Makeup Essentials for Beginners

Have you ever found yourself shopping for new beauty products and feeling confused over a plethora of options? What’s the difference between a foundation and a concealer? What are the must have makeup products on your dresser? The good news is you’re not alone. Whether you’ve never created a full beauty look or you love trying all the latest trends, this guide should sort you out with a crisp list of makeup essentials that will help you create a basic makeup look.

Before we deep-dive into the basics of makeup, it is important to master your skincare routine. Always begin with cleansing your face. It makes a world of a difference. If you’re in a rush and cannot do a full skincare routine, start with micellar water and finish it with a moisturiser that works for your skin - one with SPF is an ideal combination.

Foundation

One of the basic makeup items in your arsenal should be a good foundation. It’s a pretty simple product and a basic foundation can give you a perfectly natural, even, bright look.

Foundations fall between sheer, medium, and full coverage categories. For a basic everyday look, choose a formula that says sheer, hydrating or lightweight. For  a slightly even tone, look for a medium-coverage formula. And if you have blemishes or pigmentation that you'd want to cover, go with full coverage.

The best way to figure out your shade is to simply put it all over your face and then look at it under different lighting. Natural light from the sun is the most accurate, so if it looks good outside, you’ve most likely found your match. However, make sure to get a sample of foundation, first.

How to apply foundation? Follow these three easy steps:

1. Dab a few dots of foundation on your T-zone, your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.
2. Next, use a foundation brush to blend it all in. You can also use a makeup sponge or even your fingers.
3. To achieve a natural finish, start with a small amount of product and make sure to spend time on blending in the product.

Concealer

Concealer is a beauty essential that can brighten your face, cover up acne and minimize dark circles and discoloration. But choosing the correct shade or formula is of utmost importance.

For the best coverage, choose one concealer for blemishes and dark spots and another for dark circles. Under eye concealers should be less dry and thick in texture and consistency compared with acne concealers. You want to make sure your pimple concealer stays put, while your under eye concealer doesn't settle into fine lines.

How to apply a concealer?

1. A good tip to hide unwanted dark undereye circles is using foundation first before applying an undereye concealer. It provides a base to blend with the concealer for the perfect amount of coverage.
2. After that, apply your concealer in a patting motion, then press it in with a concealer brush or beauty blender.
3. Don't smear or drag it to keep your concealer from caking.

Kajal Liner

A kajal liner is one of the most widely used products in everyone's makeup bag for an intense finish with color payoff. In fact, back in the ancient times, people would grind up charcoal to use as eyeshadow and eyeliner for a more dramatic look. A kajal liner is soft enough to apply to the eye without tugging the skin, and smudging works for smokey and dramatic eye makeup looks.

How to do your eye makeup with a kajal liner?

1. Natural Look

   Use the kajal eyeliner and apply on your upper waterline. Add a little sparkle and apply two coats of mascara on your eyelashes for a fresh and buzzy look.

2. Smokey Look

   Apply the kajal eyeliner on the corners of your eyes and then blend it inwards using your fingers. Once you have done that, create a defined line on your upper eyelid, like an eyeliner. Use it on your upper and lower waterline for the most stunning smokey eye.

3. Smudged look

   Apply a kajal liner on your water lines and a thin line on your lower lash line. Smudge the lower lashline kajal to create a beautiful smoked-up effect. Finish off with a thin dash on your upper lash line to add definition. This smudge is perfect for those looking for a little bit of drama.

Lipsticks

When working on your lip makeup, you should know your skin tone and the shades recommended for you. Generally, a skin tone that is fairer will complement well with paler tones, while darker skin shades work well with deeper hues. So for pale lips, try a pale pink, beige, peach and coral. For medium lips, try pinks, peaches and browns. For dark lips, opt for browns, plums, berries and deep hues of chocolate.

Lipsticks are dime a dozen on beauty shelves. So how do you pick the one that works best for your makeup looks? Liquid lipsticks are loved for their intense, smudge-proof color. Formulated with waxes and oils, they add a little moisture, with a full level of coverage that lasts for hours.

Matte lipsticks give your lips a smooth and even texture. They are perfect for hiding pigmented and patchy lips. Lip crayons are easy, playful and smooth to apply. They deliver nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil and are often designed to target fine lines.

How to apply lipstick perfectly?

1. Start by moisturizing your lips with a balm.
2. Place the lipstick in the middle of your lips and work outwards. You should always begin by concentrating your lipstick to the fullest parts so you'll be able to control your application better.
3. You can also draw an X on the cupid's bow to help you get a well-defined look.
4. Lastly, blot your lips by gently squeezing them together over a tissue or napkin to remove excess product.
5. Don't apply too many layers, since you don't want flaking.

Blush Palette

Of all the cosmetic products out there, you might miss the humble blush. But just a few swipes of blush can make you look healthier and more youthful. It adds a beautiful glow. However, a blush isn't the same for all skin types and skin tones. You need to choose the right shade to flatter your complexion. Something too dark or too bright can actually make you look older and duller instead of giving you that warm, youthful glow. The key is to choose something that's very close to your natural flush and one of the best ways to figure that out is to pinch your cheeks. A blush palette is a great buy with options for shimmer and matte shades that are buildable, and also provide depth and definition.

How to apply blush?

1. You can use it on any facial feature.
2. Blend the blush onto your cheeks, sweeping from the cheekbones up to the hairline using a loose brush.
3. You can also use it as an eyeshadow by dabbling a little colour on your finger and applying on your eyelid, blending upwards towards the brow.