Once you've applied your foundation (and concealer if you need it), start with your lips. To give your pucker a painterly feel, add a touch of color to them with a glossy lip stain or gloss. Here, Barnes used the E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Stain, $4, in Dewy Berry. Then, using your fingers, dab a touch of color to the cheeks using a cream blush (he also used the Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Stain on the cheeks). You can also use a creamy blush right in the center of the lip to create a beautiful (and natural-looking) pouty effect.
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Watercolor Makeup: Step 3
Next, you want to highlight the key features of the face. Apply highlighter on the bridge of the nose, the Cupid's bow and the inner corners of the eyes. Fun fact: You don't have to use a traditional highlighter. Actually, a rose gold eye shadow works even better for this look. (Barnes used the E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow, $4, in Rose Gold, but if you want something even more reflective, try Milk Makeup Holographic Stick, $28, in Supernova.)
Barnes says watercolor makeup is all about the mood (much like an Impressionist painting). So, the goal is to make the cheeks look a little more theatrical and "magical." In order to increase the dimensional quality of the cheekbone structure, he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, applying the blush higher on the cheekbone near the hairline, and brushing a bit of bronzer across the jawline, cheeks and hairline.
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Watercolor Makeup: Step 4
"When it comes to the eye makeup part of this look, get creative," Barnes says. And he doesn't just mean with colors. As a base to your eye look, sweep a violet-pink blush across the lid and crease of your eyes (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Violet), being sure to blend your crease up and out. The vibrant pigment of the blush will actually look very sheer, due to the lack of a neutral eye shadow base -- which is exactly the look you're going for. Then, take an even lighter shade of blush (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Peach) and apply it to the crease, blending up and out.
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Watercolor Makeup: Step 5
In true watercolor fashion, this look isn't about staying in the lines. Fighting against all your natural instincts, apply the lighter blush slightly above the brows (scary, we know), and be sure to blend out any harsh lines.
"The great thing about this look is there are no rules," Barnes says. "When you try something this unique, you want to let people know you're doing it on purpose and are breaking the traditional rules. And honestly, that makes it so much more fun for you and the onlookers."
