Ever attempted a smoky eye, only to see yourself with more of a black eye? Chances are, you either aren’t blending enough or not using the correct technique. We could write pages about blending, but instead we’ll give you the sweet and simple lowdown you need to pull off glam looks like a pro!
Buffing
A tried-and-true technique, the buffing method is a classic everyone should master. It’s the perfect way to seamlessly blend your foundation, highlighter, contour and blush altogether. It all starts after you’ve applied your foundation and given it time to dry.
- Grab a dense, domed brush and coat the end with a medium amount of setting powder.
- Making sure to dust off excess powder, begin brushing in small circles with medium pressure.
- Work your way around the face, taking special care around your jawline, as this area is easily missed.
Another important thing to remember is that blending takes time. Don’t be fooled by those sped-up Instagram videos that make it seem like a 20-second affair — it should take a couple of minutes.
The Sponge
We all know that person who swears by the sponge, using it to blend everything from eyeshadow to foundation. Dabbing with the sponge is one method, but for a more natural look, you’ll want to firmly press with a rolling motion at the end. This push and pull will force the foundation into your skin for an airbrushed look that photographs amazingly.
Contour, Highlight and Change Your Brush Size
Let’s focus on contouring for a second. After you’re done shading with highlighter and contour cream, you’ll want to grab two different brushes: a larger, dense, flat-top brush and a smaller blending brush. Use the larger brush to blend out your highlighter and contour around your cheeks and forehead with small, quick circular motions. For your nose and under your eyes, reach for that smaller brush. It’s important to use a smaller brush for these areas so that you don’t over-blend and lose that definition shading is creating.
Eyes
Let’s talk eyeshadow! Besides choosing the right colors, correctly blending your shadow is what really makes or breaks your look.
Start with your crease. Dab your blending brush into your transition color and sweep across your crease. Like a windshield wiper, you’ll want that quick back and forth motion, with small circles in the inner corer and outer eye to diffuse the color. Make sure to blend upward so as not to end up with a harsh line between your transition color and your brow bone color.
Bonus tip: having trouble blending a dark colored eyeshadow? Try adding a bit of translucent loose powder (make sure there’s no color) to the end of your blending brush. Continue to blend, the translucent powder should help your dark shadows blend out and transition to lighter colors. Make sure to hold your brush close to the end, as it will give you a lighter hand. Remember, the closer to the bristles you hold, the heavier and harsher your application.
