An Introduction to Makeup: Types of Makeup

Product #2: Primer

Up next in our introduction to makeup: primer.

There are a couple of different kinds of primer—lip primer, eyelid primer, and mascara primer—but here we're referring to foundation primer. That's what most people mean when they say "primer."

Primer is applied after your moisturizer, but BEFORE your foundation (that's why it's sometimes called a "foundation primer"), and it's another superstar in the magnificent drama that is makeup. It has two main purposes: to provide a smooth base on which your makeup can rest, and to dramatically increase the longevity of your makeup.

But—and this is why primer is a lot of people's favorite makeup product—it can do a lot more. It can:

Product #3: Foundation

Foundation (which people sometimes refer to as "base") is a flesh-colored makeup that's used to covers blemishes and flaws, but most importantly, to create a single, uniform skin color on the wearer's face. Many people seem to think that foundation is only for women and men who have some skin discoloration, but that's not the case—foundation is an important component of any makeup routine.

"Slow down, MakeupArtistEssentials.com," you may be saying. "That sounds a LOT of work. I need to use a moisturizer, a primer, and then a primer—before I even put any other kind of makeup on?"

First of all, you've been paying attention! Good work.

Second of all—that's correct, and here's why those three items are so important: the three products basically work together and provide a one-two-three punch. Moisturizer keeps you from destroying your face every day by using makeup. The primer smooths over any wrinkles and craters in the face, and allows the foundation to stick to it. Finally, the foundation provides a solid base that keeps your makeup from sliding off your face and onto the floor. With these three items, you're ready to make yourself truly fabulous.

So how do you choose a foundation? They're available as liquids, creams, or powders (although powder foundations are less and less popular, it seems), and most often—almost always, in fact—you're trying to choose a shade that is very close to your natural skin color (after all, it can be very embarrassing when the color of the foundation on your face doesn't match the color of your skin on your neck). The names of colors vary greatly from brand to brand (and that is true for, like, every kind of makeup ever made), so you'll have to find a shade that looks right on you. Keep in mind that the color of a foundation in a bottle may look very different in the bottle than it looks on your skin. As with most things related to cosmetics, you'll need to experiment with a couple different products to find one you like. It's a rare thing to pick a foundation and find that it's PERFECT for you. That's not really how makeup works; often times, it's a process of elimination. You try a bunch of different products until you find one that you like.

One of the main aspects you'll need to keep in mind is "coverage." A lighter-coverage foundation will be translucent (meaning that you can see through it), and a medium- or full-coverage foundation with be opaque (meaning that you CANNOT see through it).

Here's how it shakes out:

Product #4: BB Cream, aka Beauty Balm Cream

Aaaaaaah BB creams, the beauty product we all love to hate. The only thing we love to hate even more is CC cream, and then, of course, DD cream. So what are these products, and why do some women absolutely rave about them?

BB creams are fairly new to North American markets. The product was very popular in many Asian markets (particularly South Korea), but it wasn't until 2011 (in other words, fairly recently) that cosmetics companies starting developing and selling BB creams in the United States and Canada and other Western countries.

The idea of BB creams was to create a product that would be an "all-in-one" cosmetic product: instead of using a moisturizer, and then a primer, and then a foundation, and then a concealer, you could just use a BB cream and be on your way. The product is created to have it all, and it has moisturizing agents like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, anti-aging agents like Vitamins A, C, and E, silicon additives that flatten wrinkles and craters, and pigments that create a uniform skin tone.

So, BB creams are a match made in heaven for a lot of people. If you hate the process of moisturizing + priming + adding foundation + etc., BB creams are a great time saver. They're also affordable—there are, of course, high-end options, but there are plenty of good quality, drugstore brands that are very inexpensive. They come in cream form (obvs), so you can apply with your fingers, a brush, or a sponge. You can layer it to get a fuller coverage or a smoother, more porcelain-like look.

