Hey, How are you doing since we’re about two months into staying home? I’ve been keeping busy by talking to friends and family, reading, streaming shows old and new, and practicing my makeup skills and techniques. I almost didn’t write this post because I kept wondering if I should share with you that I struggle with some makeup techniques. I’ll get to why I was debating this in a moment, but yes I do have a difficult time applying certain makeup so I’m taking some of the time I have while staying in to keep working on some currently difficult for me makeup skills.
So If I wasn’t sure if I was going to share my struggles applying certain makeup what changed my mind?
Reason 1: I want you to know I had a hard time with this too:
When I first started wearing eyeliner, I wasn’t at all confident in my ability to do apply it in a way that looks great or even good. I laugh at the days when one eye looked like I tried to apply the product in the dark or both eyes did. I practiced though, now I really like how it looks and I can do it relatively quickly without messing up. I’m hoping with practice the makeup skills I struggle with now will turn out amazing someday just like the eyeliner.
Reason: 2 A conversation that I had with one of my friends changed my mind.
We were talking about beauty, fashion, and disability influencer we follow on Instagram who shared she wouldn’t be posting as much since she needed help with certain parts of her routine. She talks more about the post here, but until she shared that particular post, my friend hadn’t realized that this influencer needed help with any part of her routine.
Makeup Skills & Techniques I’m Working On While Staying Home
Applying Blush: Blush is used to add some color to your cheeks and help you look more awake. I never really practiced with this product because I always had trouble applying to my face when I also tried to highlight, somehow the products always seemed to end up being too close together on my face and the application ended up looking like one big mess. However, a few months ago before everything closed down to keep us safe, I went to Sephora to purchase some of my more of my go-to products.
When I went there, there were makeup artists from charlotte Tilbury promoting the products. She ended up showing me tips to apply different products including blush. I can’t wait to start playing around with some of the shades I’ve seen, particularly Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Out Freestyle cream blush that you can even use on your lips supposedly, we’ll see.
Highlighter/ Contouring: Highlighter is used to create a glowing look on your skin and bring attention to certain parts of your face, typically people use highlighter and contour products together, but since I’m slightly better at highlighting than contouring at the moment, I want to work on that first. I have a few highlighters from Fenty Beauty that I’m excited to practice using and add more depth to my makeup looks. When it comes to contouring, well that’s more of an uphill battle for me, but I’m looking forward to finally getting the hang of it at some point… hopefully. I’ve got the placement down for this, but actually doing hasn’t worked out so well yet, but it’s a work in progress.
Applying Bullet Lipstick: Bullet lipstick is the lipstick that comes in the tube that you have to pull off the cap and to twist up to use. I’ve talked again and again about my struggles with applying lipstick, I must sound like a broken record at this point. Nevertheless, I’ve been working on it and I’ve even found some lipsticks that I just love using, the only thing is there are liquid lipsticks. I’m happy about being able to apply lipstick at all and I’ve loved using the Cashmere Cream Comfort Lipsticks from BH Cosmetics, but now is a great time for me to start working on applying the good old original lipstick because let’s face it, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Applying Eyeshadow: Eyeshadow is currently the hardest thing for me to apply. There are days when I practice with it and the application is decent, that I can wear it out, other days it looks I did my eyeshadow in the dark. I still have to work on a lot of different aspects when it comes to applying eyeshadow and by applying it I mean where it looks good and compliments my look, not a cut crease because let’s be real I’m nowhere near ready for that….. yet.
There are several different makeup techniques here for me to spend my time working on, I know, but I’m up to the challenge because I like creating beautiful looks with my makeup, watching as a look I had in my head come together on my face. I’ll also have more room creatively once I get started with improving my skills when it comes to eyeshadow and applying bullet lipsticks. I’ve made more of an effort to work on these skills in the past few days since first writing this post and there a few things I’ve noticed when applying makeup and not just these products, I did it when I was applying eyeliner too:
Surprisingly Easy Makeup Tips That Help When Learning New Skills
If you’re working on your makeup skills and/or techniques like me then here are few really easy to implement tips to use while you’re practicing
Tracing the application area with your finger helps:
Why would I do that? I trace the area with my finger because it makes it easier to apply certain products like eyeliner. These days when I apply eyeliner, I don’t use a mirror.
Wait… What?
Yes you read that right. I don’t use a mirror, when I was learning to apply it I realized two things:
- Looking into a mirror made me squint more
- After tracing my eyelid so many times with my finger, I knew where I was going with the eyeliner, I didn’t need to see it. Of course, I check the mirror when I’m done to make sure it looks how I expect it to and I wipe away any mistakes. Just to be clear, I’m talking about applying eyeliner to my top lid, not a winged liner or lining my lash line, maybe those will be on the list the after I improve these skills.
The way you grip something can make all the difference
When it comes to makeup brushes or other products, holding the product close too the applicator gives you a tighter, more controlled grip, the farther away you hold it the looser the grip. I learned that for me, I need to adjust how I hold something so I can get a better application especially when it comes to eyeshadow and blending.
Makeup and working on my skills with it and playing around in my closet for outfit ideas are helping me pass the time while staying home along with the other activites I’m doing like reading, talking with friends and streaming shows. When I get tired of watching tv, yes it is possible, I’m glad I have more time to practice my makeup skills, I’m excited to see how my skills improve while staying in. This will be challenging and frustrating at times yes, but I know it will also be fun so I’m looking forward to it.
Are you working on any makeup skills or techniques or skills for something else while staying in? How’s it going so far?
