Makeup is commonly used to better the appearance of one’s face. However, when applied incorrectly, it can hinder natural beauty. Here are some guidelines on maintaining the condition of your skin and looking fabulous.

Prepping
Always start with a fresh clean face by washing off excess dirt. Try a grainy face scrub. After gently dabbing away leftover wetness, apply a moderate amount of oil-free moisturizer. This prevents skin from drying out during application.

Correction
Once your face is prepped and ready, hide any discolored spots, pimples and other blemishes by dabbing concealer on them. Any brand of concealer is fine to use as long as it matches your skin tone. Remember to use concealer sparingly. Swipe just enough to cover the spot and blend with a sponge. Check yourself in the mirror to see if everything is blended well. Your skin tone should be even.

Foundation
Foundation application is a bit tricky. It’s a good idea to examine your face carefully in a mirror throughout the process. There are a variety of foundations that you can purchase. Mineral foundations are usually the most effective and are gentle on skin. Mineral makeup consists of all-natural, finely ground minerals from the Earth— sans chemicals, dyes and preservatives. With a large face brush, lightly apply makeup in a circular motion. The trick is to keep makeup unnoticeable and natural. Foundation should be brushed from bottom (neck) to top (forehead).

Blush/Bronzer
For fair skin choose a light blush that accentuates the lightness of your tone. For medium-to-dark pigments, a bronzer can highlight the apples of your cheeks and give them a radiant glow. There are mineral blushes and bronzers as well, but again, it’s your choice to use them. Softly sweep the apples of your cheeks with the powder using a kabuki brush and blend the edges in with circular motions.

Eyes
If you desire the natural look, simply use an eyelash curler and apply mascara: Blonds should opt for brown, while brunettes and red heads should use black. For a more dramatic look, give your eyelids a sweep of eyeshadow. Be creative with different color palettes! Use colors that blend well together and complement your skin tone. Finish off with eyeliner (liquid or pencil) and mascara.

Recommended Products
ELF Tone Correcting Concealer ($1), ELF Mineral Foundation ($5), Bare Escentuals bareMineral SPF 15 foundation ($25), ELF’s Kabuki Face Brush ($5), Sephora’s Professionnel Kabuki Brush #50 ($22) or theBalm’s Mini Kabuki Brush ($10).

 

Syden Therese Abrenica is currently a sophomore at Montclair State University. She is also a freelance writer who blogs devotedly on her site, http://loveandthecity.net/. Reach Abrenica by e-mailing syden.abrenica@gmail.com.