There's one thing we'd like to suggest: if you're here because you'd like to become a makeup artist, you don't want to rely too heavily on BB creams. BB creams are kind of a shortcut and if you're going to be a makeup artist, you need to master your technique. It takes time to master each of the types of makeup, and if you're using BB / CC / DD creams instead of moisturizing, priming, and adding foundation, you won't be building the skills you need to be a professional.

That said, if you're here to simply learn about makeup, check them out. They're not super-popular—it's estimated that less than 5% of American / Canadian / Western makeup users use BB cream—but the people we know who like BB creams are kind of obsessed with them. It may take a while to find one that matches your skin tone and moisturizes affectively, but hey, that's makeup. No matter how great a product is, it might not work for you, so you have to experiment until you find what works for you.

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Product #4.1: CC Cream, aka Color Correcting Cream

This one is pretty easy: a CC cream offers all of the same things as a BB cream, but also includes compounds that aid in color correction. If you have any skin issues related to color or shade—i.e., redness, sallowness, dark spots, discoloration—CC cream might be for you. Most cosmetics companies have a CC cream product, and prices range from "inexpensive" from "woah, very expensive."

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Product #4.2: DD Cream, aka...?

Some people say that DD stands for "Daily Defense," and others say that it stands for "Dynamic Do-All." DD cream has—you guessed it—all the components of BB cream and CC cream, but the big selling point of a DD cream is its anti-aging properties. DD cream diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, and keeps new ones from forming.

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Product #5: Setting Powder

There's a lot of confusion about powder. What do people mean when they say "powder"? There's setting powder, loose powder, pressed powder, finishing powder... what are these things, and why do they matter?

Most of the time, when people refer to powder, they're referring to setting powder, which is a product that you use after your foundation. It's a mattifying cosmetic, and it's a great base for you to apply bronzer, blush, and whatever else comes next. It can be translucent or it can have a tone that matches your skin color.

Setting powder comes in two varieties: loose powder, which is easy to use but doesn't travel well (so you keep it at home and use it there) and pressed powder, which is easy to use and DOES travel well (so you bring it with you when you're out).

Finishing powders and HD powders aren't used as much, and there's a lot of debate as to when to use them and why to use them, so we've written a separate post about them.

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Product #6: Concealer

The next item in our introduction to makeup: concealer.

Everybody WANTS perfect skin, but let's be honest: very few people have it. And those people who DO seem like they have perfect skin—well, very often, they're just really good at using concealer.

We haven't done any official studies, but we're willing to bet: if we interviewed 1,000 makeup artists and another 1,000 women who use makeup every day, and we asked them to name their favorite makeup product, we're guessing every single one of them would say "concealer." It's like the makeup version of your best friend: it knows all of your facial flaws but keeps them secret, and helps you look and feel flawless. It hides acne, blemishes, dark circles, scars, rosacea, broken blood vessels, and whatever else you don't want the world to see. It is—and we're not exaggerating—the absolute best thing ever. OK, fine, we’re exaggerating a little bit. But concealer can be very effective.

So what is it, exactly? It's a thick cosmetic—thicker than foundation—that provides spot-coverage for blemishes and skin imperfections. It's heavily pigmented, but comes in a range of colors to match any skin tone (and that's very important, as we'll discuss in a minute), and usually produced to be very long-lasting, so your skin imperfections don't decide to jump out in the middle of the day. There are several different types that are available:

Product #7: Contour

Contouring used to be a kind of "secret technique" that was only used by makeup artists on runway models. But, thanks to the internet and hundreds of millions of YouTube instructionals, the secret is out.

Here's how it works: a contour is a powder or liquid or pencil that is (ideally) one shade darker than the skin, and usually matte in finish (in other words, not shiny; flat). It is applied to various areas of the face—usually at the cheekbones, by the jawline, at the top of the forehead, and along the nose—to create the illusion of shadows and depth on the face, and define the facial structure. Skillful use of contouring can create a more "angular" look—that is, high cheekbones and a slimmer nose and chin—and, let's be honest, the "angular" look has been popular for most of recorded history, so contouring is a pretty popular technique.

(Quick note: The complement to a contour is a highlighter, which amplifies the light that hits your face, and deepens the shadows you've created with the contour. We'll discuss highlighters in the next section.)

