Quarantine Make up Hacks, I found on Tik Tok, Instagram & Youtube

I wanted to get out of my make up comfort zone, try some new techniques, and see if I like them and wear them in public post quarantine. My usual makeup is very minimal, with neutral colors, glowy skin. I'm not that mad into make up and don't spend load of money on it either, but if I like something I will keep using it and will spend whatever the cost. I would rather invest into something that works for me, than spending a little on alot of products. But of course finding the right foundation the right concealer and beyond is a journey we all take, trailing and testing new things. But we have so much product information out there now and all available on our phones, it makes the buying process and little easier to decide what to invest in. 

So over the past few months I have been watching more make up video's than ever, product information videos, how to use them, watching the 'Make up guru's' doing their make up and how they use a product. It was all very interesting to me, I did watch makeup video's before, but never really paid attention to them, at least not as much as I do now. After clearing out my dresser and make up drawers, I had loads of makeup that is new and not used. Because I tend to stick to the same, and not often venture out of my comfort zone. But, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, try different colours, different techniques and see if I like them or not. So here is what I found and tried out. 

Make up Hack #1 - Contour & Conceal BEFORE Foundation

So I think I saw this on Tik Tok? But what she did was we used cream contour and concealer first then applied her foundation over it, so you can get a perfect blend with all the shades and to look more airbrushed. Which sounds great! But my first thought was, "thats alot of make up!" and I'm not a fan of heavy full coverage or cakey make up for me personally, because you still have to powder contour, bronze and set all that cream make up. But anyhow, I tried it out of curiosity, and to have a play. So first started with my eye make up and brows (which is another new to me) As I wanted to play with peachy oranges, and burnt shades. Then went in with the SoSueBY SJ, contour palette, using shade no.1 to conceal underneath the eyes, upper cheek, jaw line, forehead, down the nose and small dot on the chin. Then using shade 2 to contour, from top of the ear to check, around the hair line and also down each sides of the nose. I looked crazy! Yes I have done this before, but usually I have foundation on first so it doesn't look so crazy. Then next you blend this all in, once that is blended then apply your foundation as normal and continue with everything else. So at this point, I thought all this was kinda pointless? It looked good after blending it out, the foundation muted the contour and concealer. But after finishing the whole face, the base did look alot more airbrushed. If I wanted to go for a  high coverage look I prob would do this again, it looked great when photographed too. What I did like was how my under eye concealer look much more seamless, which I think is due to doing the eye make up first. What do you think? 

Make up Hack #2 - Using a cotton pad when applying Mascara 

This one I saw on Dianne Buswells YouTube channel, where she tried out tik tok make up hacks, but I think she tried it with a business card and she wasn't to keen on it. But anyway the idea is to place a cotton pad/business card to the closed eye lid when applying mascara so you don't get mascara on your beautifully blended eye-shadow or even underneath those bottom lashes, you know those little mistakes? annoying right! Now I love have long and full lashes, I've had Lash extensions on for years and loved them, but this year I wanted a break from them, and try a lash serums.. Just to see if they work and what all the fuss was about! So I started the Grande lash Serum in March, and now two months later I'm really seeing a difference, I was a bit hesitate at the start but it does say it can take up to 8 weeks to see results, and couldn't really see the product even lasting that long? But just look at them lashes! OH MY GOD, and because I haven't been wearing mascara I didn't really notice the growth, my eyelash naturally are very fair. So this hack I loved, because I wasn't trying to carefully not to ruin my eye make up, I could get right into the root and brush the lashes onto the cotton pad to get every bit of lash I could! Here I used two mascaras first the Bad LLama from Bperfect, which has a more thin and defining wand, to both top and bottom lashes and second the Thick & Fast mascara from Soap & Glory to add thick and fullness, just on the top outter lashes, which slightly changes the shape of the eye. So thumbs up for this hack for me, I loved it and plus I'm going to continue using that serum too! 

Make up Hack #3 - Instant Tan instead of Foundation

Now I was slightly scared to try this one, because of obvious reasons? like putting something that dark on my face, and also worrying it wouldn't come off too and I'll end up with a orange face! AHH, but I saw this on the SOSUEby SJ insta stories, where one of their brand ambassadors used the face tune to match up her face to her body after she tanned. Now like every girl in Ireland we all start out as milk bottles, then after tan were at least 3 shades darker. which is a big jump. But also I do find it hard to match a foundation to my 'tanned' skin, So the idea of using a instant tan as the foundation, not only will match to my tanned body but also looks alot more natural and sun kissed for an everyday look. So well give it a go, here I used the facetune by SOSUEby SJ, MY GOD, it was scary when I first applied it but as it blended out it looked great! I would just wear this on the days I don't want to wear any make up but cant leave the house with a white face and freshly tanned neck & body. Most importantly instant tans are washable too, so they will wash off clean, just like your normal make up would do. I found it didn't effect my skin either but I do use SPF, primers before makeup to protect my skin. So I would apply skincare before the instant tan just to be sure. We don't want clogged up skin! 

So that is my three crazy quarantine make up hacks that I have tried and tested, I will prob use all three of the techniques going forward but maybe in a more minimal amount, as these looks did take my while to do. On a normal day, my make up routine is usually only 10 -15mins long, and not over an hour! But fair play to all the make up artists out there, its a real art form, and takes plenty of practice and patience. Which I have alot for, for nails but not make up. It was fun getting out of the comfort zone and just having fun, with what I had lieing around, and I've learned a thing or two aswell. Its very therapeutic doing your make up, especially when your not under pressure to go anywhere, just sit and play. Even turn the phone off while your doing it, you'll thank me later. 

Let me know if you have tried any Quarantine make up hacks, or even tried something new and out of your comfort zone. I would love to see, I love trying new hacks, especially when they make life easier! 

Talk soon 

Steff