I’m always wanting to learn and I don’t feel qualified to actually share tips, but here were a few things I wish I had known earlier:
- when my mascara was drying out, I went too long before learning I could spray a little sterile saline on the brush (shaking off any excess drips of saline), and put the brush back into the bottle and work the brush a bit - then it would apply to the lashes perfectly without clumps (I’ve enjoyed mascaras like Mineral Fusion and Better Than Sex).
- lash curlers are a life changer, I have long lashes but they’re heavy and droop down, and I thought it was a mistake with how I was applying the mascara (and the mascara weighed them down even more!!); maybe this is just obvious, but I went too long without using one and they really lift my eyes, even just the curler without the mascara is a big help
- foundation can really age you, so it’s important to prioritize skin care and “natural beauty”. It really sucks when my skin is breaking out and I have to cover up with foundation because it ruins the natural, soft look of my skin; I wash my face every night with a cleanser (occasionally using a more exfoliating salicylic acid cleanser on my nose) and use a night cream with ceramides. Hydrating throughout the day is also important to healthy skin. (As is diet, tbh.)
- I had no idea that cosmetic sunscreens existed, I wish I had known there were sunscreens that didn’t feel like covering my face in grease, I’ve gone without sunscreen for decades because I had no idea. Discovering Japanese and South Korean sunscreens that function as a makeup primer, and aren’t greasy and absorb into the skin, completely blew my mind and made it so much easier for me to put sunscreen on every day. I have really enjoyed CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel and SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella sunscreens in particular.
What beauty and makeup tips did you wish you knew earlier?
That not all application methods work with all foundations or all skin types. I had one foundation and I can’t remember what it was but it was a liquid and I just couldn’t make it look good with a beauty blender. Never occurred to me at that stage in my makeup journey that I could use a brush with a liquid foundation. That changed everything. I don’t wear much makeup anymore because I work outside and I’m constantly sweating but it’s good to remember that there are multiple application methods so if one doesn’t work, try another.
I use a liquid foundation and usually apply with a sponge or beauty blender, sometimes just with my fingers if it’s a small area. I find after it dries it can sometimes have a cracked or textured look I don’t like. I will have to try other methods, I haven’t tried powdered foundation for example.