If you’re anything like me, you’ve figured out one makeup method that looks good on you… and haven’t deviated from it ever since. My makeup routine involves using the same products, applied via the same techniques (with maybe a little extra eyeshadow added now and then) that I’ve been using since I graduated from college.
But recently, I’ve been wanting to branch out from my usual style, especially on special occasions. The problem? I have no idea how to apply makeup beyond what I’ve been doing for years, and following along with YouTube tutorials somehow never works out for me (i.e. the over-lined lips that look so glamorous on the creator end up with more of a kid-playing-with-their-mom’s-makeup vibe on me).
In desperate need of help, I went straight to an expert to get some easy makeup tips that even my uncoordinated hands could handle. Anastasia Soare, the founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills and queen of eyebrows herself, laid out some simple makeup tricks that (spoiler) actually worked for me, plus the exact products that you’ll need to do them. Makeup novices rejoice.
1. Always blend well
Gone are the days when making your cheeks look like the top of a Neapolitan ice cream carton was the “in” style—now, it’s all about that flawless, no-makeup makeup look. To achieve it, blending is key, according to Soare. “If you look at all of my [eyebrow] pencils, they have the pencil and a spoolie brush because you need to apply it and blend it,” she says. “It’s all about blending and the rest of the face as well, with the contouring and everything.”
To make sure you’re blending your eyebrows out, remember to run a spoolie brush through your eyebrows after filling them in. For your face and eye makeup, blend each product in with a brush (or a sponge or your hands, if that’s your preferred method), until they look natural.
2. Put your eyelashes on higher
Even though fake eyelashes can be tricky to put on, I love to use them to feel extra glam for special occasions (usually with the help of a friend, of course). However, sometimes I feel that they can overwhelm my eyes, making them appear smaller, which is definitely not the goal. Soare, of course, has makeup tricks to help—and they apply to anyone hoping to make their eyes look wider and more lifted when wearing false lashes, or people with droopier eyelid skin who have a hard time putting their lashes on.
“You can put the lash a little bit higher—like one or two millimeters higher—at the corner [of your eye], and then you can fill in [the gap] with eyeliner,” she says. Absolutely genius! (Psst: Don’t forget to apply a layer of mascara to your natural lashes before adhering your fake lashes so they blend together seamlessly).
Shop Fake Eyelash Hack Must-Haves
3. Don’t outline your lips all the way
Have you ever gone to the bathroom during a big event and noticed an embarrassing amount of product buildup at the corners of your lips? Avoid this makeup faux pas by stopping your lip liner about two millimeters from the corners of your lips, Soare says. This tip will also help lift the mouth for those with downturned lips, she adds.
Once you’ve applied your lip product of choice on top of the lip liner, Soare recommends adding some highlighter, concealer, or skin-toned lip liner to your cupid’s bow and below the middle of your lower lip line to really help make your lips pop.
Although these tips may seem minimal, it’s makeup tricks like these that will upgrade your makeup game and have people asking what changes you’ve made to your regimen. So next time you’re doing your normal routine, feel empowered to stray a little bit by giving Soare’s advice a try—you might be surprised at the difference it will make.
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