Source
r/Makeup•
LeonCompowski

Beginner Level Advice?

I need maybe beginner-level advice on makeup. I am in my late 30s, never been much of a makeup girl - I rarely wear it. When I do, I have CoverGirl foundation, blush and mascara.

Very rarely I (poorly) use eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick. My rarely used makeup is probably 10 years old, seriously.

I am attending a wedding soon and would like to dress more nicely than normal, got a really pretty dress that I am excited to wear. I have watched makeup videos on Youtube, but am intimidated by all of the stuff they are using so fast effortlessly. Eye foundation? What even is that? Eye shadow palettes? How do you pick that? How are you guys doing all this magic?

I don’t know what I need or where to buy it, not to mention how to use it. Anyone have any advice?

Posted Feb 13, 2019, 2:28 PM UTC

319
beautifuljoy•

I'm also in my late 30s and I just started wearing a full face of makeup 5 months ago and it's definitely overwhelming. Check out Marlena Stell's "Pretty Smart: Makeup Education" playlist on Youtube. She has videos on how to match your eyeshadow to your lipstick, how to pick the right undertone for your foundation, and more. I suggest starting with her videos then venturing out once you've gotten the basic applications down.

Eyeshadow primer: serves as the base for eyeshadow. Helps the colors last longer and go on smoother. Urban Decay makes a good one that you can get at Ulta or Sephora.

Eyeshadow: you can't go wrong with Colourpop which is also at Ulta. Get a couple of brushes from Colourpop, Elf, or BH Cosmetics. Choose colors that you are drawn to and would realistically wear.

Eyeliner: Essence and NYX make good eyeliners and they're like $2-6

Lipstick: again Colourpop is a good choice as well as NYX and Maybelline.

Hope this helps.

Edited to include eyeliner options

6
LeonCompowskiOP•

This is so helpful! THANK YOU!

I walking very far out of my comfort zone, so your assistance is greatly appreciated. I am so overwhelmed!

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beautifuljoy•

You're welcome and good luck :-)

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TxRedHead•

First rule -- there are no rules. Which probably doesn't help as much as it should. Second -- you don't need all the things. Just use the things you're comfortable with. Third -- don't be afraid to sit and play. It's just makeup. It washes off. Keep a pack of makeup wipes/diaper wipes nearby to wipe stuff off and try again/do something different.

Helpful things... Eye foundation as you put it, is eyeshadow primer. It's mostly helpful if you have oily lids and have issues with eyeshadow fading and creasing. Always remember that a little goes a long way. There is glitter glue/primer that is more sticky and is meant to make cosmetic glitter and glittery eyeshadow stick to your kids instead of flaking off into your cheeks.

If you don't need shadow primer, concealer just gives you a blank canvas for your eyeshadow. Also, not necessary. But use it if you like it.

You really don't need all the products and you don't need the specific ones beautubers use. Use what you have. Use what you like. Use the beautubers for technique advice.

If you want to play with shadows, etc. Choose colors you think you'd wear on the regular, not just occasionally. Then play with them. Practice until you like the results. None of us gets better at this without practice. :)

5
LeonCompowskiOP•

I don’t have any product! Just those few things - I seriously have never really ventured into this deal so you all seem like magicians to me.

Is there a good “total newb” resource that will tell me what basics to get at the drugstore, or maybe someone can guide me? Watching those videos I was like, wow, they have a lot of stuff ($$$) which made me wonder what I really need and what is more “expert level” makeup.

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TxRedHead•

Hrm. I suppose the best thing I can recommend, is go binge Lisa Eldridge's videos. She's a professional makeup artist to the stars. She does a lot of tutorials for real world wearable looks, versus pretty much every other beautuber out there, who do heavy makeup that only looks good on camera.

She goes step by step and tells you why she does things. She's really wonderful and her voice is just so soothing. She's a joy to watch. :)

2
Newkittyontheblock•

I love Lisa Eldridge videos for explaining make up and how to apply them but she doesn't have much affordable makeup since she is a pro make up artist.

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TxRedHead•

I should also probably ask you these questions: Do you like the few cosmetics you have? Do they work for you... ie: Does the foundation match your skintone? Does the mascara make your lashes look the way you want? Does it smudge? Flake? Does it stay in place?

How often will you wear your makeup? Do you want colourful or dark sultry looks? Do you want everyday no makeup makeup looks? Something in between?

