5 golden makeup rules every woman should know

With all the makeup articles out there and the constantly changing trends, it is very easy to lose sight of the basics. Whether you are a seasoned makeup wearer, or just starting out with makeup, I hope you find these tips useful.

1. Keep up a good skin care routine.

Skin care regimen, beauty routine, getting dolled up.... Call it what you will. The products you use–and don’t use–drastically affect what your skin will look like years down the line, so develop a great skin care routine, including daily cleansing, toning and moisturising.

2. Do not sleep in your makeup.

At night the skin’s most important function is to renew itself. Wearing makeup and foundation to sleep clogs up the pores, preventing the renewal process, causing damage to the skin resulting in the development of acne, blackheads and overall dullness.

3. Hygiene is non-negotiable.

Hygiene includes not only cleaning your makeup sponges and brushes often but also replacing (even your favourite) makeup products regularly. As a rule of thumb, replace your mascara and liquid eyeliners every 6 months (due to the risk of bacteria being transferred into your eyes). For foundations, cream blushes, lip glosses and lipsticks, the recommended shelf life is up-to 1 year.

4. Lighting is Everything

Sometimes the lighting in your room as you apply your makeup is different from natural light, and your foundation might not be as well blended in as you thought it was. Make sure your make-up is looking flawless and natural before leaving the house by checking your face in the mirror using natural light.

5. Go with Your Gut and practice.

The easiest thing to forget about makeup is that trends change faster than we have time to read about them. Deep down, you know the looks you’ve always wanted to try, so practice those and soon you’ll be so comfortable with your new look. Once you fall in love with your new look (and trust me, you will), you’ll be strutting out the door in no time.