Makeup for Beginners: Guide to Applying Makeup

Entering the world of makeup can feel a bit like wandering into an artist's studio for the first time: colors everywhere, a staggering number of tools, and endless possibilities. But where do you even start? If you've ever sat through a makeup tutorial for beginners and felt overwhelmed by the vast range of products out there, read on—we’ve got you “covered!”

Whether your goal is to create a natural everyday look or to discover the secrets to bold looks, this guide will provide the stepping stones to help you express yourself confidently. We will go over the essentials included in a makeup kit for beginners.

Step-by-Step Makeup Tutorial For Beginners

Explore all the products you need to start your makeup journey and build your makeup routine:

Skincare

When learning how to do makeup for beginners, the first thing to consider is skincare. When applied to nourished and radiant skin, makeup enhances your natural glow instead of working overtime to cover imperfections. Starting with a gentle cleanser is key. Cleansing removes impurities and prepares the skin to better absorb the benefits of makeup products. Following up with a light moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated, providing a smoother base for makeup to adhere to.

But not all skin is created equal. Whether you lean towards oily, dry, combination, or sensitive, understanding your unique skin type is paramount. Luckily, the skincare industry offers formulations for every skin type and concern. The bottom line? Invest in your skin—it’s the foundation upon which beauty is built.

Revlon® Face Defuzzers and ourSkin Reviving Roller can help get your skincareskin care routine off to a great start.

Primer

Primer is the unsung hero in many makeup routines, acting as a bridge between skincare and makeup application. Even with an impeccable skincare routine, our skin naturally has texture—think tiny pores, fine lines, and minor imperfections. A primer like the ColorStay™ Grip Matte Primer can fill in and blur these small inconsistencies, resulting in a seamless canvas for your foundation or concealer.

Using a primer can also help you get more out of your makeup. It prevents makeup from slipping, sliding, or fading, keeping you fresh-faced throughout the day, from morning meetings to evening outings.

After your skincare routine it's important to let your skin fully absorb the products. This means waiting until your moisturizer has completely dried before applying your primer. 

Foundation

Foundation is the base of most makeup looks. It's the canvas upon which the rest of your makeup artistry is built. One of its primary roles is to correct uneven skin tones and camouflage imperfections, creating a flawless and even complexion.

The beauty industry offers several foundation options catering to different needs and preferences. These range from powders, which create a matte finish and can be great for oilier skin types, creams like the New Complexion™ One-Step Compact Makeup, to liquids like the Revlon ColorStay™ Longwear Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin, SPF 15 that blend seamlessly and sometimes offer added benefits like sun protection to tints like Illuminance™ Serum Tint which provide a light, natural coverage while boosting your skin’s radiance with it’s infused skincare ingredients. 

To achieve that sought-after sleek look, it’s important to be aware of and avoid a few pitfalls. One of the most common mistakes beginners often make when applying foundation is not properly matching it to their skin tone, which can result in a visible contrast between the face and neck.Be sure to test foundation shades along the jawline in natural light to prevent this. Over-application can also lead to a cakey appearance. Start with a small amount and build up as necessary.

Concealer

Concealer is akin to the magic wand in a makeup artist's toolkit. The ColorStay™ Full Coverage Concealer is a powerhouse product designed to work on specific areas where you might need a little extra coverage rather than blanketing the entire face like foundation. It's your go-to for those mornings when you wake up with dark circles declaring you didn't sleep a wink or for those surprise breakouts.

Concealers are championed for their prowess in neutralizing under-eye darkness. Thanks to their high pigment concentration, they can dramatically brighten tired eyes, making you look refreshed and awake. They’re also great for camouflaging acne, blemishes, redness, and even hyperpigmentation.

As with other makeup products, careful selection and application are critical. Choosing the wrong shade can accentuate rather than hide imperfections. For under-eyes, a shade slightly lighter than your foundation can help brighten, but for blemishes and imperfections, a perfect match to your skin tone works best.

Bronzer

When applied correctly, bronzer is like capturing the radiant glow of a sunlit afternoon and dusting it onto your face. Bronzer can accentuate and highlight your features in a naturally luminous way.

The trick with bronzer is truly in the application. It’s usually swept onto the high points of the face—the areas where the sun would naturally touch first, like the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your forehead, and your chin. Products like our SkinLights™ Prismatic Bronzer create a sun-kissed glow that looks as though you've gotten a natural, tanned glow.

