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Makeup For Life!
Gone are the days of
heavily winged-out eyeliner and strong 80s contouring that were oh-so-hot in 2009. This spring, the trend in makeup is all about looking au naturale. Read on to find out how you can use makeup to look flawless while keeping it subtle.
Face
Step 1: Start by prepping your skin with an oil-free moisturizer. This will give a bit of slip so your makeup goes on smoother.
Step 2: For those who are blessed with issue-free skin, apply a tinted moisturizer (try
Bobbi Brown Extra SPF25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm, $50) to even out your skin tone. If you need more coverage, use a liquid foundation with a dewy finish like
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, $42.
Step 3: Apply your foundation or tinted moisturizer with a sponge like
Beautyblender, $19.95 in a stippling motion. Pay extra attention to the edges to make sure there are no visible lines. Remember, real skin is never matte so finish by only powdering areas that get oily throughout the day. If you need more help with creating flawless-looking skin,
check out this tutorial.
Step 4: To get the most natural healthy glow, opt for a cream blush. Using your fingers, apply three dots of
MAC Cremeblend Blush, $18.50 on the apples of your cheeks and blend towards the temples.
Step 5: Spritz your face with a facial mist like
MAC Fix+, $18 to tone down any cakiness and to keep your skin looking dewy and fresh.
Eyes
Step 1: Natural eyebrows never look penciled in. So ditch your eyebrow pencil and use a powder that
matches with your hair color instead. Apply with an angled brush and blend with a clean mascara wand or brow brush to soften the look.
Step 2: Skip eyeliner and really work the mascara wand into the roots of your lashes to make them appear fuller. If you must wear eyeliner, keep the line thin and stick to softer colors like brown or gray. Alternatively, try lining the inner rims of your eyes with a cake eyeliner like
Laura Mercier Eye Liner, $22.To do this, lift up your eyelid gently and push the eyeliner into the rim of your lids with a flat brush -- or
check out this tutorial on how to master the art of tightlining.
Step 3: Apply one to two coats of mascara and run a lash comb through your lashes to get rid of clumps. Don't have one handy? Swiping your lashes gently with your fingers works just as well.
Step 4: If you want more definition, add a pair of thin, long fake lashes like
Ardell Fashion Lashes in #110, $4. The trick is to use the right glue (try
Duo Eyelash Adhesive, $4.95) and wait until the glue turns tacky before you apply.
Lips
Step 1: Exfoliate your lips with an old toothbrush and Vaseline to get rid of nasty dead skin.
Step 2: Forget lip liner. Instead use a tinted lip balm like
Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm, $18 for a subtle pop of color and shine.