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Let's face it: Makeup should be part of your daily routine

By Kristyn Schiavone, Source: Tribune Media Services

Has anyone else noticed that makeup is getting a bad rap lately?

Our mantra these days seems to be that we are beautiful without makeup, and society puts too much emphasis on our appearance rather than our accomplishments. This is absolutely true – we ARE beautiful without makeup, and we shouldn’t feel like we need to wear it to the gym, or to the drugstore at 8 a.m. on a Saturday.

However, applying some light, basic makeup each day for work, class, job interviews and social activities is something that should become a part of your routine, for the same reason that it’s important to dress in up-to-date clothes that fit well. It helps you look your best. Not only that, but it shows you want to make an all-around good impression, with your appearance as well as your intelligence and personality.

Daily makeup can be tricky, especially if you’re not used to wearing it. My first tip is to throw away our most prolific and problematic beauty cliché: “The secret to wearing makeup is to look like you’re not wearing any.”

This little nugget of wisdom isn’t telling you the whole story. It is, in fact, an overly simplified way of preventing specific makeup mistakes, such as electric blue eyeshadow before 7 p.m., Bozo the Clown blush, and visible makeup lines from foundation that doesn’t match the skin. In addition, it’s not to be taken literally. Of course you, and probably others, will be able to tell if you suddenly decide to wear mascara one day.

What “looking like you’re not wearing any makeup” means is that makeup should look natural, and not include any colors or textures that you wouldn’t normally find on a face.

While we’re on makeup myths, it’s also not necessary to get everything from a department store if $25 lip gloss isn’t in your budget. The guide below includes each makeup item you’ll need for a daily look, how to apply it, and whether or not you can save some cash and go with a drugstore brand.


Step 1: Foundation

Buy at: Department store

There are two reasons to buy foundation at a department or specialty makeup store. The first is that you can test colors to see which matches your skin, and the second is that you can take home a few samples and make sure your skin doesn’t react poorly to the formula. If you’re fairly young or don’t have much to hide when it comes to wrinkles, blemishes, etc., heavy coverage can look unnatural. Try a lightweight version or a tinted moisturizer instead, like Clinique’s Perfectly Real makeup. Blend it past the jaw line and onto the neck to prevent lines.

Step 2: Blush

Buy at: Department store or drugstore

If you’d prefer to hit the department store and test colors, go for it, but blushes from brands like Neutrogena and L’Oreal are perfectly fine for daily wear. Choose a neutral color, with a hint of pink if you have a fair complexion and a hint of tan if you’re olive-toned. The best choices have names like “nude blush” and “natural rose.” Apply to wherever you flush after a trip to the gym – in addition to your upper cheeks, that usually means a tiny bit on your forehead and chin too – in a circular motion.


Step 3: Eyeshadow

Buy at: Drugstore

Choose a matte shadow in light brown, tan, or slate, and apply from the lash line to just above the crease in your eyelid. You probably won’t land on your very best color the first time, and that’s fine. None of the women who have perfect makeup are in on some top-secret magic spell. They’ve just learned what looks good on their faces through many, many horrible photos of themselves.

Step 4: Eyeliner

Buy at: Drugstore

Black is pretty foolproof, but blondes and light redheads can choose a dark brown liner too. Kohl eyeliner is long-lasting and easiest to apply. Start at the inside of the top lash line and draw a thin line, widening it slightly as you move outward. On the lower lash line, only go halfway across with the liner to widen your eyes.

Step 5: Mascara

Buy at: Drugstore

Apply black mascara to the upper and lower lashes. Some people like waterproof, which I guess comes in handy if you’re prone to having drinks thrown in your face or something, but you’ll need makeup remover to get it off at night. Again, you’ll try many before you land on your favorite, which is typically a matter of personal preference.

Step 6: Lip gloss

Buy at: Drugstore

Choose one that mimics your natural lip color. Things like powder and eye brightener are optional, but in general, just these six items can do a lot to enhance your natural features. You’ll also need two tools, which you can get at the drugstore: a larger blush brush, which prevents streaks, and an eyeshadow brush. Oh, and a mirror would also be nice.

© 2012, Tribune Media Services