5 reasons your makeup looks bad and how to fix it

[@saulemaroussault6343]

Regarding shaving/dermaplaning : I’d like to point out that 1) dermaplaning is not the same as shaving. Dermaplaning is done with a SCALPEL by a trained professional. It doesnt remove only hair, but also the top dead layer of the skin. It’s a procedure you don’t want to do on damaged skin (eczema, psoriasis, serious acne…) and it can lead to real injury and infection if not done properly. You CAN shave areas that are a little damaged IF you do it very carefully. 2) both can lead to increased sensitivity, because you remove a barrier. Pollution, anything you’re allergic to…and treatments. Active ingredients will be much more potent, use less of them, less frequently the following days. If you have sensitive skin, use gentle exfoliants and consider using a gel primer that will make the fuzz lay flatter on your skin, rather than outright shaving. If you’re not satisfied with the results you can try shaving, but please use plenty of soothing moisturiser, and really build a layer of protection to replace the one you lost. 3) Whatever you do, use clean tools (wipe them with alcohol) and AT LEAST wash your face afterwards. It’s best to disinfect it, using diluted hydrogen peroxyde or chlorhexidine, both are safe to use on damaged skin; avoid alcohol. Regarding the subject of minimal makeup in general: it’s tricky to evaluate how much makeup people really wear, and the camera/lights have a tendency of making things appear much smoother than they are in reality. It can be pretty hard to achieve the “effortless minimal makeup but flawless results” you see on others, because of genes (skin texture mostly), budget (facials, expensive products), technique… An example : I was pretty jealous of a girl that had really good skin and wore what I thought was minimal makeup (a bit of blush and eyeliner most days)…then I saw her one day with her parents, without makeup. Turns out the minimal makeup was just a VERY SKILLFULLY APPLIED FULL FACE of makeup, strategic covering with good products that meshed well with her skin, and subtle use of coloured cosmetics. The next day I paid closer attention at school : I’m pretty good at detecting makeup but unless you were IN HER FACE you really couldn’t see much. Pay attention to colour: Sometimes the makeup that works with a full face doesn’t work without, because your foundation is slightly warmer or cooler or more saturated than your skin, or because you use bronzer in a full face and look very different without…also a colour that works in a full face could be too bold by itself. Try different undertones and saturations/lighter applications and see what works ! A last thing : sometimes people don’t like how they look with minimal makeup because they’re not used to looking like themselves. Sometimes you actually look good and your makeup is great, but you can’t see it because it’s so different. And so you fixate on the details and suddenly everything looks bad…when you’d admire the same makeup on someone else. Be gentle with yourself, and if you’re not very confident you can always try things at home. Also. Take photos and revisit them a few days later. It really can help.

[@oritigra]

thank you for your comment, especially re shaving one's face

[@maryeckel9682]

I'm terrified to shave or dermaplane because I'm very nearsighted and I'm a klutz.

[@terrible1736]

Do you think face threading is ok for sensitive skin, cause you're just removing the hair and no skin barrier?

[@alishamcg]

I tried face shaving before and never again!!! The breakout took months to heal D:

[@Ann-oi4dw]

Talking right to me - as an "I kind of want to play, but this isn't working," kinda person. Here's a couple more for your list of things I've mucked about just enough to know I want to know more: *wearing out vs wearing in* aka omg that's how I looked this afternoon?? "Wear tests" act like it's about making something indestructible, but I recently heard someone talking about a powder that looked great going on, but just looked bad an hour later. One of my biggest "fears" about wearing anything on my face is that I don't know how it will look an hourbor two later. * tools actually matter. Everyone gave me this use a brush, sponge, fingers, whatev. No, not whatev. All those things do different things. Different brushes do different things. Manipulating the medium is half the battle. It's easy to say I'm not fancy, I'll just use my fingers. . .and then wonder why it's heavy and streaky and obvious and gross. * you don't have to put it everywhere. I thought it was a rule that if you use any foundation, it's foundation everywhere. Turns out, if you have a decent color match, actually lots of people just put it where they want it. If you like your forehead the way it is, you don't have to put it on your forehead. * the coverage level and finish are not static. I thought these were concrete properties of a product. You can sheer them out, mechanically or with another medium; and you can put products over or under them that change their finish. So basically you don't have to try 84,593 different products, you can modify something. Related -- * do you hate the color or hate the finish? I didn't realize what radically different properties those were. Both are changeable, but first you have to figure out what you're responding to. * look around at multiple content creators. Absolutely no shade on any content creator, but it was only by seeing lots of different faces that I started really seeing my own face. I mean, you'd think it would be fairly obvious that I have deep set, low brow, hooded eyes, except guess what? If you aren't staring in a mirror to do makeup on the regular, most humans don't spend a lot of time looking at their own eyes. It was only by observing a bunch of different people interacting with their own face that I gradually realized (a) I have basically no eyelid real estate for playing on, and (b) everyone is trying to make their eyebrows look like mine already do. Actually being able to assess your own face seems to require knowing how faces can be different from each other * pay attention, specifically, to what you like. I've learned I'm really frustrated when someone says "I like this," without saying why, and really helped when someone can articulate why they like what they like. I don't think I'll ever want to be as glowy as Hannah, but I love that she can articulate that's what she likes, instead of just saying "this is a good product." Because now I have an idea of the concept, and I can talk with myself about it: do I want glow? A little? A lot? Where? If I don't respond to glow, what am I looking for? * do you like it, or do you like it on you? It took me a long time to grasp that if I didn't like something in me, I might not be doing anything wrong in my execution; I just don't like it *on me.* So much effort into trying to figure out how to "do it right" before I finally realized there's a million ways to do makeup because literally none of it looks good on everyone, and that's a fact, not a problem to be solved. * lastly, and most specifically to Hannah's channel, it's been utterly fascinating to watch how her tastes have changed as her life has developed. I often see people describing her now was effortless, but that wouldn't be how I'd describe the style of Hannah 4 years ago. And that's the most brilliant example of, "it depends." There's not a hidden secret of how to make makeup look good as much is there is a deep and wide question of -- what do you want out of the medium? And is what you think you out of it what you actually want out of it? Sometimes looking at ourselves is the most dang vulnerable thing we can do, and, perhaps, one of the most beneficial parts of the whole makeup process.

