The right tools

Any task requires the proper tools for the job, and applying makeup is no exception. Top beauty experts and makeup artists agree that application is easier and looks better when you use professional makeup brushes.

Often, the brushes and applicators that come with eye shadow, powder or blush are too tiny, making makeup difficult to apply and blend. Professional makeup brushes are larger and easier to use. They come in various sizes and are designed for use on different parts of the face.

• Large fluffy brushes are ideal for applying face powder.


• Medium fluffy brushes are perfect for adding blush to the cheeks.


• Small round or square brushes are made for applying foundation. Illuminare Foundation Brush, made of soft nylon, helps foundation go on smoothly.


• Eye shadow brushes are smaller and flat, allowing you to apply eye shadow to your lid, crease or brow bone.


• Lip brushes are tiny, so you can carefully apply lipstick to the contours of your lips. This is especially helpful when you’d like to wear a bright or dark lipstick and you don’t want it to smudge beyond the lip line.

Keep your makeup brushes clean to prevent bacteria build-up, which can cause acne – and even infections. Wash them gently with brush cleaner or baby shampoo, suggests Julyne Derrick, makeup expert for About. Rinse them well, re-shape the bristles and then lay the brushes flat to dry. Proper care will keep your brushes in good shape for a long time.

Finding a fitting foundation

Foundation helps to even out your skin tone, covering up age spots, discoloration and sun damage. This is a crucial first step, because it provides a base from which to build the rest of your makeup.

Before applying foundation, wash your face and gently pat it dry. Follow with a moisturizer for your particular skin type, and let it absorb for a few minutes. Moisturizer hydrates your skin and makes foundation application easier. But, if you apply foundation too soon after your moisturizer, it’ll just slide right off.

• Formulas

Different formulas are available for different skin types, explains Helen Foster, author of The Beauty Book. These include:

• Liquid foundation is perfect for sheer to medium coverage. Avoid caking it on, which looks unnatural.


• Stick foundation offers more coverage, similar to concealer. Use it on specific problem areas, like under your eyes to hide dark circles or to conceal pimples.


• Specialized formulas address particular skin problems. Look for foundations labeled “firming,” “age-defying” or “light-reflective” if you have wrinkles, lines or mature skin. Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation contains mica crystals to reflect light and lessens the appearance of wrinkles. Seek “oil-free” or “noncomedogenic” foundations for oily or acne-prone complexions. These formulas won’t make your skin greasy or oily and won’t clog your pores or cause acne. Exuviance Skin Caring Foundation, a gentle oil-free, noncomedogenic formula, is well-suited for acne, rosacea or other skin concerns.


• Tinted moisturizer with SPF is a great substitute for foundation, especially when hot temps hit. It provides your skin with moisture, sun protection and just a hint of sheer color to even out your skin tone. MD Skincare All in One Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 includes all three benefits.

• Colors

Picking the right foundation shade is vital to your overall look. Going too light or too dark makes your complexion look unnatural, unhealthy or like you’re trying to fake a tan. Don’t test a foundation color on the back of your hand, because it’s “always a different color from your face,” according to Helen Foster.

Rather, to find the right color, dab a few shades of foundation along your jaw line. Then, pick the one that seems to blend in and vanish into your skin. Also, check how it looks in natural light, like outside or near a window.

• Application

• Ensure even coverage by putting a dot of foundation on each cheek, your forehead, nose and chin. This way, you won’t have some areas with too much or too little foundation.


• Blend it well with a makeup sponge or brush, especially along your jaws, cheeks, chin and hairline. If you don’t blend it well enough, there will be an obvious line where your foundation starts and stops, creating a mask-like look.


• Finish with a light dusting of loose, translucent powder using a powder brush. This will help set your foundation and make it last longer. Cover FX Setting FX Loose Setting is an award-winning powder that helps your foundation last and prevents it from rubbing off. Plus, thanks to its mineral formulation, your complexion will be luminous.

Brightening with blush

A little pop of color to your cheeks is a great way to brighten a tired-looking, dull complexion. This is where blush comes in.

• Formulas

• Powder blush is dense, tightly packed and full of color. It’s ideal for oily or combination skin. Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush gives you convenient application with powder blush and brush all in one. It’s available in a variety of shades from soft pinks and peaches to deeper reds and browns.


• Cream blush provides sheer color, “but still lets your skin shine through,” Helen Foster notes. Because of its moisturizing texture, cream blush is perfect for dry skin. Stila Convertible Color is a creamy blush that also doubles as lip color.


• Gel blush is your best bet for the sheerest trace of color. Like powder blush, gel formulas are good for oily skin, writes Derrick.

• Colors

To avoid looking like a clown, don’t pick a super-bright or garish blush shade. For the most realistic, natural and flattering look, makeup experts recommend picking a hue that’s close to your cheeks’ natural color after you’ve been exercising or out in cold weather. Another option – lightly slap or pinch your cheek and see what color it becomes. Then pick a blush that’s close to this color.

• Application

A light hand is important when applying blush. Also, use a brush to apply powder blushes, and use clean fingers to apply cream or gel formulas. Some additional hints:

• If you use a powder formula, dip your brush into the blush and gently tap off any excess powder. Using gel or cream blush? Put just a tiny dab on your finger.


• “Apply the blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend down,” Linda Foster writes on Everyday Health. Not sure where the apples are? Just look into the mirror and smile.


• Blend, blend, blend! Use a brush to blend powder blush. For cream or gel formulas, Derrick recommends applying and blending the blush with two different fingers. “The clean finger will pick up any excess blush,” she explains.

Enhancing the eyes

Play up your peepers! The right eye shadow and mascara can draw attention to your beautiful eyes without making them seem overdone.

