There is nothing wrong with over-the-top drag makeup if that is the look you are going for. If you just want to look “pretty” or “polished,” you may want to take a different route with your makeup. Most women don’t know where to draw the line between drama and drag, so they end up going out with way more makeup than they actually needed. Don’t worry though ladies. I’m here to help you avoid that. Here are some simple ways to make sure your makeup looks nothing shy of perfection.

Applicators

If you’re going to use dark colors on your eyes, you need to apply them with soft bristled brushes. The sponges that come with just about every eye shadow out there create hard lines of shadow that you can’t easily fade. These hard lines make your makeup a lot more noticeable, but not in a good way. Rather than seeing you, people see whatever color you have on your face. Use brushes to create a soft, natural look, and people will take notice of you for the right reasons.

Colors

You can wear whatever color you want on your face, but you need to realize what those colors may imply. Bright blue eye shadow and deep red blush is the quintessential look for Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. Is that really what you want to look like? Assuming not, you may want to stick with more natural looking colors, like deep brown, grey, green, or bronze. These colors can still make you look dramatic without looking like you’re trying too hard.

Focal Features

Rather than trying to draw attention to your whole face at once, pick a feature that you want to highlight. If you want your eyes to look amazing, put on some bold eye shadow and leave the rest alone. If you want to highlight your lips, wear soft eye shadow and bright red lipstick. When you just have one focal point for people to look at, they are more likely to see you under the makeup. That’s what you should want in the end.

Keep your skin clean and your makeup minimal. You can make a big impact without having to use a ton of different products. If you always approach your makeup routines with a “less is more” mentality, you are sure to pull some second glances the next time you go in public.

Author Byline: Suzanna Pointer runs the fashion column for her college newspaper, takes care of an unruly husband, and enjoys spending time with her newborn daughter. She loves trying out new beauty products in her spare time. Recently, she discovered the Riiviva Microderm, and has been using it to treat her stretch marks.

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