Do you consider yourself a makeup dummy? Then this article might just be able to assist you with that. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, many women have already planning their date outfits. This may or may not include the age old adornment tradition of some good ole maquillage. With so many new techniques to take advantage of some women may feel very overwhelmed and burdened quiet quickly. Highlighting and contouring, reverse contouring , strobbing- it’s quiet a lot for a non-makeup artist to keep up with. Afterall, all you want to do is feel pretty right.

truth be told, this is not a competition and there is absolutely no reason to feel the need to keep up with The Jones. You don’t need every single product that hits t he shelves and sites. Instead, focus on a ‘look’ that works for you and your facial structure and focus on that, every now and then utilizing variations of it. Most importantly, the focus should always be on clean, healthy skin which should never be neglected with practices such as sleeping with makeup on or cleansing with harsh chemicals and products. Your skin is your biggest organ and therefore should be treated with care.

Here are some simple yet effective makeup tips that may come in handy for the woman who is classy and minimalistic. it’s absolutely okay if you don’t like bright red and pink lipstick.

BEGIN WITH A GOOD PALETTE

Your main aim is to even out your skin tone and cover up any pesky blemishes. This does not mean you ought to strive for a cakey look. Pro Makeup Vlogger (popular on YouTube), Wayne Goss suggests adding a tad bit of natural oil to your favourite liquid foundation. This he claims adds luminosity to the skin after the combination has been applied. This helps to eliminate that baked look many of us aren’t a fan of, recreating healthy, glowing skin. The best oils to utilize are jojoba, argan or coconut as these are actually good for your skin. If you are a fan of hydrating serum this too can be utilized. If after application you aren’t satisfied with the coverage simply go ahead and repeat the process ‘building’ as you go along. Your fave BB/CC cream or tinted moisturizer works well too.

MAKE A STATEMENT

The perfect way to make a bang without going over the top is with your eyes. Eyeliner and some shadow makes the smallest eyes look big and bold with too much va vaa voom. A smoky eye is the perfect beauty look, adding just the right amount of drama. Be careful not go overboard with dark hues! Instead, stick to a neutral palette of gold, light brown, and nude colours with a hint of dark brown or black that allows your eyes to be the focal point. Don’t you dare forget to blend that baby all the way so there are no harsh lines. A Q-tip or your fingers works fine. A few stroke of mascara and you are ready to take on the world.

NB. If you’re seeking to pump things up a bit you can line your lower lid with a coloured pencil.

PUCKER UP

If you’ve gotten this far then it means you like less than more. So that bright red lip colour we spoke of earlier may not be your first choice anyway. If you’re going for the smokey eye look then it would be best to go for a more a subtle look on your lips. Coral, peach and nude are great choices for achieving a toned down look and you can line your lip with something a little darker than what you will be using for a little plump.

Finish by dusting with a translucent powder mainly on the center of the face aka the “T-Zone” and spray with a setting spray to ensure everything stays in place and doesn’t slide around. If you have oily skin you can start with a primer which will also provide some extra security.

GOLDEN RULE: For the ultimate subtle look do not use black eyeliner or brow fillers. EVER!

when filling in your brows, ensure you utilize hair like strokes as opposed to drawing a box like shape. It does not come across as cute or demure.