TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and every other social media platform are filled with people experimenting with makeup looks, creating new trends, and looking amazing. This can be intimidating for anyone wanting to start experimenting with makeup. Social media makes it seem like you have to be an expert before even trying, especially when there are so many things: different types of brushes, different products, and different ways to put everything on. It’s a little overwhelming. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
Here’s a breakdown of some products that are easy to start with, and that you don’t need to be a professional to pull off.
Mascara
This is a must, because, in my humble opinion, it’s the easiest way to make your eyes pop. While there are different kinds of brushes and brands, there’s really no way you can go wrong.
When applying mascara, there are two easy ways you can go about it. The first is by looking down and brushing from the bottom to the tips. This helps evenly distribute the product. The second is by starting with the tips, then brushing from halfway, and then from the bottom. This helps define the curliness of your lashes. You can curl your lashes or not, though I recommend you do as it sets the shape your mascara will build on.
Eye Shadow
It can be neutral or colorful, dramatic or simple. It can be whatever you want. To start, I suggest picking out a color and style that you really like and practicing it. Try simple looks and perfect those —it’ll help boost your confidence in your own makeup skills. Practice makes perfect, and if you’re too nervous about eye shadow, start with one color and move up from there.
Blush
You can never go wrong with a little bit of blush. Depending on where you apply it, it can emphasize different parts of your face. You can start with more neutral pinks, just to get used to seeing it on your face (whenever I put on makeup, I double-take every time I catch a glimpse of my reflection), and then you can graduate to darker or more vibrant colors.
Lipstick, Lip Gloss —Any kind of coloring for your lips.
Bright colors look so good, but they’re super intimidating for any beginner. For anything relating to my mouth, I consider what feels good. For instance, lip gloss looks so pretty, but it feels too sticky on my lips, so I’m always aware of it, and my lips dry up easily, so matte colors look a bit off.
Essentially, when it comes to your lips, you want to be as comfortable with it as you are satisfied with how it looks on you. Because something can look great but make you uncomfortable, and vice versa.
Concealer
This has been the hardest product for me to get into. Mainly because I rarely use makeup, much less a full face. But when Maybelline gave Her Campus some products to try, I picked out their concealers, and it honestly is great. It helps even out my skin, and they come in so many different shades. Since I tan really easily, I have used two different shades (one lighter than the other) that I mix to best match my skin tone.
There are hundreds of ways you can apply concealer, so try them out until you find one that you like best. Personally, I apply three or four dots of concealer under my eyes and I blend them out with a brush (because I have yet to get a makeup sponge, not that it’s all that necessary).
BB Cream
Maybelline also has this great BB Cream that feels amazing. I recommend it, especially if you’re not into foundation but want to try something like it. BB Cream is tinted, so it can replace foundation, and it has so many other benefits: it hydrates, protects against UV rays (this particular one has SPF 30), and it smoothes your skin.
I only put on a thin layer across my face and down my neck, and, in my opinion, that’s more than enough. Especially if you’re venturing into the world of full-face makeup looks.
Makeup is a skill that you can master, just like any other skill, with practice and dedication. You’re going to suck the first few times, but that doesn’t mean it looks bad or that you should give up. It’s a learning process that’ll require a whole pack of makeup removing wipes and frustration to get where you want to go.
Makeup is also art. It’s an expression of yourself, and it’s fun. Don’t forget to have fun with it. Experiment, play around, try something new and different, whatever makes you happiest. Because, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.