Have you ever walked into a makeup store and been so overwhelmed by all of the products available and didn't know where to start. I completely understand. There are hundreds of products available all promising different things but what do they all actually do. This article is all about the basics and will be especially useful for beginners. Here is every kind of makeup product, what it does and why you need it.
Primer: It creates an even base for your face makeup application. They can be specialised to reduce redness, minimise pore, hydrate or protect your skin. The ultimate goal for all primers is to keep your makeup looking fresh and help it to last all day.
Foundation: Uses to coverage to smooth and even your complexion. It comes in a variety of finishes and styles including light, medium, full, matte, dewy etc. The consistency will depend on the amount of coverage and so will what the product covers. The lighter the foundation, the more natural it will look and vice versa.
Concealer: Brightens and conceals the under eyes. It will cover up any bags or pigmentation in the area as well as any other blemishes. It is typically one shade lighter than your natural skin tone. They have different finishes like a foundation as well as different amounts of coverage.
Contour: Used to create shadows on the face to sculpt and slim the shape. It comes in a powder form which is natural but also in creams or liquids which are typically more pigmented. It is used on the forehead, cheekbones, jawline and sometimes the chin depending on the desired look.
Bronzer: It is designed to warm up the face and make it look glowy. It is warmer than contour as it is supposed to bronze the cheekbones, forehead and chin.
Highlighter: Used to accentuate and add a sparkle to the high points of the face. It is shimmery and can come as a powder, cream or liquid depending on the desired amount of shine.
Setting Powder: Applied on top of foundation to 'set' it and avoid shine. It can be purchased in a translucent shade or one similar to your skin tone. The powder can be used to brighten under the eyes, mattify your foundation, control oil or make it last longer.
Blush: Adds a flush of colour to the cheeks and is applied after foundation or powder. It also comes in a range of consistencies with powder being the most natural and easy to use.
Brow Pencil: Used to draw on small hair-like strokes and mimic natural-looking brows. The pencils come in finer more precise version or just regular pencils. Pencils with a wax formula are the easiest to use and can be quite pigmented
Brow Powder: Powder used to fill in sparse areas of your eyebrows and make them appear fuller. It can be applied sparingly for a more natural look
Brow Pomade: Pomades are a wax formula mixed with a powder to keep brows in place and make them appear more dramatic or sharp. The product comes in a small pot and is applied with an angled brush
Brow Gel: A clear gel is used to keep eyebrows in place but can also come in a tinted version that will add thickness and pigment to your eyebrows.
Eyeshadow: A colour powder that provides pigment for the eyelids. It can come in a variety of finishes including matte, shimmer, glitter or duo chrome. The more pigment the eyeshadow ha then the less of it you will need to use. This is important to consider when purchasing an eyeshadow because it will affect how bold or natural it is.
Liquid Eyeliner: A high pigment liquid applied with an angle brush or a felt tip to the lash line. The thinner the applicator the more precise and easier it is to apply.
Gel Liner: An eyeliner that comes in a small pot that is applied by an angled brush. It is creamier and longer-lasting than any other kind of eyeliner but much harder to apply with precisions
Pencil Liner: A soft creamy pencil which is ideal for the waterline as it is not very precise for the lash line. Using a white or beige pencil will make the eyes appear bigger
Mascara: A liquid applied with a wand to achieve fuller, longer and thicker lashes. It separates the lashes while thickening. It can come in a variety of colour and can also be waterproof.
Eyeshadow Primer: Similar to a regular primer it creates an even base for eyeshadow, making them more pigmented and long-lasting
Liquid Eyeshadow: A colourful liquid formula that sets as a powder. It lasts longer than regular eyeshadow and can sometimes be waterproof
Liquid Lipstick: A liquid formula applied with a doe-foot applicator that gives a coloured pigment to the lips. It is easy to apply as the applicator allows you to draw sharp lines and deliver more pigment. They dry down matte and last longer than a regular lipstick.
Lipstick; A bullet version of a lipstick that is creamy and often has a shiny or satin finish.
Lip Gloss; A shiny and glassy lip product which can be clear, glittery, coloured or plumping.
Lip Liner; Used to draw an outline on your lip line before applying lipstick. It can contour their shape, especially around the cupids bow to make it sharper and stop lipstick from bleeding. If applied before a lipstick it can help it to last longer and be applied easier.
Thank you for reading this article and I hope that you found it helpful. Did you learn anything new? Let me know in the comments below.
- xoxo Miss Makeup