[@sylvie_cosplay]

Wow you've articulated every single point so brilliantly 😊 I will take note !

[@daylightsleeptight]

Hi, hello, yes I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, watch your webinar, and attend your Ted Talk on this subject. Please and thank you!

[@cassrhem]

I especially like your point (illustrated with your eyebrows example), that once you ‘see’ your own features there are parts that you may not need to enhance

[@Ann-oi4dw]

@cassrhem right?! Everyone is like, it's so important to do your brows, and I kept trying to figure out why I was so dense I couldn't figure out what to *do* with them. And I suspect there's a lot of people who don't need much in the way of concealing either, but it seems like we aren't allowed to talk about color cosmetics until we talk about "the base," but I just watched a few great videos on NOT USING a base.

[@christinav.3661]

Really appreciate the additional details and thoughts you expanded on. Thank you!

[@jennevallance3594]

I feel like I have waited my whole life for your content. I am a 50yo woman who was never taught to dress properly and put makeup on. I truly appreciate all that you put out for us. Thank you! 🤯

[@aslandn8937]

I have VERY fine, light, sparse brows. I spent so many years totally brow blind, blocking them on, going sooo overboard, fighting my natural low-contrast features cuz I wanted those cara delevine caterpillars so bad. I used no fewer than 4 different brow products every day, plus I would dye them every couple weeks, a way darker shade of brown than I needed. I used to joke “I don’t do my brows every morning, I manufacture my brows every morning” and I was so about it. I truly thought I was ugly if I didn’t have brows on, like I looked wrong to my eyes. Then I spent a long period of time wearing not a stitch of makeup and my perspective of myself and my self image shifted back to center and I realized how bad it had gotten. Now I can appreciate my holistic face with or without makeup, because with is now not all that different than without. I’m not altering the basic concept of my features, just slightly minimizing and amplifying and defining in tiny tiny increments. I think that’s important for anyone setting out on a makeup journey, go slow, and don’t aim to blank out your natural features, you can really mess yourself up mentally that way. (To anyone who actually read all that and has a similar invisa-brows situation to me but you just want that touch of definition, the Mac brow pencil in thunder is ACTUALLY cool toned and so light in color and firm and waxy in texture it’s literally impossible to overdo it. If you find most brow products are pushing you over the top, I highly suggest it.)

[@roxannsnowden615]

Same plus i have one eyebrow thats a lot higher then the other which is further defined if i darken them. I thought about getting like micro tattoed brows or whatever but now in my late 30s i dont fight it, ive leaned hard into making my features more ethereal with shimmers and glitters, watery colors.

[@kimp3135]

I’ve given up on removing my peach fuzz, it always causes a breakout. So what I do is just do the spot concealing but when applying with a brush or fingers I always like do short strokes in the same direction to almost lay down the hair. If you swirl or just pat you end up coating all the hair and having it stand up making it look caked and weird. Hope this helps fellow hairy girls to afraid to shave.

[@AlexisBii]

Also, definitely patch test, but for me when shaving would cause breakouts I was able to stop them by using some kind of exfoliant after shaving - first I’d gently exfoliate w a moist towel, then I’d finish with Paula’s choice BHA after the shave. Worked for me back then and I had thick black “peach” fuzz 🤣

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

I've always had a TON of body hair, my face is no exception. I blame my dad's side of the family, all of whom are furry people, even the ladies. I've never shaved my face, but always waxed it. I break out sometimes after I get waxed and can only use a toner to clean my face for about a week after a wax. I don't worry about peach fuzz AT ALL. I even break out on my legs when I shave too frequently 😮. I've tried all kinds of tools and it doesn't seem to matter. Waxing my face once a month seems to be the least disruptive and not wearing a lot of makeup for a couple days afterwards, and only using toner seems to work well. I will say, the advice to cancel out the redness with a green color correction product works SO well.

[@ruthan3370]

OH MAN as a person who somehow managed to miss Makeup 101 every time it was offered, this is great!!

[@robinr5337]

Right? Where was this when I was in highschool?

[@marlafincher9063]

What a great video! I want to tell you about one of your tips that has proven to work for me. I am not a makeup novice, but in my late thirties, I ended up with a scar that runs most of the length of my face. I don’t hate it or myself and I don’t feel bad. However, on some occasions I tried to cover the scar with concealer and didn’t feel like that was very fruitful (like how foundation doesn’t make acne disappear). What I did find helpful was wearing a bright red lip and/or a light, shimmery eyeshadow. I felt it drew the eye like a magician performing an illusion. It suits me fine to leave the scar alone and draw people’s attention to my bright, sparkling features. 😊❤💋

[@nonone347]

when I get a large pimple on my face, I wear a really over-the-top necklace and low cut shirt. Nobody notices my zit.

