Makeup for a Newbie

I hope the title of this post hasn't panicked you - don't worry, I haven't suddenly turned into a beauty blogger overnight (even the thought of me attempting to do makeup tutorials makes me laugh!).

Today I thought I'd write a little post for anyone who, like me, is clueless when it comes to what to put on their face and how to apply it.

I didn't start wearing makeup until I was well into my 20s and then it was just a little bit of eye shadow with loads of dark eye liner.  In all honesty the way I do my makeup has changed very little over the years and in my 30s I've found myself just as clueless.

It wasn't until I became a blogger and started reading a few beauty blogs that I realised exactly how awful I was at applying makeup.  Blending and contouring were alien concepts and I had no idea you were supposed to apply makeup with brushes, not your fingers.

So one of my resolutions for 2015 was to try to learn how to do my makeup like a proper adult, using beauty blogs and YouTube tutorials as my guide.  I've read and watched a lot over the last month or so but my absolute favourite ladies are the hugely popular Lily Pebbles and Vivianna Does Makeup.  So much so that Lily pretty much comes to bed with us each night and Simon probably also now knows how to apply makeup like a pro.

I thought it would be fun to share the knowledge that I've gained and show you the few staple products that I've found simple to use and at the end we can see if I've suddenly become capable of applying full make up without looking like a clown.

The world of beauty is full of luxurious brands for the pro beauty queen. However, for a beginner it's probably best to avoid leaping straight to the Nars or Mac counter and start on the high street. 

I watched a few videos recommending great drug store makeup which I used as a starting point for my beginners collection.

Brushes

Makeup brushes were completely new to me and yes I was guilty of using the applicator that comes with eye palettes, a big "no-no" in the world of beauty. 

It soon became obvious that "Real Techniques" are the brush of choice for most and being readily available on the high street they're also purse friendly. 

I chose to get the Core Collection (hurray for Boots advantage points).  It contains a pointed foundation brush, detailer brush, buffing brush and contour brush.

For eye brushes I went for something a little different and chose the No 7 brushes, I got a few Eye Colour brushes and an Eye Contour Brush

So, how did I get on?

Pretty well!  I can see why Real Techniques are popular, the brushes are so soft and I found them easy to use.  It's my birthday next week and I'm hoping to get some Rose Gold Zoeva brushes, so it's fair to say I've really learnt to love makeup brushes.

What did I learn?

That applying makeup with brushes really does create a far better finish than poking at your face with your fingers.

Foundation

Whenever I dabbled with foundation in the past I found it a complete nightmare. I have very dry skin and any type I tried made my skin flaky.  I also found that it made my face feel dirty and uncomfortable all day. I gave up and then discovered BB cream which I've been applying ever since. 

One foundation that was mentioned time and time again as being perfect for my dry skin was Bourjois Healthy Mix which I bought in the shade Light Vanilla.

 

So how did I get on?

I was so excited to see if this would work on my dry skin and after tentatively applying it and making sure it was properly blended with my buffer brush I was thrilled to find that it didn't dry out my face at all.  I found the application effortless and I LOVE this foundation. 

What did I learn?

That when you find the right foundation it's a life changer.  The colour and coverage was perfect for me, it was so light it didn't feel like I was wearing makeup.  It covered up the redness that I usually have on my skin and looked really natural.  I loved the way my skin looked with it on and each time I saw myself in the mirror on day one I did a little double take at how good my skin looked.

Concealer

I'd never considered using a concealer before. I don't get too many spots but I definitely have dark circles under my eyes and the odd patches of red. 

A lot of beauty bloggers favour the more high end concealer and it seems that budget brands don't make the best concealers. 

In the end I opted for Rimmel's Wake Me Up in the shade Ivory.

So how did I get on?

It was easy to use and apply and I could definitely see the benefits of using it.  Unfortunately it did cling a little to dry patches so I'm still on the hunt for a good concealer. 

What did I learn?

That covering spots and erasing dark shadows is easier than I thought!

Powder 

Using powder as a way to set your makeup! Who knew?!  I thought I'd struggle to find a powder that wouldn't make my skin very dry.   My little sister knows the problems of having dry skin and recommended that I try the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Powder which I got in Ivory.

So how did I get on?

Very well!  I  was careful not to apply too much, just a light dusting over my face and I was good to go.  It didn't leave my face feeling dry at all - yay!

What did I learn?

That powder isn't just used to reduce shine, it's also a great way to set your makeup.

Cheeks

Being a pale red head I'd never considered bronzer before but many tutorials featured it so I thought I'd give it a whirl.  I bought Soap & Glory's Solar Powder which I apply under my cheek bones, chin and then up on to my forehead.   It's a great bronzer for a beginner as it's quite subtle.

Blusher is something that has scared me in the past. It looks amazing on others but I worry about looking like Aunt Sally from Worzel Gummidge.  This was the only product where I splashed some cash and bought something high end.  I've heard nothing but good things about the Nars blushers so bought one in the shade Deep Throat which I love.

So how did I get on?

I was surprised how much I loved the Soap & Glory bronzer, it left me with a very natural healthy glow and I found it easy to apply. 

I struggled a little with blusher. I was so paranoid about over doing it that the first few days I barely tickled my cheeks with my brush. It took an intervention from one of the girls at work to encourage me to be a bit braver and apply a little more. 

What did I learn?

That with a little bit of practice, using bronzer and blush can completely transform your face giving it definition and making you look and feel alive.

Eyes

When it came to eyes I decided to really concentrate on learning how to apply eye shadow as this is something I was very clueless about.  In the past I've only applied one colour to my lids in one quick sweep.   I really wanted to learn how to blend different colours and maybe eventually create a smoky eye.

I already have a few small palettes so concentrated on buying myself a few products that could be used on their own.  Firstly the Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze and more recently I've bought the newly released Bourjois Colorband Eyeshadow sticks in three colours.

So how did I get on?

Argh!  The YouTube tutorials make it look easy but to a beginner it definitely isn't.  On my first attempt I applied a light colour to my lids then tried a different bolder colour in the crease.  After bumbling around for a bit and then doing a bit of blending I ended up looking like I had been punched in the eye.

So for the moment I've stuck to my single colour and have been concentrating on applying those, building up the colour and blending them out.

What did I learn?

That applying your eye colour correctly and blending it like a pro creates something beautiful.  Unfortunately I'm quite a way off perfecting it!

THE RESULTS!

I've had the most amazing time learning how to apply makeup and now really enjoy researching new products and wandering the beauty aisles in Boots.  I'm a changed woman!

I'm still on the look out for a high street concealer that's great for dry skin, a good primer and some expert advice on how to apply eye shadow so if you have any tips please do let me know!

Is anyone else out there clueless about how to do their makeup?!   Please tell me I wasn't alone!