(But seriously, go watch Lisa's videos. She'll help with all of those, but keep these questions in mind. It helps us help you better, and will help you make decisions when you're watching videos.)

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LeonCompowskiOP•

I will watch those videos for sure!

I guess I am OK with the cosmetics I have, but no idea if they actually work for me. Knowing me it probably doesn’t, but I did the best I could picking them, and my boyfriend says I am pretty, so..... 🤷‍♀️ My mascara doesn’t smudge, sometimes I make it clumpy but it’s generally OK.

I would say I currently wear makeup a few times a week, just the foundation, blush and mascara. I am never gonna do an hour a day makeup application, and I don’t want to go crazy with a heavy or sultry look - no one in my life will recognize me, and it’s really not who I am anyway. I just want to look a few steps prettier, especially when I play dress up to a fancy occasion.

0
psychgirl88•

Firstly, I just like food makeup has expiration dates. Since all that I’d 10+ years I would throw everything out and start over. Brushes as well. Best case scenario it just won’t look good. I have sensitive skin so expired makeup has caused breakouts. Makeup can be overwhelming, so do this in phases.

Since you’re starting from step 1, I would go into Sephora or Ulta and firstly find a foundation that matches you that you feel comfortable with. If you’re anything like me, I get PISSY when make up comes off on my clothes, so use primer (both facial AND eye primer), get and setting powder to match to dry it out. Get 1 neutral lipgloss to wear to work.

Step 2: Once you feel comfortable wearing foundation every day, then I would branch out into eyeshadow, blush, and lipgloss. Maybe start with some neutral eyeshadows (maybe something from Makeup Revolution) that you can wear to work, with pencil eyeliner and drugstore mascara, and then when you get comfortable with that begin to explore more bold or shimmery colors that work for your eyes. You’ll have to play and see what works for your personality. Then I would add some liquid eyeliner going out at night. Maybe even fake eyelashes if you’re dating.

Step3: Then, go back to Ulta and Sephora and have them match you with some nice blush that can be used for daily/nightwear.

Step 4: Finally, begin to explore different lipglosses/lipsticks. Don’t wear bright purple lipstick to work, but wear some colors around the house, to brunch with your girls, and finally on dates.

Use YouTube videos, Pinterest,r/makeupaddiction , and instagram for inspiration. Don’t think of makeup as a chore but rather a way to make art. Your face is a blank canvas!! That should be a good start. Don’t forget to throw out old makeup!! Foundation, blush, finishing powder generally expires after 1 year. Eyeshadows, eye pencils 1-2 year. Liquid eyeshadow and mascara around 3 months. Lipstick/lipgloss 2 years. Foundation/concealer brushes 3 months. All other brushes 1 year.

As you buy things don’t forget to read reviews of makeup on this subreddit, on YouTube and other places so you can make an informed decisions for what works for you and your budget. Makeup is very personal and what works for one woman or man will not work on another. That’s why I suggest you go to Ulta or Sephora the first few times for help, even then I would still critically think about what you want and look at your budget.

For the wedding, get your makeup professionally done since you’re a beginner. You want to look like a superstar. For this I’d pay someone who can match you well and make your eyeshadow pop!! People go to school for that for years. Maybe in a few months or so, after you are done with step 4, move on to more intermediate make up application which would be good for a wedding (contouring/highlighting... basically using makeup to manipulate your face to enhance/decrease certain features). This intermediate makeup skill can also be used for dates, nice parties, and overall nightlife! Good luck!😊

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LeonCompowskiOP•

Thank you so much! The wedding is in another town and not MY wedding, so not sure about being able to hire a pro (although I wish I could!) but I will use this advice, thanks again!

1
psychgirl88•

You can always hire a pro in that town☺️. Go to the beauty salon before the wedding (here in NJ it would start at $25 for a face, and hair starts at $30), or you can have the pro meet you at the hotel. But considering they’re traveling for that it would be $90 here in NJ. My sister’s wedding was in November in NYC and it was also $90 for the pro. I decided to buy my own simple luxury (not drug store) contouring supplies, I spent $100 altogether at Ulta, and was the best looking bridesmaid. Just so you have some price point ideas of what you could be looking at.

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LeonCompowskiOP•

I’ll have to see if I can figure something out! $25ish would be doable! Thanks!