[@sarahkelly4095]

It had never occurred to me that I could dye my brows, but your video all those years ago made it feel so approachable and now I’m a Person Who Dyes Her Brows! Thank you for that small but actually quite impactful contribution to my life ❤. I will add that for my unruly long brows, trimming them regularly makes taming them with gel SO much easier, it’s not a step I see many people discuss so perhaps no one else has this problem!

[@juliaswistara]

I totally trim my brows! The inner half especially. I think not as many people talk about it because everyone has different levels of brow hair and many people overplucked when they were younger. I would guess that's why a lot of content is focused on filling in sparse brows rather than cutting hair *away*.

[@Kloudysummer]

You are not alone! Long brow hairs here too. 😊

[@ac2055]

I trim my brows too bc they get long. Trimming makes them look so polished, even when I'm not wearing any base products or brow powder.

[@DiMagnolia]

I have long brow hairs too! A trim helps a lot!

[@sebumpostmortem]

I trim the inner third because it' s suuuuper long and the outer third because it creates the optical illusion of more density. Exactly like a strategic cut on fine poor hair with ratty ends can make it look thicker and more abundant. Team #browscissors 🧛🏻‍♀️🖤

[@ewagornisiewicz-kusiak6814]

I would add the Lisa Eldridge blurring technique! I bought a blending brush from Sigma and I use it after applying liquid products - bb cream, concealer, blush.. game changer!

[@madzzz223]

As someone with a pretty minimal base routine and often only uses strategically placed concealer, one of the most important things I’ve learned is that not every concealer is made to be used like that. Liquid concealer that is too stiff, pigmented, or “brightening" will not visually mesh well with the bare skin around it.

[@MichelleC1974]

I also wear my makeup like this! It is hard to find concealer, especially as a almost 50 year old.

[@sobean9309]

is there any concealer you can recommend for this purpose?

[@janecherrytree]

@@sobean9309I recommend L’Oréal perfect match! I‘ve recently discovered it, it is pretty light in texture, mixes well with moisturizer underneath and it doesn‘t separate throughout the day. Works really well with otherwise bare skin :)

[@madzzz223]

@@sobean9309 I've found that the kosas concealer blends out pretty well on bare skin for a liquid concealer and has medium coverage. I've heard good things about the nyx bare with me concealer as well as various stick and pot formulas. I think serum-like and emollient formulas work well because they mesh well with skincare.

[@MichelleC1974]

@@sobean9309 I have been using the Tower 28 one, it is pretty good on me, I have dry, textured skin. It stays a bit glowy, never looks dry.

[@luciam4827]

I would add SPF to the skincare part, especially if you're using exfoliants. Right before primer.

[@cjaneg97]

A good sunscreen makes a world of difference in how makeup applies. My new favourite is the Beauty Of Joseon Relief Sun

[@laurarodrigues6377]

My tip is drawing your freckles back on! If you have visible freckles or beauty spots that fade under the cover of makeup, use a light freckle pen or eyebrow pencil and put them back on. Sometimes you just miss the things you can see when you've got no makeup on

[@vickytime3855]

Love this too. And Likely makeup just came out with a brush specifically for freckles! So excited

[@floross-opazo4760]

waitttt genius!!

[@nusaibahibraheem8183]

Also wearing light coverage will let your freckles shine through.

[@MISGummiBears]

I use high coverage cocealer to work around them as much as I can. Can you recommend a specific product?

[@eyesonindie]

This was a great video! Thank you! As rosacea sufferer, my biggest issue is always trying to figure out what skin care advice I can use, and what I can't. For me, exfoliating and dermaplaning are a big no-no. However, wearing just color corrector has been a big win for me! Another big win is actually giving up on foundation. I do EltaMD tinted sunscreen and concealer. Sometimes green color corrector if I have an important meeting.

[@eyesonindie]

@@tammysummerswoodbeck1353 I would definitely ask a dermatologist for any official recommendations. However, you could just give it a try and see if you like how it works? I use Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Anti-Redness. It's only $13 from Ulta, so not a huge investment. I put on tinted sunscreen first, then the color corrector over it, then concealer where I need it. For areas of extra redness, I sometimes add a bit more of the green BB cream.

[@CamilleNajera-mr8yg]

@@tammysummerswoodbeck1353I’ve been miking my green color corrector with my moisturizer. It goes on like a bb cream! I’ve also just been using this as my base and then going in with concealer. I’ll also mix a dash of color corrector with my concealer to even the tone out.

[@ApprehensiveWitch]

My biggest struggle is getting my concealer to look smooth on my under eyes. This wasn't a problem a few years ago. I feel like I woke up after my 35th birthday and suddenly the texture under my eyes had changed. Someday I hope I can find the perfect combo of eye cream + quality concealer.

[@sarahkelly4095]

I’m 38 and my favorite for the last couple of years has been the Make concealer! It’s REALLY light coverage compared to things I’ve used in the past but it’s just so easy to make it look good, and I’ve grown to appreciate the idea of not trying to completely cover my circles. I’ve also started using a concealer brush (I like the dome shaped Sephora one better than the kitten paw shaped ones). I kind of use one the way Lisa Eldridge recommends to take OFF any extra product after I’ve applied it, which really helps with the fine lines around my eyes and mouth. This is the tutorial : kzbin.info/www/bejne/o522n4NofbWdf9Usi=RZ2nYPyOq6zS3DS4

[@jenavasexton1645]

I like to use a small fluffy brush to dust barely any translucent powder on my undereye concealer. I've been using huda beauty concealer and it's fine. Soon I'm going for PRP under my eyes to reduce the dark circles.

[@hollythornell5262]

I’ve been using the Maybelline Active wear and the honest beauty loose powder to set.

