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How to Get Started with Makeup: A Beginner’s Guide to Building Your First Routine
Finding the best makeup routine for beginners can feel overwhelming, especially now. The beauty market has just about every offering you can think of, which is a good thing for anyone with specialized needs. But if you’re just starting out, you’re probably not looking for an overly complicated routine.
What you need is a reliable, simple routine that you can customize later on, as your skills develop and your preferences evolve. We’ll help you build your first routine by outlining the most essential steps that are approved by makeup artists, yet easy enough for any beginner to master.
Step 1: Prep the Skin
Before you reach for any pigment, it’s important to make sure that your skin is ready first. That way, your look will go on smoother, as well as look healthier and more natural.
To prep the skin, you want to first cleanse, then moisturize. Then, to add an essential layer of protection before putting on makeup, put on a daily sunscreen. People often wonder if they should do sunscreen or makeup first. The answer is sunscreen! (The same question also comes up for hair or makeup first. It’s better to start with makeup, unless you’re heat-styling.)
Now that you have a smooth canvas, you’re ready to move on to makeup.
Step 2: Create an Even Base
To begin your makeup look, it’s important to start with an even-toned base. For more coverage, you can go with a foundation like The Foundation Balm, which has denser pigment. If you want something more translucentwith hydrating qualities, you’ll want a tinted moisturizer like The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation. And if you’re looking for something even lighter and with the least amount of coverage, a skin tint like The Stripped Nude Skin Tint is all you.
Whatever you choose, make sure you match your shade and undertone, which can be neutral, warm, or cool. You can apply using a brush, or even just your fingers.
For any blemishes or for darker circles under the eyes, you can use a concealer, which usually offers a higher coverage than foundation and is a little thicker in texture.
Once you’ve finished your base, you can make it last with a light dusting of setting powder, but it’s not a requirement.
Step 3: Add Dimension with Cheek Color
Now we get to the really expressive part. Depending on the look you want, you have a whole range of options to add dimension to your cheeks. Which is exciting when you’re just starting with makeup!
Blush is perfect for a flush of healthy color. Apply a cream to powder blush like The Sensual Blush to the apples of your cheeks using a brush or sponge, or simply pat on with your fingers.
Bronzer will give you a little sun-kissed warmth. Apply a powder like the multipurpose Neo-Bronzer to any part of the face that would receive the most color from the sun.
And highlighter will light your skin up with a gorgeous glow. For a hydrated, healthy look, apply a cream highlighter like The Lightning Stick to the high points of the face, like the cheekbones, cupid’s bow, brow bones, or anywhere you want to reflect light and highlight your features.
Step 4: Define the Eyes
Makeup for the eyes is all about allowing your personality to shine through. They’re the windows to the soul, after all!
First, start with a neutral eyeshadow using a powder or cream. You can apply it across the lid using a brush, but your finger works fine, too.
Next comes a soft eyeliner. For beginners, it’s better to use one with an easy application like the Precision Eye Definer. Depending on your eye shape, you might want to line the bottom of your eyes, under the lash line, or the upper lids, with an extra focus on the corners. Then, add a few swipes of black mascara to finish it off and add some more definition.
Other easy makeup looks could include skipping the eyeshadow and focusing on eyeliner and mascara for a lash-focused look, or using a soft brown shadow and brown mascara for a softer, natural look.
Step 5: Finish with Lips
It’s essential to find the right lip color to finish the look. For makeup beginners, it’s good to start with highly wearable, foolproof shades like pinks, berries, or neutrals. When choosing a shade, pay special attention to the rest of your look. Will a paler shade complement it, or does it need more depth? Do you need more of a hint of color, or will a neutral, brown-toned shade balance it out?
For a high-shine look that you can reapply throughout the day, use a lip gloss. For a hydrating look that is subtle and simple, use a balm. And for a lip color that’s more elevated, go for a satin lipstick.
Step 6: Build Your Kit Over Time
The main way you’ll learn what makeup you’re drawn to and works for your specific features? Experimentation! That’s why at this stage, it’s better to try out multipurpose options or even bundles. But remember that it should be fun, not overwhelming. Take it slow, and get to know the products you have.
Makeup is a skill anyone can learn with practice, and many professional makeup artists started with simple steps just like these! Explore more artist-driven, beginner-friendly essentials and begin to build your first makeup routine with Kevyn Aucoin.