How to be Glamorous!

PART XI

How to apply makeup, step-by-step:

1. Start with moisturizer.

No matter what your skin type (dry, oily, or combination), it’s important to hydrate both morning and night—and don’t forget sunscreen in the a.m. Maulawizada recommends cleansing and toning (this is especially important at night!) before applying moisturizer. Then, he gives his skin a little relaxing massage.

“I take the moisturizer and warm it up between the palms of my hands and then massage it into the skin with upward and outward circular motions,” he says. The AHAVA Essential Day Moisturizer is the perfect lightweight cream for everyday use. It soaks in quickly so you can apply SPF on top and foundation and it won’t pill. It’s also rich with Dead Sea water, amino acid, and vitamins E and B5 to strengthen and nourish skin.

2. Apply primer.

While you don’t need a primer every day, it really helps keep your makeup on—especially on a busy or warm day. “A proper primer is meant to allow your makeup to wear the same all over your face,” explains Maulawizada. “Meaning that the makeup won’t disappear or set on the surface on the dry areas of the skin and will not separate on the oily areas such as the T-zone.” Just like with moisturizer, he likes to warm up primer in his hands. But this time, he pats it all over the face (instead of rubbing it!) where makeup will be applied.

A hydrating primer such as CIATÉ LONDON Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer is a great two-in-one moisturizer plus makeup prep. If you have dry skin, you might want to apply moisturizer first and then pat the primer on top. Those with oily skin might find this primer has enough hydration for them. It’s infused with watermelon extract, which is packed with vitamin C, and antioxidants, as well as hyaluronic acid to lock in all that non-greasy hydration.

3. Apply foundation.

You can apply foundation with either your fingers or a brush—it’s all up to your comfort level. Maulawizada prefers using his fingers only when applying a small amount, such as one layer of lightweight foundation or BB cream. For a more full-coverage look, he prefers distributing the foundation evenly on a nylon brush. He first applies the foundation to the flat parts of the face and finally, with less on the brush, applies it to the T-zone. “This will create the illusion of less makeup,” he adds. SMASHBOX COSMETICS Studio Skin 24 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation is the high-performing liquid formula that is best applied with a brush if you want heavier coverage. Don’t worry—it still won’t look cake-y. This formula is oil-free and infused with hyaluronic acid for the ultimate flexibility. It’s totally buildable and has a matte finish.

4. Apply concealer.

Just like foundation, you can apply concealer with either a concealer brush or your fingers but a brush will give you a bit more full-coverage makeup look. Still, when it comes to concealer, a little goes a long way and you really only need to apply it to the areas you want to hide. Dot concealer under your eyes to cover dark circles, starting small and building up as needed. “Concealer can get very cakey on the delicate skin around the eyes,” warns Maulawizada. Then, apply a little to any blemishes or red spots, allowing the formula to set for a few minutes before applying any type of powder on top. The YENSA SKIN ON SKIN BC Concealer is a stellar choice for all skin types and skin tones. The lightweight, full-coverage formula brightens and conceals. It’s infused with moisturizing, antioxidant-rich superfoods so it’ll never settle into fine lines and wrinkles.

5. Apply bronzer + blush.

Bronzer is super versatile because it can be used as contour or just a burst of warmth like you just got back from a beach vacation. When applied as a contour to sculpt your cheeks and jaw, you want to only add color where the sun would naturally tan your face. “[Focus on] your hairline, bridge of the nose, and the high points of your cheeks,” says Maulawizada. ”Contour should mimic the color of shadow on your skin,” he adds, so be careful not to choose a color too deep for your skin tone. A matte bronzer like Manly Beach from the NOMAD COSMETICS NOMAD x Sydney Bathers Kiss Of Sun Palette is perfect for blending onto the high points of the face. It contains macadamia oil to soften and moisturize your skin so it feels soft to the touch. It’s never overly heavy no matter how much you want to sculpt.

After bronzer, add a bit of brightness to the apples of your cheeks with shimmery blush. “Smile, and the highest points of your cheeks is where the blush is applied,” says Maulawizada. “Then in circular motion you blend it to diffuse the color.” THEBALM COSMETICS Will Powder Blush in Worth the Wait is a skin-brightening, natural-looking rosy blush that is buildable with a fluffy blush brush so you can keep applying until you’ve reached your target color.

