There. Complete. Now that wasn't so hard now was it? Maybe even fun?
I've accepted the fact not everyone will be enthusiastic about makeup as I am, but for those who are always open to new experiences, I hope I have helped you - even if it was just a bit.
Remember, you don't NEED any makeup, you're perfect, just the way you are. Makeup or no makeup, do as you please and never apologize for doing just that because you only have one person to make happy: yourself.
In the words of a great actress: You are enough, you are so enough, it's unbelievable how enough you are.
Can you believe we’ve made it to the second to last post? The penultimate entry? The general rehearsal before the grand finale? Aside from whether or not you’ve followed the makeup tips and tricks, I wish to applaud you for at least reading these posts – it’s a start and you can also no longer say you’re not interested. You are, you know you are! So let us continue with one of my personal favorites: lips.
First of all, a word to the wise: your lips are as they are. I know we all want lips like Angelina Jolie but unless you put down some big bucks and get injections (don’t.) or you have really big allergies and eat something wrong (I swear that happened to my best friend once and I thought she needed to go to the hospital), you’re not going to get them. Take this from... let’s say ‘a friend of mine’ who bought every lip plumper there is, from drugstore to higher end, spent literally tens if not hundreds of euros, and saw no result (okay, fine, I’m talking about myself!). So just accept your lips as they are and work with them!
Now first things first: always use a lip pencil! Not to do those ’90 style lip lines, but to fill in your entire lip. This will create a base, making sure the lipstick will cling to it, better than to bare lips. Also, when your lipstick does rub off a bit, it won’t be as noticeable because there’s something underneath it.
Then, apply the lipstick or lip stain (that WON’T come off, I can tell you that much) on top of it and that’s it. Now that wasn’t that hard was it now? What you DO have to keep in mind: your eyes. Did you darker them up quite a bit? Go for a nude or light pink lip. Did you keep the eyes subtle, but still want to look smashing? Go for a darker lip: use berry colors in winter and fuchsia in summer – a red lip never disappoints in general (tip: apply a blue based red, then shade in the edges and corners of your mouth with a brown lip- or even eyeliner. Blend together and you have beautiful, 3D lips).
I find more mature faces look better with a more subtle color, so try to match the lipstick to your natural lip color. Glossy or matte, it’s all up to you, although I find glossy is hard to keep up with and matte dries out your lips. You know what? Give both of them a go, and see which you like best, then. Oh, and no matter what a lipstick says, it is never kiss proof, so better keep all those admirers you have by now at bay.
Another On the Go special collectors edition. I figured, so many people do their makeup on cars and trains, but maybe even more (and yes, this next group includes myself – shock shock) do their makeup (or at least touch ups) on planes! Whether it is a long, intercontinental flight across the globe, or a short flight across Europe, planes are icky and you always feel disgusting getting off one.
Since applying makeup on a plane is fairly similar to applying it in any steady environment (tip: pause when hitting turbulence…and fasten your seatbelt), I will focus on quick and easy touch ups.
First of all, blotting sheets! Almost everyone gets oily (and sweaty – security lines, customs check, all those shopping stores…duty free…) throughout the day and maybe even more so during a flight. These babies are essential, and easy to carry (no restrictions) on the plane with you. Pop some in your purse, wallet or pocket and you’re safe. Bring on some travel sized makeup wipes, too, in case any of your mascara smudges during a nap.
Another one (although it is not really makeup related): lip balm and hand creme! Am I the only one who hates the dry air on planes? It’s important to stay moisturized during the entire flight (also, drink a lot of water!) since your lips dry out super fast.
What’s nice for your face is a small bottle (these come in carry on sizes!) of charged water. This is usually just water with added minerals that is very refreshing to spritz on your face – it keeps your makeup looking fresh and feels amazing.
Finally, some dry shampoo will keep your hair from going oily! Aside from these solid tips, stop by your local drugstore a few times before your trip: they usually have a section with small travel sizes, with great items in there (often a few you didn’t even think about in the first place). And safe travels!
