Sal
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LIVE LAUGH LOVE FRAUDING! 
A lot of looksmaxxing content online is tailored towards men, but there is SO MUCH you can do as a woman to improve your appearance - stuff that men cannot do or would face judgement for. The most obvious example is makeup, which I'm going to delve into today. (Of course men can wear makeup, but obvious usage carries stereotypes and negative societal perception that women won't face.)
"Women wearing makeup are perceived by others as more attractive, competent, dominant, and more socially prestigious. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8956164/
"The results showed that wearing makeup increased perceived attractiveness..."
https://www.shu.edu/business/news/research-shows-makeup-increases-trust-in-women.html
Before we begin I want to clarify that I'm referring to relatively natural makeup, nothing alternative or high-glam.
-
The way you do your makeup should be tailored to your individual features rather than just following trends or tutorials online. Seriously, using makeup to strengthen your halos and minimize your falios will always look 100% better than copying the technique of an influencer that looks nothing like you.
Look in the mirror without anything on. What are your features? (This can be general, most girls do not know the exact degree of their canthal tilt) If you're struggling with defining them yourself, take a look at charts online.
Another idea is asking AI or a friend (though both of these options are prone to glaze), or looking at a public figure that you've been compared to/believe you look similar to. That last trick can help with makeup application in general, study the way theirs is done.
Now think about what your strongest features are and what exactly you like about them so you can emphasize these traits.
Maybe you have high-set cheekbones which you want to emphasize with highlighter. Maybe you have upturned eyes that you want to emphasize with mascara and eyeliner. Maybe you have a beautiful lip shape that you want to emphasize with gloss.
Now that you know what you want to highlight, what are your weaker features that you want to lessen the impact of?
Maybe you have redness that you want to correct with concealer. Maybe you have a wide nose that you want to contour slimmer. Maybe you have sparse brows that you want to fill in.
Another thing that will upgrade your makeup is knowing your undertones.
Take this quiz if you don't already know, it will aid in shade-matching tremendously. Your technique might be perfect, but it will still look 'off' if it doesn't match your personal coloring. https://www.lorealparisusa.com/undertones-quiz
Yay! Now you know your features - what about them you want to enhance, and what about them you want to play down. (Though, chances are if you're on this forum you already know this because you spend half your waking hours in the mirror... SHHHH LET ME COOK!!!
)
Though it seems surface-level, this knowledge will improve your application ten-fold.
Skin Prep
Before makeup, you should prepare your skin. A clean and hydrated base will help your makeup apply smoother, look better, and last longer.
General order :
- Cleanse
- Apply serums/toners if applicable
- Moisturize (Important as dry skin leads to cakey makeup)
- SPF
- Primer (Look for a hydrating one if you have dry skin, a mattifying one for oiler skin.)
Your exact needs depend on the type of skin you have. For example, dryer skin might need a heavier moisturizer compared to oily skin.
Give a few minutes for these products to fully penetrate your skin before starting your routine.
I advise against putting concealer over active acne, especially if you have sensitive skin. I know you might want to cover it up, but it could exacerbate the issue. What you can do instead is put a veeeerrryyyyy thin pimple patch over it, then conceal on top of it.
Complexion Products - Foundation and Alternatives
I think full-coverage matte foundation is better for photos (especially if you're trying to fraud perfect skin!) than real life. You might think "well, I have acne/scars/hyperpigmentation/etc I want to cover up." However, a thick layer of foundation slathered over imperfect skin can have the inverse effect... bringing more attention to these problems (and potentially worsening them if you are using comedogenic products). Particularly if you have textured skin with large pores.
Some good alternatives are things like BB cream, skin tint, tinted moisturizer, and tinted sunscreen. These products still even out skin tone and create glow, just with a more natural finish. The latter two have the added benefit of skincare as well. Since the formulations are more sheer, they're also easier to apply and blend in the skin.
If you're dead-set on using foundation, I'd recommend one with a more radiant finish rather than matte. A subtle glow reads as youthful and healthy.
You can apply complexion products with a brush or a sponge. Bristles don't absorb product the way beauty blenders do, so brushes will inherently carry more product - they are ideal for full-coverage. Sponges are better at blending and a seamless finish. If you are using a brush, ensure that you aren't creating streaks. If you are using a sponge, dampen it before use for the best results.
