Key Learnings from my Basic Makeup Course

It’s no secret that I am a beauty fan and certified makeup junkie. My makeup bag (well it’s no longer a bag haha) is home to different products. My lippies in particular are like my personal “heroine” and it comes in different brands, color and finish.

I’ve been playing with makeup for as long as I can remember and lately I’m feeling more passionate about it and want to try doing it professionally. A bit of research here and there and I found myself enrolling in a makeup school. Luckily, I chanced upon SoFA’s (School of Fashion and Arts) Basic Makeup Course. This class is in collaboration with MAC so the teachers are affiliated with the brand. The class was so much fun and I can't wait to share what I've learned. So here are my key learnings after attending the course:

1. Skincare is IMPORTANT

This one I’m really guilty of. I am one of those girls who love makeup but really tamad taking them off. I mean, I’ve put a lot of effort in putting them right? Well, it’s a big no no ladies.

We see pictures of models, celebrities etc. with flawless skin and we say “She looks so good, I wonder what her foundation is?” Well ladies, skincare, when taken seriously will make you look good even with minimal makeup. Yes you’ve read it right, MINIMAL makeup. Nowadays, the trend is LESS is MORE. So start taking care of your skin and you’ll be thanking yourself in the future for doing so. Having good skin won’t just make you look naturally glowing and healthy, applying makeup will be such a breeze too J

2. All about the BASE

For a girl who does her makeup like almost every day, you’d expect that doing my base/foundation will be such no brainer right? WRONG. In fact, this is the most difficult part for me during our hands-on exercises. Of course, you want to create a flawless base but you don’t want it makapal and cakey. You just want it to look like the best version of your skin. 
I know there are tons of foundations, BB creams, CC creams out there and I can totally relate how tricky and difficult it is to choose from them. Thus, it’s best to know your skin type and skin tone. One trick is swatching the product in your jaw line and see if it matches both your face and neck. You can also sample the product, let it rest for some time (like walk around the mall for at least an hour), and then check how it settles on your skin. That’s when you decide if you really want to get it. You might also want to check the following: Is it mattifying? What coverage does it give? Is it hypoallergenic or suitable for sensitive skin? Of course, all depending on your needs J

3. Blend, BLEND, Blend

The key to flawless and seamless makeup is blending. You don’t want harsh lines where you can see where a color starts and ends. Of course what we want to achieve here is a perfect blend of all that colors that you used, and your makeup to be a whole look. To achieve a flawless skin, you can use a sponge or a buffing brush to blend your foundation and concealer. As for your eye makeup, a good eyeshadow blending brush is your best bet. Blend all you can girl!

4. UNLEASH your inner artist

I fully understand when you feel too intimidated to try different colors especially for eyeshadows and lipsticks. We tend to stick on what already works for us and find it hard to step out of our comfort zone. Well, it's totally normal plus I assume you also consider that it will just be a wasted purchase if you don't get to finish the product. The thing is, this trial-and-error process of trying out various shades and colors will help hone your color combination and blending skills. Try practicing using drugstore makeup first since they are a lot cheaper (and some are of really good quality as well). Don't be scared to try different color combinations. If it doesn't work, relax coz its not yet the end of the world, you can easily erase it with a makeup remover *wink*

5. CLEAN and SANITIZE

So you've been practicing makeup a lot, that's great! But have you been cleaning and/or sanitizing your makeup and makeup brushes? As much as we love doing our makeup, we should make the time to clean and sanitize our makeup, tools and brushes. I know, it soo nakakatamad gawin but this is important ladies. Not doing so might cause you acne, skin irritation and lets bacteria spread in your beloved makeup and makeup brushes. For your makeup, lightly dust your powders (eyeshadow, pressed powders) and spritz with 99% isopropyl alcohol or makeup sanitizer. As for your makeup brushes, wash them at least once a week with a brush shampoo or baby shampoo.


Whew. That was a lengthy post but I do hope that you learned a thing or two J
Let me know what you think or share your hacks or trade secrets in doing makeup!