• Formulas

How do you know what type of eye shadow will work best for you? Consider the skin texture around your eyelids:

• Powder shadows can be matte or shimmery. However, shimmery versions can fall into lines and wrinkles around your eyes, accentuating signs of aging.


• Cream shadows are easy to apply, but don’t have the staying power of their powder counterparts. To help cream shadow last longer, use a bit of translucent powder on your lid first. Another option is an eye shadow primer, which helps smooth lines and lets eye shadow stay put for hours. One to try is Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Mascara is available in many different formulas, depending on your particular needs. You can find formulas that help lashes look longer, darker, thicker or curvier.

• Colors

Confused by all the eye shadow hues out there? Should you go with a deep, dark shadow or a lighter, pastel color? The following tips can help you decide:

• Dark shades make eyes recede or appear deeper set. They can be too bold for your entire lid. However, they’re great along the outer corner of your eye, or in the crease between your brow bone and eyelid.


• Lighter shades seem to bring eyes forward and help them appear larger. Try a light shade on your brow bone or your lid if your eyes look sunken in or heavy. Light shades can also have a lifting effect on the lids, which is great if your skin is sagging.

Makeup experts have different opinions about picking eye shadow colors based on your eye color. Helen Foster says that it’s best to choose a contrasting eye shadow that’s different from your eye color – this will make your eyes pop. Choosing the same color – say, brown shadow on brown eyes – can actually play down your eyes and make them blend into your face, according to Foster.

On the other hand, Derrick believes that wearing the same eye shadow shades as your eye color “brings the color out.” So consider playing around and experimenting with different eye shadows to find colors that look best with your eyes.

When in doubt, Linda Foster suggests light neutral shadows, such as beige, ivory, gray or charcoal. These hues flatter all eye colors and look good on almost everyone.

Most people can wear brown or black mascara, although blondes should use brown. Consider the color of your hair when picking a mascara color. The darker your hair, the darker your lashes are, so you can wear darker mascara. And if you’re feeling adventurous, then try a brightly colored mascara, like blue or purple. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara Blue provides a punch of long-lasting color that’s easy to remove. Want a natural, less dramatic look? Linda Foster recommends classic brown. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara Medium Brown is clump-, smudge- and flake-free.

• Application

Apply powder shadows with special brushes or sponges, while cream shadows are best applied with your fingers.

To prevent lashes from turning into a clumpy, lumpy mess, try these application tricks: Dip your mascara wand into the tube, but don’t pump it in and out, because this will dry out the mascara and push in bacteria. Wipe any extra mascara from your wand on a tissue. When you apply the mascara, use a wiggling motion “from left to right,” and “pull the wand up and through the lashes,” Derrick directs.

Perfecting a pretty pout

Want a dazzling smile and a pretty pout? The right lipstick can accentuate your smile and add luster to your lips.

• Formulas

• Hydrating balm typically doesn’t provide color, but offers your lips moisture to prevent dryness and chapping. It may also contain sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays. Kerstin Florian Lip Balm SPF 15 contains organic oils and revitalizing peppermint.


• Lip gloss can be clear with no color and just add shine to your lips. Or gloss can deliver sheer color to your lips. Either way, re-apply gloss often because it wears off easily. Stila 24kt Luxe Lip Gloss Collection features a variety of shades including gold, pink, red and berry. Each gloss gives you color, moisture and shine with tiny flecks of real gold.


• Shimmer, frosted lipstick adds sparkle to your look, and is ideal for evenings or special occasions. It’s not quite as shiny as gloss, but not as flat as matte lipstick. Skip this kind of lipstick if you have mature skin, “as it can highlight wrinkles and lines on the lips,” writes Helen Foster.


• Matte lipstick gives you dark, intense color without shine. Be sure to use a hydrating lip balm underneath it, because matte lipstick can be drying to your lips. On the plus side, it lasts much longer than glosses or shimmer lipsticks.

• Colors

While a color might look pretty in the tube, it might not complement your skin tone. Plus, your lipstick color can affect the appearance of your lips and teeth. Here are some pointers on picking the right color for you:

• Warm reds versus cool reds. Warm reds have orange undertones. Although pretty on darker or warm-toned skin, they can make teeth look yellow. Cool reds contain blue undertones – think berry hues. They flatter cool-toned skin and have a whitening effect on your teeth.


• Light versus dark colors. Pastel, light colors make lips seem larger and fuller, whereas dark colors make lips look smaller and thinner.

If your lipstick is too dark or too bright and you want to tone it down a bit, combine a dab of foundation with Vaseline. Pat them over your lips with your finger to help dilute the color. Not sure about wearing bright, bold colors? Try them in a gloss formula rather than a matte lipstick – the color will be less intense.

A foolproof way to pick a flattering hue? Go a shade darker than the natural color of your lips. Rosy pinks and beiges are good options.

• Application

How you apply your lipstick is really a matter of personal preference. You can swipe your finger over the tube and wipe your finger over your lips, use a lip brush or just apply lipstick straight from the tube. However, when you want a defined mouth or are applying bright or dark colors, it’s best to use a lip brush.

Although lip liner or pencil isn’t absolutely necessary, using it to fill in your lips prior to applying lipstick can help your lipstick adhere better and last longer. But never use a liner that’s darker than your lipstick! Nude liner is your best bet.

Whatever method you choose, once your lipstick is applied, add a small dot of clear gloss in the center of your lower lip – the shine will help create the illusion of a larger, fuller lip, according to Good Housekeeping.

Makeup doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. Though it might seem overwhelming at first, picking the right products and learning how to apply them is straightforward – and fun!

See also:

Spring 2010's Hottest Runway Shows: Top 10 Makeup Trends

A Makeup Manual for Sensitive Skin

10 Skincare and Makeup Secrets from Top Beauty Pros