macbrule:

this is frequently asked but it’s too long and relevant to put in my FAQ. but anyways here are my top tips for natural looking skin regardless of the foundation coverage you’re wearing! :)

• exfoliate
getting rid of unnecessary dead skin cells on the outer layer of your skin will basically allow you to have a smooth surface so everything that goes on top glides on 

• moisturize
this is important regardless your skin type (ofc there are different kinds of moisturizers that are better for oily, dry, combo, sensitive etc) but the concept of moisturizing is so important. it hydrates your skin, prevents excess oil, and is just so important

• primer
primer preps your skin for makeup and helps even out the texture of your skin so makeup products don’t cling on to dry areas

• foundation
ofcourse the lighter the coverage, the more natural it’ll look but life isn’t always so simple haha. even if you wear a full coverage foundation, you can still look natural! i recommend going over your freshly applied foundation with a damp sponge to take off excess product

• concealer
to make your concealer look natural and not cakey, i recommend first patting it on with your finger, and then blending it out with a precise blending brush so it gives an airbrushed effect

• powder
powder could be one of the reasons why you look cakey. i find that translucent powders look so much more natural yet flawless on the skin. some people like getting coverage out of their powder, but getting the necessary coverage from your foundation/concealer looks more like real skin!

• blush/highlight
going for cream or liquid blushes/highlighters look much more natural on the skin because it’s like it just melts into the skin whereas powder products sit on top. i’m more of a powder cheek product girl lol so it’s really personal preference but if you feel like your blush and highlighter looks like it’s just sitting on top looking all powdery (especially under sun light) maybe switch it up to cream/liquid formulas!

• setting spray
i really don’t see any disadvantages of makeup setting sprays besides the fact that they’re usually not so great for travel. it sets in the powder (and the rest of your makeup) into the skin and actually gives the “skin” look even after all the makeup you put on :)

makeuploversunite:

So i get a lot of questions about basic makeup items to have for beginners so this will give drugstore & high end options to help start your collection! I know going into a cosmetic store can be overwhelming so here is a little guide :)

Face Primer. This step isnt necessary but it’s good to have a base before foundation either moisturizer or primer or both!

• For oily/combination skin i recommend Phillip’s Milk Of Magnesia (not a beauty product but very popular in the beauty world as an affordable primer to help control oily skin), Neutrogena Shine Control, Benefit Porefessional, Smashbox Photofinish Light.
• For normal/dry skin i recommend Benefit Porefessional, MAC Prep & Prime Skin Base, Monistat Anti Chafing Gel (not a beauty product but has the same ingredients as many high end primers, great at giving skin a smooth base) or Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer.

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer. 

• Foundations for oily/combination skin: Revlon Colorstay (medium/full coverage), Estee Lauder Double Wear (medium/full coverage), NARS Sheer Matte (light/medium coverage), Lancome Tient Idole Ultra 25 Hour (medium coverage), Tarte Amazonian Clay (full coverage), Kat Von D Lock It (full coverage)
• Foundations for normal/dry skin: Loreal True Match (medium coverage), Loreal Magic Lumi (medium coverage), Neutrogena Healthy Skin (medium/full coverage), Revlon Nearly Naked (light/medium coverage), Lancome Tient Miracle (medium/full coverage), NARS Sheer Glow (light/medium coverage), Urban Decay Naked (medium coverage)
• Great Tinted Moisturizers/BB Creams - Loreal BB Cream (oily/combination skin), Garnier BB Cream (normal/dry skin) Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Smashbox BB Cream.

Concealer. 

• For face (full coverage) - Revlon Photoready, Covergirl Smoothers, Hard Candy Glamoflauge (sold at Walmart only), MAC Studio Finish or Kat Von D Tattoo concealer.
• For under eyes for a brighter effect - Loreal Magic Lumi, Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser, MAC Select Cover Up concealer. 

Powder. 

• For a matte look: Rimmel Stay Matte, Maybelline Dream Matte, MAC Studio Fix, Makeup Forever Duo Matte.
• For a more natural look/not too matte: Revlon Nearly Naked powder, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural, Benefit Hello Flawless, any translucent powder (white but applies clear)

Blush.

