Teach Middle East Magazine May-June 2016 Issue 5 Volume 3 | Page 49

Beauty 5 Easy makeup tips for beginners By Rahima Jabeen W omen love to look and feel their best. When it comes to makeup, some of us will grudgingly agree that it does a bit to boost one’s confidence. The fact is, not all women understand how to properly apply makeup or even where to begin. Makeup, when used strategically can enhance your features and add a little bit of that oomph factor. This article focuses on specific parts of the face. The following 5 tips are for women who are new to makeup and/or those who consider themselves amateurs. 1.Face The sunlight is very harsh and does not gel well with shimmery, glittery makeup. Start with a primer that preferably has skin care benefits. It will allow a light matte foundation to glide on effortlessly and stay on for longer. Try spot concealing for breakouts with a long lasting concealer. Apply face powder and you’re ready for the next step. 2. Blush/Contour/Highlight These three items help to add color, recede and bring out facial features respectively. Apply a contouring powder that is 2-3 shades darker than your own skin tone under your cheekbones. Making the fish face can help with this. For a daytime look, try a neutral peach shade of blush or cream formulas, which can be blended in with your fingers. This can give that fresh glow. If you apply a shimmery blush, make sure it doesn’t have flashy glitter. This can look very unsightly. Skip highlighting in the day. It can make the face look oily. Use a pinch on the inner eye area for a fresh look. 3. Eyes Use neutral matte eyeshadow colors. There are great matte palettes available at different prices. Try using a slightly shimmery eyeshadow on movable lid area to give some sheen. Brown, beige and cream shades are professional and flatter all skin tones. Eyeshadow can also be used to tame brows and as a natural eyeliner. Use a wet brush for more impact. Apply a little mascara and a white/flesh colored kohl or eyeliner on the inner rims of the lower eyelids and it’s time to move on to the final step. 4. Lips This is where you can go glossy or matte. However, it’s always best to steer clear of frosty lipsticks. Liquid lipsticks are quite long lasting and come in mattes and glossy finishes. Avoid overbearing shades like maroon, red and dark purple. When at work, you should look polished and refined. Keep lip liner very natural, or skip it altogether. 5. Evening look Dab blotting/face powder on, then swipe on a more daring shade of blush. Use a highlighting shade from your eyeshadow or blush palette and apply on the bridge of your nose, highest part of the cheeks above the blush and a little on your forehead and chin. Contour again. Apply a bit of black eyeliner to the inner rims of the eyes and on the top lid if desired. Reapply mascara and add a fresh coat of brighter lipstick. In a matter of under 5 minutes, you would have transformed your look. The use of makeup is a very personal thing for many women. However, with the overwhelming number of products on the market, it is often difficult to choose what’s best for your skin type, tone, age and budget. Luckily, YouTube videos are instructive and practical. Remember, makeup is not a substitute for good skin care and must be removed thoroughly before sleeping. However, it is a lot of fun and in the morning, you can do it all over again.