UPSIZE PH | Basic Makeup Tips for Starters

Makeup is not exactly a must. It's just meant to enhance your features. Done properly, it can enhance and highlight your best features better. For example, mascara can do wonders for your lashes and make your eyes appear bigger.

If you are just starting out with makeup, don't feel so lost! Let me guide you through my routine.

Where do you start? There are many brands and factors to consider. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to stick with brands that are hypo-allergenic, such as VMV, Almay and Clinique.

Otherwise, have fun and experiment with a mix of drugstore, mid-range and high-end brands.

The #1 step before applying makeup is to start with a clean and moisturized face.

After that, you're ready to prime. Would you really need a primer though? It really depends. If you're staying in an air-conditioned office all day, maybe it's okay to skip. But if you're going to be outdoors, that is another story.

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I like Benefit Matte Rescue when I'm going to have a long day. For less expensive alternatives, you can use any silicone-based serums you have.

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The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost is a good alternative to primers.

Now you're ready for your base. Maybelline New York has excellent foundations for normal, oily and dry skin types. Since my skin is normal-combination, I go for Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation, which has a powder finish.

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For a pricier foundation, I would go for MAC Face and Body Foundation, which is light but buildable. I normally apply my liquid foundation with a brush (the MAC 197SH) or the life-changing Beauty Blender.

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After that, I want to make sure my brows are on fleek. Brow products are something I like to splurge on because mid-range and high-end brands always get it right in terms of color.

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If I have time to really fill in my brows, it's usually a combination of Benefit Brow Zings and MAC Brow in Lingering or Spiked depending on my current hair color. Otherwise, it's Pink Sugar Honey, I'm Good Eyebrow Gel.

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After that, you can choose to wear eye makeup or not. For a quick eye, swipe Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour for a wash of color.

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Just blend with your fingers and you're set. The easy-to-wear colors include Rose Gold, Moonlight and Khaki.

Then, it's on to eyeliner. I always says the Japanese and Koreans make great liquid eyeliners. Try the ones from KPalette, Dolly Wink, and Clio. If your preference is gel, go for Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. Apply mascara. Maybelline has good mascaras that are budget-friendly.

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Is concealer a must? Again, I'd say it depends if you have some blemishes you want to cover. For me, I apply a bit of Benefit Boi-ing #2 under my eyes.

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For blemishes, nothing beats Pink Sugar Our Li'l Secret Concealer or Kuma Concealer. Both products won't budge.

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I don't know whether most women apply blush after or before dusting some powder over everything but I do so before the powder. Blushes to try are MAC Mocha for dark-skinned beauties and NARS Orgasm for those who want a bit of shimmer.

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I normally don't use a finishing powder because I prefer a dewy look but many girls I know swear by Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

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Now for the fun part - lipstick!

I usually have two options, a nude and a bold color. Visit makeup counters and do an arm swatch party so that you'll know what colors suit you best. For nudes, try Happy Skin in Honeymoon Glow, Maybelline in Touch of Spice or Pink Sugar in XOXO.

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Ever Bilena has a nice selection of matte nude lipsticks. Ruby Woo by MAC is one of the most popular nudes in the market but if that is beyond your budget, there are many alternatives.

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Makeup should be something you enjoy. It's meant to be an expression of your creativity. Applying makeup should not be a chore. When in doubt, explore YouTube for tips and tricks.