Ultimate Makeup Guide

What is oil-based makeup remover?

Oil-based makeup removers use a mixture of skin-boosting oils to remove makeup and nourish the skin at the same time. They are kind to your complexion and are suitable for all skin types – even oily or combination skin, thanks to the water-soluble solutions.

Oil makeup remover is the best option for washing away full coverage, heavy-duty looks and even that stubborn mascara. Lots of skincare buffs recommend a double cleanse process, where you start with an oil-based remover and then follow with your favourite facial cleanser. This helps you achieve perfectly cleansed skin, prepped for the rest of your skincare routine.

Does jojoba oil remove makeup?

Yes, it does! Jojoba oil is a great ingredient found in skincare goodies, like makeup removers and facial cleansers. You can also apply jojoba oil straight onto the skin using a cotton pad and wiping across your face to remove traces of makeup. At Cosmetify, simply use our ingredient preference filter to find skincare must-haves that include nurturing jojoba oil.

With anti-inflammatory properties, this oil helps smooth and soothe the skin even removing harsh or stubborn makeup. It is often used in natural or organic formulas, thanks to its vitamin rich complex. These vitamins help repair any irritations and calm any skin conditions like eczema or rosacea.

Should I use makeup remover wipes?

We admit wipes are a quick and easy way to remove makeup or tidy up any eyeliner mistakes. However, we don't recommend using them alone as your only means of cleansing, as they are not effective at completely removing your makeup. Instead, they can often move the products across your face, which can irritate the skin, clog pores and cause breakouts.

So, no matter how late it is or how tired you are, you should only use the makeup wipe as the first step in a double cleanse. Follow with a creamy cleanser to make sure your face is fully clean, clear and healthy with no makeup remnants left behind.

How do you apply eyebrow makeup?

The first step is to create the shape of your eyebrow and then outline using an eyebrow pencil. This highlights which areas need tweezing or filling in. Using a brow pomade or brow powder you can easily fill in the sparse areas with a slanted eyebrow brush. Start from the tip and work your way inwards. Then to fix everything in place apply a tinted or clear eyebrow gel. And voilà - bold, beautiful arches that frame the face.

However, you don't have to use all the eyebrows products every time you apply makeup. Depending on your routine you can mix and match each product to get bold brows or a natural full effect. A clear brow gel is perfect for no-makeup makeup days, whereas a brow powder is ideal for glam looks.

Is it possible to grow thicker eyebrows?

Growing thicker eyebrows takes time and plenty of patience. The first step is putting down the tweezers and stop over-plucking! Then it's time to nourish your brows with any eyebrow treatment. At Cosmetify, we have a range for you to choose from including growth serums and eyebrow conditioners, which all help enhance the appearance of your arches.

If all else fails, you can fake it till you make it with our guide on how to get thicker eyebrows. This guide explains how you can easily use

How do I choose an eyebrow colour?

When choosing the perfect eyebrow colour, it's important to not stray too far from your current hair colour. We recommend going either one to two shades lighter or darker than your hair. To create extra dimension to your arches, you can always mix and match shades rather than using one block colour.

You can easily add this colour to your brows using brow powders and pencils. Or, alternatively you can use a brow kit which includes everything you need to achieve well-groomed, defined eyebrows in an instant. This mixture of shades and products also helps them look more natural and not too drawn on.

What makeup do you use on your cheeks?

You can apply blusher, highlighter and bronzer to your beautiful cheeks. Each offer something different but when combined together they all help you achieve a flawless face of makeup. Blusher is the perfect product to help add flush of colour to the cheeks. Highlighter brings a glow to your complexion and bronzers help sculpt and define your cheekbones.

Combing the three different types of products means you can create a multitude of makeup looks, whether it a fresh-faced, glowy look or full coverage, evening glam. No matter your style or the occasion, there's a range of products for you to choose from at Cosmetify.

How do you make your cheeks look fuller?

Getting full, round cheeks is easy to achieve with a little makeup know-how. Start by contouring under your cheekbones with a darker colour and then add a flush of pale blush to the apples of your cheeks. This helps draw the light forward, which creates a natural fullness and definition. Better still, it brings a radiant glow back to your complexion after you've applied your base makeup.

When choosing a formula, stick to cream or liquid blushers as they are easier to blend and don't look cakey. And depending on your skin tone, choose either pink, peachy or orange hues, which all add a youthful flush of colour to the skin.

How can I make my blush last longer?

It's all about the skin prep. Ensure your skin is fully moisturised and prepped with your favourite makeup primer. Then layer your foundation and concealer as a base for your cheek makeup. Then using a blusher brush, dust your favourite shade onto the cheeks. If you struggle with oily skin, powder blushers will last longer throughout the day. Or, you can first apply a cream blush and set in place with powder blush on top.