There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when you're choosing a contour:

Most cosmetics companies sell contouring kits, and they usually come with a number of different shades, so you can experiment until you find something you like.

One last word about contouring: you want to underdo it. Contouring is a "less is more" kind of thing. It takes some practice to get right, so make sure you're practicing a "less is more" technique.

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Product #9: Bronzer

A bronzer is a "use every day"-type product that gives a little color and glow to the complexion. It's provides a little highlight for the cheekbones, and makes the wearer look healthy and vital. If you're feeling a little sallow or dull, bronzer can have a nice effect, and it'll provide you with a nice sun-kissed look.

Bronzers aren't too difficult to select; basically, you're looking for something one to two shades darker than your normal skin tone. If you have fair-to-normal skin, try to find a light-honey-colored bronzer. If you've got medium skin, looking for something rose-colored or gold. If you've got dark skin, you'll want to find something amber. As always, experiment, and see what works. Ask your friends if the bronzer you're using is too strong, because that happens a LOT. Also remember that your skin color changes during different seasons, so if it's winter and you're pale, take that into account; if it's summer and already looking a little bronzed, be aware of that, too.

Equipment is important, and you'll need to choose the proper brush. You're aiming for something soft and large, and you want to stay away from very dense brushes (like Kabuki brushes), because dense brushes tend to pack a punch, and you'll probably end up using more of the makeup than you need. Stippling brushes are good for this purpose—they have bristles that are layered, and they regulate the amount of cosmetic that you're adding to your face. (Stippling brushes are kind of miraculous, by the way—the bristles at the tip of the brush are thin but the bristles are thick at the bottom of the brush, making it difficult to overuse makeup).

You'll hear a lot of makeup artists talk about a "3" shape when it comes to applying bronzer. That may be a little confusing. In essence, you're trying to accent the parts of the face that the sun would normally hit—your forehead, your cheekbones, and your jaw—so you'd start your brush at your forehead, sweep back over your temple and then forward at your cheekbone, and then sweep back over your cheekbone and down your jawline. The motion, effectively, ends up being a giant "three" shape on your face. Here's an image that shows the technique.

You'll need to be careful when apply bronzer, because using the wrong color—or over-applying—can give you an odd orange glow, or simply make you look like you have dirt on your face. Not what you're shooting for. And, as always—blend, blend, blend. Because bronzer is a strong color tone, you need to make sure that it fades gently and fully into the different areas where you've applied it. Watch for streaks.

What else? A lot of people get a little confused between contour and bronzer, but we addressed that in the "Contour" section.

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Product #10: Blush

For a lot of people, blush is their absolute, #1, favorite makeup item. It's simple, it's easy to use, and it's colorful. It's a fan favorite.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different blush colors, and they're available in liquid, cream, or powder.

Well... that's only kind of true. Remember how we just said how you can get blush in a liquid, cream, or powder? By a wide majority, most people use powder. It's just kind of the way it is, and it makes sense—if blush is one of the last things you'll put on, and you've already put on a liquid or cream primer, foundation, concealer, and so on—you're going to want to use a powder instead of using more liquids or creams. And, because you'll be using a powder, you're going to need a good brush, so we'll start there. (UPDATE: Ok, we're wrong—plenty of people use liquid and cream blush. We'll write a post about it soon. 🙂

Blushes usually come with a brush, but those brushes are usually meh, so we recommend tossing that brush and getting your own. Buy something that's not too flat but not too round, sized about the width of your cheeks when you smile, and reasonably soft. Ideally, you'll find a brush that kind of looks like one of those pencil gnomes you get when you were a kid.

Once you've bought a fantastic, fabulous brush, you'll want to apply in one of two places:

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Product #12: Eyeshadow

As far as makeup goes, eyeshadow is by far the most emotive. Other types of makeup can be a little bit bland (foundation is vitally important, but it doesn't really razzle dazzle you), but eyeshadow—you can go as subtle or over-the-top and exciting as you want. Eyeshadow can make you glamorous, or seductive, or colorful, or adventurous, or simply joyous. Eyeshadow is IT.