• Brands that make good inexpensive blushes: Sleek (UK), Wet n Wild, ELF, NYX & Milani
• Brands that make good higher end blushes: Tarte, NARS, MAC, Illamasqua & Benefit

Bronzer: 

• Good matte bronzers (good for contouring): NYC Sunny, Benefit Hoola, Too Faced Chocolate Solieil 
• Good bronzers with shimmer: Wet n Wild Princess bronzer, Physicians Formula Bronze Booster, MAC Refined Golden, NARS Laguna or Tarte Park Avenue Princess 

Lip Products. 

• Best lipstick brands: Wet n Wild, NYX, Revlon, Loreal, Maybelline, MAC, NARS, Buxom, 
• Best lip glosses: Revlon’s Colorburst lip glosses & Revlon’s Super Lusturous lip glosses, NYX’s lip glosses, Maybelline Color Sensational lip glosses, All MAC lip glosses, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish & NARS Lip gloss.

Brow Products.

• Good brow pencils: Rimmel Brow Pencil, Maybelline Define a Brow, MAC Brow Pencil, Anastasia Brow Pencil
• Good Brow Powders: Wet n Wild brow kit, ELF’s Brow Kit, Anastasia Eyebrow Duo, Benefit Brow Duo. But any matte eyeshadow will work well :)

thehomoschedule:

chaoticwanderings:

aka “I’m a 22 year old newb and needed to find some resources”. Here’s what I’ve found so far that has really helped me! Lots of these are youtube tutorials; I find it more helpful to see someone doing it rather than just reading about it.

General:

• Makeup Starter Kit Guide
• How to Apply Makeup for Beginners
• 18 Makeup Tips for Beginners
• Easy Beginners Makeup - Drugstore
• Simple Everyday Makeup Tutorial
• Makeup for Beginners 101: Intro and Essential Items
• Beginners Makeup Bag (with TONS are helpful links in video)
• Makeup Mistakes We All Make
• 10 Beauty Mistakes I Used to Make
• Makeup Mistakes Black Women Commonly Make
• 13 Beauty Hacks
• Makeup Trends We’re Ditching in 2015 (hilarious)

Specific:

Eyes:

• 9 Different Eyeliner Looks
• How to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger
• Beginner Eye Makeup Tips and Tricks
• Easy Ways to Use Liquid Eyeliner
• Eye Shape x, x, x
  

Face:

• How to Cover Acne & Scars
• How to Apply Foundation
• Best Foundations for Women of Color
• How to Find Your Undertones
• Blush for Face Shapes
• Make Your Nose Look Smaller with Contouring
  

Lips:

• How to Wear a Dark Lip/Finding Your Tone
• Matte Lip Routine
  

Brows:

• Eyebrow Tutorial
• Perfect Eyebrow Tutorial

Tools:

• Breakdown of Brushes

Youtube Channels:

• TheMakeupChair
• Chanel Boateng
• Makeup Game On Point
• Michelle Phan

Blogs:

• Makeuploversunite
• makeuptips-blog
• makeupartistsofcolour (half makeup, half informational)

Cruelty Free Brands:

• Hard Candy
• N.Y.C.
• e.l.f.
• Lush
• Wet n Wild
• bh cosmetics
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
• Impulse Cosmetics
• Urban Decay
• illamasqua
• Melt Cosmetics
• Sugarpill
• Colourpop
• Kat Von D
• Anastasia
• NARS
• Smashbox

*Important Note: Some of these brands may or may not be sold in other countries that require animal testing by law in order for the products to be sold, but I don’t have the time to research animal testing laws outside the US as well as what brands sell in those countries. So I’m leaving this one up to you. 

Okay, this has been in my drafts for at least 3 months now. Time to roll it out! Keep in mind, these are videos/bloggers that helped me specifically and there may be some videos/links that aren’t as useful to you. That’s okay! I recommend you get lost in the beauty blogger side of youtube at some point, it’s a lot of fun and you never know what you’ll find!

And on a last note of disclaimer: I don’t follow the personal lives/twitter feed/rumors about anyone in these videos. I don’t know if someone is problematic or not, I am simply recommending the video.

wonderful resource for nonbinary/trans people who have a desire to wear makeup, but were never taught because of gross gender roles