When lockdown started, it was a welcome opportunity to go bare-faced and not have to bother with any kind of make-up.
But, as time’s gone on, we’ve started looking more longingly at our beauty bags. While this is a good time to let your skin breathe, it’s also the ideal chance to play around a bit with make-up.
Why not finally master the trickiest beauty techniques? There’s less pressure while the social calendar is less full and, if you mess it up, you can just wipe the make-up off and try again.
These are some of the most useful beauty skills to learn…
1. Contouring
Contouring is one of the most daunting techniques in beauty, but with a little bit of practise, you’ll realise it’s not actually that hard.
It essentially means using make-up to sculpt the shape of your face. All you have to do is use a product darker than your skintone, and use it on key points – like the bridge of your nose or hollows of the cheeks. Once blended, this will highlight certain areas and give a more enhanced shape.
Play around with different shades and products, and see how easy it is to bring a bit more definition to your face.
2. Winged eyeliner
A pristine cat-eye is the holy grail of make-up. It should be easy – after all, it’s just drawing a feline flick with your eyeliner – but sometimes it can feel impossible to master, not to mention getting both eyes even.
Now is the perfect time to work on your steady hand and a symmetrical flick. If you need some help, a great hack is to use a teaspoon.
#ManicMondays No time for eyeliner mess-up's in the morning? Simply use a teaspoon to craft a perfect winged eye! pic.twitter.com/XUFLeQ7Ntm
— Beauty Bulletin (@Beauty_Bulletin) March 2, 2015
Depending on how rounded you want your flick to be, use either the curved or straight edge of the spoon as a guide for your liquid eyeliner. It’s easy, quick, and means you get exactly the same shape for both eyes.
3. Smokey eye
A smokey eye is one of the most sultry looks you can do – but it’s difficult to look chic and not like you’ve accidentally smudged all your make-up. Luckily, there’s a popular beauty hack to create an effortless smokey eye.
Draw a small hashtag shape on the outer corner of your eyelid, in either a soft pencil or with your eyeshadow brush. Then, blend this using a small brush until you can’t see the hashtag anymore. If you want a darker look, repeat the process again, making sure it’s thoroughly blended.
4. Properly curled eyelashes
Sometimes mascara doesn’t quite go the distance, which is where eyelash curlers come into their own. They might look like painful contraptions, but they’re a great way to add length and volume. To really make the most of the tool, heat it up with a hairdryer before use, and you’ll find your lashes will curl even better.
Just remember: always use your curlers before applying mascara.
5. False eyelashes
Applying falsies is daunting to anyone who’s had an eyelash-and-glue-related disaster. As with any beauty technique, practice makes perfect.
If you really can’t stand using eyelash glue, why not try the new innovation of magnetic false lashes or liner?
6. Drawing the perfect cupid’s bow
There’s a secret to applying lipstick: if you want a pristine cupid’s bow, draw an ‘X’ in the middle of your top lip, where it should be, and then apply the rest of the lippy. This will really define the shape of the cupid’s bow and make it stand out.
7. Baking your make-up
In the world of beauty, baking is the key to flawless skin. After applying your foundation and concealer, dust a layer of loose, translucent powder over the top and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. After this, brush the powder off – it might seem like a waste, but the heat from your face has attracted some of the powder, giving a flawless, pore-less look to your make-up.
8. Filling in your brows
Luckily, the days of over-plucking our brows are long behind us, but not all of us have quite nailed how to fill them in properly. It’s a key technique to master, because brows provide a frame for the face.
When filling in your eyebrows, there are a few simple rules to follow: always follow the direction of the hairs, and go slowly. It’s far easier to add more product than take away.
9. Cut crease
Unless you’re fairly well versed with make-up, the phrase ‘cut crease’ probably sounds like nonsense. However, it’s not a new technique, and has actually been around for decades – it’s said to make your eyes look bigger and more pronounced.
This technique is all about taking your eyeshadow to the next level, by using one colour across your lid and a completely different one above it. The tricky thing to master is getting a sharp and defined line between the two shades – this isn’t a time for any kind of blending.
10. Strobing
Strobing involves using bright highlighter in choice places on your face. It’s similar to contouring, but using brightening products to give that extreme glowy look.