Once you've buffed and blended your favourite products, apply a dusting of translucent setting powder to help everything stay put. Then once you've finished your entire makeup application lock your look in place with your favourite setting spray.

What is the longest lasting lip colour?

Full coverage colours are a great way to achieve a long-lasting finish. Browse our range of long-lasting lipsticks and liquid lipsticks today, from brands such as Stila, Maybelline, Rimmel and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

To ensure your lipstick stays put throughout the day, there's a few quick things you can do to prep and prime your pout. First hydrate and smooth your lips using a lip scrub followed by a nourishing lip balm. Then using a lip liner fill in the shape of your lips and then add your favourite liquid lipstick product on top. Blot away the excess and set using a translucent powder. This keeps everything kiss-proof and smudge-proof all day long.

How do you apply lip makeup?

It all depends on what lip look you're after. The first step with any lip makeup is prepping your lips by exfoliating and moisturising. Then for a natural flush of colour, swipe a lip gloss or lip stain across your bare pout. For a long-lasting, full coverage look start by applying a lip liner along the natural lip line and fill in your pout to create the perfect base colour.

Then either swipe the liquid lipstick or the lipstick straight from the applicator. To achieve a more precise application, we recommend you use a lip brush to carefully fill in the block of colour.

How do you apply eye makeup for beginners?

Make sure you have the right eyeshadow brushes to hand and prep your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer. This will help your products last longer. For a natural daytime look, take a light shade of eyeshadow and sweep across the entire lid. Then apply a darker brown colour and blend into the crease and across your lash line.

Once you applied your eyeshadow, it's time for eyeliner. Apply the pencil along the upper lash line in short strokes and slightly flick out the end to create a winged effect. Finish with a coat of your favourite mascara and voilà – a quick, every day, easy eye makeup idea.

How do you do glamourous eye makeup?

For a more glamourous look, try adding in bolder colours using a fun eyeshadow palette. At Cosmetify, we have a range for you to choose from. Whether you prefer glitter pigments or dazzling, satin finishes, there's an eyeshadow to suit every style. Simply apply your shadows as you usually would and add a bold pop of shimmer to the middle of the lid. Then create an exaggerated cat eye look with a liquid liner. To finish off party eye makeup, why not add a pair of false eyelashes? This ups the glamour and takes your look from 0 to 100 in an instant.

How do you do smokey eye makeup?

To create a smokey eye makeup look, you need to have the perfect palette of seductive shades. Plenty of people think you only need to use black and greys, but deep plums and burnt orannges are also fantastic colours to create a sultry, smokey eye look. For bold, heavy eye looks we also suggest prepping the eyelids, so your makeup doesn't smudge or budge throughout the day.

Start by applying the lightest shades and then gradually add darker hues across the lid and into the crease. Remember to blend outwards using a clean fluffy brush for a professional looking finish. Complete your look with some serious eyeliner, black mascara and of course some bold falsies.

What makeup brushes do beginners need?

When searching for the best beginner makeup brushes, browse through our brush sets, with everything from everyday essentials to travel brush collections. These sets are perfect for beauty newbies as they have all the brushes you need to complete your makeup look in an instant.

If you're buying individual brushes, we recommend a stippling brush or a beauty sponge for liquid products, a small brush for concealer, a big fluffy brush for powders, a flat eyeshadow brush to pack on colour and a fluffy eyeshadow brush to buff and blend. Of course, there's plenty more for you to choose from, from contour brushers to highlighter fan brushes. Whatever your makeup skills, discover your new must-have tools right here on Cosmetify.

What is the best brand of makeup brushes?

Take your pick of the best makeup brush brands in the business at Cosmetify. Whether you're searching for professional quality brushes or simple, easy to use sets, there's something for every makeup lover and every skill level. Popular high-end brands include Sigma Beauty, Natasha Denona, Delilah and Zoeva. And affordable go-to makeup brush brands are Makeup Obsession, Revolution and Real Techniques.

No matter if you're a pro or a beginner, we have everything you need in one handy place. Use our innovative drop-down filters, such as ingredient preference, coverage, brand and price, to refine your search to fit your requirements. This system is perfect for finding cruelty-free must-haves and budget-friendly brands.

What are the steps to applying face makeup?

The first step is applying your primer and any colour correctors, followed by your base product like foundation, BB cream or CC cream. This choice depends on what coverage you want and how long your face makeup will last. Beauty lovers then add a concealer to cover blemishes and imperfections.

To sculpt the face, you can then use a bronzer and contour product. The next step is adding a flush of colour and glow with blusher and highlighter. Then to lock everything in place, finish with a powder or setting spray. Of course, we're not suggesting your need to wear each product all the time, but it's all about finding your own routine and which formulas work best for your skin.

How do you get flawless face makeup?