This section could become VERY long, but we'll try to keep it short, and stick to the basics.

Eyeshadow is usually a powder, but can be made as liquid, cream, mousse, or pencil.  That one is pretty simple. The most common type is powder, and that comes in two varieties: loose and pressed. Loose eyeshadow have a lot of color pigment and really add some color, but they can be difficult to work with. Pressed eyeshadows are more common, and are pretty easy to use—they're not very messy, and they blend pretty easily.

Sets are usually sold with a couple of different colors. Some are sold as two-color sets, others as three-color sets, and still others are four- or five-color sets. There's usually a light, an intermediate, and a dark shade, and many sets have colors all across the spectrum. Because there are many different regions of the eye (and we'll talk about that in a second), light hits the eyes in unique ways, and you'll want to use different shades on different parts of the eyelid.

The different color shades sold in an eyeshadow pack (usually called an eyeshadow palette) are for use on different parts of the eye:

Product #13: Eyeliner

Eyeliner is a cosmetic applied across the lash line, which is the area of your eye that grows eyelashes. The cosmetic comes in many colors, and is used to give the eye depth and make it appear more dynamic, and when used with eyeshadow, it makes the eyes appear defined and vibrant. It's available in liquid, powder, gel, wax, and pencil (with pencil being the most popular), and depending on what kind you use, it can be angular and defined, or soft and smudgy.

We'll discuss each eyeliner option below, but before we get started, there's something important we should share: If you're new to makeup, the idea of putting an eyeliner pencil to your lash line may seem a little scary, and that is TOTALLY OK. After all, the lash line is a very, very sensitive part of the body! And it's right next to your eyeball—another very sensitive part of the body! So, if you're a little freaked out at the thought of applying makeup to such a sensitive area of your face, that's totally normal. If it helps, you can ease into it: the most popular eyeliner option is a pencil with a very soft tip, but if that seems a little horrifying to you, you can use liquid or gels (and we'll tell you how, below).

Also, keep in mind that millions of women and men all over the world apply eyeliner to their lash lines every day, and they're fine. No problems. With a gentle hand a little practice, chances are pretty strong you'll be able to apply eyeliner too.

So let's talk about your options! We'll talk about the scary option—pencils—first, and then get to the less intimidating ones.

Eyeliner Pencils.

Eye pencils usually come in darker shades, and they have a soft tip that you can sharpen to your own specification.

There are a couple of reasons why the classic eyeliner pencil is a fantastic option. The first? Control. Pencils allow you to be very precise with your application of eyeliner, but they also allow for you to flub things up a bit. Liquid eyeliners are SUPER precise, and pencils allow you to make small mistakes without ruining your application. The second: that smokey eye that we're all so in love with. Pencils can be blendable and smudgeable, and that's a huge help when you're trying to create a smokey eye. Third: it's actually the easiest option, once you figure out how to use it, and it doesn't take as much time to apply as other types of eyeliners.

They're not perfect—you'll have to sharpen it again and again, and it'll never be as precise as a liquid eyeliner—but they're easy to use and every cosmetics company has dozens of options.

Liquid Eyeliner.

Liquid eyeliner is bold, dense, and unmistakable. It's more precise than pencils, and you can use liquid to make very thin or very thick lines, and dial the dramatic all the way up to 10 if you like. Because it has such specific properties, there are some fantastic looks you can create with liquid eyeliner, and it's perfect for cat eyes and Goth/vampy looks.

Most of the time it's packaged in a gorgeous little bottle that includes a petite brush with a super-sharp tip, or as a fine-tipped marker that you apply directly to the eye. It's almost always applied on the upper lash line, and because it's both dense and wet, it requires a VERY steady hand—and a lot of practice. Don't be surprised if your first couple of times using a liquid eyeliner gets very messy—it's happened to all of us!

One word of caution: a lot of women and men who are new to makeup think that it's easier to learn about eyeliners using liquid eyeliner, as opposed to pencil eyeliner—in fact, the opposite is true. Because pencils are smudgeable, and because liquid eyeliner is pretty unforgiving if you mess it up—it's easier to learn about eyeliner using pencils. As we said—be gentle, and be careful, and you'll be fine.

