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That’ll Make Doing Your Makeup Infinitely Easier

Jackie Yap — November 5, 2019

17 Makeup Tips That’ll Make Doing Your Makeup Infinitely Easier

Do you wear makeup? Then, hi, you need these.

by BROOKE SHUNATONA and CARLY CARDELLINO

OCT 25, 2019

KHADIJA HORTON

With all the beauty influencers, YouTubers, and 13-year-olds who could pass for 20-year-olds out there, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one in the world who can’t do makeup like a pro. But don’t believe the lies you tell yourself! Anyone (yes, even you) can be good at doing their own beat with a few makeup tips and a little guidance. Whether you’re looking to tackle the cat eye or finally figure out how to contour and highlight, I’ve got 17 must-try makeup tips for you below. So grab your makeup bag and that one product (err, products?) you never learned how to use, and keep scrolling.

Makeup Tip #1: Melt Your Pencil Liner to Help It Glide

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

Fact: Creamy makeup products blend better when they’re warmed up. So if your kohl eyeliner pencil skips or tugs on your eyelid or takes multiple coats for a decent color payoff, melt it down slightly before you start lining. To do so, hold the tip of your kohl liner under the flame of a lighter for a second or until it gets tacky, let it cool slightly (swatch it on your hand to make sure it’s not too hot or melted), then watch the consistency change right before your eyes.

Makeup Tip #2: Use White Eyeliner to Make Your Eyeshadow Pop

To make a sheer or less pigmented eyeshadow appear more vibrant on your eyelid, blend a white eyeliner pencil over your entire eyelid first. Then, put your eyeshadow right on top. The opaque coverage of the white liner will intensify any eyeshadow shade and make it pop.

NYX JUMBO EYE PENCIL SHADOW LINER

amazon.com

$2.59

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MAYBELLINE NEW YORK LASTING DRAMA LIGHT EYELINER

amazon.com

$4.49

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URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON EYE PENCIL

urbandecay.com

$22.00

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RIMMEL LONDON SOFT KOHL KAJAL EYELINER PENCIL

amazon.com

$9.99

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Makeup Tip #3: Outline Your Cat Eye First

ELIZABETH GRIFFIN

If you’re struggling with nailing your winged eyeliner look (also, hi, same, I feel you), try drawing the outline of the shape first and then filling it in. Extend a line beyond your lower lash line to create the bottom of your cat eye first. Then, decide on the thickness you want for your wing, and trace the top line from the end point of your flick to your upper lash line. Once you have the shape mapped out on both sides and everything looks symmetrical, fill in the open space.

Makeup Tip #4: Use a Spoon as a Stencil Winged Liner

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

If freehand drawing your cat eye just isn’t gonna happen for you, grab a spoon and use it as a stencil. Holding the stem of a spoon against the outer corner of your eye, use a liquid eyeliner to draw a straight line as the first step for your cat eye. Then, flip the spoon so it’s hugging your eyelid, and use the rounded outer edge to create a perfectly curved winged effect.

Makeup Tip #5: Hack a Smoky Eye With a Hashtag

A smoky eye can go from sultry to sloppy real fast if you don’t know what you’re doing. To keep it simple, use a creamy eyeliner to draw a slanted hashtag symbol on the outer third of your eyelid, then blend it out with the sponge or a smudging brush. This will not only ensure that both eyes are symmetrical, but also prevent you from getting a little too crazy with the eyeliner.

Makeup Tip #6: Use a Spoon as a Mascara Shield

Nothing is more annoying than making your eyeshadow look perfect, and then swiping on mascara and ruining the whole thing with smudges. The fix? Hold a spoon so it's hugging your eyelid, then apply your mascara like you normally would. As you sweep the mascara wand against your lashes and back of the spoon, the residue will coat the back of the utensil rather than your skin. Genius.

COVERGIRL LASH BLAST ACTIVE MASCARA IN VERY BLACK

amazon.com

$5.79

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DIORSHOW PUMP ‘N’ VOLUME HD MASCARA

sephora.com

$29.50

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TOO FACED BETTER THAN SEX MASCARA

ulta.com

$24.00

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NARS CLIMAX MASCARA

sephora.com

$24.00

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Makeup Tip #7: Revive Mascara With Saline Solution

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

Word of advice: Only use a tube of mascara for three months, max. Beyond that point, it can collect bacteria and lead to eye infections and other unfortunate things you wouldn’t want to search on Google Images. But if your mascara annoyingly dries up within those first three months, add a couple drops of saline solution into the flaky formula to get it back to its smooth consistency.