I cannot overstate the importance of finding your shade match. You can use online tools for this, but ideally, go in-person to a place like Sephora or Ulta for professional assistance. It really depends on the person where the color should be matched to. You can try places like your jaw, cheek, or neck. Neck might be more helpful if you deal with hyperpigmentation or discoloration.
Complexion Products - Concealer
- Work in thin layers and build up. Too much will cause creasing, especially in areas that move a lot during the day - like under eyes or smile lines.
- Don't rub too hard, especially in delicate areas. Tapping or using a small brush will give the best results.
- Spot-concealing in the shade of your skin tone with a small brush is the most helpful for minor blemishes, like acne scars or dots.
- Concealer placement will be different depending on your exact goals.
- Concealer should generally be a shade or two lighter than your actual skin tone for a brightening effect.
Sometimes concealer can just make discoloration look gray or pink instead of actually doing it's job and you know... concealing. To fix this, put a layer of color corrector before concealer. The color corrector should be the OPPOSITE of the issue so it actually cancels out. For example, use green for redness or peach for dark circles. The depth of the color depends on your skintone.
Eyelashes
We all know that long, thick eyelashes are a very sought after trait in either sex. Their presence is a massive halo for your eye area. It's important to note that you can improve your natural eyelashes through serums (though be careful and do your research because I've heard some of them cause undereye fat loss) and castor oil, the latter of which I can personally vouch for.
For frauding's sake, mascara is an obvious choice. It's how you apply it that matters.
Before applying, invest in a quality eyelash curler. This will make the lashes, and therefore the eyes, look instantly more awake and feminine. This is a game changer, especially for lashes that lack an inherent curl.
DEPENDING ON EYE SHAPE...
- Almond-shaped eyes benefit by a focus on the outer corner as this enhances the natural lift/shape already present.
- For hooded eyes, you should focus on the tip of the lashes to prevent smudging. (I think this is a good practice in general, it helps the lift from the curler last longer.)
- For wide-set eyes, apply on the inner/middle corner the most to give the impression that they're closer together. For close-set, apply on the edges to space the eyes out more.
- There are two paths for round eyes, emphasizing and deemphasizing the roundness. To deemphasize, focus on the outer corner as you would an almond-shaped eye to visually lengthen the space. To emphasize, apply on the outer and inner corner, avoiding the center to highlight the roundness for a 'doll-like' look.
- Monolids might be a little trickier, as asian lashes are often short and straight. You might benefit from an eyelash primer, or the decision to heat up the eyelash curler (not too hot!) to maximize any possible curl. A tubing mascara is a good choice here, because just like hooded eyes, you don't want to get flakes/smudging above your lashes. You can do the aformentioned cat-eye technique, or apply from the root up. Apply mascara on the bottom lashes, as it will visually widen the eye.
- For downturned eyes, the last thing you want to do is make them appear lower. Apply upwards and outwards, focusing on the inner corners and center. Curling beforehand is especially essential.
You can always do multiple coats, but don't apply too much to where the lashes are clumped together or falling down. There is a tool you can use to separate the lashes... it's called a lash separator. Shockingly.
I PERSONALLY wouldn't recommend putting heavy mascara on lower lashes if you have almond-shaped or downturned eyes. Almond, because it deemphasizes the attractive tilt, downturned because it draws more attention to the trait.
However, lower lash mascara can be very useful in shortening the length of the midface if that's something your interested in.
Some other options are false lashes, lash clusters, and lash extensions. Again, follow your eye shape the for application to yield the best results. In my opinion, lash clusters are the best out of the three. They're more budget friendly than getting them professionally done, but they last longer and often look more natural than falsies.
FOR FALSIES...
- Cut them to suit the length of the eye (Also, cutting them in half often gives a 'cateye' effect)
- Use a high-quality glue and use a steady hand while applying. You want to use enough so that the lash actually sticks, but not too much to where you see the glue when you close your eyes. This problem can be mitigated with a black glue, one that dries clear, or magnetic lashes.
- Be careful in your selection. Lash blindness is real, you do not want to be an example.
