How to Use a Skin Exfoliant

Dead skin cells often need a little help to slough off. A skin exfoliant with ingredients like an alpha hydroxy acid or a beta hydroxy acid can leave you looking fresh and feeling smooth again.

By Dennis Thompson Jr.

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Our skin is constantly renewing itself, growing new skin cells to replace the surface skin cells that grow old, die, and fall, or slough, off. Every minute of every day, between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells flake
away.

5 PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP TOOLS EVERYONE SHOULD OWN

Makeup artist Billy B. recommends affordable, easy-to-use essentials that will help take you from pretty to “pretty amazing.” 

Eyelash curler. “Every woman should have one of these little marvels,” Billy says. “Hold the curler at the base of the lash line and squeeze lightly, gradually moving outward. Your eyes will instantly look more alive.” 

Makeup blender. “The secret to truly top-notch eye makeup application is to blend, blend, blend,” Billy says. Blur your liner with a Q-tips^® cotton swab for the perfect smoky eye. 

  

Concealer brush. If you’re using a liquid or cream concealer, a tiny, synthetic-bristle brush is much more precise than your fingers.   

Slant-tip tweezers. “A must for maintaining a polished arch to your brows,” Billy explains. Slanted tips make it easier to grab hairs at the root; just tweeze in the direction the hair is growing. 

Fluffy powder brush. Toss the little pad that comes with your translucent powder and invest in a big, natural-bristle brush. “You’ll get a sheerer application,” Billy says.

How to Apply Makeup for a Natural Look

1. Clean your face of any previous makeup. Put makeup remover or water on a cotton ball. Dab or rub in small circles to remove old makeup.
   
   
   
   • Determine your skin type and cleanse, tone and moisturize with suitable products twice daily. If you have skin problems like spots/blackheads, exfoliate your skin.
2. 2
   Moisturize. Using a small dab the size of a pea, gently rub in an unscented, oil free lotion. Scented lotions can aggravate skin and cause breakouts or an allergic reaction, and oily lotions will encourage acne.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Apply foundation. Before you start, it’s best to determine whether or not you’re using the right foundation color. Get in a natural light and test the foundation to make sure it's the right color for your skin. Dab a few marks on your cheek and angle your face different ways to see if the color matches.
   
   
   
   • Take your finger or a sponge dab in the foundation, and dab it on your face, blending it until it looks like your skin tone. Be sure to go underneath your jaw line; if you stop at the edge of your face, there will be a clear line where the foundation ends.
     
     
     
   • If you have bags or discoloration under your eyes, make 3 dots on the line of the circles under your eyes. Blend it gently using your ring finger.
     
     
     
   • For a more natural look, use a tinted moisturizer instead. Tinted moisturizers blend in while evening out your skin tone and commonly contain SPF and moisturizers. Those with clearer skin will look best with this.
     
     
     
4. 4
   Use concealer on dark or red spots. Make sure this is the EXACT same color as your skin. When you apply the concealer, do so directly on the spot and not around it. This is to avoid a halo effect and emphasis of the spot. Optionally set with beige powder.
   
   
   
   • Be careful not to overdo it on the concealer; you only need enough to cover the spot.
     
     
     
5. 5
   Use two shades of eyeshadow for a professional look. The colors you choose should be golds, browns or silvers, depending on your skin tone and coloring. Apply a light, neutral tone all over your lid and just above your crease and use slightly darker to softly line the top lid and outline your crease. For a natural look, remember to blend the colors.
   
   
   
   • Alternatively, use lighter colors on the inner parts of your eyes and darker tones on the outside. Put white eyeshadow or eyeliner on the inside corner of your eyes to make them look wider and brighter.
     
     
     
6. 6
   Line your eyes with a roasted-colored gel liner. Pencil looks less natural than liquid or gel liner and gel is easier to blend. Line two thirds of your top lashline and one third of your bottom lashline. Smudge the line with a cotton bud.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Curl your eyelashes.This gives you a natural-looking lift without the use of mascara.
   
   
   
8. 8
   Apply one coat of brown or soft black (for darker skin) mascara. If you are satisfied with your results in the previous step, you may skip this one.
   
   
   
9. 9
   Apply Bronzer. Bronzer is a great way to give yourself a natural glow. Lightly brush bronzer all over your face (or just along your cheekbones and T-Zone for a natural suntan appearance). However, bronzer can look silly on people with pale skin if applied incorrectly. Practice at home with bronzer to see if it looks good on you before going out with it on. If you don't like the way it looks, skip this step.
   
   
   
10. 10
    Apply Blush. If you were not happy with bronzer, you can apply blush instead. Creme blush generally works better than powder because it gives you a dewy look and lasts longer. Using a champagne-tinted creme blush, rub a little on your ring finger and blend onto your cheekbones. Note that you should not apply both blush and bronzer; choose one.
    
    
    
11. 11
    Apply a neutral lip color. Avoid using chalky lipsticks or shiny lip glosses. Lip stain is generally best because it looks natural and lasts all day. Use a color that's close to your natural lip color. If you want it to look like your natural lip colour is red, go for it! Nothing's stopping you! 
    
    
    
12. 12
    Finished.
    
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How to Remove Makeup

1. Remove any eye makeup. Use a gentle makeup remover just for eye makeup. Regular makeup remover can irritate the eyes. Make sure you get most, if not all, of any eyeliner and mascara you had on, as well as some eyeshadow.
   
   
   

How to Do Your Makeup Flawlessly

1. Use good face cleaners. Wash your face. Washing your face will make your skin look perfectly clean. This cleans your face well and gets rid of dead skin, blackheads, oil, and dirt. Make sure you don't clean your face with aggressive cleaners or soaps. Use a cleanser that is complementary for your skin, for advice go to your dermatologist or ask for advice in a store where they sell beauty supplies.