I’m always wanting to learn and I don’t feel qualified to actually share tips, but here were a few things I wish I had known earlier:
- when my mascara was drying out, I went too long before learning I could spray a little sterile saline on the brush (shaking off any excess drips of saline), and put the brush back into the bottle and work the brush a bit - then it would apply to the lashes perfectly without clumps (I’ve enjoyed mascaras like Mineral Fusion and Better Than Sex).
- lash curlers are a life changer, I have long lashes but they’re heavy and droop down, and I thought it was a mistake with how I was applying the mascara (and the mascara weighed them down even more!!); maybe this is just obvious, but I went too long without using one and they really lift my eyes, even just the curler without the mascara is a big help
- foundation can really age you, so it’s important to prioritize skin care and “natural beauty”. It really sucks when my skin is breaking out and I have to cover up with foundation because it ruins the natural, soft look of my skin; I wash my face every night with a cleanser (occasionally using a more exfoliating salicylic acid cleanser on my nose) and use a night cream with ceramides. Hydrating throughout the day is also important to healthy skin. (As is diet, tbh.)
- I had no idea that cosmetic sunscreens existed, I wish I had known there were sunscreens that didn’t feel like covering my face in grease, I’ve gone without sunscreen for decades because I had no idea. Discovering Japanese and South Korean sunscreens that function as a makeup primer, and aren’t greasy and absorb into the skin, completely blew my mind and made it so much easier for me to put sunscreen on every day. I have really enjoyed CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel and SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella sunscreens in particular.
What beauty and makeup tips did you wish you knew earlier?
I don’t like mascara, but still want my lashes to curl so I curl them after I shower then put on moisturizer. It holds the curl all day, no mascara needed. Side note lightly moisturizing right after a shower works wonders for my skin (along with drinking plenty of water).
I find that if I try to curl my lashes after showering, they won’t stay - I think it’s when they’re wet? I noticed later after they dried they seemed to stay curled better.
Is there anything you do to help the lashes hold the curl, I find mine seem to droop back down after a bit … though I have noticed they can also last the rest of the day - I think sometimes it’s more that I’m failing to hold as long as I need to or something.
Moisturizing after showering is such a good idea - I usually shower at night and moisturizing before bed is also nice (less chance of getting lotion on clothes or awkward feeling of the lotion on my skin, etc.).
My guess is that you want a natural solution to your lash problem rather than getting a lash lift, but have you ever gotten a lash lift? 'Cause like… problem solved.
The first time I really saw the potential of a lash curler was when I booked a consultation with a makeup artist to find out what mistakes I was making. Apparently you’re supposed to pinch the eyelids a little bit. Just the tiniest bit. Position the curler so you’re applying pressure right where lashes protrude from the skin. I don’t know if this is universally considered to be the correct technique, but the result was undeniable.
Nonetheless I don’t wanna pinch my eyelids every time I’m trying to fix my lashes, so now I just leave it to the probably toxic god–knows–what they use when I get them tinted and lifted.
A lash lift is honestly a good idea. The pinching is uncomfortable, but not a dealbreaker for me - I’m a bit used to it now. I just find it difficult to add more appointments into my life - getting brows waxed and haircuts are already a lot for me, lol.
I feel you there. The time commitment for brows and lashes alone feels like so much. I try to cluster things on a single day and keep myself on a regular interval, and then that day becomes my little treat to look forward to. Every 6 weeks I block out an afternoon for hair trim, manicure, brow threading, lash lift, brow and lash hybrid tint, and laser hair removal. Feels like I’m being run through a factory assembly line. I recognise how OTT this routine probably is for most people though.
Small change I learned super late, but I’ve found that brown eyeliner and mascara looks a lot more natural! It’s less harsh looking and blends with the pupils and hair better. I think most of us don’t have black eyes xD
Oh and I used to not wear blush. But it seriously gives a healthy glow to your face, like you’re glowing from the inside out. I didn’t think it mattered, but now it’s super noticeable to me when I don’t put it on lol
Those are great tips! I never got the hang of blusher so avoid it. Do you have any pointers?
Well I’m no expert!😆 But I go for a peachy coral color, something that I can put a little on and build up if it’s not enough. I’d stay away from anything too pigmented, which can be less forgiving lol. Shimmering blush looks nice on clear skin (if not, I’d stick to matte). Romand’s Better Than Cheek for example has a great selection of natural shades.
So after concealer and foundation (maybe contour), I’ll put the blush on. I use a powder blush (cream is popular and a lot of people swear by it, but I use spot concealer in my cheek area and don’t like to smear it around). I smile to find the apples of my cheeks then use a brush to apply there in a dabbing motion. Then I do little dabs and swirls to fade it towards my temples, concentrating on applying a bit higher on my cheekbones (like where you would put highlighter). Don’t forget to seal it and blend with a tiny layer of finishing powder.
