Thanks to the pandemic, (everyday) makeup has invariably transformed from being heavy-duty and time-consuming to being clean, minimal and fuss-free. Yes, just like you, I too dabbed on lip tint and wore kajal to feel better on days when gloominess and weariness swamped me during the lockdown. It was only a matter of time before I made these few products a part of my everyday pick-me-up routine. Yeah, it really helped me feel better at that time, and, in fact, it continues to do that; almost like I’ve found solace in that minimalistic beauty regimen. Cut to today, two years into a relationship – and a very healthy one indeed – with the whole clean makeup aesthetic, I have some super simple hacks that can save your time and energy…
Double Trouble
By that I mean: save yourself the trouble of using two different products on your lips and cheeks because, well, that lipstick of yours is good ‘nuff to add that flush for a monochromatic look. As a child, I always saw my mother apply her lip colour as a blush as well with her fingertips. This is one trick that has stayed with me and works wonderfully well for a few reasons – one, a creamy lipstick blends beautifully on the cheeks when applied with your fingertips and makes your cheeks look naturally flushed; two, you don’t have to worry about whether the combination of lip and cheek colour will work well together; the same colour can be blindly used on the lips and cheeks as it brings your entire makeup look together beautifully.” While investing in a lip and cheek tint isn’t a bad option, making the best of your current lippies makes more sense.
The best way to apply a lip colour as a cheek colour or lblush is to apply a few dots on the apples of your cheeks and blend them softly with your fingertips towards the temples. Blending from the apples towards the temples will give a youthful, uplifted look.
Finger Your Way To A Smooth Finish
Before you think of anything else, let me tell you I’m talking about blending makeup with your fingers. Now that that disclaimer is out of the way, let me tell you why. There’s no doubt that brushes and makeup sponges are great – but your fingers play a magical role in melting your makeup seamlessly with no creases whatsoever. Okay, there’s some science to it too: The warmth of your fingertips will help melt and blend the creamy product easily into the skin without it looking patchy or overdone and give a naturally flushed look. For me, using a brush to buff concealer and then picking up a blender to blend out any creases is too much on workdays and that’s when my humble digits come in handy.
Nude Lip Liner Equals Nude Eyeliner
No, hear me out; I haven’t lost my mind. For that everyday clean makeup look we’re always on a hunt for, that perfect nude brown shadow works to define our eyes – just a bit. Using a nude lip liner to outline your upper and lower lash line does just that; smudging it out gives a ‘there’s nothing but there’s something’ kind of effect to your eyes. “You may use the nude lip liner on the top lids directly from the pencil or take a little on an angled brush and apply it on the top lids to create a beautiful smoky-nude eyeliner. However, it is also suggests we play it safe, You can use the lip liner on the under eye or as an eyeliner on the top lids, but I absolutely suggest you avoid using it in the waterline.
Powder ‘Em Lashes
Remember seeing those beauty videos on IG and TikTok where they powdered their lashes before going in with mascara? Turns out it really works. I like to swirl the same brush (with loose powder, of course) on my lashes while powdering my eyes. The mascara pops even better sans any clumps, as a result. We have a slightly different tip to share: “You can use powder in between two coats of mascara to get maximum volume and length, but we suggest doing this only occasionally to avoid clumpy lashes and sensitivity around the eyes.”