[@hollythornell5262]

That powder is magical

[@CheekSoup]

At 36, my “best” concealer will vary based on sunscreen used as well as time of year - this round of warmer weather I have been enjoying the LYS in particular. But my staple of all staples is the Pat McGrath undereye blurring powder. I apply it with a small fluffy brush sometimes, but I like it the best pressed in with a beauty sponge. It keeps the concealer in place and *actually* has a blurring effect.

[@ninsiana0]

I have really sensitive skin & rosacea, and have to be careful with acids & other actives. I've found using a face wash with salicylic acid (I really like the La Roche-Posay one) once or twice a week has been game changing for my skin texture! It's not on long enough time cause an irritation, but it really helps.

[@CamilleNajera-mr8yg]

@@tammysummerswoodbeck1353I’d like to know this too!

[@meganweber3125]

I just got my Julia Hungry book!!! :) I'm currently reading it, then I'm going to take it to my local library. I cannot wait to share your absolutely wonderful book of poetry :)

[@HannahLouisePoston]

thank you so much, Megan!!!!

[@rosabald5]

​@HannahLouisePoston I'm still hoping to receive the 2 copies that I ordered last autumn. Unfortunately they never arrived and I haven't got an answer from the publishing company. Have there been problems with delivery in Europe?

[@celucero2]

I apply minimal makeup usually, and I recently figured out that using a tiny bit of blush helps me look "finished" and not "erased". I bought the cloud paint blush you mentioned fairly recently, it looks so much darker brown than anything I had ever considered. A little bit on my cheek and brow bones and I'm good to go.

[@taylordanielson9632]

Encore encore!!! ….but the intermediate version 😉 for those of us who have been on beauty YT for awhile, and/or those who have possibly had their brains scrambled by beauty TikTok in recent years. We *know* all the tricks and tips and hacks and new releases and cult favorites… yet we still struggle with the end result. There is such thing as too much information, and I need mine distilled into one 14min HLP sister advice session 😅❤

[@Pangaea83]

Peachy here! I use a face oil and shave with tiny strokes every 2 weeks. It works better and doesn’t make me too red and scraped from the little dermaplaning razors. Also, it does not make your hair grow thicker. I’m 41 and have yet to find a coarse hair my face

[@PMDawn7]

What razor do you use?

[@marilyns6043]

Chrissie Hynde has been killing the ‘one statement thing’ makeup look since the 80s with bold, smudged eyeliner. 👁️‍🗨️

[@DoinItForJohnny]

Love her

[@breckpeabody1473]

I would love to know, if someone asked her, but I'd bet it has to do with being noticeable over the microphone. Debby Harry and Joan Jett too.

[@elfi_666]

I love wearing a smokey eye every day ❤ Iif you use grey or brown instead of black it's not too intense, yet impactful 😃

[@sanaireah]

About adding a bold element, for me what has been really doing it recently is going a bit bold with blush on top of my cheeks and a bit on my eye lids. I have a round face and contouring my cheeks always ends up looking weird so I've just learnt to avoid that. Blush really makes such a big difference, brings everything together, and adds dimension even when I do a very light makeup.

[@cassrhem]

You have a nice way of articulating the intentions behind makeup (the evening out/focussing or distracting), so it can be tailored to anyone or any style . It took a long time for me to realise that even-ness was the ‘foundation’ (whether concealer or even fake tan on the body). The subsequent enhancement of one feature was not as clear in my head, until now! Especially eyebrows; mine are so fine that any enhancement looks ‘too much’, (when it’s actually not, once you really look. Photos help me)

[@sarahkelly4095]

For me the thing I’ve started doing in the last couple of years that makes a big difference is actually using lip liner! Almost as important to my routine as brows tbh. I think as I’ve inched closer to 40 it’s just become more useful, but now lightly defining my lips with a color close to my natural shade (CT pillow talk really is it for me) makes anything I else I do from lip balm to blush seem more intentional.

[@akatingrass]

Semi-related, I would love to see you review the best case concealer from Salt New York! In the product launch video, Kiki talks a lot about these things and the formulation limitations and application difficulties that are inherent to complexion products

[@vickytime3855]

I'd love to know her experience as well. Sam keeps mentioning Salt and I'm this close 🤏 to caving and trying their complexion products

[@oritigra]

I really like the last point about the bold element, maybe because I used to do this a lot with a lipstick on a bare face or a colorful eyeshadow without any mascara. however, I feel some info was really necessary to be mentioned in the video along with the points: 1. using any kind of acids on your skin means you absolutely *must* use sunscreen as well. also, it requires you to know about other active ingredients in your makeup and whether they are compatible with the acid you're about to start using. 2. shaving peach fuzz from your face can irritate the skin and made it more sensitive to temperature, for example.

[@ashleymegonnell7589]

Love the one bold element idea.

[@bailey9695]

I love doing my eye makeup but usually put nothing on my face cause I never feel like it makes me look better - first 3 tips are super helpful!

[@d.-beck7205]

Apply a very thin kajal line on the upper eyelid, apply from where the center of your pupil is and draw to the outer corner. Stay as near as possible to your lashline. Use either a color that matches your eye color or a contrasting color. Oh, I forgot: enhance your best features, do not try to tweak them. If you have big round eyes or hooded eyes, for example, a winged eyeliner may not be your best idea. The world is big enough for both round- and cat-eyed people. 😅

[@alinatherese1115]

This video was excellent. I wish green color corrector worked on bare skin on me. I think your olive undertone helps being able to do it alone. It covers my redness but gives my cool fair skin a ghastly look. But this is great

[@christinav.3661]

Hi, I am using the following and it goes a long way and works even on its own on my sensitive pale-reddish skin: Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula Colour Corrector SPF50 for Hypersensitive and Redness Prone Skin, Suitable for All Skin Types .

