What Makeup Should I Wear?

Makeup is an often-misunderstood art form. You may hear phrases like, “I prefer people who don’t wear makeup” and “People just wear makeup to get attention” floating around. But in reality, wearing makeup isn’t about attracting someone else—it’s about how it makes you feel.

In fact, there are many benefits to makeup that you may not be aware of:

Confidence: Studies show a connection between makeup rituals and positive self-esteem. So, by applying cat eye each morning, you could actually be boosting your self-confidence. And confidence can have amazing effects (such as increased satisfaction, happiness, and success), especially in young people.

Self-Expression: Like all art forms, makeup allows individuals to craft their own styles, experiment with new looks, and flex their creative muscles. Every decision is a new chance to develop an artistic eye—and there are tons of benefits to this. For instance, creativity leads to increased empathy, problem-solving skills, and curiosity, just to name a few.

Passion: Why don’t we consider makeup to be a fulfilling, challenging hobby, just like painting or drawing (especially when the “canvas” is so much harder to work with)? By dedicating your time to something you genuinely love, you’re doing yourself a huge favor. People who invest in their passions experience less stress and anxiety, and fewer low moods!

Just getting started with makeup? Follow these tips:

Use primer if you’re having trouble keeping makeup in place. Primer isn’t necessary to create the look of your dreams—but if your makeup doesn’t sit well on your face or seems to lose its shine too quickly, using primer can be a huge help.

Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone. Matching foundation to your skin tone is crucial to get a natural, flawless look. The best way to do this is a simple test. First, pick a tone that looks like it’s similar to your shade. Then, apply it to your wrist. If it blends in perfectly, that means it’s a great shade for you.

Pair oil with oil and water with water. Mixing oil and water products can create 'cakiness' and unevenness in your look. If your moisturizer is oil-based, use an oil-based foundation, too. If your moisturizer is water-based, use a water-based foundation.

Start with just a little foundation. Apply your foundation by starting at the center of your face and moving outwards. Start with just a few small dabs and add more as needed.

In a hurry? Apply concealer and tinted moisturizer. If you’re pressed for time or don’t want to apply foundation, concealer can do wonders for covering blemishes and creating an even skin tone. Throw a tinted moisturizer on top, and you’re good to go.

Go light on blush. As a beginner, it’s easy to go overboard with your rouge. Keep it light. Pro tip: if you use a cream blush, you can use it as a simple lip tint, too.

Fill your eyebrows with gel, a pencil, and/or powder. Eyebrows are an often-overlooked (but important) part of your makeup look. Using a couple products, you can fill in gaps and make your brows appear fuller in seconds.

For eyes, follow this order: shadow, liner, mascara. As a beginner, you definitely don’t need to apply all three to complete your look. A simple swipe of mascara can still elevate your look. If you do decide to do a full eye look, just make sure that you apply in the correct order.

Keep it simple with your lip color. Lip liner, lip gloss, lip primer—there are tons of ways to overcomplicate your lip look. To keep things simple, start off with a simple lipstick, lip tint, or tinted lip gloss. This will be really easy to apply, and it can give you a pop of color.

“Set” your makeup look. Once you’ve finished your skin’s look, “setting” with a powder or spray will help you keep everything in place.