“Is Contouring Still A Thing?” And Other Makeup Questions You Asked Us

These are just some of the makeup-related questions we've been getting recently from our readers. And here are our answers:

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What’s the Right Order of Applying Makeup Products?

Here's your checklist of the correct makeup application order:

1. Moisturizer: Start with a clean, moisturized face. This will help your makeup go on smoothly and last longer.

2. Primer: This will even out your skin tone and help your makeup stay in place for longer.

3. Foundation: Use a brush, damp sponge, or your fingers to blend it into your skin well.

4. Concealer: Apply in areas you would like to brighten, such as under the eyes, the center of the forehead, and the tip of the nose.

5. Cream bronzer: If you prefer warming up your face with a cream bronzer, make sure to apply it before your powder.

6. Powder: This will help prolong your makeup wear and prevent oil from ruining your look throughout the day.

7. Blush: Apply your powder-based blushes or bronzers after setting your face with a translucent powder in areas you want to sharpen and warm up.

8. Eye and eyebrow products: Finish your makeup application with your eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, and eyebrow gel or pencils.

9. Lipstick: Adding a little color to the lips always comes last.

10. Setting spray: Use a setting spray to keep your makeup in place all day.

How Do I Get That Glowy/Dewy Makeup Look?

If you have normal to dry skin, your makeup can sometimes look dull and flat. However, a few simple tricks can give you a gorgeous, dewy complexion. First of all, start with a good skincare routine. This means using a gentle cleanser and exfoliating once or twice a week to remove the buildup of dead skin cells from the skin's surface and reveal a fresh, radiant complexion. Next, before applying your makeup, use a good hydrating moisturizer and sunscreen to prep your skin, give it a nice, dewy sheen, and help your makeup go on smoothly and evenly.

When it comes to your makeup products, try experimenting with cream-based products, including cream blushes, bronzers, and even eyeshadows. Using powders can sometimes make your skin look drier and cakier, so if you want that dewy makeup look, powders are best used sparingly. Lastly, don't forget to set your makeup with a setting spray that has a dewy or natural finish to help keep it in place and give you that glowy look that lasts all day long.

Product To Try: MILK MAKEUP – Hydro Grip Setting + Refreshing Spray ($36)

What Are the 3 Best Makeup Products for a Natural Look?

If you had to pick the three best makeup products to achieve a natural look, you wouldn't go wrong with choosing:

1. Concealer to brighten the area under the eyes or hide a blemish.

2. Mascara to give your lashes definition and make your eyes pop.

3. Blush to provide you with a natural-looking flush of color on your cheeks.

Product To Try: Lancôme – Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara ($27)

Is Cream Makeup Suitable for Mature Skin?

Cream-based products can be an excellent option for mature skin, as they can help hydrate the skin and give it a more natural and youthful appearance. Cream makeup can also help plump up the skin, noticeably minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help even out the skin tone without looking cakey and heavy. So, if you're looking for a natural makeup look that will also help your mature skin look its best, cream makeup products are definitely an option worth considering.

Product To Try: Fenty Beauty – Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($22)

How Can I Conceal My Very Dark Eyebags?

Before trying to hide dark eyebags with just makeup, it would help if you invested in a good skincare routine that consists of brightening serums and eye creams as well as certain tools like ice rollers or jade rollers that will help cool and de-puff the area. Next, you want to make sure the area under the eyes is always moisturized and not dry, as this will make the darkness more noticeable, even under makeup.

When it comes to concealing, always start with a color-correcting product in a peach shade if your skin tone is lighter or an orange shade if your skin tone is darker, as these colors will cancel out the sallow gray color under the eyes. Next, use a concealer that's one or two shades lighter than your skin tone but suits your undertone (for example, cool, neutral, or warm) and apply it with a damp beauty blender for best results.

Set the concealer with just a little bit of translucent powder and a small, tapered brush to help it stay in place but don't add too much as this can make the entire look cakey, cause creasing, and can actually remove some of the concealer.

Product To Try: L.A. Girl – HD Pro Corrector Concealer ($5)

Is Contouring Still a Thing?

Contouring is a technique that makeup artists have used for years to help sculpt and define the face. And while contouring can be a bit of a time-consuming process that requires some trial and error, it's worth the effort if you want to achieve a specific look. So yes, contouring is definitely still a thing; however, there have been variations due to trends coming and going.

Contouring today is different than what it was back in 2016 when it first started gaining mainstream fame due to Kim Kardashian's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic spilling the tea on how the starlet achieved her signature sculpted look. Today, contouring is all about achieving a soft, more natural, and subtler look that accentuates your features without looking too sharp and overly defined.

Popular ways to contour include using a cream or liquid bronzer that's closer to your natural shade instead of going much darker, as well as adding just a touch of product on the temples, under the cheekbones, and just along the angle of the jaw instead of going all the way along the jawline. Add to that a little bit of cream blush on the cheeks and concealer under the eyes, forehead, chin, and above the lip, and you will achieve a fully natural look that even Jessica Alba would approve of!

Product To Try: MAKEUP BY MARIO – SoftSculpt® Shaping Stick ($28)

How Do I Stop My "Baking" from Turning into "Caking"?

"Baking" is a makeup technique that has been gaining popularity in recent years, especially among those with oily skin. The idea behind baking is to apply a thick layer of translucent powder under the eyes and on other areas of the face where you tend to get oily, such as the T-zone. You then let the powder sit on the skin for 5-10 minutes before using a fluffy brush to remove the excess. The result is a matte finish that helps makeup stay in place and look more polished.

