Makeup

DIY Makeup: Create Your Own Makeup Cocktails

Still searching for the perfect shade of lip gloss or foundation? It may already be in your makeup bag. Find out how to create custom DIY makeup like the pros

by Cinya Burton

1 of 8

Highlighter + moisturizer If highlighter application had a 101 class, most of us would fail miserably. It's not our fault; mastering the tool is really tricky. That's why mixing an illuminizer and a skin moisturizer is a great way to get a glowing complexion without all the precise dabbing. "Apply this combo before you layer on foundation for a natural, dewy base," says Paul. For an even more sheer effect, celebrity makeup artist Lusine Galadjian (her clients include Victoria Justice and Ashley Greene) suggests pairing the illuminator with tinted moisturizer, which means you can skip foundation altogether. Just be sure to go a little lighter in the T-zone area when applying; oil production is heaviest there and highlighter can make your forehead, nose, and chin look shiny instead of glowy. Mix both the illuminzer and moisturizer in the palm of your hand and spread across your face using your fingers.

Mix Nars Illuminators in Copacabana, $30, with Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum, $65.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Foundation + sunscreen

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage

products mentioned

Nars Illuminator

7.0

Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum

9.5

California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion

8.3

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Teint Radiance SPF 20

0.0

Make Up For Ever Pure Pigments

0.0

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow

8.8

Prestige Classic Lipstick

6.2

Korres Lip Butter

8.7

JK Jemma Kidd Show Stopper Year-Round Body Glow

0.0

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh

8.3

MAC Pigment

9.0

Wet n Wild MegaSlicks Lip Gloss

7.6

leave a comment

Older comments

I've actually heard of a lot of these!

by 92jess11 Monday, April 22, 2013 at 07:13PM Report as inappropriate

A good list. This spring I've been having good results combining two tinted lip balms -- one high moisture but unfortunately low tint, the other high color payoff but unfortunately not moisturizing enough. Together, they're perfect.

by purple9a Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 05:29PM Report as inappropriate

These seem self-explanatory, but there are some I never would have thought of--thank you!

by GigiSD Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 03:00PM Report as inappropriate

These were to me, pretty common makeup mixtures. Nice for anyone who doesn't always have the time to keep up with all of this

by BeautyBoss Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 06:59AM Report as inappropriate

awesome

by Mommy_of_Ethan Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 03:59PM Report as inappropriate

Nice

by EricaC123 Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 06:36AM Report as inappropriate

Really excited to step up my techniques and trying some of these out!

by Hcaddy15 Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 07:31PM Report as inappropriate

I do the iridescent eye shadow over my lipstick too!!

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 10:11AM Report as inappropriate

I always do the Lipbalm/lipstick one!

by yestfl Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 11:17AM Report as inappropriate

Foundation mixed with sunscreen isn't a very good idea. These products should be layered, allowing them time to dry between layers. If you mix them, it's diluting the SPF.

by LipglossandSpandex Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 09:20PM Report as inappropriate