[@alinatherese1115]

@@christinav.3661 ohhhhh googling now! Thanks girlie

[@miniluvdoraemon]

I like the green beige concealer from The Saem (Korean brand). I find other green correctors are way too green/blue for me, but this one is more of a toned down green and can blend better to match my skin. They also sell a concealer trio and have a version for lighter skin that might work for you.

[@CamilleNajera-mr8yg]

The elf green color corrector is a pretty neutral shade. Also try to only use it on the areas that are actually red. If I try putting it anywhere that is “normal” and not red, it looks gray or purply.

[@molinarimoney]

To add on to point #5: choose to add definition to your best feature. For example, my eyes are the best feature on my face, so I will do a black winged eyeliner which really brings attention to the eyes. As a counter example: my lips are fairly small in proportion to the rest of my face, so if I ever define them by doing a bold lip, I look very weird.

[@nicolemoreland6257]

I'm so excited. Your intro was a gentle way of describing me. Lol. Thank you for this!! Yay!

[@TheKitsuneMuffin]

Sode note on the shaving peachfuzz; If you don't want to shave your face then do your base makeup routine with a brush and brush downwards. The makeup is getting disrupted by the peach fuzz because the hairs don't lay down. I usually do this around my mustache area, but only as a finishostep. So i do my whole routine woth a smponge and then with a small brush I brish all the hairs down. Works for when I haven't shaved my face in a while! 🌟

[@jsanders2993]

Well done. Thank you. As an aside, I never comment on grammar, but maybe it's okay if I say a big thank you for using lie and not lay at roughly the 3:50 mark. It did my old heart a world of good!

[@SarahMcAshan]

The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airy-Fit Sunscreen is an excellent priming moisturizer sunscreen. One and done, perfect for a streamlined daily routine. Great tips about color correcting and balancing with a minimal amount of coverage. This really makes a difference--and more so as you get older. Benefit Gimme Brow is my fave tinted fiber-containing brow gel. Another one and done, and it comes in a mini size for travel. Nice color range as well.

[@HannahLouisePoston]

👀

[@charlottem2422]

love this! i remember when someone told me tip one, it seems like common sense but at the time it totally blew my mind. i also so agree about brows, they can really elevate a look 🩷

[@blanq.kanvas]

Hannah!! Loving this more diverse format ❤

[@sarahdeweerdt208]

Ahh yessss this is the video for me! I appreciate these tips. One of the problems I have is that I want to do skin prep and strategic coverage, but so many complexion products for fair skin contain titanium dioxide, and I’m sensitive to that ingredient. So I tend to read a bunch of labels and give up in frustration….

[@sdbolen3414]

A layer of moisturizer and then a layer of primer was a game changer for me.

[@ljm792]

The way I will NEVER wear makeup. Lol. This was a wonderful, informative, video but, for me, it might as well be called “A Bunch Of Reasons Lisa Is Never Going to Where Make Up”. The prep alone is so daunting. My skin is so incredibly sensitive. A long time ago I just made the choice that it wasn’t worth it to try and find products that wouldn’t piss my skin off. And I’m so lazy. I’m so used to not putting any time or money or effort into make-up. If I wanted to start now it would be a huge project to try and find an acid and a primer that worked. When you have sensitive skin figuring that stuff out takes forever. And the price tag! I finally found a moisturizer after years of nothing feeling right. That crap is $57 a tub. Lol. Same with spf, which I’ve been dragging myself kicking and screaming to use. I’ve finally found something that doesn’t make me brake out too bad, and doesn’t make my eyes burn, and it’s not cheep. Lol, nothing is cheep these days. Complexion and base really is the key, and I just have so much going on. I have the deepest darkest under eye circles on my Dad’s side. I have a super red nose from my moms side. My mom and older sister and I all have had life long acne. So much scarring a discolouration. At a certain point, for me, it just feels so much healthier to let it all be. My face is my face. I just have to hope that my personality and style makeup (lol) for it. And that is really lovely and freeing in its own way. I love the idea of makeup conceptually, as an art form and as self expression, and sometimes I get really jealous over my complete lack of ability to use it to “put myself together”. But at the end of the day, between choosing to care or not care, not caring feels so much lighter. And I don’t know if I could put the effort and time and money into gain the proper skills and knowledge, and avoid giving up some of my comfort with my bare face.

[@janinebean4276]

Colourful eyeliner can be a really easy way to incorporate that one pop of something!

[@tinydragongirl]

For me, the reason is mostly that many things are hard to pull off when you have very, very hooded eyes and a green cast. No one told me in the 90s that there was any way to deal with this. Mostly, I think my eyes look nice when I smudge a little shadow under the lower lash line and focus less on them than my lips. My grandmother wore only red lipstick, and people thought she had done her whole face.

[@susanleary1843]

Agree with absolutely everything you said. Refectocil is very easy to use to dye your own eyebrows and it lasts waaaay longer than just for Men dye.

[@MsAuriauri]

my tip for maintaining balance while still adding a pop of color - use your lipstick as your blush (and eyeshadow!) and your makeup will always match ❤️ also - i personally go through a lot of brow gel; i’ve found the NYX Thick It Stick It is a great fiber-building brow gel, lasts all days, has a cool tones array of shades and is only $12 (i think)

[@isabellamorris7902]

I do the opposite! I use a stick blush and put some on my fingers and apply it to my lips, if I don't want to wear Lip Colour but my lips will look too light by themselves

[@angelicahorsman5439]

I have a very makeup disrupting amount of peach fuzz and dry/deal skin on my face, and shaving has absolutely rescued my makeup AND my skin in general. 10/10 would recommend to anyone considering.

