Have you ever wondered how celebrity makeup artists apply cosmetics so perfectly? It’s like they have a magic wand that they wave, and the perfect shades of dreamy, creamy makeup suddenly appear. Every look seems effortless—eyebrows are on fleek, lipstick never ends up on teeth, and dark circles and acne are nowhere to be found. From knowing what undertones you have (warm undertones? Cool ones?) to the best way to pair a lip liner and a lipstick to create the perfect pout, there’s a lot to learn.
Makeup artists have hidden tricks of the trade that they use every day to create those flawless looks. We will share a few of these hidden makeup tips with you so that you can have the look you want when it’s time to pose for those selfies.
Prime Time
Primer is a girl’s best friend, it’s true! Primer helps smooth out large pores and your skin’s imperfections for more of a flawless look. It can also help to mask the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots, so you get the best possible finish and put in less work with the foundation brush. Plus, it helps your makeup last longer.
What Is Primer & Why Should You Use It
Primer does what its name says it does. Primer primes your skin for foundation or powder applications. It smooths the skin for a more polished look. Primer blurs blemishes and minimizes the look of pores.
Primer can also be worn alone to make your skin look velvety smooth. Primers come in gel, liquid, and cream formulas. There are different types of primers. Some are formulated to be hydrating, while others are more mattifying. They come in both silicone and water-based formulas.
Silicone-based primer will give your skin a super smooth, silky feel when you apply it. It adds a little protective shield over your skin and smooths out lines and pores.
Water-based primers are more hydrating. They act more like a moisturizer. If your skin is really dry, opt for a water-based primer. If your skin is more oily or combination, try a silicone-based primer.
To apply primer:
- Start with clean, moisturized skin
- Apply just a few dabs. It should melt into your skin, not slide around on it.
- Wait about a minute for it to set in, then apply your makeup.
You can also apply eyeshadow primer on your lids to ensure that your eye look stays in place all day and the colors you choose are as bright and brilliant as can be. If you ever find that your shadow has made a mess beneath your eyes by the end of the day, eye primer is for you.
Contour Your Cheeks
To create that chiseled, high cheekbone effect, try contouring. You’ll do this after you’ve already applied whatever coverage level of foundation that you’re looking for, as well as your concealer.
The key thing to remember is that dark colors recede, and light, shimmery highlighting colors pop and make that area more noticeable. So, apply dark colors to areas where you want to add depth. Highlighter should be applied to the high points on your face, such as just above your brows, the tops of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and your cupid’s bow.
How to Contour Your Cheeks
- Apply a darker contour shade right below your cheekbone. This shade should be about three shades darker than your own skin tone. This will give the illusion of depth in the cheekbone area.
- With a fluffy brush, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. The apple is the part of your cheeks that pop out when you smile. Blush is sometimes underrated, but it will give you a gorgeous, healthy flush, so don’t skip it.
- Blend both the dark contour and the blush in an upward motion toward the hairline with a slightly damp beauty blender sponge. You don’t want a visible line between the blush and the contour.
- Apply a swipe of highlighter to your upper cheekbone, about half an inch below your outer eyes. This will give the illusion of higher cheekbones.
- If you need to blend more, then now’s your time to shine. You can top it all off with a translucent powder if you like.
Grab The Spoon
You may have seen this cool makeup spoon hack on TikTok. If your makeup application hand is less than steady, this trick is for you.
Grab a clean spoon. Yes, the kind you eat cereal with. The spoon will act as a stencil for the perfect winged eyeliner. This works best with liquid eyeliner, so save the pencil for those sexy smudged-out looks.
- Step 1: Hold the handle of the spoon up against the outer corner of your eye and draw a straight line in an upward diagonal. This will be the bottom part of the wing.
- Step 2: Now flip the spoon so that it is cupping your eyelid. Use the rounded part of the spoon to create the curved top of the wing. This curved top will connect to the line you just drew in the previous step.
- Step 3: Fill in the wing with eyeliner, and you have the perfect winged liner.
Heat up Those Lashes
Nothing is more annoying than lashes that simply won’t curl, especially when the rest of your eye makeup is looking perfect. Here’s a trick for stubborn lashes that need a helping hand when it comes to curling. The added heat will help your lashes hold a curl, so your glam eye shadow look is as fabulous as ever.
- Grab your hairdryer and your eyelash curler.
- Set the hair dryer to warm and aim it at the eyelash curler for a few seconds.
- Allow the eyelash curler to cool down for a few seconds. Test the temperature on the inside of your arm before applying it to your eyelashes.
- When the temp feels warm but not too hot, gently curl your lashes, being careful not to get too close to your lash line with the warm curler.
- Apply two coats of mascara for added drama.
Stack Your Lashes
Speaking of lashes, falsies are always an option for the perfect set of natural-looking or dramatic lashes with zero hassle of curling or mascara application. Want lashes that touch your brows? We’ve got you.
Opt for magnetic lashes, which are much easier to apply and more gentle than ones that require glue. We have lots of options for magnetic lashes—everything from natural daywear to dramatic voluminous, celebrity-inspired looks. Take the lash quiz to find out which ones will fit you best.
Portable Makeup Removers
If you want a magical makeup eraser, try On-The-Go-Oopsies. These super convenient makeup remover swabs are the perfect size to stash in your purse and go. They make it easy to correct eyeliner, eyeshadow, and other cosmetic mishaps in a snap.
Another option is the SOO Clean makeup remover pen. This dual-ended felt tip pen removes mistakes and smudges in a snap. This amazing pen also fits into your purse or bookbag for an easily portable solution to makeup mishaps. It is infused with aloe vera and Vitamin E, so it soothes and moisturizes your skin while keeping your makeup perfect and Insta-ready.
For easy makeup removal at the end of your day, try Cotton Candy Cloths. These candy-soft microfiber cloths are perfect for easy makeup removal at the end of a long day.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a makeup guru to look good. There are many tips and tricks in the makeup industry, and it is fun experimenting to find out which ones work for you.
Glamnetic magnetic lashes and press-on nails can help make your routine easier and much more fun. Check out our different styles to find out which ones you’ll obsess over.
Makeup applications should be fun and hassle-free. There are always new trends forming, so it is important to stay in the know if you want the freshest styles first.
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Sources:
What Does Makeup Primer Actually Do? And Do We Need It? | HuffPost
6 Easy Ways To Create Perfect Winged Eyeliner! | Style Craze
Cupid's Bow: What It Is and What It Looks Like | Healthline
A loving documentary memorializes makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin | The Current LA