I am a 35 year old woman (fat round face) who has never worn makeup. I love watching tutorials and would love to start wearing makeup more frequently. I always feel like a clown whenever I try and follow tutorials and half of the time I can’t follow them because I don’t know how to do the techniques they are using. I don’t even know how to put on eyeliner. I was never thought how to wear makeup! Do you have any tips or tricks to learn how to do makeup? I was going to go to a makeup store and see if I could get someone to help but I am terrified they will mock me.
Keep it simple at first. Just begin with a tinted moisturizer, mascara and a tinted lip balm or neutral colored gloss.
If you get used to those and like the way you look and feel, try adding in a nude to light brown shade of eye shadow all over the lid, depending on your complexion. Think-just a shade or 2 darker than your skin. It just gives a little consistency and hides the bluish, tired look we sometimes have.
If you are enjoying that routine, then try moving on to different shadow colors and maybe consider an eyeliner at that point, and more shades of lipsticks. Watch lots of videos on the basics for application and just have fun experimenting!
Start with one element at a time. You have to get used to using it, and your eyes need to get used to seeing it. Personally I would start with a tubing mascara. Once you’re used to that, add another element. Maybe tinted lip balm or gloss. Then gel for brows, concealer if you need it, and tinted moisturizer or foundation. Get comfortable with each thing before moving on to the next. I would recommend to add blush, bronzer, highlighter and eyeshadow one at a time after you are used to the basics because getting the right colors can be more challenging but also more fun. And you don’t need to use everything just because YouTubers do. I never touch bronzer or contour and highlighter is rare. Save eyeliner for last because it can be really tricky depending on your eyes.
That is good advice! Eyeliner scares me to death!
You don’t have to wear eyeliner. A lot of people don’t. Try out mascara and see how you like it.
43 yo who juuuust started wearing makeup like a month or two ago. I was getting my hair cut by a new person (my usually stylist was on mat leave), and she mentioned she does makeup too. So I asked exactly that–where the hell do I start?
She was super helpful and gave me a short list of things to start with: tinted moisturizer, eyeliner, lip stain, mascara, setting powder, a brush, a beauty blender. Went to Sephora and got some help on color matching (and help finding a reasonably priced makeup remover). They were incredibly nice. If it helps, they want your money-- they’re not going to be giant jerks. You’re not the only person who’s getting into makeup post-20s.
Once I had my stuff, it was time to practice. Youtube videos are great but can be intimidating, and there’s SO MUCH out there (lots by people who are just trying to sell particular products). I don’t have the time to sift through thousands of videos. I really like Lisa Eldridge videos, especially stuff that’s short (like her 5 minute makeup look).
If I get a new thing (like eye shadow), I like to practice at night so I’m not frantically cleaning my clown face before work.
I wanted some nice neutral stuff to enhance my looks and they were really nice to me as well (34 at the time).
Maybe just pick one feature you want to try and practice? I’ve always loved eyeshadow and did that first. Then I moved to lips and now blush.
Thank you for the advice! I will have to go to a store and have someone walk me through it!
Sephora or a makeup department at Nordstrom is a great place to start. Be vocal about what you like and don’t; the more info you give them, the better recommendations you’ll get. They will not mock you; a lot of the staff at those places literally live for makeovers and will be there to help. Seriously. They know what they’re doing and they’re job is to help you!
Basic foundation/ powder and mascara were the easiest for me to start; kinda expanded on that. Try a little something different every day and go for incremental improvements, versus stressing about the whole thing.
Also. I know more than a few women with round faces who are beautiful. I bet you are too, and the people who love you see it. Don’t sell yourself short. Be yourself, feel beautiful, and rock on. Makeup can be a sort of battle armor for feeling good about how you look, but at the end of the day it’s you and not just the makeup. You wear it, it doesn’t wear you. Wear it with pride in yourself!!
Hugs.
I would add that while it is true that a lot of drugstore staples are as good as high-end, if you can afford it at all, it might save you time and money in the end to just do Sephora/Nordstrom. At least, until you don’t what works for you and what doesn’t and can try the drugstore.
That said, CVS/Walgreens/Target will take returns of opened makeup, so do not be shy about returning things you don’t like. Yes, it probably goes straight to the landfill, but if you hate it, it will end up in the landfill eventually anyway.
Also, Sephora offers samples. Especially when shopping for foundation, I always get samples and wear them for several days. I check in different lights, take lots of pictures and only then, make my final decision. I’ve had lots of products look fine in Sephora lighting, but after a few days of wear, I realize that it’s not for me.
Thank you. I really struggle with self esteem and I just don’t want to be judged. I want people to look at me and not my fatness.
Go to MAC at Dillards or go to Sephora. They’ll gladly help you. Plan on buying some makeup, though. They help you to sell product.