11 Beauty Steps You Might Be Missing

With all of the steps that go into a your beauty routine, it's only natural that you might be missing a few that could really improve your look. These makeup steps are the ones that most people skip over. Be sure that you're making the most of your makeup!

Toner

A clean and clear canvas is always the best way to start any beauty routine. Applying toner will ensure that your skin stays balanced and removes all the toxins that your skin comes in contact with throughout the day.

Highlighting

Highlighting is just what the name suggests. You highlight certain areas of your face to draw attention away from areas you are not so fond of. Highlight the top of your checks to detract from dark circles under the eye or the center of the lip to make the lips appear fuller. Any part of your face can be highlighted to attract attention.

Primer

You always want to start with a good base. Same goes with makeup. Using a primer before applying any makeup will ensure that your makeup goes on smoothly and stays on longer. It also “preps” your face for the makeup to be applied.

Contouring

Contouring is essential to add depth and dimension to certain areas of your face. Using a taupe color powder of bronzer, lightly contour areas of your face such as forehead, cheeks and nose. This adds a extra depth to your makeup and can change the overall appearance of certain facial features.

Deep Cleaning

In order to get a clean, flawless look you need to focus on removing the dirt and debris from your skin. Try a Clarisonic brush, which uses a circular rotation in opposite directions going at a supersonic frequency. This combination cleans your skin better than the typical washcloth or cleansing brushes.

Lip Liner

Lip liner is essential for adding life to your color and shaping your lips. Lip liner prevents your lip color from bleeding into the skin around your lips and you are able to define your lips to smooth out any imperfections.

Brow Pencil

No one is born with perfect brows. Either they are too thin or too thick. Usually plucking is needed to define your brows but using a brow pencil is also needed to fill in any bare spots to make your brows appear full and even.

Cleansing Balms

Cleansing balms have replaced facial oils. They allow you to cleansing away makeup while moisturizing your skin.

Base Coat

A base coat of makeup enables you to even out your skin and cover up any blemishes. This allows you to be able to apply your makeup on a smooth even surface.

Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes for all makeup needs. Using brushes allow you to apply your makeup evenly and to shadow and contour your makeup.

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

Maintaining your makeup brushes is essential. You need to regularly clean them to remove oil, dirt, and debris. Dirty makeup brushes will feel stiff and scratchy. This will not allow you to apply your makeup properly. You want you brushes soft and flexible to achieve the look you desire.

Removing Makeup

This could be the most important step to every beauty routine. You must must must remove your makeup before you go to bed, even if you stumble in at 2 am. Makeup clogs your pores, dries out your face, and doesn’t let your skin breathe.

Sunscreen

This is a must for keeping a youthful appearance, but it is often forgotten. Try a moisturizer or primer with SPF. Make sure you get a sunscreen that was made for the face. Those contain less oil and are usually fragrant free.

Facial Massage

You don’t need to go spend big bucks at the salon, give yourself a five minute massage in the morning. It will wake you up, stimulate cell growth and blood flow.