When I first read that Nicole Richie has no idea about how to apply makeup, my first thought was “well, obviously.” She just looks so tired and run down these days, doesn’t she? And I know that she has small children and she used to enjoy illegal substances and all that, but can’t you like put some concealer under your eyes? Something?
But then I read that a professional does Nicole’s makeup for every appearance, and, well, now I don’t know what to think:
As a red carpet regular and House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate designer, Nicole Richieis a fashionista in every sense of the term. But when it comes to beauty, Richie admits she could use a few pointers. “I actually don’t know how to put on makeup—at all,” she told InStyle.com at a recent party for Dior Beaute. “I have to get it done every time I want to wear makeup. I do not know how to wear it at all. It’s so bad.” However, all is not lost: “I can do my own hair, but I can not do makeup. I don’t even own it. I only own undereye concealer, Maybelline mascara, and an eyelash curler.”
Oh, one of the few products she owns is undereye concealer? Huh. Well, if that doesn’t just beat all.
Look, you guys, I have a confession to make. This post isn’t all about Nicole Richie and her inability to apply makeup. You didn’t think I would do a whole long story about how tired Nicole Richie looks, did you? No, this post is about how tired Nicole Richie looks AND how I want your advice.
When I did that story about the Kardashians getting their own line of fingernail polish, I asked you guys for some manicure tips, and you guys came through. You came through so hard. And don’t think I’m taking advantage of you now, but if you guys have some makeup tips, I would love them.
Do you know of a not-so-expensive eyeliner that stays put? I have a variety of eyeliners, waterproof and not, but no matter what, by the end of the day I always have these black smudges on the outside corner of my eye. It is the single most annoying thing about wearing makeup for me, which is tragic, because I really do enjoy wearing makeup. Sometimes.
And should I be wearing blush? A long time ago, I read that if you have round cheeks, you might want to avoid blush, and I like my freckles and don’t want to hide them, but is this something I should be doing?
And finally, we need to talk about lip stains. I got one a few months ago (I bought so much makeup from e.l.f. because each item was only a dollar and I was on a kick), and I really love it, but it still rubs off. Is there a lipstain, or any lip product, really, that stays put and doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount?
Thanks, friends!
my favorite eyeliner is tarte emphasEYES aqua-gel eyeliner in brown… it’s $14 but applies easily and doesn’t smudge whatsoever!
Ok here we go:
Eyeliner. You are going to want to splurge just a little and it is going to last you A LONG TIME. Cheap drugstore eyeliner gets used up really quickly because the line has to be drawn more than once to get that rich color payoff. And it never stays put. I line my waterline (under the waterline looks too raccoon to me- dont care who says this is a beauty blunder it looks great on me!)…MakeUp Forever Aqua Eyes-this will NOT BUDGE. I swear to you! Its meant to be worn under water! (for some sexy scuba diving, maybe??)
MakeUp Forever Aqua Eyes:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P35082&categoryId=B70
$18…but I use mine every day and its almost been a year having it. Still not down to a nub! PLUS if you hate it, you can take it back for a full refund at sephora. Lots of color choices too if you dont want that gothic black look. (i have the purple and it makes any eye color POP) I know its a big splurge but it looks amazing, lasts forever, and you dont have to keep buying cheap crap that never works right! Break the cycle! :)
BLUSH:
If you have a round face, you are going to want to create contour…rosy apples will make your face look fuller and rounder. I always use a peach blush or a bronzer right under my cheek bones. You must BLEND BLEND BLEND or you will look like Lindsay Lohan on the court date where she looked like Skeletor! My favorite blush for doing this is NARS Luster. It is gorgeous!! $27 BUT its like Zeus-pooped-in-a-pan-AMAZING!! But if thats too pricey, any bronze/peach color is going to do the trick. NYX blush is only $6. Blend it with a MAC 138 brush if you can afford it. So natural looking! http://www.maccosmetics.com. Any brush will be okay–just blend it right under the hollows of your cheeks. I have a very round face too and I have to suck my cheeks in to see where it goes.
