Mother Knows Best: Tips from a Professional Makeup Artist

How on earth did I get ties with a makeup artist who worked for Chanel, MAC and managed the beauty department at Nordstrom? Well, she’s my mom! Back in the 1980s, my mom got her makeup license and worked for MAC, Chanel and then in the ‘90s became manager of the cosmetics department at Nordstrom.

My mom has always done my makeup for dance recitals, Halloween, homecoming and prom. I go to her with any questions I have regarding makeup: How do I find my foundation shade? Who has the best eyeliner? I have learned a lot from her over the years, so why not share some tips from a licensed makeup artist to you all!

Tips:

Some people do not always want to have a whole full face of makeup for everyday wear or even going out. And that is totally okay! An easy look is brushing your brows with a spoolie, a little blush, some tinted lip balm! MAC’s spice lip liner is a great fall and winter color. Simply line and fill in your lips, then finish them off with some clear gloss or balm.

Brows really do make or break your look. Clean, brushed and trimmed eyebrows help frame your face. Spoolies and brow brushes are an important tool; just as you brush your hair, make sure to brush your brows, and you will definitely see a difference.

Always clean your hands before applying makeup! This is especially important for applying foundation. A mistake most people make is directly pouring foundation onto the skin, which causes excess and makeup waste. Instead, pour an amount on your hand, dot some on with your CLEAN fingers, and use your sponge or brush to blend in circular motions. Always remember primer or sunscreen before applying anything.

My biggest struggle has always been eyeliner and eyeshadow. I can never have straight lines and my hands get nervous. To help apply eyeliner in a straight line, rest the bottom of your hand on your chin, and then draw on your eyeliner. This helps steady your hand, so it doesn’t go on thick or uneven. I also highly recommend getting a gel pot eyeliner and an angled brush; this combination makes applying eyeliner so much easier. Plus, you’ll get a more pigmented color that does not move. Lining your lower lash line with a thin line of white or yellow eye pencil helps brighten the whites of your eyes and makes them pop.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Waterproof Cream Color, $14

When applying eyeshadow, build up to the color and intensity that you want. Remember that intensity and brightness do not come from one swipe of the brush. Apply the color to your lids, and make sure you blend the shade in.

Some eyeshadow trends for this fall:

Jewel colors like emerald, amethyst and sapphire
Bright under eyeliner like a plum or cool tone
Subtle smokey eye with dusty neutrals
Bronze dewey eyeliner paired with a glossy lip

Always throw out your mascara 6 month after opening it! I cannot stress this enough. Air gets in bottles and bacteria builds up, so 6 months is the prime time to throw anything that goes on your eyes away. You may get a bad eye infection if not.

Another tip: Don’t wear waterproof mascara every day, but save it for special occasions. It can be heavy on your lashes and dry them out. Lancome’s Monsieur Big mascara is a great mascara that my mom and I live by.

Always have Qtips on hand for touching up eye makeup and use them often! Makeup moves around more often than you think, so Qtips help clean up under and around your eyes.

Those are some essential tips my mom has shared with me that will help your daily makeup routines. Whatever you get out of this article, your biggest takeaway should be that practice makes perfect. Makeup is an art that can never be perfected, so don’t be afraid to try and experiment with fun looks!

Graphics by: Alexa Ayala Guzman