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I’m always amazed by the magic that makeup artists can achieve. While I’m happy when my mascara doesn’t run, the pros can transform any face into anything. While I never aspire to be a professional makeup artist that doesn’t mean I can’t go trying to find their most awesome tips.
Below I’ve compiled 17 pro makeup tips that I’ve come across around the web.
I tried my best to section these tips up into different areas to make it easier for you. Unfortunately, none of them come with videos or images but if I can find some YouTube tutorials to back them up then I’ll be sure to post those as well.
17 Pro Makeup Tips You’ve Never Heard of Before
Cheeks
Apply two shades of blush for the perfect flush of youth. Pink, or anything in the red family should be placed on the apple of the cheek; it will give the effect of blood coming to the surface. Peach, coral, or anything in the orange family should be applied to the highest point of the cheekbone; that gives the effect of heat rising. Finish by bringing a matte bronzer to the skin where sun hits the face (forehead, cheekbone, bridge of nose, and chin).
– James Vincent, celebrity makeup artist and director of artistry for Ardency Inn
Halloween is the perfect time to stock up on some unexpected essentials. Fake blood is the ideal blush shade. Add it to the apple of the cheek for any skin tone—it looks like a natural flush of color coming though the skin.
– James Vincent, celebrity makeup artist and director of artistry for Ardency Inn
Face
Starbucks napkins and disposable toilet-seat covers work just as well as blotting papers.
– Kerry Cole, style director of Becca Cosmetics
My signature trick is, before completing my look, I always add a light dusting of blush to my crease and around my temples to pull everything together.
– Sasha Simler, trainer and makeup artist for Shu Uemura North America
My mom, the cofounder of Benefit Cosmetics, used to tell [my sister] and me ‘there are no rules when it comes to beauty.’ She always took her favorite lipstick shade at the time and used it all over to create an entire makeup look. I remember growing up watching her put a swipe on both her cheeks, both eyelids, her lips, and blending it in, and it instantly looked like she got a makeover.
– Annie Ford Danielson, Benefit global beauty authority
As a little girl, I would watch my mother apply egg whites to her face (especially around her eyes) about an hour or two before going out to a special event. She would take one egg, separate it, whisk it until it was frothy, and apply the egg white all over her face and leave it on for 20 minutes. After, she would wash it off with lukewarm water and immediately apply her makeup. The egg white tightens the skin and wrinkles to give you a temporary facelift.
– Niki Metz, director of artistry for Jouer
Here’s one for the winter: Take an egg yolk and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and whip together. Slather all over your face and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. This treatment is the most hydrating thing you can do for your skin, and it’ll leave your face with the most beautiful glow you have ever seen!
– Niki Metz, director of artistry for Jouer
Eyes
Use the handle of a brush to lift the eyelid at the base of the lashes to roll your lashes up and back; this allows you to wiggle the mascara wand against the base of the lashes and pull through any clumps in a clean and precise manner.
– Kara Yoshimoto Bua, Chanel celebrity makeup artist
My favorite ‘look younger’ makeup tip is to first use a luminizer in the inner corner, then swoop it with a fan brush underneath the eye. This brightens the face.
– Deanna Melluso, celebrity makeup artist
Apply mascara before liquid liner to create a guide for the perfect cat-eye flick.
– Sarah Lucero, global director of education and artistry for Stila
Lips
If you want to find the perfect red for your complexion, try applying one lip color that has the same undertone as your complexion all over the lip: Cool uses cool, warm uses warm. Apply a red with the opposite tone just to the center for a lip that looks full and fantastic.
– James Vincent, celebrity makeup artist and director of artistry for Ardency Inn
Test lipstick on the inside of your fingertip, rather than on the back of your hand. The pad of your finger closely resembles your own lip color, so see which one looks best there, then move to the lips.
– Kerry Cole, style director of Becca Cosmetics
Pull your bottom lip down and look at the inside color. Pick a lipstick shade that’s either lighter or a bit deeper but along the same tone as the inside of your lip. Oh, and don’t do this in public.
– Maggie Ford Danielson, Benefit global beauty authority
Dab a color corrector all over lips to neutralize the lip tone and to make the lip color more vibrant.
– Petra Strand, creator of Pixi by Petra
Brows
No. 2 pencils are the perfect graphite shade to sketch in natural eyebrow hairs. Sharpen one to a point and draw in lightly for a finished brow.
– James Vincent, celebrity makeup artist and director of artistry for Ardency Inn
Gold powder pigment is a great way to lengthen lashes or brows. Use a clean spoolie brush, toothbrush, or mascara wand, and brush a bronze or yellow gold pigment through a mascared lash or brow for a beautiful effect that adds dimension without looking hard.
– James Vincent, celebrity makeup artist and director of artistry for Ardency Inn
Apply primer all the way up into the brows so your brow color won’t budge.
– Niki Metz, director of artistry for Jouer