[@berlineczka]

This is a great list. I would add one more point: you are not paying attention to your tools. I mean both investing in good quality brushes, experimenting with application methods (do you like this particular foundation applied with fingers, sponge, brush, or maybe Korean style cushion?) and keeping your tools clean. Nothing elevates an eyeshadow like having it applied with a clean brush.

[@jjjjk1241]

#6 wearing the wrong colors; not knowing your color season. You could be wearing warm colors when you need cool colors, or you could be wearing colors that are either too bright or too soft for your natural coloring. Or you could be wearing colors that have too much contrast versus not enough contrast.

[@claudiaburnett3066]

I've noticed with aging my facial features have begun to fade away. My brows are greying, lashes are not as long, lips have thinned! It's quite alarming sometimes when I look in the mirror. I'm not much for makeup but I do feel better about facing the world when I spend a bit of time coloring in the blank spots. Mascara and lip color are pretty essential.

[@MichelleC1974]

Yes and brow pomade

[@eddyaaaaaaa]

This is so helpful bc I think out of fear of not making a mistake I was washing out my face with no color everywhere. Then I got a tinted lip balm and WOW huge difference! I’m ready to try adding more coats of mascara now. Great ideas in this video ♥️

[@prepforlife27]

I agree on the brow tip! Even just a little brow taming with clear brow gel has made a big difference for me. Nyx has a ton of very inexpensive and high performing brow products. My favorite thing to do with my makeup lately when I want to do a bit but not too much is to only do an inner corner highlight and no other eyeshadow! Sometimes I'll bring it up a little bit further on my upper lid or along a bit of the lower lid. I find for me that it enhances the naturally lighter skin in my inner eye, whereas other eyeshadow on my pale skin can make me look "done up" too easily.

[@Limbo4ka]

Just a word of caution - if you're using an acid exfoliator, you must also use SPF when going out in the sun because otherwise you risk getting pigmentation spots on your skin. I wish Hannah'd mentioned it in the video, because it's not common knowledge

[@oritigra]

yes! also, some acids can be non-compatible with other active ingredients that are already in use

[@libbygreenberg4764]

I think tightlining makes a big difference in definition of the eyes and adds a bit of "something" even without mascara.

[@rebeccafriesen417]

NO, no colour match is not a given! It's really hard to find. It has me thinking, what's wrong with my skin? Am i actually a human, or am I an alien!? Every time I get a product I think. yes, my skin is this colour, but then at home, I find, it's not!

[@gingerhalo123]

Ugh you are so effortlessly glamorous!! Goals

[@AmberSpecter1999]

Apropos of skin prep, there are a fortunate few out there who never even have to think about it, and that bothers me a little bit. My mother, for example, has this amazing luck with almost any complexion product, her skin just responds well to them, and she doesn't get any gathering or cakeyness, even though she doesn't really use skin care. Maybe a moisturizer every once in a while, but not daily. Meanwhile, with all the skin prep you recommend and then some, I still get cakeyness from concealers. Life is not fair, and, what's worse, the fortunate few don't even realize their luck

[@amylolois]

This video changed my makeup game today and I can’t thank you enough. I have been stuck in a rut with my makeup routine lately and due to age, I was trying the “less is more” route only to be left disappointed. I had also gotten lazy with my brows and was going for an untamed au natural approach. Can I just say once my brows were coiffed and curated and it took years off. A literal facelift. I even got a compliment today which had become rare. I pumped up the lips a bit and added a bit more mascara together with the brows and wow🎉 what a difference it made. Thank you for helping me out of a funky brow situation. Sincerely ❤❤❤

[@auntietara]

I love the premise! 🥰 For people who never wear makeup but kinda wish they did, here are 783 simple steps, and you’ll love it! 😂 After watching the entire video and enjoying every second, I went into the bathroom, examined my makeup-free-since-the-mid-80s skin, decided I look old because I’m old, and said, “yup, good to go!” 😁 I just love me some HLP, even when it’s not a “me” topic. 🥰

[@tessmorgs]

This is exactly what I needed as a beginner with make up and someone wanting more daily polish. Hannah, as always, thank you for your thoughtful content!!!

[@goodenoughaccompanis]

I’m probably 5 years into exploring makeup (am 40 yrs old), and I have picked up most of these tips along the way, and for sure wish I had known these from the start! I do still struggle to get a natural looking base sometimes. My favorite thing to make bold is my eyes with everything else minimal. Something I wanted to add to this topic is finding the colors that are harmonious with your skin-I’ve been obsessed with the KZbin channel @colouranalysis_studio Not so much caring about what particular season you are, but just the magic that occurs when you are wearing colors that suit your coloring. It just makes you look so much better!

[@angelicahorsman5439]

Iv come back to this video to listen to your wisdom in the background while I pack up my house to move - I realize I would love one of those hours long compilation videos including all of the skincare advice and recs you’v given over the years. Or even just a playlist on your channel of all of your skincare videos

[@ParticularlyChar]

I’m currently going through the process of having my old brow microblading laser removed and the solid angry red brows I’m currently sporting are really ruining my aesthetic 😭 brows really are so important and I’m doing it all so I can have them redone because they had become blocky. I keep telling myself to trust the process but it’s going to be a long few months 😂

[@leahkrogers662]

Thank you for this video, it was helpful to have explicit instructions for all the steps.

