Want the tricks professional makeup artists use without going to makeup school yourself? We went to a makeup academy and got the goods -- see our cheat sheet now
December 28, 2011
| by
Sharon J. Yi | 187 COMMENTS
Lesson No. 8: Get Angelina Jolie's lips without injections Before makeup school, I had no idea there was an ideal lip shape. Apparently, your lips are most balanced when the upper and lower lips are equal in size, or thickness, says Prior. If they're not, you can use your knowledge of highlights and shadows to re-contour them.
Step 1: Apply foundation to your entire lip, says Napoleon Perdis. Not only does this help remove the natural pigments of your lips for truer lipstick colors, but it can also help you realize where your liplines actually are. Step 2: Using a white eyeliner pencil, very softly feather the pencil over the natural contour of the lip. Or use the pencil to make lips fuller or thinner by drawing it past your natural lipline or within it. Step 3: Redo the line with a lip pencil in the color of your lipstick. Step 4: Apply lipstick with a lip brush in a downward motion. So, from your cupid's bow to each outer corner, then from your outer corner to the center of your lower lip. This ensures an even application of the product, says Hawker. Step 5: Apply a light shade of base foundation around the new lip line, blending to a soft edge with a lip brush.
Remember, light colors reflect light, so using lighter lip colors will give a fuller appearance. Dark colors absorb light, so they will make lips look smaller/thinner. Finally, try this popular trick used on Victoria's Secret Angels to give the illusion of a fuller pout: Apply a dab of gloss to the top part of your Cupid's bow and to the center of the bottom of your lip.
very useful tips! thank you for sharing. I'm going to pin this and use this when i'm applying makeup on the weekends. I have more time to work on it, If i make mistakes, i can wash my face and start over! thank you :)
This school is a fraud. First, they verbally intimate that the school is very exclusive and that they turn down a lot of applicants each year. I was interviewed for a slot in their makeup artist program. I was told that they are very exclusive and that only applicants with experience in the makeup or cosmetic industry would be accepted as well as applicants that showed great potential. The interviewer told me there are between 15-20 students per year. I was accepted by the school.
The orientation day was interesting becuase instead of 15-20 students there were close to 30. The "teachers/professors" described the course curriculm and stated that there would be one teacher to instruct the entire class. I was a bit skeptial about this becuase close to 30 students in a normal class room can be a bit overwhelming and for an art school it can be discouraging. Furthermore, art is subjective, and a makeup school is even more subjective because there are student's with varing styles and if there is only one teacher it could mean that a lot more students are over looked for their individual styles and techniques. But I will get to the later.
The day the actual classes commenced there were 80 students.
Furthermore, instead of the exclusitivy they boast about, they accepted students that do not hold any basic understanding about makeup what so ever. The age range was also very shocking. The majority of the class was just out of highschool. Now, with 80 students, the class is taught by the lowest common denominator. What that means is, teachers treated everyone as children. They tought according to the class having no knowledge of makeup what so ever.
It was very different than what they boast and advertised.
Honestly, it was as if the class room was an army boot camp and the teachers used abusive tactics to put people in line. Yelling, kicking the class out if students weren't quiet, putting students down for their work (even though it is a subjective course), and so much more.
I am not the only one that suffered through this, a lot of students felt the same way, I am just the only one that feels that it's necessary to tell other people that may pin their hopes and dreams in this school to not waste your money, time, energy, and excitement.
There aren't very many reviews about this school because they've structured a contract for students to sign to state that they can not discuss the course curriculum. People that went to this school that I spoke with after I experienced these and many more things confirmed that this school has grown and expanded to where they do not really care about their students and makeup any more. They care about making money. The integrity of what it once was is now lost.
Of course there are students that love the school. Those students go on to work for Make Up For Ever Academy, some still hope to work for them. If you understand that, than you'd know why they love the school.
The courses, as I've mentioned is taught in mind with the student that is the least knowledgeable in the class. In a class of 80 where at least 85% is between 18-20 years of age (not to say that, some were mature in that age range) and are very new to makeup and all its facets you can imagine the maturity level and course level. It was too much for the small percentage of the class that are real professionals. For five days a week for about 8-10 hours the first half is a verbal lecture in French, whilst the second half is a short demonstration in French, by the teacher, and then the remaining 2-4 hours is the student practice. Which they practice on each other.
