Makeup trends seem to go in and out of fashion more than the clothes we wear these days. We’re constantly being taught new beauty hacks and makeup hacks, and then some time later, we’re told that we were in fact doing it all wrong.
Remember the huge triangle-shaped concealer? Well, that’s wrong now.
Contouring the life out of our faces? Yep, also wrong.
Oh and did someone mention over-lining our lips? It’s 2021, honey. That was so 2019.
It can be hard to keep up with what we should and shouldn’t be doing with our makeup, which is why I choose not to follow any makeup trends. Instead, I prefer to keep things classy and sophisticated. Because this way, my makeup look will always be completely timeless.
Of course, my makeup has improved over the years and even when I look back at photos taken 3 years ago or so, I can instantly recognise the makeup mistakes I was once guilty of.
But we live and learn. And I really do feel that I’ve learned a heck of a lot about makeup over the last couple of years - more than I have in the whole 14 years I’ve been wearing makeup, actually.
But where’s the fun in having beauty secrets if you’re going to keep them locked up forever? I love sharing the makeup tips and tricks that I’ve learned. So, for this blog post, I thought I’d come to you with everything you need to know about how to improve your makeup. This is my tell-all guide on how to make your makeup look better. I hope you enjoy!
1. Always use a primer
Some people say that they don’t like primer. Personally, I say they haven’t found a primer that suits them!
Makeup primer is such a fabulous product and providing you choose the right one for you, will prove a very worthwhile investment.
Some of the benefits of wearing a primer include makeup lasting longer, a smoother application and a more seamless finish, to name just a few.
A few of my favourite all-time primers are the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, the NARS Radiance Primer and my current go-to, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (review coming soon. Watch this space!)
2. Use a moisturising foundation
Or if you have particularly oily skin, something sheer and lightweight.
My advice would be to steer clear of heavy matte foundations - I love the Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation. It's super hydrating, moisturising & sheer, which I adore.
But full coverage foundation doesn’t have to look super heavy or caked-on, either. So, if you prefer a fuller coverage, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are plenty of amazing moisturising full coverage foundations available to choose from. In fact, to help you all out on this one, how about I share a blog post on this subject? I'll link it on here as soon as I've put it live!
I talked about matte foundation in my recent blog post ‘Bad Beauty Habits That Are Ageing You’, so be sure to check that out.
3. Make sure your foundation matches your skin
As I use fake tan, this can be hard, as sometimes I am darker and then other times I’m paler. If you share this same problem, then take a read of my blog post ‘How To Choose The Right Shade of Foundation When You Use Fake Tan.'
In general though, the rule with this is pretty simple - go as close to your natural skin tone as possible. If you aren’t sure what foundation suits your skin tone, then seek the advice of one of the assistants at your favourite beauty counter. They will be able to tell you more about the undertone of your skin and shade-match you based on that.
4. Use blusher
Many women shy away from using blusher in the fear that it will look unnatural or over the top. But actually, when used correctly, blusher can really enhance the appearance of our makeup, creating a more natural, beautiful finish.
Blusher should be applied to the areas in which we naturally flush - so predominantly, our cheeks. But I always dust a tiny amount onto my nose, too. Our noses are usually the first thing to catch the sun, but as cute as a naturally sun-kissed nose looks, faking it is safer. For more tips on how to care for your skin in summer, check out my post 'Summer Skincare Tips: How To Get Perfectly Radiant Skin This Summer.'
5. Use a concealer 2-3 shades lighter than your natural skin tone
This is absolutely imperative if you want to improve the look of your makeup. Honestly, every woman should own a concealer that’s 2-3 shades lighter than her natural skin.
Concealer is great for brightening our skin and creating a natural-loooking highlight. I like to apply mine underneath my eyes, to either side of my nose and around my eyebrows to help frame and define them.
For everything you need to know about how to put on concealer, check out my blog post 'How To Use Concealer.'
6. Use an eyebrow pencil that’s slightly darker than your actual brows
The concealer runs doesn’t work for brows. In fact, if you want your makeup to look better, my advice would be to opt for a brow product that’s darker than your actual eyebrows.
Our eyebrows play a crucial role in helping to frame our faces, and so defining them with slightly darker brow products is hugely beneficial. I love the Benefit Gimme Brow and the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil.
7. Use a volumizing mascara
Long, luscious lashes are fab, but voluminous lashes are what will really frame your eyes and make them look extra beautiful.
Lots of women discount volume when shopping for a new mascara, but my advice would be to prioritise volume over length, particularly if you’re older and your lashes are thinner : more sparse then they once were.
I love the Lancôme Lash Idole Volumising Mascara - it's so thickening, and the black is literally the blackest black ever.
8. Go for a nude lip
Nude lips are so classy, and one of those things that can be both understated and glamorous, depending on the look you are going for.
My go-to nude lipstick at the moment is my MAC Patisserie lipstick with my MAC Whirl Lip Pencil. The combination of these two products together is just so pretty and the finish is super natural and sheer. I love it.
9. Use an eyeliner pencil along your lash line
This is one of the best makeup tips I’ve ever been given. By running a small amount of eye pencil along the lash line, your eyes will instantly pop. The eyes will look bigger, brighter and even more beautiful.
If like me, you find eyeliner particularly difficult to apply, my advice would be to take a dark brown eyeliner (black can look a little harsh, especially if you’re not the neatest!) and apply as close to the lash line as you can possibly get.
The chances are, your line will be a little bit wonky, so, what I do is take an eyeshadow blending brush and gently blend the product in. This creates a really natural, almost slightly smoky finish, and best of all, it completely disguises the messy line work!
10. Always use a setting spray
I honestly don’t know what I actually did before setting sprays became ‘a thing’ - I’m completely obsessed!
Setting sprays are multifunctional - they’re great for rehydrating the skin throughout the day, and of course, for setting makeup - but they’re also designed to prolong the staying power of makeup, too. So, if you usually get to around 2PM when your makeup begins to look a little less fresh than it did at the start of the day, a makeup setting mist is just what you need.
A couple of the best setting sprays I’ve tried include the MAC Prep & Prime Fix Plus with Coconut and the Pixi Rose Glow Mist.
Lots of love,
Grace x
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