Makeup Tips People Always Wish They'd Known Sooner -- According To A MUA

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Regardless of whether you’re a beginner with makeup or someone seasoned in achieving a flawless beat, there’s always going to be things you can improve in your application. As makeup artist Saffron Hughes told shared with MADAMENOIRE recently, makeup is a creative and ever-changing art form.

MN chatted with the MUA about makeup tips people always wish they’d known sooner so you can continue taking your skills to the next level, mastering techniques and nailing your beauty looks.

Scroll through them below.

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1. Apply Your Eye Makeup Before Foundation

Considering the order in which you apply your makeup products is essential. For example, if you’re going for a bold eye look, Hughes recommends using your complexion products after doing your eye makeup. That way, you decrease the chance of “the dreaded racoon eyes” — when all the fallout drops underneath your eyes and causes unwanted shadows on your face.

In addition to raccon eyes completely ruining your base makeup, Hughes shared that it can also “create an aged appearance.”

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2. Use A Fan Brush For Applying Highlighter

Whether liquid or powder in form, highlighters are light-reflecting products that help create “a luminous glow to the face.”

That said, if you are not using a fan brush to apply your highlighter, it can be easy to get overly heavy-handed and end up looking like a disco ball.

Due to their “unique shape,” Hughes says that fan brushes lightly pick up the sparkly pigments in highlighters and dust it along the high points of your face “without attracting too much attention” to those features so your look is suitable for everyday wear.

As an extra tidbit, the makeup artist also explained that if you ever apply too much highlighter by accident, all you have to do is “go over the highlighter with a powder brush to knock down some of the shine.”

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3. Utilize Lip Scrubs

When properly exfoliated, your lips can better absorb the moisturizing agents found in your lipsticks, lip glosses, chapsticks, etc.

With that in mind, Hughes recommends that giving you lips a scrub once a week is ideal, especially in the colder months. Doing so will also help your lip products apply more conveniently because there’s less chance of experiencing flaking.

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Moreover, while lip scrubs are crucial, breaking the bank isn’t. The MUA said there’s no need to go out and spend money on a lip scrub when “chances are you have all the ingredients you need in your kitchen cupboard.”

According to her lip scrub recipe, mix one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of sugar and then massage the mixture onto your lips.

After leaving it on for five minutes, gently remove the product with a washcloth.

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4. Consider Your Eye Shape When Purchasing False Eyelashes

Hughes shared that for some of her clients, shopping for falsies can be “intimidating.”

With the wide variety of false lashes on the market, the makeup artist explained that it can be incredibly tempting for novices “to pick up the prettiest looking packet and hope they work with their makeup look!”

“Instead, narrow down your selection by finding out your eye shape,” Hughes advised. “Almond eyes are the most universal shape and match the shape of most false eyelashes in terms of it being a good fit.”

If you have almonds eyes but still feel unsure when shopping for falsies, the makeup expert additionally recommended “sticking to the ‘cat eye’ lash look.”

Hughes further explained that “Other eye shapes one might have could be round eyes, monolid eyes, deep-set eyes, wide-set eyes, prominent, downturned, upturned, or close-set.”

Regardless of your eye shape however, the MUA said “there are plenty of lash suggestions for you.”

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5. Take Care Of Your Skin Underneath Your Makeup

While this tip might be obvious to some, Hughes emphasized that well-prepped skin makes makeup application “ten times better.”

According to her, “the most beautiful makeup comes from taking care of your skin underneath.”

Before applying any product, she advised “cleansing the skin with a mild facial wash” then “applying a brightening serum.”

“Vitamin C is a great ingredient for this — it’ll help even out your skin tone,” Hughes noted.

The MUA suggested following up any serums with a light moisturizer with SPF in it during the daytime and then waiting 15 minutes for your skincare to set in before beginning your makeup routine with primer.

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