Makeup Tip #8: Heat Your Eyelash Curler With a Hair Dryer

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

DIY your own heated lash curler by blowing hot air on your eyelash curler. The added heat will help your lashes curl faster and keep the shape for longer. Just hit your lash curler with a blow dryer until it heats up, wait until it cools slightly but is still warm (test it on the inside of your arm so you don’t burn your eyelid), then clamp down on your lashes to curl them.

Makeup #9: Plump Your Lashes With Translucent Powder

Dust some translucent setting powder on your lashes between coats of mascara to plump up your lashes. The translucent powder helps grip the mascara in between coats, leaving you with fuller, more voluminous lashes.

Makeup Tip #10: Apply Eyelash Glue With a Bobby Pin

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

If you always make a mess with eyelash glue and end up with clumpy-looking fake lashes, try this makeup tip: Use the tip of a clean bobby pin to carefully apply a few dots of glue to the lash band and disperse it evenly. Wait a few seconds or until the glue is tacky and then pop the lashes on.

Makeup Tip #11: Set Your Lip Color With a Tissue and Powder

For lip color that lasts hours, just swipe on your shade, lay a tissue over your mouth, then dust translucent powder over the top to set the color from budging or bleeding. This process may seem ~extra~, but the payoff is 100-percent worth it. The translucent powder alone could alter your lip shade, but using the tissue as a shield will protect it from lightening or dulling.

Makeup Tip #12: Mix Your Own Lip Color With Petroleum Jelly

KATHLEEN KAMPHAUSEN

If you have an eyeshadow that you love so much and also want to wear as a lip shade, mix the loose pigments with a little bit of petroleum jelly (Aquaphor or Vaseline works fine) in a spoon and just swipe it onto your lips. Boom. Your own, custom lip gloss. Best makeup tip ever.

MAKE UP FOR EVER STAR LIT POWDER

sephora.com

$21.00

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NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP PIGMENTS

ulta.com

$4.55

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ARTIST COUTURE DIAMOND GLOW POWDER

sephora.com

$27.00

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MAC PIGMENT

nordstrom.com

$10.20

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Makeup Tip #13: Define Your Cupid’s Bow With an “X”

The easiest and quickest way is define your cupid’s bow is to take a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick and create an “X” that lines up with your natural lip line. Then fill in the bottom three sections of the “X” with lipstick and continue applying it as you normally would to complete your look.

Makeup Tip #14: Conceal Under Your Eyes With a Triangle Shape

If you want to really brighten your under-eye area, stop dotting on your concealer and try applying it in a triangular shape. Draw the base of the triangle directly under your lash line and the tip pointing toward the apple of your cheek. This helps fully conceal any redness and shadows to create the illusion of brighter under eyes.

Makeup Tip #15: Use a Brush Handle as a Contour Guide

Everyone’s face is shaped differently, so where your BFF might be doing her contour may not be the best place for you to do yours. To tell where you should be dusting on your bronzer or contour powder, roll a pencil, pen, or makeup brush handle right below your cheekbone (directly in the pocket underneath the actual bone) to find the right angle for your face. Once you’ve found the correct placement, dust some bronzer right below it with a contouring brush, then blend the color out to soften it.

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS CONTOUR KIT

ulta.com

$40.00

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SMASHBOX THE CALI CONTOUR PALETTE

ulta.com

$39.00

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KAT VON D SHADE + LIGHT FACE CONTOUR REFILLABLE PALETTE

sephora.com

$49.00

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DIOR BACKSTAGE CONTOUR PALETTE

sephora.com

$45.00

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Makeup Tip #16: Map Your Contours With a Brow Pencil

ELIZABETH GRIFFIN

Don’t have a cream contour stick? No problem. After you’ve applied your foundation, mark the areas you want to contour—the hollows under your cheekbones, your temples, along your hairline, jawline, the sides of your nose, the tip of the nose, and the crease of your eyes—with a deeply colored brow gel pencil. Yep, you read that right. Brow gel pencils are really concentrated, yet very smudge-able, which makes them perfect for contouring.

Makeup Tip #17: Blot Your Oil With a Clean Toilet Seat Cover

Okay, yes, this sounds gross, but hear me out! Both blotting papers and toilet seat covers are made out of similar materials and will help soak up the excess oil on your skin. So, if you’re in a pinch and headed to the bathroom to freshen up anyway, grab one of these covers and pat it over your T-zone to decrease any excess oil on your face.