Gel Eyeliner.

If you're looking for the perfect compromise between a pencil and a liquid eyeliner, gel eyeliner is what you're looking for. It's the best of both worlds: you have the wet properties of a liquid, some of the control you can get with a pencil, and you still have a really dramatic and intense color pay-off.

Gel eyeliner is a thick, creamy substance that usually comes in a pot or a jar. It usually comes with a fine-tipped or angled brush for application, and you can switch brushes if you want to try for a different look. Angled brushes are usually best, though.

Because eyeliner can take a while to dry, and it does have a tendency to shift around a little bit, you want to make sure that you've used an eye primer, to make sure it stays put—and that's doubly true if you have oily eyelids.

This is another product that is a ton of fun, because you can get creative with it. It's fantastic for some creative looks (and it's superb for a smokey eye), and if you live in a humid climate, it's a good choice because it's a little less prone to smearing.

Powder / Cake Eyeliner.

This is the softest and least defined of all your eyeliner options. It produces a soft, blendy, blurry look—so if you don't like the strict lines that a liquid eyeliner provides, and you want something even more blendable than a pencil, powder/cake is your best bet.

We have less to say about powder eyeliner, because it's not as common as the other eyeliner varieties. Sephora, which sells dozens of everything, only sells one kind of powder eyeliner, and it’s actually khol: Terracotta Khol Loose Powder Eyeliner. The actual product is gorgeous, though—the bottle looks like an ornament.

Before we finish up with eyeliners, here are some things to keep in mind as you learn to use them:

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Product #16: Lipstick (and Lip Liner and Lip Gloss)

This is an easy one, right? Lipstick is lipstick. Super easy. The first piece of makeup that people reach for when they start using makeup is lipstick.

It's seemingly the most obvious makeup tool, but is that true?

Nope! It might seem like the most accessible cosmetic, but there's actually a lot going on with lipstick. Here's what you need to know.

First, the basics: lipsticks (as well as lip stain, lip liner, and lip gloss) add color and tone and texture to the lips. There are thousands of very high-end options, but there some incredibly excellent drugstore versions available, if you're willing to try new products and experiment.

The come in three finishes: matte, satin, and gloss. They're usually waterproof and come as sticks, although there are varieties that you can apply with a brush, a rollerball, or your fingers.

Here's a quick description of each finish:

Matte. This is smooth and NOT shiny. It usually appears as a solid color and doesn't reflect any light. Matte colors are usually pretty classic—red, pink, crimson, rust, and so on—but there's a lot of variety. They may tend to dry out the lips a little bit (or a lot, sometimes), but they're gorgeous and almost always fashionable.

Creamy. These have a liiiiiittle bit more shine than the matte variety. They can bleed a little bit, so you need to give your lips a quick look throughout the day to make sure the product is still in place. There may be a little more variation in color.

Satin. Shiny! Glossy! Gorgeous! There are plenty of reds and pinks and bold colors, but you'll see a lot of lighter tones.

If you're looking at lipsticks, here are some things you'll want to keep in mind:

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Product #16.3: Lip Liner

Lip liner is another superhero on team makeup. It can:

Product #16.4: Lip Gloss

Last but not least, lip gloss.

If lipstick is all about adding color to the lips, gloss is all about adding a lustrous shine to it. There's a whole range of finishes available, from metallic, to glossy, to glittery. Some lip glosses are flavored, and taste like vanilla or strawberry, and how fantastic is that?

There's one very big negative to lip gloss: it's sticky, and your hair WILL get stuck in it. That's a huge pain.

If you can get past that, though, or simply manage to stay out of the wind, lip gloss is a fantastic finish to your lips.

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Order of Makeup Application

This is a question that we get a LOT, and here's the absolute, 100% correct, final answer: everybody applies makeup in a different order.

Seriously—everybody does this differently.

But, if we had to say was the most common order is, we'd say this: