I started wearing makeup when I was 8 (I know, a little young!). Not a full face, but I started playing with different eyeshadows and lip glosses. When I was 11, I really started having fun with different products. For me, makeup was how I liked to  express myself. My makeup journey started when I created a YouTube channel. Glamor beauty — when I was 9. I used to be so embarrassed of my old videos but after looking back on them last week I actually think they are pretty cool. Now after growing up and having self reflection, I see that was a big part of my life. I applaud the courage I had at that young age to not care at all and just have fun! 

Over the past 8 years I have gathered lots of makeup tricks and tips for anyone who is just starting out with makeup, or wanting to change up their looks and products and try new things.

Face Makeup

1. Don’t cake up your face with heavy foundations — especially if you aren’t struggling with acne (and also if you are).

Wow! I wish someone would have told me this. When I was starting to wear makeup I saw influencers like Bethany Mota and Alisha Marie wearing foundations, concealers and powders. I thought it was so cool. So I wore foundations, concealers and powders. I remember my Dad coming into my room when I was 12 and seeing the amount of face product I applied. “ *Gasp* Sadie! Look at how much gloop is on your face.” We have both struggled with acne-prone skin so he knows the struggle of clogged pores. He didn’t want me to experience what he went through, so he was shocked at how much foundation I put on when I didn’t even need it. I think that all the makeup I applied through the years of middle school really caught up to me later on.  So please take it from me. If you aren’t struggling with acne or have acne prone skin, wear light coverage products. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. 

Favorite powder foundation for light – buildable coverage: https://janeiredale.com/products/purepressed-base-mineral-foundation-refill

*recommended to me by esthetician* 

2. Use highlighter on your nose.

So beautiful. I learned this trick when I was 13. I used to wear so much highlighter. I was obsessed. I loved the pop and button-like effect it would make on my nose. But again, don’t overdo it. Liquid highlighters are very natural and perfect for a glowy summer look. 

Favorite liquid highlighter: Rare beauty Liquid highlighter in mesmerize

Eye tips. 

3. Always curl your lashes.

Don’t sleep on this. This makes your lashes look amazing and longer. 

My go-to lash curler: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/eyelash-curler/1705.html

4. Use a circle mirror and hold it under your eye.

This trick makes it so you can coat all your lashes in mascara. I love this trick and It actually makes such a difference. You can spot the clump coming on from the angle of the mirror. 

5.Use brown eyeshadow as liner for a more natural look.

I used to wear winged black liquid liner when I was 13. Although it did make my eyes pop I wouldn’t suggest it at that age. I love wearing a brown eyeshadow to give myself a little wing. TikTok kind of put this trend on the map with the “Model off duty” makeup tutorials. 

6. Wear eyeshadow. 

I have always loved eyeshadow because of all the fun colours. I always start by priming (right now I am using the Sephora Collection eyeshadow primer). I stick with the basic rule — neutral, darker neutral, light and shimmer. I start with a light brown in my crease and all over my lid, then go in with a darker colour to enhance, a light lid colour, and then a shimmer. 

*Tip* — I apply the shimmer colour with my finger to get it to stick on to my lid. The warmth from your finger melts the product onto your eye!  I use a fluffy brush to apply the rest.

My fave pallets: Urban Decay Heat, Charlotte Darling Easy Eye from Charlotte Tilbury, and I Believe in Pink palette by Two Faced. Sometimes I use the Morphie Jaclyn Hill Palette. 

7. Apply a highlighting eye colour to your inner corner and brow bone.

This really pops your eyes. The perfect finishing touch. 

8. Find a mascara that works for you.

The amount of mascaras I have tried… wow. But now I have found one that I absolutely love. It honestly is a personal preference and one mascara might not work for everybody. Very versatile. 

My Pick : Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Mascara in Black.

Lips

Everyone needs a lip combo! My favourite part!

9. Exfoliate your lips. 

This doesn’t just exfoliate but also plumps your lips up. Due to blood circulation, after you exfoliate they plump up. Every morning I take a cotton face pad, put water on it and rub it on my lips. The amount of dead skin that comes off is really satisfying. I also did this to get rid of any residue left over from the lip balm I applied before I went to sleep. 

10. Find colours that you love. 

I have developed my favorite lip combo. I like to line and then add a gloss. I apply a darker liner for more of a 2000s or 90s look, or I add a lighter liner. Depends on the mood. Nothing too drastic but enough to slightly see. I tend to go for lighter colours in the summer and darker in the winter. 

My Lip Colour: 

Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner in “Supersize Me” 

Gloss: Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in the shade 728 

(Drugstore and clean dupe blog(s) coming soon!)

Or…

Liner : Nude by Nature in Soft Pink 

LIp stick : Nude by Nature in the shade Blush Nude. 

11. Pat in your lipstick. 

Again, I like a more natural look. I like to pat in my lipstick. It’s way more natural and gives a little tint, as opposed to a heavy lipstick look. I do this with a nude colour if I don’t want to go dark. I also do this with a red if I want it to be more of a pop of colour. 

Additional tip

I just learnt this: Draw your lip liner like normal but focus on your Cupid’s bow (upper lip) and the bottom line of your lips. Then add a lip gloss not to the entire lip but just the centre. Gives more of a pout!

“Lipstick lasts longer but gloss is more fun”

• Serena Van der Woodson 

I hope you found these tips useful! Makeup is so fun and I think it can really add to your whole look. 

What makeup tips do you know and love? Please share them with me in the comments. 

Sincerely, 

Sadie