For applying clusters yourself and for getting your lashes professionally done, I'd recommend searching for some maps online beforehand and seeing what you like and what would personally suit you.
I'm not going to delve into eyeliner and eyeshadow, because there's already a really good post about that here : https://forum.looksmaxxing.com/thre...ore-attractive-based-on-your-eye-shape.26019/
However, I will mention that tightlining your top waterline can create the impression of a fuller lash line.
Eyebrows
Eyebrows are more important than you might think. They frame your face, especially your eye area. Good eyebrows can absolutely improve a weak eye area, while bad eyebrows can nerf a good area. Like eyelashes, I'd recommend working on their natural growth as well (castor oil/Latisse/etc for overly thin brows, waxing/threading/etc for overly thick ones) because it's very easy and something everyone can do.
Eyebrows are NOT one-size fits all! What looks best on you depends on your other features like your face shape, coloring, and eye width.
While there are always caveats, I'd say GENERALLY...
- Close-set eyes look best with eyebrows further apart from each other, as this will visually lengthen the distance between the eyes. On the other hand, wide-set eyes will look best with eyebrows closer to each other, as this will bring the eyes closer together. This trick works because our brains see the beginning of eyebrows as the boundary of the eye area - Just don't get carried away and draw a unibrow or shave half your eyebrow off.
- Thicker brows tend to suit stronger, larger features compared to thinner brows which compliment smaller, more delicate features.
- A soft arch suits many women. Even straight brows should have a small arch or a general upward direction because a straight, flat line reads as unnatural and inexpressive. A peak around the outer iris and a gradual taper towards the tail is seen as attractive.
- Eyebrows are a sexually dysmorphic trait. Lower, flatter, and thicker brows are associated with masculinity, while higher-set brows with a soft arch are associated with femininity. There are plenty of gorgeous, feminine women with more 'masculine' brow structure, it's just something to keep in mind.
- If the tail of the brow is too low, it will drag the face down and read as aged and tired. If the tail of the brow is too high, it will read as perpetually shocked. In-between is the best - a slightly lifted tail looks youthful and lifted. The tail should approximately end at an imaginary line from the nostril to the outer eye corner.
Eyebrow pencils, eyeshadow, and pomade can all be used to fill in sparseness and create a thicker/darker brow. I would recommend an eyebrow pencil/eyeshadow over pomade because it's easy to go overboard. The last thing that you want to do is to create two massive blocks above your eyes, It's not 2016. While you can get away with more definition at the tail, use softer, smaller strokes at the beginning.
Make sure that you choose a shade that suits your coloring. Looking at the undertones of your hair could assist in choosing the proper shade.
BROADLY...
- Blondes should have them one/two shades darker than their hair color.
- For brunettes, the opposite - one/two shades lighter.
- Black hair should go dark brown. (Though dark skin might suit a jet black)
- Redheads should do auburn.
Eyebrow gel is used to alter the brow into your desired shape. You can also use vaseline and a spoolie to do this.
Lips
Before putting any sort of lip product on, you should prepare your lips. This step will ensure a smooth, even and long-lasting application. Exfoliation (you can do this with a damp toothbrush or a lip scrub) followed up by a hydrating lip balm (it should have ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, vitamin E, etc) will help.
What often looks really nice is a shade that's "your lips but better." As the name implies, this is a shade that replicates your natural lip color, with deeper pigmentation/definition.
A high quality lip stain/lip tint is ideal for long-term wear.
If you want your lips to read as more voluminous, it may be tempting to completely overline them with a lip liner. While this technique might pass over photos in dark lighting, in real life... This looks ridiculous. To overline your lips properly, you should only overline the cupid's bow and the middle of your bottom lip, while otherwise following the natural curve. To further the impression, place a lighter shade/gloss in the center. Lip plumpers can also temporarily increase volume! Just off the top of my head, the Polite Society one is pretty good.
On the other hand, if you want your lips to appear thinner, you should do the inverse of that. Draw your liner slightly inside your lip line, bringing it slightly inward at your cupids bow and the center of your bottom lip. You can also add a darker shade right at the corners of your lips. Rather than gloss, products with a satin or matte finish will work the best for this.
Lining can also shorten/lengthen the distance of the philtrum. To lengthen, avoid heavy product around/above the cupid's bow. To shorten, lightly overline it.
