Makeup looks hard from the outside. Then you try it and everything goes wrong. Foundation looks patchy. Mascara lands on your cheek. You stand there wondering why nobody told you the small things.
That is what these 15 easy makeup hacks for beginners are for. Not the big rules. The small tricks that save time and stop you from looking silly. Do your eyes before your face. Warm your concealer use less powder. Simple stuff two hacks tomorrow. That is all then a few more next week real steps no fluff.
First, the Basics
Before the hacks. Three things.
- Your skin needs to be clean. Not freshly scrubbed. Just clean. Wash, moisturise, wait two minutes. Then start.
- You need light. Natural light is best. Bathroom light lies to you. Do your makeup near a window if you can. Otherwise you will walk out looking orange.
- You need less product than you think. Every beginner uses too much. Start small. You can always add.
How to Apply Makeup Step by Step for Beginners?
Here is the order. Follow this every time.
- Moisturiser. Wait two minutes.
- Sunscreen. Wait two minutes.
- Primer, if you have it. Skip if you do not.
- Foundation or BB cream. Thin layer.
- Concealer. Only where needed.
- Powder. Light dusting.
- Eyebrows.
- Eyeshadow.
- Eyeliner.
- Mascara.
- Blush.
- Lipstick.
That is the full order. Twelve steps but most days you can skip half. Foundation, brows, mascara, lipstick. Done in five minutes.
The 15 Hacks
1. Warm Your Concealer on Your Hand First
Concealer is thick. It does not spread well when cold. Put a dot on the back of your hand. Warm it with your finger. Then tap it under the eye. Goes on smooth. No patchy spots.
2. Use Two Fingers, Not One
One finger presses too hard. Two fingers spread the pressure. Better for under the eye where the skin is thin. Try it. You will feel the difference.
3. Set Your Under Eye With Less Powder
Beginners dump powder under the eye. Then it creases and looks cakey by noon. Use a tiny amount. Tap the brush twice. Then dust. That is enough.
4. Do Your Eye Makeup Before Your Face
Eyeshadow drops onto your cheeks. Mascara smudges. If you do eyes first, you just wipe it off. Then apply foundation over clean skin. No mess. This one trick saves ten minutes.
5. Hold a Spoon Under Your Eye for Mascara
Sounds silly. Works. The spoon catches the mascara that would land on your cheek. Also helps you curl the lashes upward. Old trick. Still good.
6. Wiggle the Mascara Wand at the Roots
Most people swipe from root to tip in one go. Wrong. Wiggle the wand at the base of the lashes first. Then swipe up. This gives volume. And no clumps.
7. Two Coats, Wait Between
First coat. Wait thirty seconds. Second coat. If you do both back to back, the lashes stick together. Thirty seconds. That is all.
8. Use Tape for a Clean Eyeliner Line
Put a small piece of tape at the outer corner of your eye. Angle it toward your eyebrow. Draw your liner. Peel the tape off. Perfect line. No shaky hand. Works every time.
9. Heat Your Eyelash Curler
Blast it with a hair dryer for three seconds. Test it on your hand first. Then curl. The heat makes the curl last all day. Do not skip the hand test. You will burn your lid otherwise. I know.
10. Your Lipstick Can Be Your Blush
No blush? Use lipstick. Dot it on your cheeks. Blend with your fingers. Same colour family. Looks natural. Cream blush works better than matte lipstick for this.
11. Blot Your Lips Before Lipstick
Lipstick slides off oily lips. Blot first with a tissue. Then apply. Then blot again. Then one more layer. Lasts hours longer.
12. Fix Broken Powder With Alcohol
Your compact broke into pieces? Do not throw it. Crush it fully. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Mix. Press it flat. Let it dry overnight. Good as new.
13. Use a Clean Spoolie for Clumpy Brows
Brows looking thick? Run a clean spoolie through them. It removes extra product and softens the look. Costs twenty rupees. Buy three.
14. Set Your Face With Cold Air
After your makeup, hold a cold setting spray at arm's length. Or use a fan on low. The cold air sets the makeup. Less melting in Indian summer. This one matters here.
15. Clean Your Brushes With Baby Shampoo
Brush cleaner is costly. Baby shampoo works the same. Wet the bristles. Add a drop. Swirl in your palm. Rinse. Dry flat overnight. Once a week is enough.
Simple Makeup for Beginners Natural Look
This is the look most women actually want. Office, College & Daily.
Four products. That is it.
- BB cream or light foundation. Brows. Mascara. Lip balm with a tint.
- Skip eyeliner. Skip eyeshadow. Skip blush if you do not have time.
- The trick to a natural look is not the products. It is the amount. Use half of what feels right. Then check in daylight.
- If someone can tell you are wearing foundation, you used too much. Natural means it looks like your skin. Just better.
Simple Makeup Steps at Home
- For a wedding. For a function. Something more than daily but not full glam.
- Start with the twelve step order above. Then add these.
- Eyeshadow. Two shades. Light on the lid. Medium in the crease. Blend.
- Eyeliner. Thin line. Not winged if you are a beginner.
- Blush. Cream, not powder. Dab on the cheek. Blend up and out.
- Highlighter. Tiny amount on the cheekbone. Not the whole face. Just a small dot.
- Lipstick. Line your lips first with a nude liner. Then fill. Stops the colour from bleeding.
This takes twenty minutes when you are new. Ten when you practice. Practice on a Sunday when you are not going anywhere. That is how you get fast.
What to Skip When You Are Starting?
- Contour. It looks muddy on beginners. Learn it later.
- Baking. That is the heavy powder under the eye. It is for photos, not real life. In Indian heat it turns cakey.
- Cut crease. That is an advanced eyeshadow shape. Skip for six months.
- Setting spray. Not needed if your base is thin. Save the money.
- Lip liner in a dark shade. It makes lips look smaller. Go nude or matching.
Last Thing
Learn four products first. Master them. Then add one new thing each month. Nobody becomes good at makeup by buying more. They become good by doing the same simple look fifty times. Start tomorrow five minutes. Boring look. That is the real first step.