Hello all! I hope this posts finds you all feeling well. This blog post is going to talk about how I use cosmetics.Over the years I have had many battles and struggles with my makeup. There have been moments when I stumbled upon a great look by accident and there have been times when my makeup hasn't come out the way I want and I feel like a hot mess! Through these exercises in trial and error, I've learned a lot of things and people have said that it would be a good idea to share some of my knowledge. So, with that said, the tips and advice I post are based on what works for me. They may not entirely work for you, so you should experiment and tweak things so they work for you. I hope you find some of my tips interesting and helpful!
First, before we even get into talking about makeup techniques there are a few things to address:
One thing you should definitely do is answer this important question: "What kind of event is it that you are attending?" There are so many styles of makeup and so many looks that can be achieved, so you should take into consideration what would be appropriate. Surely you don't want to show up to a family BBQ with your "girls night out/clubbing" look!
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| A more subtle look for a night out |
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| a little more dramatic for a girl's night out at a local bar |
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| A quick pic between numbers during a show in Long Island |
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| Before heading out to do a show at a club |
Another thing you should so is make sure you have the proper tools in order to beat the hell out of a mug! These things include a good set of brushes (note: expensive brushes does not always mean that they are good), quality makeup products (shadows, pencils, powders, etc.), wedge sponges, tissues, q-tips, and a well lit space to paint! A few other things you should make sure you have before painting. is a good face wash, moisturizer, and a good primer (to apply before doing makeup). Now that you have this collection of tools, let's talk about how to use them:
Prepping: It's important to wash your face and moisturize before doing your makeup. I have really oily skin, so I make sure I wash my face well, dab it dry with a towel, and apply an oil-free moisturizer. I usually give the moisturizer at least five minutes to sink into my pores before applying my makeup.
Foundation: The type of event you are attending will determine how much foundation you are going to use. I ALWAYS use a full coverage foundation, but how much I use depends on the purpose of me doing my makeup. If I'm going to be on stage for a show, I will heavily apply the foundation so that it survives under the hot stage lights and spotlight. If I'm getting together with friend for a girls' night out, my foundation won't be as heavy, but it will still be well applied. I've used wedge sponges, my bare hands (fingers), and a foundation brush to apply my foundation before. They all work and have their advantages (and disadvantages), so I encourage you to experiment and find out which technique works for you. Tip: when I've had a manicure done but wanted to use my fingers to apply my foundation, I've worn the disposable latex gloves to apply my foundation. It works well because the warmth from your hands transfer through the glove and so the foundation will still react as if you are using your own skin (without the mess!). I've used all kinds of foundation from Brands like MAC to Black Opal to Dermablend to theatrical makeup brands like Mehron, Ben Nye, and Kryolan. I'm not going to plug a specific brand, but if you would like to know the difference between each, send me a message and let's chat! Reminder: when testing a foundation shade DO NOT test it on your hand or your wrist. You should put it on your jawline to find the closest match possible.
Setting Powder: I find that many women do not set their makeup (I was so shocked!). Using a setting powder does a few things. 1: It preserves the life of your foundation. 2: It keeps you looking matte and not greasy (aka shiny face) and 3: it locks your makeup in place so that it doesn't easily rub off on clothes. I apply my setting powders with big powder puffs and I do not lightly tap the powder onto my face; I literally beat the powder into my skin with a firm dabbing motion. I then use a big powder brush to remove the excess powder. If I'm out for a night and my makeup is on point, I may only have to touch up my face with a translucent face powder once or twice during that evening.
Highlighting and contouring: A big part of makeup that some people overlook is highlighting and contouring. These techniques are done so that your face is ready for pictures and so that you do not have a flat monotone look when a camera flash goes off or when the natural light hits you. Remember, you should highlight areas that you want to recede/disappear and highlight the things you want to pop out/protrude (such as the "T-Zone" which it the forehead, down the nose, under the eyes, and the base of the chin right under the lips). I usually highlight and contour before doing my eye shadow, blush, or lips and I let the powder sit in place until I finish all of my makeup (we call that letting your face "cook" on the drag scene). I sometimes may even reapply while I'm doing other parts of my makeup.You'll see that your skin will absorb some of the powder as the natural oils in your skin are trying to come through your foundation and setting powder.
Eye shadows and blushes: Again, there are many brands out there so you will have to experiment to find what works best for you. I've come to find that the best shades of shadows that work on my dark skin are one that are well pigmented. I tend to use MAC, NYX, and LaFemme for my eye shadows. I also use a combination of brands for my blush. No matter what brands you use remember to BLEND! BLEND! BLEND!
Eye liners: When I first began using makeup, I only used pencils to to my eyeliner. I was terrified of using liquid products. I now use liquids, powders, pencils, and gels (again, it depends on the look I'm going for). When doing eyeliner, remember that pencils will give you a sharp finish (tip: warm the pencil by quickly putting it up to a lighter or candle for 2 seconds to soften it), powder will easily help you achieve a smokey look, and liquid liner can give you a nice finish, but be sure to use a waterproof one. Otherwise you may look like a raccoon if you cry or sweat easily. If you are going to use liquid products, you have to be sure to have a steady hand!
Lip liner and lipstick: The way you do your lips can make or break the overall look. I used to only use lipsticks and liners, but I found myself getting tired of having to reapply my lipstick after having some drinks, eating, or from the lipstick fading after hours of being out. Depending on the look, I might just use pencils and gloss to do my lips. I still have lipsticks, but a trick I do to help it last longer is that I go over my lips with my foundation before apply lipstick. The foundation will grab the lipstick and then I put a tissue over my lips and I lightly set the lipstick with setting powder. This will help the lipstick to last longer. I usually top off my lipstick with a gloss to give me a nice juicy finish.
So, that's my post about my battles, success, and moments with makeup. I'm sorry this post is so long! You should also experiment! Don't be afraid to try new looks, products, and techniques! You'll be surprised with what you come up with. I recommend checking out youtube. There are some wonderful tutorials there. I actually follow certain mua's and personalities there. Some of my favorites include
Glam Jackie,
Beat Face Honey,
Misty Eyez,
Next Level Artist,
Dollface The BFQ,
Queen of Blending, and
Pollo del Mar .
If there is something I didn't cover that you would like for me to discuss, please send me a message and I'll gladly reply or include it in another post.Feel free to find me on
facebook and be sure to follow me on instagram @sashatheglamazon. Thanks for reading. Until next time!
"Being beautiful is not just about what you wear!"
Sasha