Something else you can do is add a tiny lift at the corners of your lips, this might be helpful if your corners are downturned. (To further assist with this, you could conceal the shadows.)
While using lipliner, be gentle and strategic. Don't go into clown-mouth territory!
Blush
Blush emphasizes a natural flush, which is seen as a health indicator and therefore attractive. Placement for blush is key and can alter the perception of your face drastically.
- High and outward placement - lifts the face.
- Placement on apples of cheeks - rounder, softer, and more youthful.
- Draped into temples - increases cheekbone projection.
I'd generally avoid low placement, it drags the face down. A cream blush can provide a more natural finish than a powder one. Another option is to use your lip product, it creates cohesion. This works particularly well with a pigmented shade. On that note, the shade you choose should be dependent on your skintone and undertones. While a baby pink blush might look beautiful on a girl with pale skin, darker skin might look better with a purple tone.
This is SUCH a good resource on blush, I can't recommend it enough! https://buycosmetics.cy/the-psychology-of-blush-how-it-enhances-your-facial-features/?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/
Contour/Bronzer
Contour is a cool-toned product used to sculpt and define your features through mimicking natural shadows. Contours are matte.
Bronzer is a warm-toned product used to add warmth to your complexion. Bronzers can be matte, but oftentimes have a radiant/shimmery finish.
You can use both, or pick one depending on your needs.
Contour can be used :
- To create a smaller forehead. If your forehead is too wide, contour the sides. If your forehead is too tall, contour the top.
- To change perception of eye width. If you want your eyes to appear closer together, you can contour your nose bridge between your eyes. (For close-set eyes, you'd want to do the opposite - place concealer between your eyes in order to make the area appear wider.)
- To fraud a slimmer face. For hollower cheeks, take the contour right underneath your cheekbone and blend down. You can also place contour underneath your jaw, or on the bottom of the chin to make these areas appear smaller.
- To make your nose look smaller. The application depends on your shape and what exactly you want to make smaller about your nose.
Highlighter
Use highlighter in an area you want to emphasize, don't go in with a heavy hand and start small.
SOME OPTIONS COULD BE...
- Under the brow bone - Emphasizes arch.
- On the top of cheekbones - develops a 'lifted' look.
- Inner corner of eyes - makes your eyes look brighter.
- Philtrum - illusion of youth and fuller lips.
- Chin - Adds dimension.
- If you already did nose contour, be careful with nose highlighter. Too much will widen/elongate the area.
Setting/Longevity
I believe that investing in a good sealant is 100% worth it, especially if you're planning to go out.
Many people mistakenly believe that setting sprays and fixing sprays are the same thing. The terms are frequently used interchangeably but there's a key difference between them.
Setting sprays are focused on "melting" the makeup, giving a more seamless finish by providing hydration.
Fixing spray is like hairspray, it doesn't provide the same moisture, just locks what you have down for good.
What you decide to use depends on your needs. I'd say a setting spray might be more helpful in day-to-day life, with fixing sprays for very long-term wear.
You can also use powder. Be careful not to use it all over the face, as it will lose glow and dimension. Focus on the application on the parts where you get the oiliest - for most people, this would be the T-ZONE.
Loose powder can be used for a technique called baking, wherein you let the powder sit on certain areas of the face before lightly dusting it off. This can give a brightening effect and remove crease/oils. It can even be used as a sort of reverse contour. I'd say that this is best for photos or very oily skin, I wouldn't recommend it if you're going for a natural finish as it's very matte.
I like the rule of choosing 1-2 features to emphasize the most. The choice to go full glam on every single feature might work for some occasions, but might read as a little much in day to day life. For example, if you have heavy eye makeup, maybe don't do a bold lip. Vice versa. Just pick one or two things you want to draw attention to.
Conclusion
Makeup is a very useful tool when used appropriately. It tends to look the best and garner the ideal results when worn to enhance natural features. While it can fraud certain features/proportions, it cannot fraud bone structure - work with your features rather than against them. Even if you don't like them. I found this post on r/Vindicta that really highlighted this phenomenon.
That's all! I hope you guys enjoyed and that this isn't water... I'm new here!!!
Let me know if you have any questions/advice! I hope everyone has an amazing day!