I wish that I had found someone that was willing to tell me the truth about the school before I signed up and move to Paris to 'study makeup'.
I think it was worse for the small percentage of the class that are professionals, me included, that a lot of us have decided to move on from this negative and horrid experience and get out of the program.
Of course, as what was mentioned to me before by previous students, Make Up For Ever Academy in Paris, France has lost their integrity and only cares about making more money and uses the Hope of aspiring or professional makeup artist as a way to make more money is true.
If you want to be treated like you don't matter.
If you don't care about severe cross contamination of products and filthy brushes and hands.
If you don't mind being put down for your work day and day.
If you are silly enough to think that I am just a disgruntled student.
If you think you will be different because you dream of working for Make Up For Ever.
Than, by all means.
But, if you are smart and can respect my review whilst take in to consideration my peronal expereince, then I would suggest for you to not pin your hopes on Make Up For Ever Academy, Paris France.
I must say, love your article, one of the best that I have read! These are really great tips that every woman should know, awesome and really useful! Well done.
Regards
Beauties Factory UK
One of the best pieces I have read on this site. Ever! Using good tools & using them properly is crucial! Always use primer even if you don’t use full face foundation. Green is great to conceal/counteract redness, & the contouring advice was great! I'm going to apply a black pencil to upper inner rim of eye tomorrow, and see how that works out. I gotta get a lighter eyebrow pencil, an try that out too!
Crap. I have extremely fair, thin skin and huge dark circles under my eyes with very bright blue veins showing through. Orange may help cover them but it will also make me look like an oompa loompa! But the rest of this article was a big help!
This was a great article! So much information for those of us who are amateur at putting on our make-up, but also some great tips for those who are a little more skilled in the artistry of make-up. I tend to watch video tutorials to get the technique down, but they don't always offer the information provided in this article to back up the reasons why they apply make up the way they do. I am always looking for the latest techniques and trends in make up and this is by far the most helpful and informative article I've read on your website.
Excellent information! These tips contain some of the important tricks that all makeup artists use to make you look fantastic. One more bit of advice: don't do all of these unless you really have the time and the need; instead pick no more than three to use for everyday wear.
I Really like this article. I have not attended make up school just yet but this information is very helpful. Thanks for the heads up.! Now I know that I have been applying my make up all wrong.
This was very interesting and useful information. My lips are basically the same color as my skin so using a highlight in the Cupid arrow is something I can definitely use.
Every time I read this article, I see something new!!! Does anyone apply their cheek contour the right way? I know that I have been doing it wrong and was clueless!!! Oh, well, I'll keep reading and keep trying.
I am glad I read this!! All of the tips helped me out in some way or another. Now I know how to hide my under-eye circles instead of highlighting them. :). Great article!
I need to revisit this article on a regular basis...last time I missed the message on neutral concealers looking like mud. I understand the color wheel, just need to use that knowledge! I am also going to try the bronzer/ crease trick. THANKS!
Great article! I knew about the green concealer for the redness but I didn't know about the orangey concealer so thank you for that tip! What is the yelllow concealer good for?
As an artist I felt confident that I knew quite a bit about colors and applications-but this article gave new meaning to me about how much I didn't know-fabulous informative tips about every area on the face and especially how to conceal flaws. Kudos!!!!!
The (sometimes) silver section between the handle and the brush head is called the ferrule. Better quality brushes engineer these better so handles and hairs don't come loose.
What about eyeshadow for hazel eyes? What if my eyes are mostly green but I hate reds, plums, and wines? Also, the image of the green eye has a plum and green color below it. I assume that was a mistake?
This is great advice but I was wondering what all those brushes were used for. Also I don't agree that cream foundation works on oily skin, at least not my skin. I have tried that previously it feels disgusting and does not stay where you put it, powder foundation is really the only way to go with oily skin.
like the article however I think you can score excellent makeup brushes and tools without breaking the bank- don't agree with no. 1, I have a couple brushes from Ulta brand brushes which are in my opinion better than some of the MAC brushes I own and bridge gaps in MAC's overall brush/tool collection. Just saying don't believe the hype that more expensive means better quality- not always true
Good tips, especially on different ways to apply foundation for different skin types. I've been using a sponge on my dry face, which I now know is a mistake.
so true, make up brushes are now cruelty free. I have the bare minerals make up brushes that came with my kits.. they are great ,and if kept clean they last a long time.
these are great tips, and i have been applying them to my make up routine. investing on great make up tools, is definitely important but you have to take care of it very well.