Before starting, make sure your skin is fully cleansed and moisturised as this creates the perfect balanced and hydrated canvas. Then the first makeup step should be a primer, which can help smooth your complexion and blur any enlarged pores and blemishes.

Then it's time to apply foundation using a stippling brush or beauty sponge. This helps you achieve an all-over even finish. The next step is concealing any redness or blemishes with your favourite concealer and correctors. To set everything in place use a translucent setting powder, followed by a setting spray. These must-have products help you achieve that flawless finish that stays put throughout the day.

What is the best face makeup?

It all depends what face makeup look you want to create. Here at Cosmetify, we have a wide variety of brands and products to suit every style, skin tone, makeup concern and ingredient preference. Leading luxury face makeup brands include Sisley, La Mer, Tom Ford and Charlotte Tilbury. We also have a wide range of high-quality, affordable brands, such as Revolution, NYX Professional Makeup and Maybelline.

To find the perfect products for your makeup routine, use our drop-down search filters. This is perfect for searching for cruelty-free, ethical beauty products, as well as budget friendly options.

How do I choose a makeup palette?

With so many to choose from, picking your new favourite makeup palette can be a tricky task. The first step is finding one that fits your requirements, do you want it for your eyes, face or lips? Remember makeup palettes aren't limited to eyeshadows, instead there's a huge range of multi-use, convenient face palettes for you to peruse.

Once you've decided what kind of palette you need, you should consider your makeup skills, how many colours are in the palette and if you'll use most of the shades. For example, is that bold makeup palette really worth it if you usually a natural makeup lover? Although we all get tempted by new releases, make sure you're not doubling up on similar shades to avoid an overflowing makeup collection.

How do you use a makeup palette?

The beauty of makeup palettes is that you can experiment with different shades and formulas depending on your mood, the occasion and your style. Simply mix and match palettes to completely customise your makeup routine.

With eyeshadow palettes, use the lighter shades to highlight, deeper colours to define your eyelid crease and apply fun, bold shades to the middle of the lid. Face makeup palettes have many different uses. When using a contour palette, use the darker shades around the cheekbones, forehead and jaw to sculpt the face. Dust shades from highlighter palettes across the high points of the face, such as across the bridge of the nose and on the top of the cheekbones.

With lip palettes, mix and match shades with a lip brush to find the perfect shade for your pout. Do the same with blusher palettes to find the best flush of blush to swipe across the apple of your cheeks.

How do you travel with a makeup palette?

When travelling make sure you pack all your makeup tightly to ensure that palettes don't break in your bag. This includes all compact powder products, such as bronzer and highlighters. As an extra precaution, you can wrap products in clingfilm or bubble wrap to ensure that your makeup palettes don't move around too much.

It's also recommended to pack your makeup bag lightly. Palettes are a great option for travel as you have everything in one handy compact case, rather than lots of little products that could easily get lost or broken en route to your destination.

How do you clean makeup brushes without brush cleaner?

If a professional brush cleaner isn't an option for you, there are alternative household products you can use that will clean makeup brushes just as good. The most popular product being baby shampoo. Baby shampoo has a gentle formula that won't damage the brush hardware and bristles or irritate skin. It efficiently breaks down old makeup and washes away dirt, dust and grime. Simply add a dollop of baby shampoo to lukewarm water and swirl the brush head in the mixture until a lather forms. You can use your fingers to work out stubborn patches of makeup. Unscented soap and your usual face cleanser do just the trick, too!

Olive oil can also be used to clean makeup brushes as it's great at separating the oils used in liquid formulas, like foundation and concealer. Simply mix one part olive oil and one part dish soap together, dip the makeup brush bristles in the mixture and use your fingers to massage out the old makeup. Rinse the brushes with lukewarm water to reveal squeaky clean results.

What is the best body glitter?

When it comes to the best body glitter, you're going to want a glitter that sparkles all day long, stays put and doesn't slip or slide. Body glitter arrives in all forms, from glitter sticks and sprays to loose glitter and glitter glue, all of which are great options. Some of the best body glitters come from cult-favourite brands such as NYX Professional Makeup, The Gypsy Shrine, MAC and Barry M. Their professional body and face glitters have been the go-to for years now, whether it be for festivals, parties or holidays.

Do eyelash curlers actually work?

Whilst they may not look like they achieve much, lash curlers are the small and clever invention that helps to curl and add length to your lashes. Experts often agree that they are one of the most underrated makeup tools, and nothing but a must-have for your makeup bag. The metal tool boasts a clamp design that you can squeeze down onto lashes to help curl them upwards. It sounds pretty daunting, we know, but the process completely safe and pain-free. Plus, it provides instant visible results. For best results, it is worth investing in a quality lash curler and regularly replacing the rubber or silicone cushions.