However, even though baking is a technique you would use when applying heavy makeup, such as for a night out, you still want to avoid "caking," which is when the powder looks too thick and cakey on the skin. To avoid caking, make sure to properly prep the skin by applying a light layer of moisturizer and/or primer. Then pick up a little bit of powder with a dry beauty blender and apply to areas where you tend to get oily. Remove the excess with a fluffy brush after 3-5 minutes, and follow up with a mattifying setting spray to help keep the powder in place and prevent it from looking cakey.

Product To Try: Hourglass – Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder - Talc Free ($46)

Is Lipgloss Only for Young Girls?

Lipgloss is a nostalgia-inducing product often dubbed as being only suitable for young girls. But this isn't necessarily the case – lipgloss not only looks good on women of all ages, but it's actually beneficial for the lips due to its moisturizing and softening effect (as long as you use the right one). Tinted lipgloss is the perfect product for whenever you want a little bit of color on your lips without the heavy feel of lipstick or if you want to spice up your lipstick with extra shine. Being such a versatile product, lipgloss can definitely be worn by women of all ages.

Product To Try: Fenty Beauty – Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream ($21)

How Important Are Makeup Expiration Dates?

Throwing away your makeup products when you feel like you've barely even used them is definitely a tough call; however, it's important to know when to let go. Makeup expires just like food, and while you may not see or smell any difference, using expired makeup can lead to skin irritation, breakouts, and even infections.

So how do you know when to toss your products? While you can probably get away with using powder-based products such as blushes and bronzers for a little longer past the expiration date, liquid-based complexion products such as foundations and concealers should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, especially if you’re using a product that has an applicator that touches your skin every time you use it, as this enables bacteria to spread around.

On the other hand, lip products such as lipsticks and glosses last a little longer; however, if you notice that the texture or scent of the product has changed, it's probably time to say goodbye. Lastly, mascara is one of the most important products to keep an eye on as it's a breeding ground for bacteria and should be replaced every three months, even without signs of it being a little off, such as a change in texture or a bad smell. Mascaras are one of the main causes of eye infections which aren't only uncomfortable and annoying to deal with but can lead to some serious health complications.

Is ‘90s Makeup Coming Back?

Bold overlined lip, all-over-lid eyeshadow, and a barely-there makeup look? The answer is a resounding yes!

And while some looks are better left in the past, there are definitely several trends from the ‘90s that are worth reviving. For example, a natural makeup look with dewy skin and rosy cheeks was popularized by supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell and is still just as relevant today. Similarly, while matte lips were all the rage in the ‘90s, bold glossy lips from that time are definitely making a comeback and are more popular than ever. So if you're looking to try out some new makeup trends, definitely consider taking inspiration from this nostalgia-inducing decade.

Product To Try: Natasha Denona – Mini Xenon Eyeshadow Palette ($27)

How Can I Line My Naturally Plump Lips without Overdoing It?

Lining your lips is a great way to add definition and make them look fuller. And while everyone can benefit from adding a little bit of definition, those with naturally plump lips often have to be extra careful with lip liner so as not to overdo it.

The key to a naturally defined full lip is to use a lip liner that's close to your natural lip color. You can go slightly lighter, but avoid going too light or too dark as this will accentuate the edges and result in an unnatural and overdone look. Start by lining the outer edges of your lips before filling them in. Be sure to use light strokes and build up the color gradually. Finish by blending the lip liner towards the center of your lip with a lipstick brush or your fingers for that seamless look, and fill out with a lipstick that has the same shade.

Product To Try: Charlotte Tilbury – Lip Cheat Lip Liner ($24)

Winged Eyeliner on Hooded, Downturned Eyes: Yay or Nay?

There are a few things to consider when it comes to winged eyeliner on hooded or downturned eyes. First, you'll want to make sure that your liner is waterproof so that it doesn't smudge or transfer throughout the day. You should always set your eyelid with powder before applying your eyeliner, as this will help absorb sweat and oil throughout the day and prevent the product from seeping onto your eyelids.

When it comes to the actual application, you'll want to use a thin, soft brush and extend the corner of your eye by creating a downward-sloping line at the outer end of the eyelid that extends slightly beyond the end of the eye crease. As for the wing, instead of creating a standard vertical line, you should go out and up to create more of a cat-eye look. And finally, when you're done, you can experiment by creating a diagonal line in the inner corner of the eyes and bring everything together by aligning the natural angles of your inner corners and creating a beautiful, elongated eye look.

Another way to wear eyeliner on downturned and hooded eyes is a half-winged eyeliner you can achieve by simply doing a small cat-eye on the outer corners of the eyes. So whatever you decide, know that winged eyeliner on hooded or downturned eyes can definitely be done!

Product To Try: e.l.f. Cosmetics – Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($5)

How Do I Fill in Thin/Sparse Eyebrows?

One of the easiest ways to fill in sparse eyebrows is by using a tinted brow gel to add color and an eyebrow pencil to add definition. Start by choosing a shade that's close to your natural hair color and lightly applying the brow gel in short strokes in the direction of your hair growth. Next, use a precise eyebrow pencil to fill in any remaining sparse areas. Be sure to use light, feathery strokes and gradually build the color until you achieve your desired look. And finally, set your brows with a clear brow gel to help keep everything in place, and you're good to go!

Product To Try: ZOEVA – Remarkable Brow Pencil ($16)

Closing Thoughts

So there you have the answers to some of the most common questions our readers have been asking about makeup. We hope you found this helpful and that you'll be able to put some of this advice to good use.

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