Let's be real, putting on makeup can feel like learning an entirely new language when you first start. If you’ve never touched a mascara wand in your life or only ever stolen lip gloss from your older cousin, don’t worry. This is your zero-pressure, no-shame guide to what makeup is, how to use it, and what you actually need to get started. I promise, as someone who never touched makeup till age 14, it is not nearly as complicated as it seems.

The Makeup Breakdown: What’s What + What’s Worth Buying

If you have no clue what each product is called and what it is used for, don’t worry. I got you covered with my top recommendations for each product.

Primer

Primer helps to create a smooth, even surface as well as hydrate your skin. It helps makeup stick better and last longer.

• Milk Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer
• Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer

Foundation

This evens out your skin tone and gives your skin a uniform canvas. It ranges in type from sheer to full coverage, depending on how heavy you want to go. For beginners, I recommend starting on the more natural side.

• IL MAKIAGE Flawless Base Foundation
• Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

As a substitute for foundation on days when trying to go more natural, here are some tinted moisturizers/sunscreens that provide just as good of a base:

• Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40
• Saie Slip Tint – Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer

Concealer

A product used to cover specific spots like pimples, redness, or dark circles. You dab it on and blend it out where needed.

• Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
• Bobbi Brown Skin Full Coverage Longwear Concealer

Powder

This product is used to set your makeup so it doesn’t move around or get shiny throughout the day. It comes in loose or pressed form, and is especially great if you have oily skin.

• HUDA BEAUTY Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder
• Charlotte Tilbury Mini Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Blurring & Setting Powder

Image Credit: Ulami from Pixabay

Contour

Used to create shadows on your face, usually under your cheekbones, along your jawline, and the sides of your nose. It helps define and sculpt your features so they look more angular or “snatched.”

• Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand
• MAKEUP BY MARIO Mini SoftSculpt Shaping Stick

Blush

This product adds a flush of color to your cheeks so you don’t look washed out. It makes you look more awake, healthy, and alive.

• Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
• NARS Talc-Free Powder Blush

Bronzer

Bronzer gives warmth and dimension to your face, especially around the cheeks, forehead, and jawline. It mimics a sun-kissed glow.

• Saie Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Sculpting Liquid Bronzer
• Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Airbrush Matte Bronzer

Image Credit: maricabooysen from Pixabay

Highlighter

A shimmery product you swipe on high points of your face (cheekbones, nose, brow bone) to catch the light and make your skin glow.

• Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator
• Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter

Mascara

Mascara is applied to your lashes to make them look longer, darker, and fuller. It instantly makes your eyes pop.

• BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara
• ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara

Eyebrow Stuff

Fill in gaps, shape, or tame your brows. Pencils can be used to add definition, and gels can be used to set the eyebrow in place.

• Precisely, My Brow Tinted Eyebrow Wax
• Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer

Lip Stuff

These products add color, shine, or moisture to your lips. Gloss is shiny, balm is hydrating, tint is subtle, and lipstick brings bold color.

Lip Gloss/Lip Oil:

• Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment for Hydration
• DIOR Lip Glow Oil Hydrating High-Shine Gloss
• ShineOn Lip Jelly Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil

Lipstick:

• Fenty Icon The Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick
• Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick

Image Credit: karolinagrabowska from Pixabay

Take the Quiz: What’s Your Perfect Skincare Product for the 'Clean Girl' Look?

Take this quiz to discover the perfect skincare product for your “clean girl” routine!

The Order That Makes Sense: Your Step-by-Step Routine

You do not need to do all of this every time. But if you want a full face, here’s how my order usually goes:

1. Wash and moisturize your face – before putting on makeup to keep skin healthy and clean.

2. Primer – rub all over face before putting on any makeup.

3. Foundation/tinted sunscreen – use a sponge, fingers, or brush and blend in all over your face.

4. Concealer – tap it on under your eyes and over dark spots to cover any dark circles.

5. Contour/Bronzer – choose one or both to put on your temples, jawline and side of nose.

7. Blush – apply to the apple of your cheeks to give them a pink touch. Make sure to blend in with a brush or sponge.

8. Highlighter – tap or brush onto cheekbones, bridge of nose, and cupid's bow to give some shine to those areas.

9. Powder – apply on your nose, chin, and any other place on your face that may get greasy.

10. Mascara – wiggle it at the roots of your eyelashes and swipe up.

11. Brows – brush or fill in a little till the thickness and shape are to your liking.

12. Lips – swipe on gloss or lipstick, and you're done.

Common Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

• Not blending enough – blend until the product disappears into your skin. If you can still see where it starts and ends, keep going.
• Overdoing it – less is more: apply a little, then step back and check in the mirror before adding more.
• Skipping skincare – clean, moisturized skin is the best base. Even a little moisturizer makes everything go on smoother and keeps your skin nice and healthy.
• Comparing yourself to others – everyone’s face, style, and skill level is different. Focus on what feels good on you, not what works on someone else.

Image Credit: u_etr4z22siu from Pixabay

It's Just Makeup

At the end of the day, there are no rules when it comes to putting on makeup. The most important part is to feel confident in whatever you put on!