Make Up Tutorials

YouTube is where I learned all about how to do makeup. I just simply looked up “makeup tutorial for beginners”. You can learn a lot from those videos. Also, if there is an Ulta or Sephora near you, they also do makeup lessons/can show you how to apply makeup correctly. Even during covid they still have employees there to help. Good luck to you!

My mom never wore makeup either growing up. I remember when I finally asked if I could wear makeup she took me to MAC in the mall to have a full look/tutorial done on me. I still remember some of the tips the makeup artist told me even though it was almost 12 years ago. Youtube is my bestfriend when it comes to makeup. Even now I am always watching tutorials to improve my skills(I'm a total makeup junkie). Just remember makeup is meant to bring out your best features and for you to express yourself. Watch Casey Holmes on Youtube. I LOVE her! She is super down to earth and does her makeup so pretty and not too over the top. She is definitely one of the Youtubers that has helped me improve my makeup skills. Good luck!

Hi Susan! There are a few makeup tutorials you can check out on WeddingWire's YouTube Channel!

YouTube is your friend!

If you never wear makeup, I would start with searching for "No Makeup Looks" "Everyday Makeup" "Fresh Faced Makeup" "Minimal Makeup" "Natural Makeup" or similar. People who are used to wearing makeup (including all the YouTube MUAs) tend to apply a LOT of product using all of these fancy brushes and stuff that you aren't likely to have. You're going to get overwhelmed if you watch a video with multiple primers, color correctors, concealers, foundation, bronzer, blush, highlight, multiple eye shadows, liners, mascara, setting powder, setting spray, lip liner, lipstick, glosses, etc with like 12 different brushes and three beauty blenders. Going with the simpler looks is going to feel more natural and doable to you.

I never wore make-up except for some events and learned everything I could from YouTube tutorials. I feel like I do a pretty decent job now.

For a minimal, natural makeup look (something most non-makeup wearers would feel comfortable with), you can get away with just a good BB/CC cream, some eyeshadow, mascara, and a lip color. My recommendations for a beginner makeup kit are:

1) Primer. This will create a good base for your makeup to stick to and help smooth trouble areas like pores and uneven skin tone.

2) BB/CC Cream or Tinted Moisturizer. These tend to be more breathable and comfortable than a full foundation, and because they are semi-sheer they allow your natural skin to shine through and don't require anywhere near as close of an exact color match. Much easier for beginners than finding your perfect foundation shade!

3) Concealer. Not entirely necessary but good for hiding blemishes, red areas, and under eye discoloration.

4) Eyeshadow or cream shadow. You can buy an inexpensive palette with a few complimentary shades. You really only need 2-4 shades for a look with a lot of depth. Some kits even have instructions and tell you exactly where to apply the product (entire eyelid, crease, etc). Also for a more natural look I recommend skipping eyeliner entirely and just using a bit of dark shadow to line the outer corners of your eyes. This looks softer, more natural, and requires a less precise hand than eyeliner.

5) Eyelash curler. Use this before applying your mascara. Curled eyelashes will open up your eyes and make you look more awake, even without mascara applied. Note: I have naturally curled eyelashes but I still use a curler to open up my eyes even more.

6) Mascara. If you tend to be fairer (light skin, eyes, and hair) go with a brown instead of a black color. Black doesn't look natural on blondes and redheads. Great for drama or a full face of makeup, but usually too harsh if you are going for a more fresh faced look.

7) Lip color. A tinted lip balm, tube lipstick, or colored gloss can all work. Liquid lipstick is trickier to apply for beginners, so I wouldn't go for that until you get more experience. If you want a dark or dramatic color, you'll likely need to line your lips as well to avoid the color from bleeding, but lip liner is less necessary if the lip shade is close to your natural color.

8) Setting spray or powder. This helps keep your makeup in place and prevents it from transferring.

9) Blush, highlighter, and bronzer are all optional, IMO, and not super necessary if you stick to a tinted moisturizer or BB cream, which will still show some of your natural face color. If you use a full coverage CC cream or foundational, you'll find these products more necessary for reintroducing color, depth, and dimension to your face.

10) Makeup brushes and sponges. You can apply some products with just your fingertips, but you'll get a more precise application using specialized brushes. Don't get anything too expensive when you start. ELF makes a basic brush kit (and many inexpensive makeup products) that are great when starting and experimenting.

I personally really like multi-purpose products (like shimmers that can be used as eyeshadow, highlighter, or lip gloss, or beauty sticks that can do an eye, cheek, lip combo) for keeping things simple and manageable.

Also you might find getting the right products overwhelming and that's where something like a makeup subscription box can come in handy. I started doing an Ipsy subscription when I got engaged (I pay $12 every other month for five sample sized products selected for me based on my preferences) and that was nice for getting products to test out.