For lips, I just pick out a lipliner color that I like (NYX is great and SUPER cheap…they sell them on ebay or http://www.nyxcosmetics.com..only like $3!) and I line my lips, then FILL THEM IN. Perfect. Top with any gloss. It wont budge and your lips will look so nice! Promise!
Hope all this helps!!
I, too, cannot find a non-smudgy eyeliner to save my life. But I’d say go for the blush, as long as you place it in the right way it can help to fine down a round face. If you want to get a bit tricky then look at some of the guides to contouring (I’m sure there’s a load on youtube), usually with some light bronzer, that can really make all the difference (trust me – I have a fairly round face too, but for special occasions with a little bit of time I can turn cheeks into cheekbones – and give myself a little nose job while I’m at it).
The best lip stain? Weirdly enough I’d have to say a Covergirl lipstick I bought about a year ago has impressed more than anything else I have (and I have a LOT). It’s bright red which is usually notoriously difficult, but after blotting it a bit that baby doesn’t move.
Best lipstain is Revlon Just Bitten. Great colors, and they really stay on well.
The best (not liquid) eyeliner is aqua eyes by makeup forever. $18
It is waterproof and smudge proof. You have about a minute before it dries to smudge, so it doubles as an eyeshadow. I suffer from allergies and my eyes often water. This is the only eyeliner that lasts all day.
Hope that helps!
-Jennifer
Best *cheap* eyeliner is Milani Liquif’Eye Metallic Eye at $6.49, found at any drugstore or Wal-Mart. The brown one is a dupe for Urban Decay’s Bourbon. If you want to smudge it, do it quickly after you apply, because it’s not going anywhere for at least 12 hours. I still prefer the color of Bourbon, but this is a great substitute.
For blush, my favorite cheap one is actually ELF’s dual blush/bronzer for $3. I still use this even though I have the dept store ones too. Very natural color and finish and you can also use it as an overall bronzer or for sculpting. For this to last all day, though, you’ll need to set it with ELF’s setting spray $3.Good luck!
Eyeliner – cheap and cheerful, L’Oreal liquid liner, best stuff in my opinion because it lasts all day & night and costs £6.
Blush – don’t do it. Get some bronzer instead, it makes you look better than blush ever will.
Lips – I agree with Anonymous, just bitten by Revlon is awesome :)
Eyeliner! I can help you out! Try Maybelline Eye Studio eyeliner. It also helps if you use a clear primer before hand. As for lip stain, you must try this henna lip stain! http://www.earthhenna.com/Henna-Lips-c121.html
It’s a bit expensive but worth it! :)
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv1pm1j1601qh8cgno1_500.jpg
^ C’mon, how good does Nicole look there though, and that’s really recent.
Why do all these Hollywood types look so beaten up? I’m Sheen’s age and I look 40 years younger than he. Seriously. I’m what, 20 years older than Nicole and look 20 years younger. Must be all that bad coke, booze, and late, late, late nights. And cigarettes by the carton.
Agree with everyone before me who said the MUFE Aqua Eyes stuff. Literally best eyeliner everrrr.
My fave contour is MAC Personal Style but that was part of a range that came out at the beginning of 2010 so you may not be able to find it. I like NARS Douceur too, though it’s kind of expensive, at least it is in New Zealand, where I live. Wear blush as well though!! It’s the best part about makeup.
Lip stain can be a pain in the ass, but plenty of cosmetic houses make long wearing lipsticks that are actually long wearing. Revlon ColorStay is surprisingly good.
Eyeliner: incredible but H&M pencil eyeliner stays the whole time and it’s so easy. Also H&M liquid eyeliner (pen)
Blush: MAC. Always.
