How to Wear Bohemian Makeup

Which Bohemian are you?

Being bohemian isn't just about a look, it's a lifestyle. Whether you want to simply dress the part or yearn to let your inner gypsy out, you can do so with the help of makeup. There are many ways a bohemian wears cosmetics, as she is unconventional and never predictable. Here are a couple of trademark bohemian makeup looks.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizer
• Light foundation or none at all
• Clear eyebrow tamer
• Eye makeup primer
• Gold or skin-toned light shimmery eyeshadow
• Cotton swab
• Soft rosy-gold blush
• Makeup sponge
• Lip gloss, stain or balm
• Translucent powder
• Brow pencil
• Dark, sooty eyeshadow
• Black kohl pencil
• Gel blush or cheek stain
• Waxy dark red lip pencil
• Highly pigmented dark red lipstick

Instructions

The Natural Bohemian

1. Start with moisturizer and skip foundation altogether or stick to a very light formula to give you a more carefree appearance than if you applied a base with thick coverage. Among your options are tinted moisturizer and water-based liquid foundation.

2. Leave your eyebrows the way they are, whether thick or thin. If you wish to groom them a bit, simply tweeze strays from underneath your natural brow line and over the bridge of your nose. Brush back long eyebrow hairs with a clear brow tamer. There is no need for products meant to define brows.

3. Apply an eye makeup primer if you wish to keep your eyeshadow on throughout the day and get more color on your lid. Otherwise, go straight to applying eyeshadow on clean lids. A sheer light shade with subtle shimmer just enough to make you look like you are glowing from within is all you need. A gold or skin-toned shadow that mildly contrasts the color of your complexion will do very well. Blend away any hard edges in keeping with the natural theme. Use a cotton swab to run the same eyeshadow on your lower lash lines. Smudge for a soft look.

4. Buff the apples of your cheeks with a blush that gives you a soft rosy-gold glow, like you're simultaneously sun-kissed and flushed. Blend away hard edges with a clean makeup sponge.

5. Choose from clear or lightly colored lip gloss or lip stain that is a more vibrant version of your natural lip color. Or try colored lip balm. Select whichever best suits your mood or personality at the moment.

The Dramatic Bohemian

1. Follow Step 1 of "The Natural Bohemian." Keep shine at bay with a translucent powder.

2. Prep eyebrows as in Step 2 of "The Natural Bohemian." With an eyebrow pencil either in your most apt shade or slightly darker than your brows, define and fill in sparseness between hairs. Lightly overemphasize your arch for added drama and expression, as though you are pondering something important, or turn brows slightly downward at outer edges to make it seem like you are worried or concerned about the current state of the world.

3. Smooth some eye makeup primer on your top lids if you wish to keep your eyeshadow on as cleanly as possible and get the most wear out of it. If you don't mind looking like yesterday's makeup is on its way to fading, simply brush on a dark, sooty eyeshadow like gray, black or navy from lash line to crease. Rim both upper and lower lash lines with black kohl pencil. Smudge eyeliner with a cotton swab for a smoky effect. Clean up any messes under your eyes with your regular foundation and a makeup sponge.

4. Make the apples of your cheeks look dramatically flushed with a gel blush or cheek stain in your natural blush color. The impact of these cosmetics is stronger than powder blush, so blend carefully. You want to look slightly feverish or impassioned, with the rosy cheeks to show for it, not as though you are a clown.

5. Apply dark red lipstick straight from the tube, or if your artistic urges take over, draw over your natural lip line with a dark red waxy-textured lipliner. Fill lips in with liner to prevent feathering and bleeding, before swiping matching lipstick over it. To avoid having to deal with lip dryness later in the day, when you have more important pursuits to focus on, make sure you pick a moisturizing lipstick.

Tips & Warnings

• You won't look quite bohemian if not for the hair, clothes and accessories that go with the makeup. Do your research accordingly.

• Bohemian makeup isn't particularly about being perfect or glamorous. It's more about making a statement.

Resources

• A peek into the bohemian world