This post was originally published on June 13, 2022. It was updated on January 3, 2024.
Are you a makeup beginner? If so, the world of makeup can feel super overwhelming.
Finding your own unique makeup routine and knowing the best option for each category of makeup is going to make your life so much easier.
Introduction: The Business of Beauty
Most of my students come to me after years of trying to DIY their makeup and feeling defeated, while others know right away they need to learn from a credible source. The choice is yours.
I’m not here to sell you another Urban Decay palette or hyaluronic acid serum. I’m not here to list out the must-have products of the season, or share my holy grail concealer with you. There’s already enough people doing that. And the last thing you probably need is another beauty product in your kit you don’t know how to use. And even if I did, those products would only work for you if we shared the exact same skin type and skin concerns and skin tone.
I am a makeup teacher.
My advice, though generic on a post like this, is applicable to everyone. My ultimate goal as an educator is to bring forward your natural beauty and help you elevate your confidence in your makeup skills. Whether you want to master a simple makeup look or you are looking to know how to go full glam, I’m here for you to teach you all you need to know to get started.
I’ve always said, buying the fanciest, most expensive, most professional or most “buzzed-about” tool will NOT get you better results. Buying the trendiest makeup products will not instantly turn you into a makeup pro or hide all of the “imperfections” you want to hide.
It’s not about the makeup, it’s about the knowledge.
Choosing the “right” products means learning about their formula, their ingredients, how they will suit your specific skin type, and how best to apply them.
Don’t worry, this is not just another step by step tutorial where I will tell you to do this and do that and you’re done.
I’m going to walk you through a four-step application routine that you can tweak to suit your skin, preferences, and lifestyle. My goal is not to give you a cookie-cutter tutorial. I want to guide you and help you to uncover your most beautiful and most confident self-using a simple everyday makeup application that even beginners can feel comfortable doing.
Ready? Let’s go!
Choosing the “right” products means learning about their formula, their ingredients, how they will suit your specific skin type, and how best to apply them. Don’t worry, this is not just another step by step tutorial where I will tell you to do this and do that and you’re done.
Step 1: Skincare
First thing, So, the first step is not even about makeup. It’s about skincare! I’m probably safe in saying that we all aspire for our skin to have a consistent healthy glow. And the best way to achieve that is through our skincare. Period.
Skincare is like brushing your teeth, you do it at least twice a day, morning and evening before bed.
Preparing your skin for makeup *may* look different, depending on the day, how much sleep you had, the weather, and the nature of the day (long day, short day, inside/outside, etc). It could also very well be your skincare routine — it all depends.
But you cannot skip this step — you cannot apply makeup to naked skin. It’s an absolute no no, especially if you want a that flawless look.
My favorite skin prep products hail from Sonia Roselli beauty. They are all Natalie-approved (and I have 2x each kit).
What About Face Primers?
Face primers have become hugely popular in the last few decades and they can be a great way to help extend the life of your makeup or achieve a certain look. However, they are not necessary for most people when skincare and skin prep are in place.
What If I Don’t Know My Skin Type?
Skin Types included in the guide:
- oily skin
- dry skin
- combination skin
- mature or aging skin
I share all kinds of tips about buying the right skincare products for your skin type and so much more. Also, don’t forget to eat healthy food and drink lots of water. This will help you to have amazing skin even without makeup!
Step 2: Complexion
Foundation
Once again, because of the content that overflows the internet, it’s easy to fall into the false belief that you need to use tons of makeup to achieve a flawless makeup application. With so many different makeup products out there, it’s hard to know what is right for you and your skin color or skin tone.
I would say more of my clients and students want foundation that gives us a natural-looking coverage or a minimal makeup look. In that case, it’s really important to invest time and energy into Step 1 and also understand all the different types of foundation formulas, from sheerest (transparent) to full coverage (opaque).
How To Find Perfect Match for Your Undertone >
Foundations In My Pro MUA Kit >
Applying Foundation: Things To Think About
My go-to formula is a liquid foundation.
Liquid foundations come in a wide-variety of formulations for all different skin types, that’s why it’s a good idea to really invest in Step 1. Liquid foundations are foundations that are pumped out of a tube and can easily be applied with your finger, brush, or sponge.
There’s no “best technique” to applying your foundation but here are my three most preferred techniques:
Some foundations are self-setting. Read the foundation bottle or packaging! If it doesn’t say self-setting anywhere, assume it’s not.
If it is a self-setting foundation and you are 100% sure you are using the right formula for your skin type, trust that it is. Adding extra setting powder (especially loose powder or pressed powder) to it may make the foundation appear cake-y over time.
If it isn’t self-setting, you’ll want to use a setting or translucent powder to lightly set your foundation.
If you want to use a setting spray, wait until the very end (or unless it instructs you differently).
Again, these are all tips and tricks that work for me. They may or may not work for you. That’s why it’s a good reason to invest in your makeup education.
Concealer
Like foundation, the use of concealer is really going to depend again on your skin type, the formula of the foundation you are working with, and your coverage preference.
YouTubers and online makeup artists can get away with heavier makeup (and applying liberal amounts of concealer to their faces) because they are on air and are being filmed in studio lighting. Should you see what they look like in natural lighting, I guarantee you it’s going to look pretty cake-y.
Because I like my foundation to do the heavy lifting in terms of coverage, I’ll use concealer on top of my foundation only to really polish my look or extend the life of my makeup for that day.
Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter
I like to call these products the holy trinity of makeup. They are so high-impact and versatile, they can really make or break a look. They can age you in a pinch or shave years off.
If you do decide to even out your skin tone with foundation, then you must employ the use of at least one of these three products. Not only do these products help to give your makeup a more lifted look, but they give you some extra pep in your step.