A lot of looksmaxxing content online is tailored towards men, but there is SO MUCH you can do as a woman to improve your appearance - stuff that men cannot do or would face judgement for. The most obvious example is makeup, which I'm going to delve into today. (Of course men can wear makeup, but obvious usage carries stereotypes and negative societal perception that women won't face.)
"Women wearing makeup are perceived by others as more attractive, competent, dominant, and more socially prestigious. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8956164/
"The results showed that wearing makeup increased perceived attractiveness..."
https://www.shu.edu/business/news/research-shows-makeup-increases-trust-in-women.html
Before we begin I want to clarify that I'm referring to relatively natural makeup, nothing alternative or high-glam.
-
The way you do your makeup should be tailored to your individual features rather than just following trends or tutorials online. Seriously, using makeup to strengthen your halos and minimize your falios will always look 100% better than copying the technique of an influencer that looks nothing like you.
Look in the mirror without anything on. What are your features? (This can be general, most girls do not know the exact degree of their canthal tilt) If you're struggling with defining them yourself, take a look at charts online.
Another idea is asking AI or a friend (though both of these options are prone to glaze), or looking at a public figure that you've been compared to/believe you look similar to. That last trick can help with makeup application in general, study the way theirs is done.
Now think about what your strongest features are and what exactly you like about them so you can emphasize these traits.
Maybe you have high-set cheekbones which you want to emphasize with highlighter. Maybe you have upturned eyes that you want to emphasize with mascara and eyeliner. Maybe you have a beautiful lip shape that you want to emphasize with gloss.
Now that you know what you want to highlight, what are your weaker features that you want to lessen the impact of?
Maybe you have redness that you want to correct with concealer. Maybe you have a wide nose that you want to contour slimmer. Maybe you have sparse brows that you want to fill in.
Another thing that will upgrade your makeup is knowing your undertones.
Take this quiz if you don't already know, it will aid in shade-matching tremendously. Your technique might be perfect, but it will still look 'off' if it doesn't match your personal coloring. https://www.lorealparisusa.com/undertones-quiz
Yay! Now you know your features - what about them you want to enhance, and what about them you want to play down. (Though, chances are if you're on this forum you already know this because you spend half your waking hours in the mirror... SHHHH LET ME COOK!!!
)Though it seems surface-level, this knowledge will improve your application ten-fold.
Skin Prep
Before makeup, you should prepare your skin. A clean and hydrated base will help your makeup apply smoother, look better, and last longer.
General order :
- Cleanse
- Apply serums/toners if applicable
- Moisturize (Important as dry skin leads to cakey makeup)
- SPF
- Primer (Look for a hydrating one if you have dry skin, a mattifying one for oiler skin.)
Your exact needs depend on the type of skin you have. For example, dryer skin might need a heavier moisturizer compared to oily skin.
Give a few minutes for these products to fully penetrate your skin before starting your routine.
I advise against putting concealer over active acne, especially if you have sensitive skin. I know you might want to cover it up, but it could exacerbate the issue. What you can do instead is put a veeeerrryyyyy thin pimple patch over it, then conceal on top of it.
Complexion Products - Foundation and Alternatives
I think full-coverage matte foundation is better for photos (especially if you're trying to fraud perfect skin!) than real life. You might think "well, I have acne/scars/hyperpigmentation/etc I want to cover up." However, a thick layer of foundation slathered over imperfect skin can have the inverse effect... bringing more attention to these problems (and potentially worsening them if you are using comedogenic products). Particularly if you have textured skin with large pores.
Some good alternatives are things like BB cream, skin tint, tinted moisturizer, and tinted sunscreen. These products still even out skin tone and create glow, just with a more natural finish. The latter two have the added benefit of skincare as well. Since the formulations are more sheer, they're also easier to apply and blend in the skin.
If you're dead-set on using foundation, I'd recommend one with a more radiant finish rather than matte. A subtle glow reads as youthful and healthy.
You can apply complexion products with a brush or a sponge. Bristles don't absorb product the way beauty blenders do, so brushes will inherently carry more product - they are ideal for full-coverage. Sponges are better at blending and a seamless finish. If you are using a brush, ensure that you aren't creating streaks. If you are using a sponge, dampen it before use for the best results.