6. Apply highlighter.

A makeup look isn’t complete without highlighter, either a swipe so blinding you can see it from space or a natural-looking glow. “Highlighter can be applied wherever you want to bring attention, like cheekbones or even clavicles,” says Maulawizada. He warns that although a tip-of-the-nose highlight is trendy on YouTube, it can look a bit dramatic and unnatural IRL. (Unless you’re going for that, of course, then rock on!) Using the same NOMAD COSMETICS NOMAD x Sydney Bathers Kiss Of Sun Palette, play around with the pink and golden highlighters in Balmoral and Tamarama Beach. Use your finger to apply just a tiny bit to the cheeks and brow bones or grab a fan brush and go all in layering on the glow.

7. Apply eyeshadow.

There are numerous ways to rock eyeshadow but when it comes to the basics, there are a few things to remember. “The light shades similar to your skin tone act as a base,” explains Maulawizada. “A darker shade creates shape and definition, as well as contours the eye. Shades in between are for the lids to marry the two seamlessly.” And that shimmer? Add it to the inner corners of your eyes to make them look big and bright. ITTSĒ The Van Ness Magnetic Eyeshadow Quad has every eye shadow color you need for a soft glam with intense color payoff. The buttery texture is ultra-blendable with a flat shadow or crease brush.

8. Apply eyeliner.

There are those who can’t live without eyeliner and those who only bust it out on special occasions. But it’s always nice to have a basic black liner in your makeup bag to use when the feeling strikes. Maulawizada likes to use a pencil eyeliner to make eyeshadow deeper and more dramatic. “It can be dotted between lashes to create a fuller lash base,” he adds. “And of course as a liner sharply or smudged to create definition around the eyes.” We love the TARTE tarteist™ Double Take Eyeliner in Black because it’s dual-ended for all the possibilities. Use the liquid eyeliner side to create crisp lines or sharp wings. The clay-infused gel pencil on the other side is perfect for applying to your waterline to make your eyes pop.

9. Apply mascara.

Makeup artists and us normal people usually apply mascara a bit differently. If you often just layer it on, try this trick from Maulawizada. “After curling the lashes, I wiggle the mascara at the root of the lashes and work it to the tips,” he says. This creates a full, dark lash line at the base of the lashes. The TARTE SEA surfer curl™ volumizing mascara allows you to skip the lash curler (if you so choose) since it both curls and adds volume at the same time. The vegan formula contains vitamin E and marine algae to condition lashes so you’ll never get that crunchy, spidery look no matter how many coats you apply. Perhaps most importantly, it’ll never smudge or smear.

10. Apply lip liner.

Applying lip liner might seem like an unimportant step but it can both contour your lips and make your lipstick last longer. Maulawizada prefers to line the lips with lip liner to contour and then he shades in the rest of the lips lightly. When lipstick is applied on top, it creates a plumping 3D effect. Plus, as the lipstick wears off, the liner shows underneath instead of bare lips. Choose a 3-in-one lip liner such as THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Lip Filler Long Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner in Ghizlan. The natural-looking plum mauve shade looks gorgeous on all skin tones and the formula is truly unique. It contains hydrating and plumping ingredients to minimize the appearance of lip lines and keep both lipstick and liner from fading and feathering. The long-wearing, waterproof formula is also vegan and cruelty-free so it basically has it all.

11. Apply lipstick + lip gloss.

The order of lip products is what is most important here. First comes lip liner, then lipstick and you finish with lip gloss. Maulawizada applies lipstick either right from the bullet or with a lip brush, lining the lips and then filling them in. ILLAMASQUA Antimatter Lipstick in Midnight is the perfect semi-matte, semi-satin lipstick in a true red. For a fuller pout, add lip gloss on top, right in the middle of your lips. “Make a kiss pout then tap the color to the lips,” Maulawizada says. If you’re going for a more laid-back look, just apply lip gloss all over the lips with the doe-foot applicator.

12. Apply setting powder + setting spray.

After all that work, you’ll want to set your makeup look with setting powder, setting spray, or both depending on your skin type and how long you need your makeup to stay. Maulawizada likes to use a velour puff saturated with setting powder but you can also use any fluffy brush. “Work the product into the puff and tap off any access on the back of the hand,” he explains. “Then, roll the puff where you want to set your makeup until you reach a desired matteness.” Think about where you’re most oily or where your makeup creases, such as under your eyes and around your T-zone. The BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Banana Setting Powder in Medium has a yellow tone to diminish the look of dark circles and even the skin tone as it creates a crease-proof finish.

If you prefer your skin to look less matte and more natural, setting spray is a great option either on top of powder or on its own. The COVER FX High Performance Setting Spray is a stellar alcohol and fragrance-free formula that sets makeup for up to 24 hours (seriously!). It contains fermented algae extract to help defend your skin against free radicals and environmental pollutants so it’s basically like skincare, as well. Who doesn’t love a two-for-one?