Eye spy with my little eye… Who was it that said, “The eyes are the window to your soul?” I’m not sure and I’m so enthusiastic writing this post today that I don’t even care to look it up on Wikipedia (just kidding; it was Shakespeare – and I mean kidding as in, ‘I knew all along’ not ‘I’m not as enthusiastic as I wrote earlier” Right so…)
Your eyes are – makeup wise – the center of your face: they HAVE to be noticeable and catch the eye (enough with the ‘eye’ innuendos now). What is often forgotten but is equally important are the eyebrows: a beautifully done eye needs to be accompanied with a matching brow. It’s a golden duo, like McDonald’s french-fries and milkshake (…or is it just me that dips their fries in their drink?)
Alright, let’s get on with it. Using brown colors will work with any eye – use warm tones when you have lighter eyes and cooler tones for darker eyes. Want to do something more? Use the color spectrum and choose an opposite color from your eye color. Reds are great for green eyes, golds for blue eyes and blues work well with brown eyes.
Use three colors, from light to dark. The lightest should be slightly lighter than your skin tone. Now first, apply the lighter color all over your eye – yep, from lid all the way to your brow bone. Don’t pack it on, just dust it all over with a large fluffy brush. Then, with the medium color, sweep across your crease and above (use the same brush). This puts the depth back into the eye (remember what foundation talk? Same applies here). Do you have slightly more hooded/droopy eyes? Go up a bit higher, this will light the eye.
Finally, with a smaller brush, put the darker color right in the outer V of your eye. Now this is where you can make it as smoky as you desire: pack it on for a dramatic eye and lightly dust it for a more casual look. With the same small brush, dust some of the medium color under your eyes, to give it a finished effect.
Add some mascara (brown mascara is allowed, too – this tends to look better on more mature faces) and that’s one.
Now, the brows. Feather these in with a brow pencil. The golden rule is: when you are blond, you can go up to two shades darker than your hair, when you’re a brunette you can go up to two shades lighter. Obviously, this is not set in stone (ahem, Madonna anyone?) so you are free to pick whatever color. To make sure they stay in place, use a brow gel (or clear mascara works, too) and you’re good to go. These days there are even cool gadgets such as ready set brushes, which is like a mascara wand and you swipe it across your brows and BAM, there they are!
Alright; here’s a special little blog for those on the run (not from the police or anything, just busy bees).
Now for me, it’s as cringe worthy as putting an OCD cleaner in a student housing, but that’s for another time and day. I could not imagine doing my makeup on a train, as I would just get up earlier – but as mentioned before, that’s just me. It may also be pure fear of poking an idea out and accidentally shoving a lipstick down my throat.
But, when it’s relevant, I shall discuss it and that’s why we are here. Since it is so common, I have put myself to the test and tried to apply makeup on a moving train (naturally this also works in cars and other moving vehicles). What did I find you may ask? Well I shall tell.
First of all, keep it basic (which is kind of the whole point of this series but alright). Don’t fuss around with too many different powders, palettes and pigments. I use a handy little palette, which has a contour powder, a blush and a highlighter, all in one, alongside a little travel brush. Easy peasy.
Now a few swoops of blush are easy, but what about the dangerous stuff?
When applying mascara, brows and lipstick, make sure your elbow is anchored somewhere, easiest is your hips. This causes you to not fly all over the place when the train shakes.
Also, take your time. The slower you go, the more control you have.
Finally, you may want to opt for a tinted lip balm, as it is less noticeable if you mess up (and will also not end up on your teeth!).
Hope I could help you, but my advice stays: get up a teeny bit earlier and thou shalt not have any trouble (nor will you have uneven eyebrows).
Now this is where the fun begins! A bit of color on your face can do wonders! Whereas foundation can flatten your face (the monotone color will make it appear flat, you won’t walk around like Harry and Marv from Home Alone after they got the tool chest to their noses – don’t worry!), this Triple Thread will put that color right back in!
May I present to you: Mister contour, Madame blush and Milady highlight. These three – often sold all three in one handy palette – are my personal favorite.
Apply the contour powder (ideally: a powder two to three shades darker than your own skin, with no shimmers) in the hollows of your cheeks and on your temples, and you will look like an Angel with a golden halo (around your face).
As for blush: when your skin is young and youthful, apply some to the apples of your cheeks; for the more mature faces (ain’t nothing wrong with that!) apply it more towards the ear and this will pull up the face a bit (no, you won’t look like Joan Rivers, have no fear).
Finally, some highlighter will be the finishing touch: the cherry on the cake that is your face. Apply it in a C shape around your eyes and it will catch the light beautifully, pulling together the whole look.
