Basic Makeup Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

If you’ve ever found yourself lost in the makeup aisle or don’t know what goes when or have ever thought to yourself, ‘do I need a contour?’ Lucky you. Because this is an everything guide to beginner’s makeup. We being your makeup pals have listed below everything you need to know about how you can ace a perfectly flawless look, every, single, time. So, get ready to take screenshots, jot down notes and go on a makeup haul because this is about to get serious!

But, before we begin, here’s a quick rundown of every makeup product out there. Now, do not get overwhelmed – the list is long, but you do not need all of them when you’re just starting out.

Base Makeup Products

Face Primer: this is the makeup glue that holds everything together and prevents it from creasing and smudging.

Foundation: You obviously know this. This is where it all begins. They come in different formulations – liquid, cream, compact – but they all serve the same purpose, which is to smoothen out your skin imperfections. They come in light to medium to full coverage.

Concealer: This is for areas that need special coverage, say, dark circles, spots, acne scars and the like. These too in light to full coverage.

Highlight & Contour: Contour creates shadows, adds depth to your face, and gives you a chiseled look. Highlighters, as the name suggests, highlight your face’s natural features where sunlight hits – the cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and so on.

Blush & Bronzer: Both these work in synergy to give you an overall flushed and fresh look. Ideal if you’re looking for that sun-kissed glow.

Setting Sprays & Powder: Their purpose is to set everything in place and give you an airbrushed look. If your makeup is matte, you opt for a setting powder, whereas, if it dewy then a spray is perfect.

Eye Makeup Products

Eye Primer: Yes, there is a primer for your eyes too. Since the eyeshadows require more hold, eye primers provide that and increase the longevity of the eyeshadow pigment.

Eyeshadow: The sky's the limit here! You can let your creativity let loose and create endless looks with your eyeshadow. Though this step requires some practice to nail.

Eyeliner: A staple in almost every girl’s makeup stash, an eyeliner perfectly defines and accentuates one of the most prominent features – the eyes.

Mascara: Up, up and away! That’s what mascara does to your lashes. It curls, lengths, defines and volumizes them for Barbie-like lashes.

Eyebrow Powder: They help fill-in sparse and scanty eyebrows for a fuller look.

Eyebrow Pencil: These allow you to draw and shape your eyebrows for naturally full-looking eyebrows.

Eyebrow Gel: These are waxy or gel-textured formulas that sort of ‘laminate’ the eyebrows and hold brow hair in shape. These are used mostly for the ‘clean girl’ makeup look.

Lip Makeup Products

Lip Balm: Lip balms create a smooth canvas by deeply hydrating them and easing out any creases or cracks.

Lip Pencil: You can slightly over-line your lips, define them to perfection, and even prevent your lipstick from bleeding by using a lip pencil.

Lipstick: No can do without lipstick, right? There is definitely a lipstick shade for any colour you can think of, which comes in a matte, glossy or satin finish.
Lip Gloss: Clear or tinted, a lip gloss gives the lips a glass-like finish. It can either be applied directly onto the lips, or over and above your lipstick.

6-Step Makeup Routine For Beginners

For makeup that looks flawless and stays put for hours together, prepping well is a by default setting. Always begin with a clean face and use a lightweight moisturizer. Our Vitamin C & Tea Tree Facewash gives a refreshing glow while eliminating impurities and excess oil. Followed with our Glow Boosting Rose Gel, which deeply hydrates and makes skin dewy soft.

Step 1: Face Primer

Beginning with a primer gives you an upper hand at making your makeup look seamless. Your skin will look much more even-toned, pore-less and smoother. Opt for brightening, matte or dewy finish primers, depending on your liking.
How much to use?

You will need a pea-sized quantity. Dot it all over your face and blend with clean fingers until absorbed.

Step 2: Foundation & Concealer

Now that your face is primed and prepped, go over with your foundation and concealer. Always ensure that the shade of these products match your skin tone. Take a little more than a pea-sized amount of foundation on the back of your hand or a palette and dot it all over your face, neck and ears. Then you may use a beauty blender or a foundation brush to blend it in. Always start with a little quantity and then build up if needed. Depending on what coverage you want – sheer, medium or full - you can pick and choose the type of foundation. Our SUGAR POP Liquid Foundation comes in 6 versatile shades, has 10hrs wear and is transfer-resistant. What’s more? It’s a full coverage foundation!

Once your foundation is nicely blended out, use a concealer to cover blemishes or dark circles that are still peeking through. The only trick with the concealer is that you should focus the blending only on the troubled areas. Using your ring finger, or brush, dab the product, never drag. It’s like a spot treatment.

If you’re looking for a lightweight or fresh makeup face, then you can even skin the foundation and directly apply the concealer wherever needed. Nothing beats our SUGAR POP Full Coverage Concealer – with an intense matte finish, full-coverage formula, 10hrs wear and a lightweight texture, this concealer is a must-have!

How much to use?

• More than a pea-sized amount of the foundation.
• A dot of concealer on the troubled areas, can build up if need be.

Step 3: Compact Powder

Having cakey or creasing or melting makeup is anyone’s nightmare. Once you’re done with your base makeup, use a setting powder to ‘set’ everything in place. Apply it all over your face using a fluffy brush and allow it to sit for a minute. Then take the same brush again and dust off the excess product. If your skin is oily, you might want to focus on areas like the T-zone, which tends to get greasy quickly. Our SUGAR POP Longwear Compact comes in 5 true-to-tone shades that keep your makeup shine-free, fresh and flawless!

Step 4: Eye Makeup

Since you’re just starting out, we’d recommend using a kohl or eyeliner and a mascara for a very ‘put-together’ look. You can opt for a winged eyeliner, or a neat swipe across the upper lash line and you’re done. Keep the hand as steady as you can, and rest it on your cheeks for better stability. Matte or glossy, whatever your choice, our range of colourful liquid eyeliners will swoon you over.

Then 2-3 coats of our SUGAR POP Volumizing Mascara and you’ve got yourself a doe-eyed look!

If kohl is your jam, then explore our range of SUGAR POP Longwear Kajal that comes in 4 exciting shades, which are highly pigmented, ultra-creamy and have a sweat-proof texture. So, go on with your day without having to worry about smudging or fading, because this kohl’s got your back!

Although, if you want your hands on eyeshadow, opt for neutral and light shimmer hues, and lightly sweep them across the eyelid, and blend outwards upto the eyebrow bone. Be careful not to overdo it.

Step 5: Blush

Add some flush back to your complexion with a pretty pink, purple or mauve blush! End the hunt for the perfect blush for your skin tone with SUGAR POP Ultra HD Blush. With three very flattering shades to choose from, we think, it’s going to be a tough choice. But here’s a small breakdown – if you have a fair to wheatish tone, then the shades Sienna and Carnation will suit you the best. If your skin tone is dark wheatish to dusky then the Rose will really complement, without making you look washed out. Apply from the apple of your cheeks and go upwards towards the temple. This will give you a naturally lifted look. Start with a little product, pat the excess and then sweep it across. You can always build up later.

Step 6: Lipstick

Oh, the lips! How a lipstick can just magically transform your look and your mood. This is something, even we as makeup enthusiasts fail to understand. As for colours, the sky's the limit. There’s one perfect shade for every occasion, mood and look. Whether you’re in the mood for a berry red or a fuchsia pink, get your hands on long-lasting and highly pigmented lipstick shades by SUGAR POP. Shades so tempting, we’re sure you will end up with a couple (or more!)

That was that! A complete breakdown to beginner-friendly makeup guide, which you’ve now mastered. Go, be a POPstar!

Written By: Rhea Shah