I cannot overstate the importance of finding your shade match. You can use online tools for this, but ideally, go in-person to a place like Sephora or Ulta for professional assistance. It really depends on the person where the color should be matched to. You can try places like your jaw, cheek, or neck. Neck might be more helpful if you deal with hyperpigmentation or discoloration.
Complexion Products - Concealer
- Work in thin layers and build up. Too much will cause creasing, especially in areas that move a lot during the day - like under eyes or smile lines.
- Don't rub too hard, especially in delicate areas. Tapping or using a small brush will give the best results.
- Spot-concealing in the shade of your skin tone with a small brush is the most helpful for minor blemishes, like acne scars or dots.
- Concealer placement will be different depending on your exact goals.
- Concealer should generally be a shade or two lighter than your actual skin tone for a brightening effect.
Sometimes concealer can just make discoloration look gray or pink instead of actually doing it's job and you know... concealing. To fix this, put a layer of color corrector before concealer. The color corrector should be the OPPOSITE of the issue so it actually cancels out. For example, use green for redness or peach for dark circles. The depth of the color depends on your skintone.
Eyelashes
We all know that long, thick eyelashes are a very sought after trait in either sex. Their presence is a massive halo for your eye area. It's important to note that you can improve your natural eyelashes through serums (though be careful and do your research because I've heard some of them cause undereye fat loss) and castor oil, the latter of which I can personally vouch for.
For frauding's sake, mascara is an obvious choice. It's how you apply it that matters.
Before applying, invest in a quality eyelash curler. This will make the lashes, and therefore the eyes, look instantly more awake and feminine. This is a game changer, especially for lashes that lack an inherent curl.
DEPENDING ON EYE SHAPE...
- Almond-shaped eyes benefit by a focus on the outer corner as this enhances the natural lift/shape already present.
- For hooded eyes, you should focus on the tip of the lashes to prevent smudging. (I think this is a good practice in general, it helps the lift from the curler last longer.)
- For wide-set eyes, apply on the inner/middle corner the most to give the impression that they're closer together. For close-set, apply on the edges to space the eyes out more.
- There are two paths for round eyes, emphasizing and deemphasizing the roundness. To deemphasize, focus on the outer corner as you would an almond-shaped eye to visually lengthen the space. To emphasize, apply on the outer and inner corner, avoiding the center to highlight the roundness for a 'doll-like' look.
- Monolids might be a little trickier, as asian lashes are often short and straight. You might benefit from an eyelash primer, or the decision to heat up the eyelash curler (not too hot!) to maximize any possible curl. A tubing mascara is a good choice here, because just like hooded eyes, you don't want to get flakes/smudging above your lashes. You can do the aformentioned cat-eye technique, or apply from the root up. Apply mascara on the bottom lashes, as it will visually widen the eye.
- For downturned eyes, the last thing you want to do is make them appear lower. Apply upwards and outwards, focusing on the inner corners and center. Curling beforehand is especially essential.
You can always do multiple coats, but don't apply too much to where the lashes are clumped together or falling down. There is a tool you can use to separate the lashes... it's called a lash separator. Shockingly.
I PERSONALLY wouldn't recommend putting heavy mascara on lower lashes if you have almond-shaped or downturned eyes. Almond, because it deemphasizes the attractive tilt, downturned because it draws more attention to the trait.
However, lower lash mascara can be very useful in shortening the length of the midface if that's something your interested in.
Some other options are false lashes, lash clusters, and lash extensions. Again, follow your eye shape the for application to yield the best results. In my opinion, lash clusters are the best out of the three. They're more budget friendly than getting them professionally done, but they last longer and often look more natural than falsies.
FOR FALSIES...
- Cut them to suit the length of the eye (Also, cutting them in half often gives a 'cateye' effect)
- Use a high-quality glue and use a steady hand while applying. You want to use enough so that the lash actually sticks, but not too much to where you see the glue when you close your eyes. This problem can be mitigated with a black glue, one that dries clear, or magnetic lashes.
- Be careful in your selection. Lash blindness is real, you do not want to be an example.
For applying clusters yourself and for getting your lashes professionally done, I'd recommend searching for some maps online beforehand and seeing what you like and what would personally suit you.
