No, I’m not a beauty guru on the internet who makes makeup videos for a living (though that may or may not be a secret ambition of mine). I don’t have piles of money to spend on every new beauty product that gets launched. And I definitely do not consider myself an expert makeup artist who can perfect any look on themselves or other clients. However, I do watch a ton of makeup videos, try a bunch of different looks on myself, and enjoy learning about new products and techniques whenever I can. That being said here are a few makeup tips for those just starting out with makeup. I guarantee these will help you in the long-run.

1. Priming Should Always Be Your First Step

Primers are made for a reason and a good one at that. Face primers act as a barrier between the skin on your face and any other makeup applied to it. If you just start spreading around foundation without primer more product is going to be clogged within your pores which can lead to breakouts and is just all around is not good for your skin. Eye primers are beneficial because they help your eyeshadow last all day with no creasing. In high school I used to apply eye shadow directly to my lids with no primer whatsoever and it wasn’t until I bought an eye primer did that problem finally disappear.

2. Eye Makeup Before Face Makeup

I used to be the biggest advocate against this technique simply because I like to do things in order and for the longest time that meant foundation first. However, now I always start with my eyes for two main reasons. First, because if I’m doing a complicated eye look it takes me a longer time to complete it. Second, because if there is any fallout from eye shadow (which is pretty inevitable) it’s much easier to clean up when foundation, concealer, and powder has not yet been applied.

3. Invest In Good Makeup Tools

The start of good makeup comes with the items used to apply your makeup. That being said, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on brushes and beauty sponges. In fact, some of the best brushes often come from the drugstore and there are plenty of affordable dupes for the famous beauty blender. You also don’t need 50 brushes in order to achieve a certain look. The same brush can often be used for more than one thing. For example, I use an Elf blush brush for setting my under-eye concealer, blush, and highlighter. Of course, I’m dusting off the brush before transitioning to the next use but you get the idea.

4. Blending Is Your Best Friend

Anybody can throw four colors on their eyes and say they’re done but in order to make the look seamless you need to BLEND. That may sound intimidating but all it takes is some side to side movements with your brush followed by circular motions to ensure a transitioned look. Think of it this way: when you watch the sunset in the summertime, the colors in the sky all seem to mesh together to create a beautiful scene. Treat your eye shadow as sunset where all the colors work in conjunction rather than fight with one another to steal the show.

5. Find Shadows That Complement Your Eye Color

When I first started out I always dreamed of rocking a deep gray and black smokey eye but as I quickly learned my green eyes don’t really stand out with those colors. To figure out what eye shadow looks good on your lids there are plenty of other articles written about your specific eye color or you could just experiment and see what work and what doesn’t. Personally, I tend to stay away from dark colors like gray and black and instead go for warmer colors like bronze, gold, and deep browns.

6. Have Patience With Loose Pigments

Just face the facts now, you’re going to spill that loose pigment and it’s going to get all over your vanity, floor, and definitely your hands. Because loose pigments are basically just glitter safe for your eyes, you’re probably already aware that glitter is one of the hardest items to fully get rid of from any surface. To avoid making a complete and total mess, open the cap of the pigment slowly and dip your brush gingerly into the product, making sure to tap off the excess so there is less fallout on your face and everywhere else.

7. Sometimes You Need Alternative Methods

There are always going to be eye shadows that aren’t as pigmented as you want them to be. If that’s the case, there are one or two ways around this obstacle. First, instead of using a makeup brush, you can use your index finger to pick up product and try swiping product across the lid. (This technique really only works for colors you want placed all over the lid or in a specific section. This doesn’t really work for colors in the crease since your finger will probably be larger than the crease of your eye.) If that doesn’t work try wetting a makeup brush with mac fix plus or some sort of setting spray and then dip the brush into the shadow and apply to the eye.

8. Find A Setting Powder Without Flashback/ White Cast

There are few things worse than setting your entire face with a setting powder, taking a picture, and realizing your entire face has white cast or flashback. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s when your face looks white, powdery, and splotchy. I learned this lesson when I went to a concert in the summer, took a bunch of pictures of myself with the flash on, and saw large white blotches underneath my eyes that basically made me look like a ghost. Trust me, it’s very unflattering.

9. Layer Different Kinds Of Mascara

There’s no makeup rule that says you can’t use multiple makeup products to achieve a certain look. Personally, there have not been many kinds of mascara that I use singularly. For my top lashes, I always use two different mascaras, one for length and volume, and another to make my lashes appear darker. You could also try to use one mascara and alternatively keep building up the layers but I find that combining different mascaras is more effective.

10. Find A Good Makeup Remover And Clean Your Face

At the end of the day the last thing you want to do is take off your makeup and wash your face but this is one of the most important tips. If you don’t remove your makeup it will again clog your pores and most definitely cause a variety of skin issues. Makeup wipes are probably the easiest route but there are also cleansers that “melt” the makeup off your face and mi cellar waters which also remove makeup pretty well.

11. Try New Things

Makeup is all about having fun and even though you might not be the best at first you will get better with time. My makeup skills today are still not as good as I want them to be but, that’s the best part. There are so many different products and with makeup becoming such a popular hobby now is the perfect time to experiment with what you like and dislike. The most important aspect is that you’re enjoying the process!