Oh Wow this answered alot of questions and was very informative. I liked the tip regarding mixing the primer and foundation. I will have to try it soon. and thanks for the info on the tools.
I think this is a very helpful article. I will be sure to try some of them, espcially the winged tips and eyebrows. I'm not sure how comfortable I feel about putting foundation on my lips, it just seems like a bit much to me. But I guess the things that don't apply to me, I can just keep on the back burner as "good to know" information. This makes me want to find a make up class :)
I Love this story. I have often dreamed about going to makeup artistry school and learning new techniques. This is like getting the short and sweet version of 101 for free! I especially enjoyed the humor she interjected into the story as well as the honesty of her makeup flaws. I have been doing my eyeliner the same way she does and hopefully the eyeliner tips will help me out as well.
This really is just a great article. I love the personality injection it has, and all these amazing ideas I never would have thought about without going to makeup school myself! Thanks!
I must say that I really don't like the concept of having to "Fix" your faceshape. While the tips are great, it implies that only one faceshape is correct.
If you line your lower waterline and add black pencil to your upper inner rim, how do you prevent the black from transferring?
(I hope you respond -- I haven't been able to find the answer to this).
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Great tips and can't wait to try the ones I didn't know. Only thing is, where in the world would I get an orange concealor to help cover my dark circles?
This is a really good selection of tips. Good tools are one of the most important, but you don't HAVE to spend a lot of money. These days, there are so many affordable and inexpensive options, like ELF and Studio Tools and ecoTools.
Very Educational & Helpful Article!! Thank you for sharing these "Secret" Tips! I found so many answers to questions that i have spent countless years trying to figure out. I like the color wheel - color theory concept. Love the V shape application for under eye circles...I believe this will benefit everyone in some way! All of the tips are beneficial in some way and i can't wait to share some of these tips with friends and family. I bookmarked this Article to refer back to later on and plan on taking "notes" or printing some of these secrets to keep Handy, so that when im in a real perfection make up mode i will get things just right!!
I like the colors picked for the best eye-popping eyeshadow. I have also noticed that my dark brown eyes yook much more prominent when I wear blueish and purpleish eyeshadow. And other tips are great also,love that V shape application for under eye circles. I do not use a primer,sometimes a light liquid foundation,but mostly a great BB cream(Blemish Balm cream). Mine is from Garnier and I have to tell you that this is some great stuff! Much better than any foundation or powder for me! I suggest that you make an article about BB creams(they originated form Asian market, their actresses use it ). I tell you,it is worth trying!!
best tips: mixing primer WITH foundation and how to wing your eye with linner. love the 'start with bottom then continue in the same direction' tip ! I had so many problems with winged eyeliner and now.. can't wait to try it!
These are fantastic tips! I plan to re-read and take notes to refer to the next time I have time to "play" with my makeup. I want to try each of these out myself!
I can't bring myself to follow #9 I have REALLY thin almost non-existent eyebrows and I feel I look older if I do them light. Sorry, but I'm going to keep "drawing" mine on :(
Nice article. I knew most of these, but the cream foundation and sponge is interesting! I do work with makeup, and I think it might have been useful to include how to apply blush to best compliment your facial shape. A lot of women I talk with about find that part interesting.
I heard some professionals get their brushes from art stores. Well I think the best brushes are from EcoTools. They're inexpensive, works great, and can compete with the top brands.
But this article clashes with another article about things we shouldn't be doing at all...only let the professional do the contouring, don't use pencils on your brows, don't plump lips.
But i still love the tips they're still useful.
i learned all this on you tube. except one thing. im not so much of a pale person anymore. but right under my eyes, where most people get dark circles, im pure white. i have to darken that area just to look alive. am i weird? oh right. i am. :)
My favorite line in the article: "Ugh, I'm so ugly." Sandler responds, "No, you're so cute! You all are!" These all great tips, a lot of which I've learned from watching YouTube videos.