6 makeup tricks for your new face.

This is probably one of my favourite posts so far! It’s all to do with the super simple makeup tricks I’ve learnt over the past year that can also help you with your everyday beauty routine, I want to share them with you so you can also feel beautiful and more confident about your new face.

I was terrified of putting makeup on after I got sick, it was months before I put anything near my eye or was even comfortable making an effort. I thought I looked so wonky and uneven that part of me gave up on my appearance and it was so deflating. But over time I started discovering little things that would make the whole process a lot easier, I gained more confidence in how I looked and how I would do my makeup on an eye that couldn’t fully close, a mouth that couldn’t fully open or cheek I couldn’t suck in for a decent contour.

We’re not doing anything crazy or complicated, it’s natural, embrace your new beauty makeup which will make such a difference to how you see and feel about yourself! (Full disclaimer, I work for Charlotte Tilbury as a video editor, hence me using all of her gorgeous products, but these are tricks you can use with your current makeup bag!)

1. less is way more.

First up, stay really fresh and light with all your makeup. It helps your face appear less heavy, especially when you’ve already had it droop once before. Keep the application of foundation, concealer and powder super light and fresh, this also applies to your colour choices. I’ve been sticking to a really nude based palette lately, I don’t apply half as much product on my eyes as I used to so I don’t have to worry about blending it out and making it perfect. I also stick to a nude lip liner and simple gloss just to finish off my lips, no bright reds or heavy products to make them sticky or uncomfortable, I think that’s the biggest thing for me is the comfort. I don’t want my eye feeling heavy or tired more than it already is so keep it all light, easy and natural.

2. brows.

You’ve had a brow droop and you’re probably at a stage where it’s healing, or your nerve damage or botox treatment has left it a little less mobile. The trick to even brows is to give it a lift using only two products.

Step 1 - Use a double ended brow tool, one side a brush and the other a pencil. Brush upwards through your brow hairs, and when it comes to filling in, move in very light upward strokes only in areas that need filling in, brushing through again if you accidentally use a little too much product. Being too thick with your brow shape can make it appear too harsh and heavy, so keep it nice and light, especially at the front of the brow and on the upper arch.

Step 2 - When it comes to the brow end, take the strokes out higher than where they naturally grow to lift the appearance of the brow tail, then you can re-brush the hairs up to blend in with the ones you’ve drawn.

Step 3 - Finally, brush through them with a good brow gel to keep the hairs in place all day, this will give your brow a quick lift and make it appear more even with the other.

3. eyes.

With everyday eye shadow I like to only really use two colours, a pale cream and a soft brown to simply contour my eye shape, keeping it light and comfortable all day long.

Step 1 - I start with the light shade all over the lid as base. Brushing all over the lid under the lower lash line.

Step 2 - Then I take the brown and blend it into my eye socket. This will help with the dimension of my eye as the light shade will lift the center, whilst the brown will create more depth and definition.

Step 3 - If I need to clean up the edges, I use a small bit of concealer under the outer corner to lift the appearance of my eyes.

TOP TIP!

If you're like me and your eye doesn’t fully shut, tilt your head up and look down at the mirror, this will help you to apply product onto more of your eyelid without having to fight to close it.

4. eye lash curler.

This is now going to be your new best friend. When my eye was paralysed the muscle holding my lashes stopped working and caused them to droop, not to mention months of wearing an eye patch meant they were constantly being held straight down. So I started to curl them, and it instantly helped to lift them before I applied mascara. Now I never do makeup without it, even some days I simply curl them and don’t apply products just to have a little lash lift!

Step 1 - Place the curler over your lashes and squeeze 5 or so times.

Step 2 - Apply a few layers of mascara to keep your lash lift in place, you don’t have to go from the root if it’s too uncomfortable for you, you can apply from halfway and still add definition and keep your lift in place!

5. lips.

This step is all about creating a bit more symmetry.

Step 1 - The affected side of my lower lip sits slightly lower than the other side, so when it comes to lining my lips I ever so slightly overdraw on my good side to match it, then I line my upper lip as normal.

Step 2 - If it’s too uneven, I take a small bit of concealer and clean up the edges until they appear more level. I’ll then tap it into the rest of my lips so the pigment is more diffused with my natural lip colour.

Step 3 - Finish off with a nice clear, or partially pigmented lip gloss just to blend the liner in with your lips, it doesn’t make your lips feel too heavy and keeps them hydrated!

5. cheeks.

Because of my synkinesis I can’t suck my cheek in as it’s just too tight, so I’ve had to find a new way to contour and blush, and that’s by using both products at once and at a 45 degree angle.

Step 1 - Starting by dabbing a large powder brush into both your bronzer and blush, and move in larger circular motions over the top of your cheekbone, working across and down until you’re under your cheekbone.

Doing this rather than back and forth straight under the bone will give your face more of a lift, rather than a big heavy shadow under your cheek which can actually drag down it’s appearance.

Not to mention I am pretty scared about overusing blush, so I find that including it into my bronzer helps me apply a rosy glow evenly and cuts the time down I spend doing my makeup.

So there are my 6 tips for applying makeup on your new face. You'll definitely start to develop your own over time as your confidence grows, it’s not only fun but it will massively help how you start to see your new face.

Beauty should be for everyone, and having a few wonks and quirks doesn’t mean you have to hide or give up on yourself, even if you start with one feature, it’ll slowly start to make a real difference. Please share your looks with me as I would love to see all of your techniques over on my instagram @paigehannahsmith