1
boolin444•

Start with simple stuff! If you go into ulta or sephora they're going to recommend expensive products that honestly, aren't necessary. Look up beginner friendly tutorials on youtube, find out the products that work for your skin or things with good reviews! Go to the drugstore, start with just foundation, concealer (can be used as eyeshadow primer), some mascara and maybe eyebrow gel. With eyeshadow, just pick colors you like/feel comfortable with! when I first started makeup I would just sit there at night and try different things until I figured out what I was doing.

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LeonCompowskiOP•

Thanks I so appreciate this!

3
Rolfeana•

If you don’t use makeup often, but want to do something a bit more just for this event I would start with figuring out your desired color palette. What color is the dress you have found? We can recommend you complimentary colors to incorporate in your makeup ^.^

Are you looking for a look you can wear more often? Some looks can be easily adjusted in formality (from wedding guest to ‘everyday’) with a lip color change or a single eyeshadow color.

What products are you looking to use? You mentioned eyeshadow, are you planning to wear blush? Highlight or contour? Do you want to wear lipstick?

2
LeonCompowskiOP•

My dress is burgundy. I have relatively fair/pale skin and medium-brown hair.

Right now I am mostly concerned with this event, but if I can get more comfortable, I might like to step up my game in general.

I don’t really know anything! What I listed is literally all I have, so I am unsure of what I need. I would like to use eyeshadow and lipstick. I think contour? I don’t want to go crazy, just look a little bit nicer than normal.

2
Rolfeana•

We have similar coloring! Here is what I pulled out of my vanity pretending I was going to do a simple look with a burgundy dress:

Primer: Milani makes a nice one in a little tube, e.l.f. shadowlock is also nice and quite inexpensive.

Milani Pure Passion Eyeshadow Palette This is about $15-20, depending on where you buy it. I think walmart is on the cheaper end. It has a lovely range of matte and shimmer, in neutral and pinky-burgundy tones. You could absolutely do everything from ‘everyday’ to ‘evening glam’ with this. I find their formula easy to work with too, the shades blend well and are true to color. There are a few shadows in here you could do 1-shadow looks with as well.

Cheap(er) option: Wet and Wild Color Icon 10-pan palettes are about $5, Rosé in the Air and Nude Awakening both look like they would fit your dress + complexion.

Blush: Flower beauty has some very nice ones, they are only sold at walmart i think. “Sweet Pea” is very universal. Milani and Maybelline also have nice blushes as well, go for something that isn’t too dark. I pulled out Milani powder blush in Bella Bellini, this has a strong gold-pink shimmer though, if you are new to blush you may want to go with something more like Sweet Pea.

I didn’t grab any foundation, I pulled out the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer for under eye. If you want a “beginner” foundation the Wet and Wild Cushion ones are nice and easy to apply :)

I grabbed my L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara, not sure if you want to use one?

For a simple contour/highlight for fair skin I grabbed the Wet and Wild Megaglo contour/highlight duo, i have the shade “dulce de leche”

For lipstick I pulled out a few, depending on the texture you want you may want to try a few or look at colors in person :)

Milani Super Stay Matte Ink - I pulled out Ruler (a red). This formula dries down and is very long wearing - the texture can be a bit ‘tacky’ even after the dry-down tho, so if you don’t like that then you may want to look at other formulas.

The wet and wild Catsuit liquid lipsticks are a dry matte formula, they won’t feel sticky when dry, but they may make your lips feel quite dry/powdery. Applying balm or gloss will greatly reduce the wear time.

L’Oreal has a nice classic bullet lipstick formula, to go with multiple looks and day/evening wear I would look for a color in the pinky/red/berry family.

To make the lipstick look ‘neater’, no matter what one you pick, look for a lip liner in a shade similar to either the lipstick, or your natural lip color. The pencil format for me makes it easier to get a ‘clean’ line.

For something low effort I would get a neutragena Moisturesmooth Color stick. these are partway between lip balm and lipstick, they apply easily with no liner, fade gracefully, and feel very comfortable.

Do you have any brushes? If not e.l.f. has decent quality and cost - based on the products you would need:

A blush/contour/highlight brush A blending/fluffy shadow brush A smaller detailed shadow brush

I started with just those three shapes. If you want a sponge I would grab the orange Real Techiques one or the pink L’Oreal one. I use the NYX eye and lip makeup remover with cotton pads :)

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LeonCompowskiOP•

Aaaaah this is so helpful!

I am WAY outside my comfort zone, and this is really gonna help me get started!

I wish I had a friend that could just say “here - do this and use this!” But I don’t...this is a helpful substitute!

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