[@meganjohnson2246]

I love the new bathroom b-roll footage! I'm terrified that if I shave the peach fuzz, it will regrow as an entire beard. (I'm also a hairy beast, and I struggle to keep my mustache under control.)

[@wendigo1919]

Peach fuzz will not grow back like that. It will grow back just as peach fuzz once again.

[@theprousteffect9717]

I agree that the brows are the most important to attend to, because they're part of the facial structure. My brows are naturally pretty dark, but sparse in some areas, so I slightly fill them in with a pencil. I know fiber building brow gels are the thing now, but I hate the way they look on me and feel like an ogre lol. I can't seem to find a brow gel that actually holds them in place but adds no volume whatsoever, and ideally little to no tint. Basically, I really dislike the look of "done" brows, at least on me, and want the equivalent of a no makeup makeup look but just for brows lol.

[@marshawilliamson8602]

MUF Endless Cacoa: I use it to emphasize my hazel eyes by subtlety smudging it on the lower lid. Phytosurgence have released a new version of their bronzers and they are easy to apply and give a beautiful blurred look to the skin. Clio Kill Lash holds the curl of my lashes all day. 🌸🐝

[@wende.with.an.e]

Love the haircut! Alicia Witt vibes. ❤ Bought the Refy concealer - I was immediately intrigued by the description. 🤞

[@yuzhezheng3539]

I honestly don’t even conceal my dark circles or acne scars (and I have quite a bit). I only use a thin layer of foundation/skin tint, blush and lipstick when I do wear makeup. just LOVE to see skin as skin and real skin comes with flaws and it makes me look more human☺️

[@caitlinstark9321]

Skin prep has always been an issue for me! If I don't do anything it looks bad but with combo skin. Not a lot of things like to soak in. So if I'm not really careful then everything just sits on the top of my skin and feels gross.

[@oritigra]

yep, especially in the summer heat - my lightest gel moisturizer just melts off the skin, no way it's going to hold any actual makeup

[@istrala]

This video was perfect for me. I'm getting over trying to not stand out, so getting comfortable with more pronounced brows might be the one bold thing for me to start with. I also am excited to try color correction and maybe light concealing as my only coverage. Thanks so much for such a clearly explained approach for makeup newbies like me.

[@juless9277]

Okay, this is for me! Of the skin care, I’m lacking the primer step, and am curious to incorporate one. And I’m soo nervous to navigate my peach fuzz situation as someone who experiences hormonal acne, but you’ve got me intrigued enough to seek out more information. (And I would absolutely watch a dedicated video if that’s something you’d consider!) The rom& glasting lip tints have been my summer go-to for easy impact, but in the winter I go for a big natural-on-me blush moment.

[@flygirl1205]

Marilyn Monroe got her iconic flawless airbrushed look due to the setting powder on her "peach fuzz". Consider the look you are going for before dermaplaning because it can be an absolute asset!

[@hannahswift98]

Your new hair is everything

[@thejulietocean]

I love makeup and wear it often and I still enjoyed this so much!! Always here for an HLP video.

[@Anya-oq5yp]

when did you cut your hair?? what did I miss?? I love it!!

[@newcottongrass]

The part on color correction is so interesting. Q1: As a person who often only use very light cover but would like to correct both red and blue areas, are there any matching light cover color correctors? It doesn't work well for me to use high cover concealer and low cover foundation as it shines through especially in cold climate. Q2: can you use color correctors as the ONLY product, or do you always need to cover them with a second layer/ foundation?

[@cynthiarome1356]

SO helpful. I'm going now to play in front of the mirror - maybe now with more curiosity than fear. Fingers crossed.

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you Hannah! I feel my passion about makeup come up every time I'm watching your videos. It really is such a pleasure to see you light up with passion when you talk about the things you seem to have a natural gift for. You're an inspiration! Much love from Austria.

[@AnnaVictoria_RH]

I love this! 😍 I came to your page from the fashion side but stayed for the makeup even though i dont wear make up every day. It's been lovely to learn it as an art form, but its also daunting to get into it knowing little to nothing. I would love to see more content like this, just a few products you can add to your collection or some techniques to implement or teaching ways to find products that work for you. Maybe even a "shop with me" at an ulta or Sally's or a drug store 👀👀

[@drionaitalia]

I had my brows dyed once and it looked SO good! But within a couple of days, the brows were extremely swollen, sitting each on its own ridge, making me look like a Neanderthal, and the skin underneath was bright, shocking pink. Also, they itched like crazy. Is there a hypoallergenic option for brow dye? Also, one thing I've never seen anyone notice: when I try to put on eye makeup, the skin on my eyes moves around underneath the brush. It's soft and smushy rather than firm. This is probably just from being in my 50s, but every make-up artist I've seen seems to have completely firm lids. It makes precision blending difficult.

[@dreamer6943]

Please don't dye your brows or hair again. You're probably allergic to PPD or its sister ingredients, it can happen around menopause age even if not allergic previously. It can cause a fatal reaction (totally not joking) in some people and the reaction can worsen over time, not always gradually. It is in pretty much all hair dyes. Maybe not temporary dyes IDK but permanent or semi permanent is almost always going to have it in there. Experimenting isn't worth your life ❤

[@drionaitalia]

@@dreamer6943 Woah. Thanks for the warning.

