11 Makeup Tips You Need to Know

For those of you that know me you know I LOVE makeup. So I thought in this blog I would share some tips, tricks and hints that I hope will help in lifting your makeup game.

Getting your makeup to look amazing is one of the most important things to get right before you step out the door. That last look in the mirror lifts your self-confidence and gives your ego a well-deserved boost leaving you ready to take on the world looking fabulous.

Check out the tips below to make sure you’re getting the best out of your makeup and look each day.

PREPERATION

Use a primer. Not only does it help to hold you makeup in place it also can fill pores, smooth fine lines and wrinkles and help to even skin tone.

FOUNDATION

Color match foundation on your jawline with a downward stroke to your neck, and choose the color that blends best into your skin

HINT: Just want a light coverage today? Add your favorite moisturizer to you foundation on the back of your hand and mix. Voila! Tinted moisturizer, and a fantastic way to customize the coverage of your foundation.

Please ladies ‘Set your foundation’ this reduces wear off and transfer. The rule is set liquid with powder and set powder with liquid.

CONCEALER

Choose a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin tone, use it to cover up imperfections after you have applied your foundation. Apply it with a concealer brush and blend out edges.

HINT: To cover dark circles under the eyes use an under eye concealer with orange/peach tones, this will cancel out the dark blues and purples.

CONTOUR

Want to know exactly wear to put it? Roll a makeup brush or lip gloss tube from your check bone down your face toward your jaw. When it falls off your bone into the fleshier area that is where you want to put your contour. Starting at your ear and coming down to roughly the center of your eye no further. Areas to contour, under your cheek bones, jawline, sides of the nose, temples and forehead near your hairline.

HINT: A matte shade will look more natural. Look for ashy tones rather than orange toned bronzers

HIGHLIGHTER / ILLUMINATOR

Place highlighter on the high points of your face, where the light would naturally hit, so tops of your cheek bones, brow bones, bridge of your nose (not the tip) personally I like to add some to my cupids bow, I love the look of this it makes my lips look fuller.

HINT: Look for a highlighter with a pearlescent finish in an ivory, pink or peach tone for that lit from within glow, shiny, glittery, white highlighters can look cheap.

BLUSH

Tempting is it maybe put down the huge fluffy brush and swap it for a medium dome shaped blush brush, this will help to control where you are putting the blush. Smile softly and use the centre of your eye and the fleshy part of your cheek and start there, sweeping back along your cheek bone to the top of your ear,

HINT: Never take your blush lower than your nose, it will make the face look saggy.

EYEBROWS

When filling n your brows start with light feathery stokes at the start of your brows intensifying the color at the arch and tapering off at the ends will give you the most natural brow look. Hold those brows in place with a little brow wax or gel.

HINT: Brush through your brows with a spoolie afterwards to disperse color evenly and will diminish harsh lines.

EYES

Use a shadow primer to prevent creasing and movement throughout the day or evening. With a fluffy brush apply a neutral color all over your lid to the brow, this will act as a base and will help all other colors to blend much easier. The key to great eye makeup is to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND. Get yourself a great blending brush if you don’t already have one, it will become your BFF and will disguise almost all shadow sins.

HINT: Reduce puffiness, put your eye cream in the fridge, and apply to lids before eye makeup

EYELINER

OMG, there are SO many eyeliners available today. There are pencils, gel pencils, gel pots and liquid liner pens. It comes down to personal preference and manageability. Pencils are highly underrated if you ask me, they are the easiest to manage and can also be used to create some pretty smoldering smokey eye effects, the perfect tool for liner novice. They each have their place though, you just cant beat liquid for a sharp opaque winged liner

HINT: Set your liner, if using a gel, liquid or pencil set it with a similar colored powder for long lasting wear. Brown liner is a fabulous option for everyday wear it looks far more natural and fresh than black.

MASCARA

One of my top three makeup products, nothing can transform an eye from drab to fab like mascara. Whether it be waterproof, volumising, lengthening or curling, there is one for everyone. You know you can layer your coats for extra oomph, always allow some drytime between coats to avoid clumping. When your finished, comb through your lashes with a brow comb to separate and remove any clumps. Want some extra thickness and volume? With a disposable mascara wand dip it into some translucent loose powder and comb it onto your lashes after your first coat of mascara, apply your second coat and BOOM some super thick lashes are now yours.

HINT: Waterproof or not it is hard to get off right? Ill let you in on a little secret, when removing your mascara use a cotton pad, with make remover or cleanser and with your eyes closed come under your lashes with small circular motions.

LIPS

Always line your lips, not only will this stop color feathering and bleeding, but you can also correct your lip shape. To enhance staying power color in your lips with the liner, I will give your lipstick something to stick to as well as give you some color too your lips when it is starting to wear off. Another trick is to apply your liner and first coat of lipstick, blot your lips then take a tissue and separate it so you have 1 ply. Place this over you lips and give them a light dusting of translucent powder, remove the tissue and apply a second coat.

HINT: When you brush your teeth in the morning, give your lips a light brush in soft circular motion to exfoliate your lips.

I hope that some of these tips have been helpful and inspiring, now go and experiment, have fun and BLEND, BLEND, BLEND.

WHAT'S NEW AT BLANCO?

It’s been a busy time in the makeup department at Blanco. Our newly fitted out make up room has been completed and we have started a partnership with a new makeup company that I think will resonate well with Blanco’s clients called Bodyography.

All Bodyography products have been responsibly sourced, ethically created and never tested on animals. Many of Bodyography products are also Vegan and gluten free.

Bodyography is the official makeup partner for Miss Universe Australia.

These products are available via our professional make up service, available to buy in store and via Blanco’s Online Store.

Keep an eye out for my next blog - 7 minute makeup look for everyday.