Here’s a quick 6 min video that talks about 2 common blush placements and what affect that might have on your face. I think they’re both cute actually:)
Mate thanks so much for typing that out! Those are really helpful practical tips, I really appreciate it 🙏
is there a way to clean beauty blenders? how many times can you use one before tossing it?
Idk about blenders but I’ve made my brushes last for years by giving them a good soak in a solution of dish soap, vinegar, and water about once every 6 mos
I have heard it’s not good to get the where the bristles are attached to the handle wet, presumably because it undoes the glue. I like to put a little hand soap in my hand, then wet the bottom of the bristles and then use the brush to lather the soap in my hand, then rinse a few times until there is no soap - all without submerging the whole brush under water or anything.
I do it more frequently than once every 6 months, I find I get breakouts sometimes from brushes I haven’t cleaned frequently enough - but maybe once every month or two sounds about right. (Depends on how much I’m using them, how clean I’m keeping them in general, etc.)
I have been wondering this myself …
Googling around, I found articles like this: https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup/how-to-clean-beauty-blender
I have been cleaning my disposable blending sponge in a similar fashion as the soap method, basically rubbing the blender with soap and then rinsing thoroughly. I have noticed with the disposable sponge, it loses a bit of its integrity when I clean it this way - probably because they are meant to be disposed of. However, I am still successfully reusing them, lol. I also have a beauty blender, but admittedly I have been using up my disposable sponges first.
hmm i put mine in a brush cleaner with bits of bar soap and you can see the water turn murky with the foundation but it never gets off the blender. I didn’t know there were specific blender soaps i’ll look into that thank you!
oh, what’s a brush cleaner? I’m not sure I am familiar with that!
EDIT: is it like this contraption?
i use a little collapsible silicone basket with bumps on the bottom, cleans the brushes really well but not so much the beauty blenders
wow, that’s so cool! I’ve always just used my hand, but I love this idea - I might have to get one 😊
Thanks for the education 🥰
of course, great post lots of knowledge transfer happening!
I completely agree with you on foundation, you need a good one. I learned when I asked a random woman what foundation she was using because her skin looked AMAZING, she said to hit the make up counters, get loads of samples and advice and spend time figuring it out.
Many samples and consultations later I found Clarins everlast works really well on my skin. Never looked back!
That not all application methods work with all foundations or all skin types. I had one foundation and I can’t remember what it was but it was a liquid and I just couldn’t make it look good with a beauty blender. Never occurred to me at that stage in my makeup journey that I could use a brush with a liquid foundation. That changed everything. I don’t wear much makeup anymore because I work outside and I’m constantly sweating but it’s good to remember that there are multiple application methods so if one doesn’t work, try another.
I use a liquid foundation and usually apply with a sponge or beauty blender, sometimes just with my fingers if it’s a small area. I find after it dries it can sometimes have a cracked or textured look I don’t like. I will have to try other methods, I haven’t tried powdered foundation for example.
Yeah that’s generally my go to also. For whatever reason the brush worked best on that one particular liquid foundation.
oh interesting! What kind of brush did you use? Without guidance I would probably try using my short-bristle blush brush and just dab aggressively to blend it in?
EDIT: also, do you put the liquid foundation on your face with your fingers and then blend with the brush, or did you put it on your hand and dip the brush in the foundation from there?
the lash curler terrifies me, i have a slight tremor and i’m convinced i’m going to jerk a centimeter and rip all my precious eyelashes out! Is there a trick to doing it so you’re sure it’s safe?
I use a close-up mirror to line up the curler and my lashes perfectly, and I lean against a corner to steady my arm and body. This gives me a lot of control over everything, which makes me feel more comfortable about shoving something into my eye, lol.
I have a medical condition where I sometimes have involuntary spasms (long story), but the jerks are more common when I’m lying down on my back, so it’s usually not an issue when I’m using the lash curler.
So far I haven’t had any issue, but it sounds like you’ll just have to experiment and see what is safe and reasonable for you.
oh that sounds like how i have to do my eyeliner, i hadn’t considered that thank you!
How much can you clamp them down like as hard as you want or do you have to be gentle when you squeeze em?
Thanks so much for the assistance!
Yes, I use the same mirror for my eyeliner 😆 Eyeliner admittedly requires more coordination.
I start slowly when clamping so I can verify I have all the lashes in there correctly, and then once I know it’s how I want it, then I gradually increase the pressure and just hold - I definitely don’t press as hard as I can or anything, just enough for the eyelashes to curl up. I find curling close to the root of the lashes can actually pull on the lashes and hurt, so I sometimes try to curl a little away from the roots to avoid that, or I just don’t press as hard.
And no problem - happy to help ❤️
this is great stuff. I’m going to have such pretty lashes tonight!
I wish I never started using foundation. It makes your skin look so perfect, you can never do your make up again without it lol