Now I can already hear people sighing because three things?! That is WAY too much. Okay, I told you I would guide you through this all and I shall. Listen carefully: if you only have time for ONE thing, go for the BLUSH. Got time for another? Add the CONTOUR (it slims your face down and what lady doesn’t want that?) When you really want to go all out, do all three and look marvelous throughout the day! Secret tip: when you’re done, grab a big powder brush and brush over everything – this will really blend it all together.
Left: application for a younger skin and those with long or heart shaped faces.
Right: application for a more mature skin, or those who have rounder faceshapes.
So, I guess after you read my first post, you decided to hang in there and give this one a go, too. Good choice, my friend, good choice.
Now let us begin with the basics: foundation. Foundation alone can make your overall complexion much better, but aside from that it is also a necessity when applying other sorts of makeup. Blush, contour, it won’t last long (or even show up, for that better) on a bare canvas.
Use a light coverage foundation and apply it with a Beauty blender sponge for a glowy, dewy and youthful looking skin. Rough times? Bit of stress in your life, resulting in some breakouts? No worries: use a medium to high coverage foundation and apply it with a dense brush, buffing it into the skin in order to achieve a flawless look.
Now foundation may be God’s gift, but it can’t do miracles. No, that’s what you want some concealer for. Dap it on your breakouts, blend it with your finger (body heat never disappoint) and breakouts no more!
Tip: for even glowier skin (I might be making words up – sue me) add concealer underneath your eyes in a triangle shape, and some on your forehead, nose and chin. Do not go overboard with this when this is the only step you shall be following – it can look unbalanced without a proper contour to accompany it.
Lastly, set your foundation with some powder. A light dust over your T-zone (or entire face if you prefer an all matte look) will do the trick.
Voilà, you have just applied your first bit of makeup - hopefully without poking yourself in the eye with that brush we mentioned earlier. Too bad it’s impossible applying makeup wearing safety goggles…
Welcome to my blog! As creative professionals, active in the work field, we don’t always have a lot of (spare) time. We often run from meeting to meeting (or even from city to city - not uncommon in the Netherlands) and scramble to make them on time. Lunch? Must be on-the-go. Another business meeting? Must be while on the train, by phone, whilst eating aforementioned lunch. Makeup?! Must be- alright. When holding a phone in one hand and a plastic, disposable fork in the other, you don’t have anymore hands to hold a lipstick. I understand. No makeup then.
Now those three words (mainly the first two) are hard for me to hear. For one, because no one likes to hear the word ‘no’. Never has that word prefaced anything fun.
No, I don’t like that dress. No, I don’t want to marry you. No, you cannot have more chocolate.
Secondly, ‘makeup’. Every time I hear that word, my mind goes blank and I wake up in a daze several hours later, alongside a deceased bank account and lipstick swatches all over my body.
Yes, I am a makeup junkie. Makeup lover, enthusiast, addict(?) And therefore the thought that some people don’t have (read: take) the time to spend five minutes - five glorious minutes - to do their makeup baffles me. Wha- Wh- But h-
Now I understand some people don’t want to spend their time (people who are NOT in their right mind I tell you, but that’s just me; let’s keep this blog objective…-ish) or truly don’t HAVE time (let us understand there are also such things as spouses, children, hobbies - all not in my possession, as to be expected). Hence: this blog!
Fear no longer, false lash-flops and lipstick-losers: I am here to save the day! For the next seven posts, I will take you along a journey that you will thoroughly enjoy. I will explain to you how to apply simple, yet effective makeup- even for the busiest lady (and possibly gent? Who am I to judge…) out there!
And before you read/try/judge it; give it a go! Even if it means getting up five to ten minutes earlier (I know it’s hard: beds are comfortable and work won’t finish itself… But hey did you know Napoleon always got up at 4AM?! That’s besides the point..) Give one, a few or all of these makeup pointers a try and see what it does. Maybe you’ll get an extra compliment, maybe you will just feel better, maybe you won’t looked like you got punched in the face - twice - because you concealed those dark circles for once (too harsh? I knew it, I have no silent mode…)
I have sectioned off parts of the face and carefully picked products that will enhance anyone’s features - used together or on their own. The next six posts will go into detail on what, why and how. The final post will contain the overall look, consisting of every step put together.
Come along everyone. Do not be afraid for I will take your hand and guide you into the unknown world that is makeup. Come along…
