4 Easy Hacks to Level up Your Makeup Routine

Updated:

04 Nov 2024

Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).

Until recently, I never really considered myself a “makeup girlie”.

I didn’t grow up religiously watching Chloe Morello or Jaclyn Hill on YouTube. And the only product I’ve ever queued for is a Lune croissant.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t interested in makeup, I was. My younger self was just so intimidated by the industry and felt it was so complex I couldn’t possibly fit in.

And then, the coronavirus came a-knockin’.

Like many, when lockdown restrictions were imposed, I sought reprieve in creature comforts; virtual yoga classes, sourdough baking, candle making and Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Admittingly (very) late to the Ru Paul party, I became enamoured with the artistry of drag and all the bronzer, glitter and glue that went into their show-stopping looks.

It was at this point I suddenly found myself picking up my beauty brushes and falling in love with the creativity of makeup.

Fast forward to today, and while I’m certainly no makeup artist, my skills have definitely improved.

Along my way, I’ve picked up a few application hacks that truly changed the game for me.

So, if you’re looking for easy ways to improve your makeup, keep reading for my top four tips.

1. Mix Setting Powder Into Concealer.

I can’t take credit for this first tip. I stumbled across it while doom-scrolling TikTok at 2am (don’t judge).

Essentially, the technique is to mix a little bit of setting powder in with your foundation or concealer (or both if required) to keep oiliness at bay.

As the creator Vincent demonstrates in the video below, you can mix them together in your hands or a dish if you prefer, and use your fingers to lightly press it into your skin.

This allows the powder to settle without looking heavy or dull. Instead, the result is a soft, matte complexion that looks barefaced but better. *Chef’s kiss*.

@vincent.ford Powder Hack for oily skin #oikyskin #makeuphack ♬ original sound - Vincent Ford

Here are my top powder picks:

Shop Setting Powder

2. Contour Inward.

In all honesty, I can’t remember how or where I came across this tip. A quick scroll through my bottomless pool of saved videos and, surprisingly, she’s nowhere to be found.

Alas, I digress.

Essentially, this technique is all about soft sculpt contouring which focuses on enhancing your features rather than chiselling them into existence.

The benefit here is that you won’t be left with any hard lines or an over-structured complexion.

In terms of application, it should differ slightly depending on the shape of your face and the features you want to define.

For example, I have a heart-shaped face so I like to focus more contour on the high temples of my forehead to make it appear more narrow and my chin more round.

Broadly speaking though, you're going to apply contour along your hairline, jawline and under your cheekbones, using a brush or sponge to blend it inward and upwards.

This will make your makeup look more lifted and natural.

Here are my top contour picks:

Shop Contour

3. Layer Your Blush.

Another simple yet transformative technique is the art of layering cream and powder blush.

It’s beauty’s answer to those times when a powder blush is just too powdery for a dewy look and a cream blush doesn’t have the staying power you need.

It’s also a great way to dip your toes into the world of cream blush if you tend to shy away from their usually highly-pigmented formulations.

To achieve this look, you have two options depending on your skin type and preferred finish.

For oily or oily-prone skin types, I’d recommend starting with your cream blush and following with your powder blush.

To do so, dab your cream blush onto the apples of your cheeks using its in-built applicator if it has one or swatch it onto a makeup brush or sponge and gently press it into the skin, blending outward for more controlled application.

From here, apply your powder blush on your cheekbones in an upwards motion to add dimension and set everything in place.

If you have dry skin like me, I like to do the same but in reverse to give my skin a healthy, dewy glow.

Tune in to the below TikTok to watch MUA Patrick Ta apply this technique in real-time.

@patrickta Try Using My Technique Using My Major Headlines Cream Blush Over Powder @patricktabeauty ♬ original sound - patrick ta

Here are my top cream blush picks:

Shop Blush

4. Mix Eyeshadow With Water for Graphic Eyeliner.

Lastly, because we know I love a multi-tasking, money-saving beauty tip, we’re (finally) going to give those lonely, unused eyeshadow shades in your palettes a use.

You know the ones I’m talking about…

For this technique, all you need is an angled eyeliner brush, an eyeshadow palette, a cue tip, a mixing dish and some water.

You’re going to gently scrape the eyeshadow using a clean cue tip and transfer the loose powder into your mixing dish.

Next, add a couple of drops of water to the dish and mix until the eyeshadow turns into a nice smooth, liquid-like consistency.

Then, with your angled brush, dip into the eyeshadow and apply as usual. And voila! You now have a whole kit of eyeliners at your fingertips without having to build out a collection.

Now, to try your hand at some of those iconic Euphoria graphic eyeliner looks like these...