by BR Tabatha
Taking your first steps into the makeup realm can feel intimidating - especially if your first foray into the area is to look up YouTube tutorials where the beauty guru is applying a full face, complete with ninety-nine intricate steps for the eye area alone. Not only that, jumping head first into makeup that way can result in seeing a beauty beginner do a one-eighty and never play with all the pretties ever again, which is why it's best to start slowly when you first get into makeup by using a few, easy-to-master products, like these...
BB Cream OR Tinted Serum
The wrong foundation - whether it be in colour or texture or skin suitability - can put you off wearing the stuff for life, especially if you've paid a small fortune for it. If you're new to applying the face base, a BB Cream is a great first step. Light, hydrating, with enough pigment to even out your skin tone, it's a newbie-friendly step into the world of foundation.
Garnier BB Cream Perfecting Care All-In-1
Alternatively, if you need a little more coverage, the likes of a tinted serum can also work wonders. Effortlessly blendable, while offering buildable coverage, it can work within variations of a person's natural skin tone. For example, I LOVE the L'Oréal True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum but thought I'd bought the wrong shade for me on intial application, but after a few minutes it looked as natural as can be. I don't know what genius ingredients they use to make that skin-blending beautifulness happen, but if it works I'm here for it.
L'Oréal True Match Plumping Tinted Serum
Liquid Blush
While powder blush is brilliant and can look gorgeous when applied correctly, it can feel fake-looking on someone who's not used to working with it, which is why a liquid blush is a great way to get a natural-looking flush of colour when you first start wearing makeup.
On first look liquid blush can appear overpowering in pigment, but the thing is you only need a little, and if it's not enough you can add more without venturing into the realm of clowndom. The trick is to apply a little to the back of your hand, then take a little bit of that and gently pat it onto the apples of your cheeks (the fleshy bits that pop out when you smile), then apply more as required.
Clear Mascara
Mascara can go oh so easily wrong - whether you're a first time user or an old school pro. Even now I find myself dotting my lids with inky black liquid, then having to wait for it to dry before twizzling it away with a cottonbud, which is why you can't beat a clear mascara when you're starting out. It can lift, lengthen and define your lashes without creating a mess. Bonus, you can use it to tame your brows too!
Tinted Balm OR Lip Gloss
Not everyone was born to rock a red from the jump, let alone be able to apply a liquid lip like they've been doing it forever, which is why when you're starting out a tinted balm or lip gloss is the perfect way to get used to apply colour without worrying that it's feathering, bleeding, or that you're going to look like you let a toddler apply your lippy. If you are wanting to try a lipstick, our recommendation would be to stick to a creamy formula in bullet form in a 'your lips but better' shade.
With the ultra basics sorted, you can then start to venture into other formulations and techniques, then branch out into concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner... and from there the world really is your makeup oyster!
One last thing... Always remember the two big rules:
1. Have fun. It's just makeup.
2. And if it doesn't work out you can wipe it off!
So, my lovelies, are you ready to take your baby steps into the realm of makeup? What products are you excited to try? Which products are you nervous to try? And for those whose beauty space is strewn with cosmetics... which products do you recommend for beauty beginners? Get chatting below!
Can't wait to try the tinted serum it sounds amazing!