It's Monday again and I'm firmly anchored in front of the keyboard with an ever faithful cup of coffee and another post for you guys.
This week I'll be going through four easy tips on blending powder products. They could be eye shadows, blushers, bronzers or highlighters, it's up to yourself. With the right techniques you can take make up from any price point and end up with a polished and perfected finish. It just takes a little bit of practice and the right steps. A bucket full of Nescafé Gold Blend is optional, but preferable in early morning scenarios. Anyway...
Tip #1. Set the area with a matte powder.
For the eyes I recommend using a matte shadow in a similar colour to your skin. For cheeks you can simply set the area with a setting powder of your choice. Even if you've primed the eye area, or used a matte foundation, there can still be areas where creams or liquids haven't fully set. These areas can cling to the product you blend over the top and leave them looking patchy and darker in certain areas. You only need a light dusting of matte powder to stop this from happening. Preping the area like this is the first step to getting your blending on the next level.
Tip #2. Use brushes that are different sizes and densities.
This step is mostly applicable to the eye area as we tend to use more products there, but if you're like me and you have your heart scalded trying to soften the edge of a bronzer or blush then this might be up your alley! Using a larger and softer brush to apply your product first will give you a lighter finish and a cleaner edge. You can then use a smaller and denser brush to concentrate the colour where you want it most.
Be careful not to put too much product on your brush to begin with. Start with a small amount of product and build up for a more polished finish. Using different brushes ties in perfectly with our next tip, which is...
Tip #3. Use a lighter "transition" colour .
A transition colour is a tone that sits between the lightest and darkest shade you want to use. This step is the crucial step for making your blending look out of this world. When using eye shadow you can take two colours in the same family and buff the lighter colour onto the eye first. Follow up with your darker colour and you'll see it instantly diffuse and soften into the transition shade. On the skin, the most common way to do this is to use a bronzer or blush and follow up with a cooler, deeper colour to contour.
Using a larger brush to apply your transition shade will blend the colour over a larger area. You can then use your smaller brush to go in and concentrate your darker colour in a specific area to add depth.
Tip #4. Blend your textures!
When we talk about the texture of a product, we mean how it looks when it's on the skin (matte, dewy, frosted, satin sheen, etc.) Some eye shadows and blushes have a sheen to them. If you ever try them you'll probably have a really easy time blending them out. Products with a little shimmer in them tend to be easier to soften, so why not use this to your advantage? This step is optional and might not be everyone's cup of tea. If you want to take your make up one step further for an event then adding an element of sparkle will do the job rightly!
For this I'd recommend using your matte products first and following with anything that contains shine for a really perfected finish. Using a matte contour colour, a blush with a soft sheen and an illuminating powder highlighter gives the cheek such a gorgeous finish. On the eyes, layering a colour with some shimmer over the lid will soften the transition from a matte crease colour to a highlighted lid and tear duct area.
While we're here I'd suggest avoiding products with any shine to contour the face or eye socket. Frosted colours reflect light and this goes against the purpose of contouring, but sure we'll cover that at some point in the future!
So my lovelies, those are my four essential techniques that I use every day, on every face, every time. You don't have to spend an unholy amount of time and money to get a decent finish, just practice and invest in some good tools and staple products that you can use day in, day out. The rest, mes amis, is up to you.
As always (I can hear one or two of you yawning because you know what's coming) feel free to give us a shout here, on Instagram or on our YouTube channel with any questions or queries that you have.
Until next time,
J x
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