“used to enjoy substances” I don’t get it why even bother with that, runaway snark about something that is/was life threatening and it doesn’t make it less than it is, even for this site, is one thing, but if it’s something that someone is/was trying to geniunely correct/better their lives about then it makes you look pitiful, not them. While I hate coming off like the thought police lol, but hey if you get something out of that that by all means
If you don’t want your eyeliner to smudge all over your eyes, use a primer first, or at least powder your eyelids, that will create a base that will keep your makeup from moving or settling in to the crease, if you want a liquid eyeliner, honestly, I will only use Avon… there’s a reason they’ve been around so long, shit works.
For blush/bronzer Benetint by benefit is amazing for blush, it’s super sheer, but doesn’t come off until you want it to come off, it also doubles as a lip stain and you’ll have one bottle for a year easy. For bronzer, again I go to Avon, in their Mark line they have a multi-colour palette bronzer so it gives you a more natural colour opposed to one solid stripe… they also make a killer lip stain if the benetint isn’t dark enough for your lips.
More important than anything tho, finding good concealer/foundation/powder to match your skin tone, I am super pale, and spend extra so I can have make up that matches me, the only brand I’ve found that goes light enough for us super pale girls, is Stilla THEY ARE AMAZING, seriously so worth the extra $$$
Okay, I have a couple of tips:
My rule on blush is that if I put on any other skin makeup then I do wear it. I do a darker blush on the apple and a more subtle blush on the cheekbone. I also have round cheeks. A lot of times I avoid putting anything on my skin altogether. I only do if I have a breakout or bad bags under my eyes.
For lip stain I like the one from The Body Shop, and also the SOnia Kashuk from Target. Both are more expensive than elf, but not too crazy. I looooovve lip stain. I also learned this trick in some fashion magazine that you should put on lip liner the same color as your natural lips, and it will help your lip stain or whatever stay on longer and more evenly. It really works.
As for the eyeliner, I am anxious to go through the other tips! I have the same problem that you do with everything.
1. Eyeliner
Cheap eyeliner will stay if you use an angled brush and set it with a powder (eyeshadow) of the same color. Simply apply the eyeshadow to the lined eye and it should stay. I smudge no matter what, but do so less with gel eyeliners. Liquid liners definitely do not smudge but are more difficult to apply and result in harsh lines. However, you need not set a liquid liner. Try L’Oreal Telescopic eyeliner. This will not smudge and is truly black. If you want gel, which you can smudge out to create smoky eyes, splurge and go for M.A.C. Fluidline in Black Track. It’s worth the $14.00 and lasts forever.
2. Blush
The basics for makeup are foundation, concealer, and blush. These are the minimal yet necessary parts of makeup…if you skip one of these steps don’t bother with the rest. Blush is important because it brings color to your face and makes you look alive. Do not apply it to the apples of your cheek – don’t smile and apply. Suck in your lips, making a fishy face and apply blush ONLY to the outside of your cheeks. Draw an imaginary line down the center of your eye, and only apply blush to the cheek that is between the line and perimeter of your face. Follow the blush up to your temple and remember to blend. Use a light hand and build up if you feel you need more. You will look good in cool toned blushes – try a very bright pink such as Pink Swoon by M.A.C. or the like. Don’t be scared by the vibrant color – they apply really well and always use a light hand.
3. Lip Stain
Palladio is cheap, can be found in drug stores and Ulta for like $5 or so. I find that they last a pretty long time and are, for the most part, true to the shade of the packaging. Also, NYC is even cheaper (maybe $2 or $3) and can be found everywhere including WalMart and Target and they are VERY pigmented and last a long time.
Hope that helps. I know it is a long post.
cheap eyeliner with great staying power : REVLON COLORSTAY. that baby won’t budge for at least 12 hours
Makeup talk! My favorite!
I can’t tell you how I ADORE the girls at Pixiwoo — they’re sisters, makeup artists, and all around ADORABLE chicks with an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo) — they’ll school ya well.
My makeup skills (rudimentary before) have improved a thousand fold after discovering their site – -they give product tips, and incredible tutorials on everything from basic eyeliner application to crazy celebrity looks.
Best makeup lessons on the planet!