Selfie Does Makeup Lessons
Selfie’s at-home version
Our office has the worst lighting in the women’s bathroom I have ever encountered. That type of lighting that makes you look at yourself in shock like “Oh my god...do I feel okay?” This lighting is the inspiration for many of my moods and ideas including a new, really put-together everyday beauty look. Now, I believe I’ve casually mentioned my very casual* patronage of the very casual cosmetics store, Sephora, casually. Yes? Maybe? Well, generally when I go to try a new make-up look I’m like “Let’s have the GLITTTTTTER!!!! AND RED LIP!!!!!” so subtlety is not really the ol’ Selfie jam but I wanted to mix up my everyday look and as I normally do, I took an inspo photo to my girl Courtney and she KILLED it. So, when it came time to wash (off) my face at the end of the day, I thought (in my best Oliver Twist voice) “But, please, sir. I would like to look like this errday, please and thank you” soul-crushing, fluorescent lighting and all.
The Inspo
So, I did what I normally do: search the YouTubez for inspiration and a tutorial. But I just could not find an Olivia Culpo makeup tutorial anywhere.** Having run out of resources (I also checked her makeup artist on IG for tutorials. Nothing. That was the whole beauty LexisNexis I accessed), I thought, “Why not just go back to the source?” This brings us right back to the amazing Courtney. I reached out to her and asked if she’d be willing to give me a lesson on THE look. I’m legitimately so happy I did because while you definitely learn things while getting your makeup done, it in no way compares to the great tips and tricks, I learned during this lesson. (The tutorial is split out here today because it’s not super short.)
As a general shout-out, Courtney is the absolute bomb and serves LEWKS! With a capitol L! You can catch up with her and her beauty adventures on IG @touristtrappe.
Makeup Class Top Takeaways
Courtney’s profesh version of this look
Skincare is Supreme
There is no primer for this look which I was really surprised about. I thought primer was THE thing that gets your skin ready for a flawless beauty look but in reality, treating your skin well is really the trick. This probably seems super obvious but for a person who “invests” in the newest palette or foundation, focusing on skincare on a daily basis like…drinking enough water and really getting your makeup off matters. No amount of amazing foundation will take the place of that. Also, a lot of us tend to try and pat in oils or other products so as to not waste it but Courtney indicated that these are really products that should be rubbed into the face because they only work if they really soak in.
Bronzer Does Not Just Have to be Bronzer
Lipstick can be blush. Bronzer can be eyeshadow. Darker ambient powders can be bronzers.*** Powders can be used to change the tones of too-light winter foundations or too-dark summer foundations. You can use the same brush multiple ways in one look. Especially for this Hourglass palette, really learning how to use it and incorporate it in different ways makes me feel a lot better about the purchase. Using what I have instead of buying more stuff is so key (especially for expensive palettes.) I also travel a ton for work and learning to do a look with just one palette saves so much space – it really has been a lifesaver.
Product Order is Important
There were just so many nuggets of wisdom here but ensuring the liquids go on before powders was really helpful information. Especially, where you might assume you need to set. For example, you shouldn’t set your color corrector before applying your concealer because you’d be applying a powder before a cream which can cause the product to roll or not want to stay put all day.
Product Texture is Important
Using water-based primers with water-based foundations will help avoid that rolling texture that can occur with primers sometimes. When mixing foundations or illuminators into your foundation, ensuring that you mix the products together well will help with application, too.
How You Apply Matters
What I really valued about this lesson was that we were also taught actual MUA tips for applying products. For example, should we be stippling? Blending? Directional blending? Windshield wiping? Pressing and rolling? I took diligent notes and have noticed a difference as to how my make up applies which saves me a lot of time when I need it to look perfect.^
All Nighter is Really Not for Everyday (Sorry!)
I know everyone loves this setting spray or whatever your current fav is but it has a lot of alcohol in it so, unless you have a regimented 12-step skincare routine you go through every night, minimizing the use of this is better for your skin. For example, this is also my go-to look for seven-hour presentations. I sure as heck use a setting spray for that but otherwise, setting with the powder works for a normal day and won’t thrash your skin.
Have you tried our a new everyday look or taken a lesson? What new tips and tricks did you use?