How to Properly Apply Makeup

Properly applying makeup is truly an art. With a little practice and patience you can learn to beautifully apply makeup for daily and special occasion wear!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good lighting
• Makeup
• Makeup utensils
• Time and patience

1. FOUNDATION
   The most important thing is that you have the right shade of foundation. To find the foundation, test on a small area of your skin. Take a mirror and go out into the sunlight. You should not be able to see any lines or discoloration from the foundation. Do not use foundation to add color, use a bronzer.
   
   Never apply to your neck and make sure to blend, blend, blend. Remember, less is best!

2. THE RIGHT COLOR
   To determine the right color of makeup, you first need to determine if you have a COOL or WARM skin toned. Here is a quick test:
   
   COOL
   You look good in black. You look better in pure white, than ivory. You look best in silver jewelry rather than gold. And the true test, when you hold a piece of silver fabric next to the veins in your wrist, and if your veins have a blue cast next to the silver, you are Cool!
   
   Cools have olive or rosy skin tones; dark, black, brown or blond hair; and brown, blue, green or hazel eyes.
   
   Cool colors for makeup include purplish pink, bluish green and other shades of purple, blue and green.
   
   WARM
   Black makes you look washed out and you look better in ivory or offwhite colors. You look best in gold jewelry. When a piece of gold fabric is placed next to the veins on your wrist, your veins have a yellow, green or brown cast, you are Warm!
   
   Warms have golden or medium fair skin tones; golden, red or strawberry hair; and hazel, dark or medium brown eyes.
   
   Warm colors for makeup include peachy pinks, yellowish green and other shades with orange, yellow, brown and green.

3. EYES
   Your eye makeup will typically depend on the occasion. A lighter, more natural look for casual, daily activities and a darker smoky look for evening wear.
   
   Natural Eyes – Apply foundation to your eye lids. Gently pat with loose powder. Apply eyeshadow over upper eyelid area and into the crease. Sweep color under lower lashes on lower lid from outer corner of eye. Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes.
   
   Smoky Eyes – Apply foundation to your eye lids. Gently pat with loose powder. Apply a light pale pink color eye shadow all over upper eyelid to the brow bone. Add smoky grey to the crease as desired. Avoid the brow bone, and sweep under the eye. Smudge. Add the darkest smoky color to the upper lid, add more as desired. Line the eyes, top and bottom with black eyeliner. Smudge. Sweep smoky grey eye shadow over eyeliner to complete the look.

4. MASCARA
   Most women prefer black, some opt for brown. You should curl your lashes before applying mascara. To curl, look straight forward, and press eyelash curler down for 10 seconds, repeat. To apply the mascara, start at the base of the lashes. Brush with a lash comb and repeat as needed.

5. KEEP UP WITH THE TRENDS
   Makeup trends change with the seasons. To keep up, browse the magazines in the grocery isles or search online or just check out celebrities on TV.