
  • Question
    I don't know my skin tone. How can I know it?
    Community Answer
    Go into a make up store or a department store make up counter, and someone can help you find the right foundation.
  • Question
    How do you apply mascara to the bottom lashes?
    Community Answer
    Just hold the brush against the root of the lashes and wiggle it back and forth a bit.
  • Question
    Is powder necessary in applying makeup?
    Community Answer
    If you're asking about setting powder, then it's not essential, but it does keep everything in place and from running. If you're talking about base/foundation, it is if you have any issues with your skin like acne or dark circles, or if you just want to even out your skin tone.
  • Question
    My friends say I'm not the type to wear makeup. So do I wear it or not?
    Community Answer
    Do you want to wear makeup? Then wear it. Your friend's impressions about whether you are the "type" to do so aren't really relevant.
  • Question
    What if I touch my face throughout the day, will the makeup start to come off? If it does, is there any way I can keep makeup on all day?
    Community Answer
    This depends on what products you have, some makeup brands and products are transfer-proof but often yes, makeup does tend to rub off on things, especially powder products.
  • Question
    I have brown skin. What colors will best suit me?
    Community Answer
    For darker skin, darker makeup suits best. Most people with brown skin tend to look better with no makeup at all!
  • Question
    Can you just wash your face to remove makeup?
    Community Answer
    Yes. However, simple face wash may not take off all the make up if it is long-lasting or waterproof.
  • Question
    What if you don't add highlighter?
    Community Answer
    Nothing. It's an optional step.
  • Question
    How do I learn to highlight, contour, conceal and set my face correctly?
    Community Answer
    Watch YouTube tutorials or ask a friend. Articles on beauty blogs could be helpful as well. Otherwise, go to a makeup store and ask for help, that's what the employees are there for.
  • Question
    What color should eyeshadow be?
    Community Answer
    You can choose any color you like. Try one that complements your eye or hair color, and avoid colors that clash with your outfit.
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