There’s an enormous amount of products, primers, neutralizers, concealers, foundations, powders, bronzers, highlighters, blush, etc. and I know that it’s super confusing to know which you need.
Step 3: Eye Makeup
So, the third step in your makeup application is the eyes and brows.
With so many different colors to choose from, selecting what eye makeup to wear (or skip) may seem like a daunting task.
When you start thinking like a pro, eye makeup isn’t as complicated as you think. Aside from those one-off special occasions we attend, most days a simple eye makeup application is suitable for day-to-day. Unless of course you want to go full glam smokey eyes with false lashes everyday, you do you (but you if you’re reading this post, you probably need to learn the basics first!)
So yes, while all the beauty tutorials are telling you to buy that new eyeshadow palette with 40 shades, I’m giving you permission to stop buying all those shiny new palettes and instead, really invest in a few shades that are flattering to your eye color, eye shape, and yes again, skin tone.
Shop from your own collection, and curate a custom palette. Learn more about depotting your makeup here >
Sometimes the basics (brown, black, cream) are plenty! Unless you’re going to create a super glam look, having a bunch of colors is not necessary.
Prerequisite: Determine Your Eye Shape
Step 1: Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow is that one cosmetic product that almost all makeup wearers are initially drawn too. I could write a book on eyeshadows alone! As a matter of fact, there are books dedicated to eyeshadow alone!
For day-to-day, I skip eyeshadow.
For a more elevated day-to-day look, I’ll use one, maybe two eyeshadows max. Eyeshadows whose colors exist in my eyes.
Step 2: Eyebrows
I personally don’t really need to spend much time on my brows. That’s because there’s a lot of contrast between my brows and my skin tone. Here’s what I do when I want to look a bit more polished but if you fall into this category, you can skip brows! Yay!
But if there isn’t much contrast between your brow color and your skin tone (ex. fair skin, blonde hair or deep skin, light brown hair), then investing in quality eyebrow products is going to be a solid investment.
When it comes to your brows, having them “done” can really make a big difference.
Three Pro Eyebrow Tips:
- A wand brow gel offers the quickest bang for your buck. Glossier’s “Boy Brow” is a classic and it’s super easy to use.
- An eyebrow pencil is another quick way to do your brows, just don’t forget to blend it with the spoolie (normally they are attached to the pencil).
- Potted Eyebrow gels are also great if you have more time and want a lot more umpf. You need to invest in a good eyebrow brush and spoolie. If you have shaky hands, using gels may be harder and frustrating.
But remember what I’ve told you: less is always more! Don’t overdo it. Your brows will look amazing if you just tame them and fill them out a little. What you don’t want to do is go so overboard that it looks like you drew completely new eyebrows on your face.
Step 3: Mascara
The most important product in my kit is mascara!
I love mascara for me because it’s the most high impact. I feel naked without mascara.
Curling your lashes before mascara, for most people, is one of the quickest and easiest eye lifting techniques out there. It’s worth the extra 30 seconds, okay?
Don’t forget to apply mascara to your lower lashes. Our lower lash lines are often neglected because we don’t want to draw attention to our under-eye area, especially as we age. But balance and symmetry in our eye makeup is important. You don’t need to use a lot of product down there, just whatever is left on your wand or brush.
Step 4: Eyeliner
For most makeup beginners I say skip eyeliner until you are really confident with your mascara application. Now I understand some people cannot wear mascara. If you cannot wear mascara or if you’re already comfortable with your mascara application, I suggest start tightlining first.
Tightlining is one of my favorite makeup hacks that, like mascara, instantly brightens and opens up the eyes.
Step 4: Lips
Lip makeup is something that can be really intimidating for people. There are so many different lip colors to choose from and it can seem hard to know which colors work for you. Then there are so many different types of products, from a basic lip balm, to a lip gloss, to a liquid lipstick — it can be hard to know which one will be right for you. Then, you want to know if you need a lip liner.
We’ve all been in the situation where you want to try something different so you go to a Sephora and you start to test out all the bold, sexy colors. But, there’s so many different versions of even a basic red. There’s a red with an orange undertone, a blue undertone, a brown undertone… how do you know what will make you feel beautiful and what will make you feel like a clown?
Here’s a pro tip when it comes to lips (well, pro tips)…
- Find the lightest color on your lip… that’s your daytime nude color.
- Find the darkest color on your lip… that’s your evening nude color.
You can buy a matte lipstick in those colors and sheer it out (read make it less intense) with a lip balm or wear it as-is topped with gloss for a more dramatic look.
I firmly believe that you don’t have to wear a bold lip to have a put-together makeup look, but I don’t think you should leave them completely naked. If you want a natural subtle look, try a tinted balm… that’s my personal favorite everyday lip look!
Bonus Step: Define Your Makeup Style!
You need to know where you want to go in order to get there. Before you can apply makeup confidently, you need to know where you’re going. You have to have your overall look in mind!
You’ll need to determine for yourself if you want a more natural look or a more glamorous look. Keep in mind that a natural makeup application is going to require the same skills as a makeup makeup look, it’s just going to be different colors and formulations for the most part. That’s right… a ‘no makeup look’ still requires makeup!
While I tried to round up some great tips for you, makeup brushes were not covered in-depth. You need the right tools to do the job and those tools are going to make your drugstore makeup look like a million bucks.
Ready to dig in and learn how to wear makeup? Look no further!
You’ll learn to identify your skin type, as well as your face, eye, eyebrow, and lip shapes. You’ll learn which types of makeup products and colors will work best for you and I’ll give you some of the key makeup hacks the pros use to save time and money.
