Makeup is like art on your face. There aren't any rules, just experimenting on your face and what works well for you and what doesn't. I wouldn't say I'm like a professional makeup artist or guru, but I've had my share of drugstore products. So why not share some makeup tips for beating your face without breaking the bank?
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Everything always comes down to your personal preference and skin type. As someone with oily skin, some powders have helped; others just made the makeup clump up. Blotting paper is useful when sheets are available and needed fast, but they're small and can only be used once. For this hack, instead of adding product onto oil or using a one-time use sheet, dab the oil with a cloth, tissue, or a beauty sponge (make sure there aren't any bumps or 3d design on the cloth), then you can apply powder on top where the oil used to be to even the layer of makeup. Personally, I use a makeup sponge, not to be mistaken with a beauty blender; the shape is similar, but the makeup sponge is more porous, making dabbing the oil easy.
Exhibit A:
When applying powder afterward, using a triangle powder puff (you can get a whole pack on Amazon or Shein) helps smooth out the makeup and lets you have precision with where the product is placed. As for the powder, a budget-friendly pressed powder is the Maybelline Fit Me. My best friend even uses this as a setting powder; do with it what you will. In the fit me powder, there is a sponge you can use; however, I personally don't like the way the product looks after I dab it in. Keep in mind that everyone has their own preferences, and not everyone's face is the same.
Other than a pressed powder, there's also a setting powder. Now, some people say "an expensive powder has the best results," to which I sort of agree, but at the end of the day, it's all being washed off. The Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Powder is a dupe for the Hudabeauty Easy Bake Powder. The Wet n Wild powder gives a flawless matte base, with no dryness or cakeiness. A flawless, smooth base allows powder makeup to apply nicely on top without it becoming cakey or patchy, which overall enhances the look of all the products mixed and used on the face.
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Using a makeup product for multiple purposes helps save money while allowing you to have a 2-in-1 for the price of one. A liquid lipstick can be used as a liquid blush as well, meaning you don't have to spend money on another product. A little dab of lipstick on your cheek can be the perfect amount of blush to add some color to your face. Another product you can use for multiple purposes is eyeshadow as a powder bronzer, contour, or eyebrows: you can even use bronzer or contour as an eyeshadow. Eyeshadows come in multiple colors and sizes, and all of them could even be in the same palette. Choosing a shade that would suit as a bronzer or contour can save you money from spending it on another product. The other way around works as well. A powder bronzer used on cheekbones, then used on the eyes as eyeshadow, can bring a look altogether. It can unify a makeup look with the matching colors and make it look more cohesive and seamless.
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Makeup has no set rules; the face is a blank canvas, and the makeup is the paint. Despite the stigma around using cheaper makeup, some baddies don't have the money to spend on expensive products that will eventually be washed off. While quality comes with a higher price, similar quality can be found at a more affordable price. Ultimately, it depends on what you're looking for. You can go big for the important products and go small for the less important products if you still want some quality in your makeup routine; however, I don't believe it's a big necessity. At the same time, the only opinion and approval that matters is your own. Tips like these just give those who need guidance or a little push in a direction that works for them.