[@jennnava2769]

Wayne, you’re the best! Thank you for posting this grounding message. You’re absolutely right😊

[@DOLLCRAZES]

Thank you! This is so helpful as ALL your videos are! I appreciate these tips and am writing them down on a sticky note bc I often forget even though I'm not new to makeup lol 🤣 but thank you so MUCH brilliant and beautiful ❤️

[@nusaibahibraheem8183]

I remember when makeup used to look bad on me. It wasn't because I was wearing too much because I always hated cakey makeup. It was because I was only wearing foundation and a lip product and maybe some eye liner and mascara. I usually wore darker foundations than my skin because I was terrified of looking ashy coz I have dark skin and darker shades availability was terrible. The darker foundation made my face look flat. Without any bronzer or contour and without blush, my makeup just looked terrible. I guess my foundation just made my face lack definition. I didn't wear blush because I thought, since am black and I don't blush, why wear blush😂. But later I realised that my skin isn't flat, some areas are redder than others, some are lighter, some are darker, and I have to mimic that to have a natural looking makeup. Another reason I was also apprehensive about blush was the excessive amounts that I saw some people wearing that just didn't appeal to me. Unfortunately most beauty KZbinrs with my skintone wear A LOT of makeup and am more of a natural makeup wearer. I don't like to change my features, just enhance them.

[@blendofdays]

Brows are THE most important aspect! Even on days when I don't wear makeup, I always do the brows! Great content Hannah!

[@MusingOnBeauty]

I take this opportunity to thank you for recommending Sunday Riley Good Genes years ago, Hannah, as it made me try it and my skin absolutely adores it, so it’s now a regular in my routine!

[@caitmcg4382]

Great topic! I think I'd add for #6, use only cream products to start. I feel like they're so much more beginner-friendly, easier to blend on the skin, and often they're not as pigmented so it's harder to go overboard.

[@caitunites2529]

I have a lot of friends who learned everything they know about makeup by their early 20s and are now in their 40s and are feeling like things don't look quite right anymore. We didn't really talk about blush in the 90's and 00's-- maybe if you were a beauty obsessive you had Nars Orgasm, but that was really it-- so most of my friends don't use it now. Often a little bit of cream blush makes a big difference making makeup work, especially as everything starts to fade out a little as you age.

[@oritigra]

such a good point! I've never learned how to use blush, so I'm not using it

[@jantown]

I like to focus on eyes, but am horrible at applying fancy eyeliner. If you can tolerate it, an easy way to add definition is to line your upper waterline with a gel or waterproof pencil and really smoosh it into the base of the lashes. Then I've recently discovered that eyeliner pens are an easy way to get more definition above the lashes. Just gently lay the pen right at the base of the lashes and wiggle. I can't handle a wing, but a slight line above the lashes really takes it up a notch. Then curl lashes and add mascara. Cheap products that work well are mabellline eye tattoo eye shadow in taupe (this is a barely there color on me), revlon colorstay 24 pencil eyeliner is reasonable for waterline and revlon liquid eyeliner pen.

[@missfl0werstar]

I feel like doing my brows and blush properly makes me look instantly awesome. I'm old school and wear a full face of makeup (barring foundation because I don't really need it even at 40, thank all that's good) but if I weren't for some reason, brows and the right blush would be my go-to.

[@jennykerridge9718]

First time viewer, and I absolutely love this. I am definitely trying the "one thing" next time I'm going out to dinner. So glad I've "found" you. 😊

[@Beci1509]

potentially stupid question, how long are you supposed to leave between skin care steps, and then applying make up? How long does moisturiser need to "work"?

[@ah57588]

I feel like this has actually took me a bit to figure out so nope, I don't think it's a dumb question at all. I would say I apply all my skincare and wait 10-15 min, basically the time it takes to make and drink coffee. You want to feel that your skin has soaked in the moisturizer, which you can tell by... 1.Your skin not feeling tight as if it needs more water 2. Your skin doesn't feel slippery or tacky from excess product Personally, my skin is dehydrated combination so I use a hydrating mist, then a lightweight sunscreen, and lip balm. You'll be able to tell if the prep has done it's job after an hour of wearing the makeup and readjust from there. Hope this helps

[@gracenurse3365]

Focusing on emphasizing just one thing (like eyeliner, or lipstick) also lets you get used to one feature or technique at a time. It’s less overwhelming to sit down and think, “Okay, after the base and the brows, today is just about buffing out that liner under the eyes so it’s soft but definitely THERE. And UP!” Then you can have fun just exploring one thing : )

[@alinatherese1115]

Love number 5! I’m a makeup geek and never put this concept together

[@bridgittetirman2645]

I never leave the house without lipstick and brows. Just that makes me feel completely put together. I😊

[@tatymac21]

Great advice. I never looked at my approach to my make up routine in this way, I just did it intuitively. Cool to hear it confirmed it’s the way a complete look. Haha. Thank you to your brain!!! ❤

[@dinapawlow1622]

Awesome posting, concise and very helpful. Will listen to it a few more times so that it is ingrained in my mind. Thanks

[@adellapolk9212]

Lately, bold blush looks have been very trendy ! That might be a fun and colorful element to consider if lipstick and eyeshadow are not your thing :)

[@bleachitwhite]

on no. 4: i have dark brows and very dark roots, so i’ve started just gently brushing a little of my waterproof mascara into my (clean!) brows and have been very pleased with the results. i go for a very natural brow look so if you need more precision this probably isn’t the best option, but if you’re like me then i’ve found it to be a quick and easy way to add in just that little bit of extra definition. especially nice when i’m traveling and want to keep things as low fuss as possible!

[@saraleblanc2853]

This was a great video! Also, it helps me SO much to remember that brows are sisters, not twins

[@unposhnails3366]

I love Merit Great Skin. It’s great plumping my drier areas. I use a pore filling primer (elf liquid putty primer) on the oilier parts of my face. Sounds extra, but it helps foundation and concealer so much.