I'm not going to delve into eyeliner and eyeshadow, because there's already a really good post about that here : https://forum.looksmaxxing.com/thre...ore-attractive-based-on-your-eye-shape.26019/
However, I will mention that tightlining your top waterline can create the impression of a fuller lash line.
Eyebrows
Eyebrows are more important than you might think. They frame your face, especially your eye area. Good eyebrows can absolutely improve a weak eye area, while bad eyebrows can nerf a good area. Like eyelashes, I'd recommend working on their natural growth as well (castor oil/Latisse/etc for overly thin brows, waxing/threading/etc for overly thick ones) because it's very easy and something everyone can do.
Eyebrows are NOT one-size fits all! What looks best on you depends on your other features like your face shape, coloring, and eye width.
While there are always caveats, I'd say GENERALLY...
- Close-set eyes look best with eyebrows further apart from each other, as this will visually lengthen the distance between the eyes. On the other hand, wide-set eyes will look best with eyebrows closer to each other, as this will bring the eyes closer together. This trick works because our brains see the beginning of eyebrows as the boundary of the eye area - Just don't get carried away and draw a unibrow or shave half your eyebrow off.
- Thicker brows tend to suit stronger, larger features compared to thinner brows which compliment smaller, more delicate features.
- A soft arch suits many women. Even straight brows should have a small arch or a general upward direction because a straight, flat line reads as unnatural and inexpressive. A peak around the outer iris and a gradual taper towards the tail is seen as attractive.
- Eyebrows are a sexually dysmorphic trait. Lower, flatter, and thicker brows are associated with masculinity, while higher-set brows with a soft arch are associated with femininity. There are plenty of gorgeous, feminine women with more 'masculine' brow structure, it's just something to keep in mind.
- If the tail of the brow is too low, it will drag the face down and read as aged and tired. If the tail of the brow is too high, it will read as perpetually shocked. In-between is the best - a slightly lifted tail looks youthful and lifted. The tail should approximately end at an imaginary line from the nostril to the outer eye corner.
Eyebrow pencils, eyeshadow, and pomade can all be used to fill in sparseness and create a thicker/darker brow. I would recommend an eyebrow pencil/eyeshadow over pomade because it's easy to go overboard. The last thing that you want to do is to create two massive blocks above your eyes, It's not 2016. While you can get away with more definition at the tail, use softer, smaller strokes at the beginning.
Make sure that you choose a shade that suits your coloring. Looking at the undertones of your hair could assist in choosing the proper shade.
BROADLY...
- Blondes should have them one/two shades darker than their hair color.
- For brunettes, the opposite - one/two shades lighter.
- Black hair should go dark brown. (Though dark skin might suit a jet black)
- Redheads should do auburn.
Eyebrow gel is used to alter the brow into your desired shape. You can also use vaseline and a spoolie to do this.
Lips
Before putting any sort of lip product on, you should prepare your lips. This step will ensure a smooth, even and long-lasting application. Exfoliation (you can do this with a damp toothbrush or a lip scrub) followed up by a hydrating lip balm (it should have ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, vitamin E, etc) will help.
What often looks really nice is a shade that's "your lips but better." As the name implies, this is a shade that replicates your natural lip color, with deeper pigmentation/definition.
A high quality lip stain/lip tint is ideal for long-term wear.
If you want your lips to read as more voluminous, it may be tempting to completely overline them with a lip liner. While this technique might pass over photos in dark lighting, in real life... This looks ridiculous. To overline your lips properly, you should only overline the cupid's bow and the middle of your bottom lip, while otherwise following the natural curve. To further the impression, place a lighter shade/gloss in the center. Lip plumpers can also temporarily increase volume! Just off the top of my head, the Polite Society one is pretty good.
On the other hand, if you want your lips to appear thinner, you should do the inverse of that. Draw your liner slightly inside your lip line, bringing it slightly inward at your cupids bow and the center of your bottom lip. You can also add a darker shade right at the corners of your lips. Rather than gloss, products with a satin or matte finish will work the best for this.
Lining can also shorten/lengthen the distance of the philtrum. To lengthen, avoid heavy product around/above the cupid's bow. To shorten, lightly overline it.
