A meticulously crafted beauty and makeup routine could be your secret weapon for captivating the judges and leaving a lasting impression.
Let’s face it (pun intended)! When it comes to pageantry, every detail can be magnified under the spotlight.
This blog post dips a toe into the artistry of beauty and makeup. Highlighting the crucial role it plays in elevating your stage presence and giving you basic foundational steps to create a flawless look.
Join us as we guide you through the steps to enhances your natural features and complement your pageant persona.
Essential steps for any makeup routine:
Kick start your Makeup Routine with Primer
A primer helps create a smooth canvas for makeup application. It’s literally the foundation on which all your other products sit. The right primer will help makeup adhere better and last longer.
A few tips to help you choose the right primer:
If you have dry skin, opt for a cream primer to help with hydration. Oily skin types should choose a gel consistency to help diminish shine.
Also consider the consistency of your foundation when choosing a primer. For example, if you have a silicone-based primer, it’s best to use a silicone-based foundation on top. Same goes for a water-based foundation, you’ll want to ensure you are using a water-based primer.
Make sure that your skincare has fully absorbed into your skin before applying a primer. This will minimize the chance of your foundation “pilling”. Pilling is when skincare products or makeup don’t get properly absorbed into the skin and forming little bits of product buildup on your face.
For best results, use your fingers to apply primer. The warmth of your fingers helps the product melt into your skin for a more even application. If you can, let the primer sit for at least 30 seconds before you begin applying makeup.
Flawless Foundation:
Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and type.
To help find your best shade, swatch them next to each other on your jawline, leaving a little skin between each.
One of the most common mistakes is choosing a foundation that only matches your face. The right shade of foundation should also blend seamlessly into your neck area as well. Don’t be afraid to ask for some sample sizes of a few different colors to test at home. This can help you find your best shade match without breaking the bank.
No matter what color you choose be sure to work in light layers. And blend well for a natural, even complexion.
Concealer:
Use concealer to cover any blemishes, dark circles, or imperfections. Opt for a concealer that provides good coverage without looking heavy. Generally, under-eye concealer should be slightly lighter in shade, than your natural skin tone to create a brightening effect.
Picking a concealer shade should also be based on your foundation color. Consider choosing two shades of concealer, one lighter and one darker. Daily sun exposure and seasonal weather changes, means your skin tone shifts slightly all the time.
And if you have blemishes or pigmentation on the skin you want to cover, you’re going to want to put your concealer on as a final step.
Contour and Highlight:
Choose highlighting and contour products to help enhance your natural facial features.
Try a matte bronzer for a gentle contour or choose a higher-pigmented bronzing stick for more impactful results. Remember, contour is used to emphasize shadows and push things ‘back’ in space.
If you are aiming for a subtle glow, choose a thinner, soft highlighter. And place it on areas you want to emphasize or bring a healthy glow to. Focus on areas such as the tops of your cheeks, your cupid’s bow, your chin and even the tip of your nose. Anywhere you want to stand out or appear larger is an area you can experiment with highlight placement.
Blush:
Apply blush to add a healthy flush to your cheeks. For a natural look, choose a blush color that compliments your skin’s undertone. If you want a more bold looking blush, pick one with the opposite undertone as your skin.
Experiment with blush placement to really change up your look. You could put it higher on your cheeks, or apply it wider on your face, aiming outward, toward your ears. Or you could focus it more centrally, on the apples of your cheeks.
Eye Makeup:
You want to emphasize your eyes with the eyeshadow you choose. Let you eyeliner and mascara compliment your look and outfit colors.
Start by picking an eyeshadow palette that emphasizes your skin’s natural undertone. If you have a warm skin tone, choose golds, oranges, and reds to emphasize the warmth in your skin. Anyone with a cool skin tone should go with blues, greens, and purples to match their undertones.
Be aware of both your eye shape as well as how much eyelid space you have to work with when choosing products and looks. There are so many great, free tutorial to check out if you have a certain look or smokey eye you are wanting to practice.
Eyebrows:
Define your eyebrows using a pencil, powder, or gel. Your eyebrow color doesn’t have to match your hair exactly, but it should complement it. Don’t forget to consider the natural undertones of your hair, skin and overall features when selecting the color.
What type of product to start with? A few things to consider. Let’s start with skin type.
Those with more oily skin might have better success with a pencil or powder. Liquid brow pens work best for those with dry skin.
Now let’s consider baseline brow status. As long as you have eyebrow hair, any skin type can use brow gel. If you have thicker brows and want to add a little definition or just fill in, a brow pencil is great.
If your brows need a little plumping, consider a brow powder to add volume without looking too fake. This is a great solution for people who have over-plucked eyebrows.
Ensure your eyebrows frame your face well and complement your eye shape and angles.
Lips:
Don’t forget to show your lips some love, just like the rest of you skin. Keep your lips moisturized and hydrated and remember to exfoliate your lips 1-2 times a week.
Lip Exfoliation: Apply a small amount of lip scrub or an exfoliating paste on your lips.
You can use a store-bought scrub or just make your own. Mix equal parts of sugar and olive oil together until you get a thick paste. Then, gently rub the scrub onto your lips, in a circular motion. Use your finger or a soft-bristled toothbrush and remember to be gentle.
Rinse the mixture off and gently pat your lips dry. Then add a moisturizing chapstick or vaseline to seal in the moisture and protect your fresh new pout.
Now, let’s chat lip color. Choose a color that complements your overall makeup look and your natural lip shape.
If you’re looking to create a more voluminous lip, choose a liner shade that is just a little darker than your natural skin tone and slightly overline your lips, just in the middle. Avoid overlining at the sides and corners, as this can be a sure-fire giveaway you’re trying to make your lips look poutier.
Always line your lips by starting at the top center and then going out to the edges. If you want a fool-proof lip liner color, then stick with a nude. A nude lip liner works with any lipstick color and can be a great base to ensure your lipstick color lasts longer.
If you’re looking for a shiny pout, be sure to top with a gloss, and concentrate that on the middle of the lower lip, to give the illusion of even more volume.
Finish off your Makeup Routine with Setting Spray:
Don’t forget to finish off your look with a setting spray. These sprays help extend the wear of your makeup. In addition to keeping you looking fresh, some setting sprays can even help mattify shine or if you run on the drier side, they can help give you a subtle glow.
Hopefully these tips and tricks will help give you a solid foundation as you build your makeup routine. A solid confidence-boosting makeup routine is an empowering prelude to any stage appearance.
It’s time to accentuate your natural beauty and let your look speak volumes in the spotlight!
Stay tuned for my next post, where I’m sharing the beauty products that I wouldn’t wanna live without. And if you missed my post about the beautiful sisterhood and friendship you make throughout pageantry, check that out here.