If you’re looking to buy cosmetics online, chances are you’ve tried on an eyeshadow palette or two. In fact, the majority of makeup consumers have used makeup for years, or at least have an understanding of the many products and tools required to put together a makeup look. Makeup is an unspoken yet universally understood means of social presentation; techniques for applying makeup are often passed down from parents to children or friend to friend. Alternatively, many people gain inspiration for their makeup from television or movie actors and fashion advertisements. However, from a beginner’s point of view, ascertaining which makeup products to buy and how to apply those products can be difficult.
While it would be impossible to explain every category of makeup product and its applications, this article can help you with the basics of choosing a or makeup palette when you’re shopping online. If you are a first-time or inexperienced makeup user, hopefully, you can learn a trick or two; if you are a fairly experienced cosmetics buyer putting together a look you can match your technique with these tips and tricks; and if you are an experienced veteran, perhaps you can compare your techniques with these and discover something new.
A Makeup Palette for Every Occasion: Contouring
As any cosmetics expert may tell you, palettes offer more than just color options for your face. When you buy cosmetics online and particularly when you buy a makeup palette from an online retailer, you are hopefully looking for tools with versatility for sculpting your look regardless of the occasion. Selecting a palette to help you contour your face is a great place to go when looking to add layers and levels to your makeup look. Be aware, however, that the following is just a set of general guidelines. Everyone’s face possesses a different structure and features, so experimentation will be key in your pursuit of the perfect contour.
As a rule of thumb, you want to contour your face by defining its outer structure and highlighting key features. Palettes for contouring will most often include a lighter, medium, and darker tone in the set, with various shades in between. With the darker tone, try outlining the crown of your forehead, subtly shaping the top of your face and temples. Continue by contouring the sides of your nose – but be aware that over-contouring of the nose can distract from your overall look. Use the darker or a medium-dark shade (depending on if you are going for a dramatic or blended-down look) to define your cheekbones and a dark tone to define your jaw and chin.
With the lighter tones in your makeup palette, highlight the areas of your face which denote a glowy, healthy expression. If you highlight areas under the eyes, on your upper forehead T-zone (the patch of the forehead above the space between your eyes) down your nose, and above your contoured cheekbones, the contrast between the dark and light shades will pop more visibly.
Accenting Your Contoured Face with an Eyeshadow Palette
Once you have defined the structure of your face with a contouring palette, you can use an eyeshadow palette with a splash of color to make your look pop even more. Matching the eyeshadow and the contouring palette can be easy when you buy cosmetics online: be sure to have both palettes’ tones and your skin tone ready for comparison.