Something else you can do is add a tiny lift at the corners of your lips, this might be helpful if your corners are downturned. (To further assist with this, you could conceal the shadows.)
While using lipliner, be gentle and strategic. Don't go into clown-mouth territory!
Blush
Blush emphasizes a natural flush, which is seen as a health indicator and therefore attractive. Placement for blush is key and can alter the perception of your face drastically.
- High and outward placement - lifts the face.
- Placement on apples of cheeks - rounder, softer, and more youthful.
- Draped into temples - increases cheekbone projection.
I'd generally avoid low placement, it drags the face down. A cream blush can provide a more natural finish than a powder one. Another option is to use your lip product, it creates cohesion. This works particularly well with a pigmented shade. On that note, the shade you choose should be dependent on your skintone and undertones. While a baby pink blush might look beautiful on a girl with pale skin, darker skin might look better with a purple tone.
This is SUCH a good resource on blush, I can't recommend it enough! https://buycosmetics.cy/the-psychology-of-blush-how-it-enhances-your-facial-features/?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/
Contour/Bronzer
Contour is a cool-toned product used to sculpt and define your features through mimicking natural shadows. Contours are matte.
Bronzer is a warm-toned product used to add warmth to your complexion. Bronzers can be matte, but oftentimes have a radiant/shimmery finish.
You can use both, or pick one depending on your needs.
Contour can be used :
- To create a smaller forehead. If your forehead is too wide, contour the sides. If your forehead is too tall, contour the top.
- To change perception of eye width. If you want your eyes to appear closer together, you can contour your nose bridge between your eyes. (For close-set eyes, you'd want to do the opposite - place concealer between your eyes in order to make the area appear wider.)
- To fraud a slimmer face. For hollower cheeks, take the contour right underneath your cheekbone and blend down. You can also place contour underneath your jaw, or on the bottom of the chin to make these areas appear smaller.
- To make your nose look smaller. The application depends on your shape and what exactly you want to make smaller about your nose.
Highlighter
Use highlighter in an area you want to emphasize, don't go in with a heavy hand and start small.
SOME OPTIONS COULD BE...
- Under the brow bone - Emphasizes arch.
- On the top of cheekbones - develops a 'lifted' look.
- Inner corner of eyes - makes your eyes look brighter.
- Philtrum - illusion of youth and fuller lips.
- Chin - Adds dimension.
- If you already did nose contour, be careful with nose highlighter. Too much will widen/elongate the area.
Setting/Longevity
I believe that investing in a good sealant is 100% worth it, especially if you're planning to go out.
Many people mistakenly believe that setting sprays and fixing sprays are the same thing. The terms are frequently used interchangeably but there's a key difference between them.
Setting sprays are focused on "melting" the makeup, giving a more seamless finish by providing hydration.
Fixing spray is like hairspray, it doesn't provide the same moisture, just locks what you have down for good.
What you decide to use depends on your needs. I'd say a setting spray might be more helpful in day-to-day life, with fixing sprays for very long-term wear.
You can also use powder. Be careful not to use it all over the face, as it will lose glow and dimension. Focus on the application on the parts where you get the oiliest - for most people, this would be the T-ZONE.
Loose powder can be used for a technique called baking, wherein you let the powder sit on certain areas of the face before lightly dusting it off. This can give a brightening effect and remove crease/oils. It can even be used as a sort of reverse contour. I'd say that this is best for photos or very oily skin, I wouldn't recommend it if you're going for a natural finish as it's very matte.
I like the rule of choosing 1-2 features to emphasize the most. The choice to go full glam on every single feature might work for some occasions, but might read as a little much in day to day life. For example, if you have heavy eye makeup, maybe don't do a bold lip. Vice versa. Just pick one or two things you want to draw attention to.
Conclusion
Makeup is a very useful tool when used appropriately. It tends to look the best and garner the ideal results when worn to enhance natural features. While it can fraud certain features/proportions, it cannot fraud bone structure - work with your features rather than against them. Even if you don't like them. I found this post on r/Vindicta that really highlighted this phenomenon.
That's all! I hope you guys enjoyed and that this isn't water... I'm new here!!!
Let me know if you have any questions/advice! I hope everyone has an amazing day!
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Sorry again for inconvenience!
