Photo: ImaxTree
We’re all about having fun with our makeup and trying new things, but on a day-to-day basis, we’re usually drawn to one look—our respective signature looks, if you will. Having a default makeup look is like having a go-to outfit that you know you always look great in and that works for every occasion. If you’ve yet to put your finger on your foolproof signature look, follow these tips to find the one that works best for you.
Think about the time when you’ve felt the best about your look.
We don’t necessarily feel our best or our prettiest when we’re all “dolled up” or wearing more makeup than usual, but maybe one day you decided to rock something different, like a cat eye or red lip, and felt great about it. Think about the times when you’ve felt your most confident in your makeup, like you could conquer the world. It could have been a full-on smoky eye or a pared-down natural look, or anything at all.
Consider your comfort zone.
Even if you love the look of a bold lip or dramatic eye on other people, if you don’t feel 100 percent comfortable in it, there’s no way it’ll work as anything more than a fling. If there’s a particular look that you like, but feel like it’s a little too much to wear every day, think about how you can make it a little more suitable for your daily life. A shocking pink lip can be diluted with a sheer formula, and a major winged eye can be minimized with a smaller flick.
Think about which features you want to draw attention to.
This is an easy one: If you want to emphasize your eyes, gravitate towards a cool liner look or highlighter in the inner corners to brighten them up and make them look bigger. If you have great lips that look killer in a bold lip color or high-shine gloss, concentrate on that and keep the rest of your look neutral for balance. Have great cheekbones? Emphasize with a little bit of contouring to really make them pop.
Consider how much time you want to spend each day.
If you like to sleep late, you’re not going to want to commit to a look that takes twenty minutes to complete, no matter how much you love it or how good you feel in it. If you’re the rushing-out-the-door type, a simple tinted moisturizer, mascara and tinted balm routine is probably best for you. If you have a few extra minutes, the time it takes to apply a bold lip is a bit more palatable. If you’re willing to spend 15 minutes to really perfect that sharp cat eye, by all means, go for it! But be realistic about what works for your lifestyle and schedule: A flawless bright lip is never—okay, rarely ever—worth being twenty minutes late to work.
Read more: How to Be Photogenic