A common misconception is equating bronzer with contour. While both products enhance the face's natural structure, their purposes differ. Contouring is about creating shadows and defining features, while bronzer is more about warmth and radiance.

Blush

Blush, with its delightful shades ranging from soft pinks to vibrant corals, holds the power to transform a face from dull to vibrant in just a few swipes.

A touch of blush on the apples of the cheeks can give an instant lift, carving out the cheeks and imparting a fresh, lively appearance. It also helps to break the monotony of a flat, one-dimensional base, adding depth to the face. Try the Revlon® Powder Blush for buildable color in a range of flattering shades.

Like all good things, moderation is key when it comes to blush.To achieve your optimal level of blush, start with a light hand and gradually build up the intensity if needed. 

Highlighter

Highlighter possesses the enchanting ability to capture light and create an illusion of radiant skin. Its primary role is to accentuate and bring forth specific areas of the face, giving it depth and dimension. When strategically applied to the high points of the face, it can make them appear more pronounced.

A dab under the arch of the eyebrows lifts the brow bone, while a tiny dot in the inner corners of the eyes can make them appear larger and more awake. These subtle placements catch the light in just the right way, creating a luminous effect that's both striking and natural.

Highlighter can also be a subtle ally in contouring by emphasizing areas you want to stand out, making the shadowed, contoured areas appear even deeper by contrast. Apply highlighter with ease using our tips for highlighter application and your favorite shade of our SkinLights™ Prismatic Highlighter.

Eyeshadow

A masterfully applied eyeshadow not only draws attention to the eyes but accentuates their shape and color. When learning eye makeup for beginners, eyeshadow is a fun medium to experiment with.

Eyeshadows come in a vast palette of hues. Neutral tones, like browns, taupes, and creams, can give a soft, natural enhancement, perfect for regular wear. On the flip side, brighter and bolder shades allow for more dramatic and artistic expressions, letting your creativity shine. To try multiple shades at once, reach for an eyeshadow palette like the ColorStay Looks Book™ Eye Shadow Palettes.

For the best results, blend, blend, and blend some more! Seamless transitions between colors and soft edges ensure a polished look.

Eyebrows

The shape, fullness, and arch of your eyebrows can have a dramatic influence on your facial dynamics. Well-defined eyebrows can add the appearance of symmetry to the face. Eyebrow makeup ensures your features look harmoniously balanced.

Try our ColorStay™ Brow Pencil to beautifully sculpt your eyebrows like a pro with its soft, blendable formula and angled tip.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner can elevate an entire look from simple to sultry in just a few strokes. Its placement in your routine is essential: after eyeshadow to define the eyes further and before mascara to blend seamlessly.

You have many different choices when it comes to eyeliner. Use pencils for a smudged look, liquid liners for precision and sharpness, and gel liners for a happy medium.

Going for a natural daytime look? Opt for a subtle, thin line that closely hugs your lash line. If drama is the name of the game, a thicker, more extended stroke that wings out at the ends might be your go-to. 

Mascara

Mascara is all about elevating and drawing attention to one of our most expressive features: the eyes. Through darkening, lengthening, and volumizing, mascara transforms the eyelashes, making them appear fuller and more pronounced. Mascaras come in all shapes and sizes to give you your desired effect. 

For those pursuing the ultimate lash definition, curling is a game-changer. By using an eyelash curler before applying mascara, you can enhance the natural curve of your lashes, giving them an uplifted appearance.

Lipstick/Gloss

The world of lip products is a veritable kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and finishes. From the classic allure of lipsticks to the shiny charm of lip glosses, choices abound, allowing one to effortlessly switch between looks or match any mood or occasion.

Lip liner is another great staple designed to outline and define the lips, ensuring a more precise and polished look. Unlike lipstick or lip gloss, which add color and texture to the entirety of the lips, lip liner focuses on the edges, preventing lip products from bleeding or feathering.

Setting Spray

Setting spray is like the invisible shield for your makeup—a final layer of setting spray like the ColorStay™ Lock Setting Mist locks in your look. Just as an artist seals a painting to protect it from the elements, setting spray plays a pivotal role in the makeup application process.

One of the primary functions of a setting spray is to prolong the wear of your makeup. This means fewer touch-ups and less worry about your makeup melting off during those long days or nights. Setting sprays also help to reduce the chances of makeup transferring, smudging, or settling into fine lines and creases.

And there you have it! By following these makeup tips for beginners, you can be well on your way to establishing a quick and easy makeup routine that suits your face and lifestyle.