20 Best Makeup Products You Need In Your Stash

Jackie Yap — November 5, 2019

20 Best Makeup Products You Need In Your Stash

Sorry in advance to your bank account.

by AMA KWARTENG

OCT 24, 2019

KATIE BUCKLEITNER

I'm a makeup junkie and a beauty editor (aka I inundated with launches to review daily—no, I'm not complaining) it just definitely adds another level to the struggle of finding products that legit work. To make the process a little less painful for us all, though, I decided to really sit down and swatch, swipe, and test everything in the name of finding the best makeup products that are actually worth spending cash on. Ahead are the best 20 I could find—these include all of my favorites from 2019 (so far), ranging from a long-lasting lip stain to a can't-live-without bronzer. Keep reading to discover the new beauty staples you need to add to your makeup bag ASAP. Don't worry, you can thank me later.

best makeup product: this tinted moisturizer

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

COURTESY IMAGE

nordstrom.com

$39.95

Just when you thought this cult-favorite tinted moisturizer couldn't get any better...it effing did. With a brand new formula that launched this year (with super moisturizing ingredients, like macadamia oil), and an expanded shade range (bless!), you need to put this on your face RIGHT NOW. It gives you that perfect, sheer no-makeup makeup look with a little bit of added glow.

best makeup product: this eyeshadow palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Jackie Aina Palette

COURTESY IMAGE

macys.com

$45.00

You know how sometimes you'll swipe on a shadow and it barely even shows up? Yea, you won't have to worry about that with this eyeshadow palette. Beauty influencer, Jackie Aina, collabed with Anastasia Beverly Hills to create a palette with insane color payoff that's also easy to build on. There's also 14 shadows, from matte finishes to metallic, that you can use to create any look you dream up.

best makeup product: this foundation stick

MAC Studio Fix Soft Matte Foundation Stick

COURTESY IMAGE

macys.com

$31.00

I don't know about you but my foundation slides off my face by lunchtime and I look legit scary. So, because I don't want to carry a massive bottle of liquid foundation to touch up during the day, I throw this foundation stick in my bag. The formula is really blendable and it leaves behind a matte finish that won't dry your skin out or settle into your fine lines.

best makeup products: this brow pencil

Benefit Cosmetics Brow Styler

COURTESY IMAGE

revolve.com

$34.00

This brow pencil changed my life—seriously, wtf was I doing before this existed?? It's a two-in-one eyebrow pencil and powder that shapes and fills your brows. I use mine to create a more natural look, but if you're into bold brows this pencil will get the job done. Oh, and it lasts for hours—like until you wash your makeup off at night.

best makeup products: this lip gloss

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Busy Gal Gloss

COURTESY IMAGE

ulta.com

$17.00

Ask anyone who knows me, but I loooove a good lip gloss. I'll wear it alone or throw it on over a lipstick to add some sheen. And this lip gloss from Tarte is one of the best I've tried all year. It doesn't even feel like you're wearing lip gloss—I know, seems impossible, right? It's lightweight, hydrating (thanks, vitamin E), and because of the vanilla in the formula, it smells good enough to eat (pls don't do that, though).

best beauty products: this liquid foundation

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear Foundation

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$35.00

I was already obsessed with Fenty Beauty's matte foundation, so I couldn't wait to try out this new hydrating foundation—and it didn't disappoint. It gives you full coverage with a natural finish that doesn't cake. It's also packed with grape seed oil, with leaves you with a dewy, but not oily, glow.

best makeup products: this vegan mascara

Clove and Hallow FlexLash Mascara

COURTESY IMAGE

cloveandhallow.com

$19.00

This cruelty-free and vegan mascara is legit a dream. The thin formula locks your hairs in place without weighing them down, and the short bristles are able to grab and coat even your smallest of lashes.

best makeup products: this blush stick

Milk Makeup Glow Oil Lip + Cheek

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$15.00

So, technically, this can be used on your cheeks and your lips, making it a two-in-one (aka a win-win). If you're going for the bb angel sent from above glow, this needs to be your go-to blush stick. It's super easy to use—just swipe it onto your cheeks (or lips) and use your fingers to blend it in. You're going to be obsessed with the sheer color tint left behind.

