For something that most of us have been (sneakily) practicing since middle school, makeup has a pretty gray area when it comes to what you should and should not do. Don’t wear certain colors with your skin tone, choose either your eyes or your lips to spotlight, less is more. These are just a few rules that all of us heard, but what works for one person doesn’t always for the next. Below, we defined the seven golden rules of makeup that everyone should follow while getting glam.
1. It doesn’t transform.
Before applying anything to your face, it is important to understand, the purpose of makeup is not to change your face but to enhance your natural features. Many people make the mistake–me included–of thinking we need more. It’s okay to play around with dramatic looks, but experiment tastefully. The goal is not to look like anyone but yourself.
2. It should be fun, not a chore.
You should look forward to putting on makeup. Don’t ever feel like you need to hide any part of your face behind a mask. Trying out new lipsticks or eye shadows should be exciting. It is not solely there to cover up the very things that make you human: we all break out, deal with on and off redness, need a little pick me up in the lash department, etc. Wear your look proudly; it’s your radiant personality that really draws in attention.
3. It’s there for practice.
Makeup is an art form, and coming up with new looks is a great creative process, but you lose that creativity when you you’re not confident. Beauty faux pas are almost inevitable, so keep an open mind when it comes to trial and error. Eventually, you will find what works best for your skin tone and facial features.
4. It needs a break.
Many of us have it engrained that we can’t leave the house without makeup. It personally took me a few years before I abandoned this rule. Makeup isn’t mandatory. Your skin deserves a break, especially after a long weekend of going out. Allowing skin to breathe also minimizes the risk of those unwanted breakouts, resulting in a happier, clearer complexion.
5. It needs a little TLC.
Makeup can be expensive, and if you want it to last, show it some love. Organize your collection based on product type; The Container Store has clear drawer sets perfectly designed for storing makeup. Most importantly, don’t forget to wash your makeup brushes on a weekly basis. Bacteria frequently builds up with use, so neglecting this step, can result in more problematic skin.
6. It can surprise you.
There are a few products that I truly believe “you get what you pay for,” predominantly including foundation and skincare. These items provide the base for the rest of your makeup; therefore quality must be top notch. However, there some drugstores gems that steal the show when it comes to eye shadow, liner and of course, mascara. In fact, most people prefer $7 mascara to their high-end competition. You don’t always need to splurge to look your best. The secret is spending wisely.
7. It doesn’t define you.
When you feel good, you look good. One of the most valuable life lessons is maintaining balance. Do your makeup, look in the mirror once and confidently walk out the door. You don’t need to touch up every 10 minutes or “make sure you look okay.” If you’re overly fixated on your appearance, you loose focus on the positive qualities people have to offer; distracted by the thoughts of how you come off to them. You have so much more to share than only an aesthetic appearance.