Makeup offers a fun and beautiful way to express yourself, but when you’re a beginner, the whole prospect of “doing your makeup” can feel intimidating. Are you struggling with where to start? Do you need help choosing the right makeup for your skin tone and type? Would you like to know how to correctly apply makeup so that it flatters your features?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, this guide is for you. Below, we’ve listed beginner-friendly tips that are guaranteed to improve your makeup application.

Makeup Don’ts

Don’t Buy a Lot of Products

When you’re a beginner to makeup, the last thing you need to do is go out and invest in a huge assortment of products. It’s quite easy to spend hundreds of dollars on makeup, and then be miserable with everything you’ve purchased.

Instead of buying everything from eyelash primer to finishing spray, start off with the basics. Every beginner makeup kit needs mascara and lipstick. That’s pretty much it! Of course, as you get more comfortable with applying makeup, you’ll no doubt increase your selection of lipstick colors, and venture off into eyeshadows, blushes, foundations, and more. But when you’re a true beginner, start off with two products that you love and expand from there.

Don’t Apply Makeup to a Dirty Face

Applying makeup to a dirty face is asking for serious skin problems later in life. In fact, breakouts and acne may not hold off until much later. Never apply cosmetics on top of other cosmetics that have been sitting on your face for hours. The one exception to this rule is lipstick. You can reapply lipstick or gloss. However, when it comes to applying foundations or powders, be sure to clean off what you’re currently wearing first and give your pores a chance to breathe.

Don’t Use Dirty Brushes to Apply Your Makeup

It’s easy to neglect makeup brushes. Unless you schedule a time each week to clean them, you’ll never even think about your makeup brushes until it’s time to apply your products. But, using dirty makeup brushes can introduce bacteria to your skin. Eww. Instead of taking the risk, set aside time on the weekend to wash your brushes.

To clean your brushes, fill a small bowl with warm water and a couple of squirts of your shampoo. Next, gently submerge and swirl your brush in the soapy water. You can also loosen dried-on makeup with your fingers. Then, rinse the brush under warm water and lay on a clean towel to dry.

Don’t Skip Your Eyebrows

Eyebrows are an important part of your face but often overlooked. When done well and intentionally, your brows will perfectly frame your face. If you have the time (make the time, if you don’t) fill in your brows. You can use a matte eyeshadow to fill in the sparse areas of your brows. Don’t go too dark, though! It can create an unwanted cartoon villain effect. Go for a subtle color that’s the same shade as your brows or maybe a shade lighter. If your brows are a very light shade of blonde, you can go darker to define them more.

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