best makeup products: this liquid eyeliner

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Liquid Eyeliner

COURTESY IMAGE

neimanmarcus.com

$27.00

The tip of this liquid eyeliner is so sharp it could honestly prick your finger. Kidding, but, seriously—it's precise and glides on like a charm, so you won't have to stress about tugging or pulling. Plus, the color payoff is a 10/10 and the waterproof formula lasts for hours.

best makeup products: these highlighter drops

Becca Glow Silk Highlighter Drops

COURTESY IMAGE

macys.com

$7.50

Afraid of using a liquid highlighter? Don't be, it's super easy. Apply a couple of drops of this one on the high points of your face (cheekbones, temples, and the bridge of the nose) and blend. The result? A weightless, pigmented glow that'll have people stopping in their tracks.

best makeup products: this lip balm

Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss'r Luscious Lip Balm

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$18.00

I have this lip balm in my bag, on my nightstand, and on my desk at work—it's that good. It smooths out and softens my flaky lips—shout out to the hydrating shea and mango butters—without feeling too heavy on.

best makeup products: this mascara

Stila Magnum XXX Mascara

COURTESY IMAGE

dermstore.com

$23.00

The name of this mascara reveals that it truly does the most in the best way possible. The fibers of the wand lock onto each lash giving them volume, length, and curl that won't clump. And the hourglass shape of the wand means you can customize your lash look from natural to over the top—the shorter bristles deposit less pigment, while the longer one kick out the lashes at your outer corners.

best makeup products: this lipstick

Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$52.00

Pat McGrath is the 'Mother of Makeup,' and this lipstick is her golden child. Because of the Brazil nut oil in the formula, it not only swipes on super easily, but it also hydrates your lips while leaving them with an Insta-worthy glitter finish.

best makeup products: this liquid blush

Em Cosmetics Color Drops Serum Blush

COURTESY IMAGE

emcosmetics.com

$25.00

All you need is one drop of this liquid blush on both cheeks to get a lit from within glow. Want a more pigmented look? Feel free to add a couple more drops—the formula is very buildable and blendable, so it won't leave you looking like you have rosy clown cheeks, like some other blushes.

best makeup products: this cream foundation

Best Makeup Products: Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Balm

COURTESY IMAGE

dermstore.com

$52.00

The other members of Cosmo's beauty team has been raving about this cream foundation, so I had to try it. And, guys, it lived up to every word. It gives you a full coverage, matte finish that makes you look FaceTuned IRL. And, it filled with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, two MVP ingredients that work to hydrate and condition your skin.

best makeup products: this liquid eyeshadow

Stila Suede Shade Liquid Eyeshadow

COURTESY IMAGE

revolve.com

$24.00

Smooth, easy to blend, and lightweight—all of these words describe this liquid eyeshadow. And just because it's a matte suede shadow doesn't mean that it's going to fall flat on your eyes. The shadow gives your look depth and dimension without going overboard. Wear it alone, or pair it with another shadow.

best makeup products: this lip stain

Bite Beauty Outburst Longwear Lip Stain

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$24.00

Don't get it twisted—yes, this is a lip stain, but the color is still intensely bold and vibrant. There's also passionflower and coconut oil swimming around in the formula, keeping you moisturized all day long. Another bonus? The color actually stays on your lips, no matter what you had for lunch.

best makeup products: this powder blush

NYX Professional Makeup Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush

COURTESY IMAGE

macys.com

$7.50

This powder blush is a dream to apply. The texture is really smooth, and it glides right on, giving you a shimmery finish that's just right. Sweep the blush on your temples and around the edges of your forehead for an allover flush.

best makeup products: this cream concealer

Marc Jacobs Beauty Accomplice Concealer & Touch-Up Stick

COURTESY IMAGE

neimanmarcus.com

$32.00

I find that a lot of stick concealers end up looking streaky on my face, but that's not the case with this one. It's creamy, smooth, and it won't leave streaks on top of your foundation. The blendable formula also gives you medium coverage, but you can easily build it up to full coverage if you need to fake a full night's sleep.

best makeup products: this bronzer

Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer

COURTESY IMAGE

sephora.com

$30.00

My friends will let you know that I am absolutely obsessed with this bronzer (like, I can't stop talking about it). There's a shade for everyone (yes, even you), and it blends in easily without leaving behind any harsh lines. It'll make you look like you just got off a yacht in Ibiza, even if you actually spent all day sitting under fluorescent lights at work.

AMA KWARTENGAma Kwarteng is the Beauty Assistant at Cosmopolitan, covering all things hair, skin, makeup, for both print and digital.