As we transition into warmer weather, we’d like to show you how to take a dramatic trend and lighten it up for everyday.  Beauty blogs and social media sites are filled with images of elaborate makeup applications, but it’s important to realise that these trends and techniques only work for the camera.  The same makeup application will look like costume makeup (because it is) when seen up close.

“Most people want to look like a nicely polished version of themselves” -Sam

Here are 3 trends to adjust for real life:

Eyebrows

Yes, overdrawn brows may be #onfleek, but they look cartoon-like in real life. It isn’t necessary to wear a full brow with most looks, so here are a few tips for keeping your brows looking #natural:

1. Chose a brow colour that is a little lighter or softer than your natural shade (except for those with blonde or gray brows).
2. Apply brow pencil or shadow with light feathery strokes in the direction of your hair. Do one area at a time, using your brow set spoolie to work product through brows after each pass.
3. Finish with a sweep of brow gel to set and bring back the texture to your brows.

Contour

Heavy contour can look transformative in flash photography, but ridiculous face-to-face. Create natural looking dimension in a few easy steps:

1. Choose a flat contour cream or powder that works for your skin tone. The shade should “sink” the area, not draw attention to it.
2. No harsh lines!  The contour should gradually fade into the surrounding area. For cheeks, blend out the edges with your sculpting brush or, for smaller areas, your concealer or deluxe crease brush.
3. Take a step back and look at your reflection from different angles (turn your head from side to side, check under your chin for tell-tale signs). And, when possible, double check blending near natural lighting.

Skin

Full-coverage foundation, “baked” with light powder, and multi-coloured correctors may look #fierce on Instagram, but the effect looks nothing like skin in-person. We’re all for coverage, but skin should look like, um…skin! Here are a few tips for achieving natural coverage:

1. Start with the sheerest coverage all over the face, then use a more opaque foundation or concealer over areas that need heavier coverage.
2. Apply powder with a setting brush to the areas that need to be set. Skip dry patches or uneven skin (deep creases, crepe-y skin) as it will accentuate the problem.