This blog post is provided to you by Jillian Holt.
Jillian is an amazing hair & makeup artist located in the Florida Panhandle.
Makeup Steps to Create Your Basic Face
SKIN CARE
The most important part of any makeup look is proper skin care! If you do not already have an established skin care routine, now is a great time to work on that.
I do not have any major problems with my skin, but I do take major care of it!
I make sure to drink plenty of water, exfoliate regularly, always take my makeup off before bed. I also use a lightweight moisturizer, eye cream, lash serum, and lip balm. It may seem over the top, but makeup looks better when my skin looks great!
Jillian’s Must Have Items:
BASIC FACE
No matter the makeup look, there is a level of basic face application that will be where you ‘start’ your makeup.
Primer
After skincare, apply a primer that addresses any issues you may have. Some minimize pores, some control oil, some give a dewy glow. This is a personal choice.
Less is more when it comes to primer! Start with a small amount and work from the center of your face outward.
Jillian’s Must Have:
the POREfessional face primer
For oily skin – FENTY Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer
Foundation vs. Tinted Moisturizer vs. Skip This Step
This step will depend on your skin.
For the most coverage, find a foundation that has coverage on your comfort level. If you have many imperfections, you may choose a full coverage foundation. If you simply want to even things out, perhaps a sheer foundation or tinted moisturizer may be more appropriate.
I like to apply foundation with a damp beauty blender. This allows me to get an even finish and I can control the level of coverage as I go. I do not apply the foundation directly to the sponge. I will generally start with 2-3 drops of foundation on the back of my clean hand. Then I will gradually add foundation to the sponge as I work – starting at the center of the face and working outward.
My philosophy is Don’t Cover the Good. Meaning, don’t use foundation ALL OVER if you don’t need it.
When my skin is really great, I will skip the foundation step altogether.
Jillian’s Must Have:
Il Makiage. It absolutely lives up to the hype, and by using their online quiz to help select the foundation that’s right for you, you can’t go wrong. Plus, they have a satisfaction guarantee!
Concealer + Highlight
This is the step where I begin highlighting and contouring the face. Not only can you use concealer to cover stubborn imperfections, you can use it to bring light to certain areas of the face.
Below is a basic concealer pattern I use to brighten my face.
I gently blend the concealer with a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush.
There should be no lines left.
I sometimes use 2 different concealers – one that has more coverage (for under eye darkness and spots) and one that is more creamy (for face brightening).
Jillian’s Must Have Items:
Tarte Creaseless Concealer
Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush
Bronzer + Face Shaping
When you’re doing makeup, especially for photographs, it is important to shape your face to make the most of your features.
I use a cream bronzer to enhance the natural curves of my face. I use a compact foundation brush to apply it and blend, blend, blend. I apply it around my hair line, in the hollows under my cheek bones – running from the middle of my ear toward the corner of my lips, going no further than the center of my cheek – under my jaw line, down the sides of my nose, and a tiny bit in the hollow of my cupid’s bow and under my bottom lip.
Below you’ll see my face with blended concealer and blended bronzing cream.
I have also diagramed where I place the bronzer.
Jillian’s Must Have Items:
Real Techniques Foundation Brush
HUDA BEAUTY Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream
Setting Powder
Once you have everything blended, you set it all in place with a lightweight setting powder and a big fluffy brush. I love a matte, loose powder, and MILK makeup has a flow control mesh that makes it so that you don’t spill or waste the powder!
Jillian’s Must Have Items:
MILK Makeup Blur + Set Matte Loose Setting Powder
Blush
After all of the wet products are set, I apply a neutral blush high and wide above and to the outside of the apples of my cheeks.
Jillian’s Top Picks:
theBalm Frat Boy Blush
NARS Blush Orgasm
Bronzer
The final step to contouring your face is a lightweight, matte bronzer. This will give that final bit of pop to your features. Follow the same pattern as your cream bronzer.
Jillian’s Must Have:
bareMinerals Endless Summer Powder Bronzer
Highlighter
A light shimmer highlighter is applied to the tops of the cheek bones, across brow bones, and a tiny tap on the top the nose.
Brows
The final step is to define your brows. See the previous post about eyebrows for help!
Here is me with the basic face complete – from this point, I can create any makeup look. I can add any eye + lip look – or simply add mascara and a clear gloss for an everyday look.
Jillian Holt is a makeup artist and hairstylist with 18 years of experience in the beauty industry.
Thank you Jillian for all of this amazing information!!
Important note from Jessica:
The images included in this post are provided by Jillian. Questions? Ask below! If I can’t answer them I’ll pass them on to Jillian. XO
[…] you’ve completed your basic face, a favorite look of mine, especially for a photo session is an understated sexy […]