Make Up for Beginners [part 1]

So I know what you all are thinking; Damn Gi, we’ve been talking about skin for the past 3 blogs! But the truth is skin is [obviously] VERY crucial to your overall appearance. And yea not all of us are blessed with great skin, so even better to talk about how to get it right? When you are confident with your skin, everything else seems to look and feel right; from what you’re wearing , to the color of your lipstick.

So, 2 more consecutive blogs about skin and then we get to play with different things. [This does not mean that we will never talk about skin again of course] In this blog we will be talking about make-up for beginners; we will mostly be talking about foundation again, and more comprehensive blogs will be done about tools, shadows, liners, blush, bronzers etc. Next time we will be talking about what foods to eat that can help a great deal with your skins appearance.

Unless you are participating in fashion show, or some other big event you want your makeup to look natural and flawless. This is a lot harder for some than others to accomplish. But with the right type of makeup and technique we can all achieve a more natural look.

Side note: I want to take the time before I start to highly recommend the most amazing make-up manual I have EVER read. I wish I could buy one for every woman on the face of the earth [ya, it’s that good]. Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro. This manual talks about EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you need to know. The quality and quantity of the book is amazing. It’s a must have for any beginner, and even if your pro status its gold.

"Bobbi's 25+ years of makeup artist experience is distilled into one volume that includes over 200 full-color photos and step-by-step instructions as well as a "Ten Step Guide to Perfect Makeup" that teaches you how to apply your makeup in ten minutes or less.Packed with all the tricks of the trade, this book also offers a unique guide for aspiring makeup artists: how to break into the business, put together a portfolio, book work, and work with photographers, magazine editors, fashion designers, & celebrities. (Hardcover, 221 pg.)"

Link to buy: http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/templates/products/spp/index.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY23162&PRODUCT_ID=PROD14397
Its $32.00 on the website, but im sure you could find a better deal I think I got mine for like $18.00 at borders.

Ok, back to the blog:

Foundation; Choosing the right foundation is very important in helping to give you a natural appearance. There are so many different types to choose from; Sticks, balms, creams, liquid, powders and the list goes on and on. Once you’ve found the type of foundation you like [see previous blog for aid] you can now work on the color.

It is important to buy foundation that matches your natural face color. [Don’t worry, if you feel that your face is naturally too light you can correct it with a bronzer after, which we will talk about later] Never, ever use foundation as a tanner or bronzer! It will never look natural. The correct shade of make -up should “disappear” on your face.

Tips:
-You might have to try a couple out before you know which one is right for you
-Always check your makeup in a natural light, [stand by a window or something]
-you may need a different shade of foundation for seasons like summer vs. winter.

The next thing you need to do is decide what tool you are going to use to apply and blend your foundation into your skin. Again there are so many different tools you can use for different desired affects. There are sponges, and tons of different types of brushes.
What works best for me is a combination of brushes [sponges are ok for getting those hard to reach places, but aren’t really necessary, and defiantly not recommend to use on your whole face]. I like to use a regular foundation brush to apply the foundation across my face:

And then a brush that has a flat head [usually used for powders, but I still think they work amazing for blending liquid makeup too] to blend and buff the foundation into my skin:

This combination provides the coverage I need, but still looks ultra natural, like my own skin.

To shop Bobbi Brown brushes visit: bobbibrowncosmetics.com
I hope this helps all you beginners, and come back to hear more beginning tips on tools, brozers, liner, shadows, blushes etc.
-gigi