I kind of cheated a little bit when I was learning. 😊
I started by having my makeup done professionally at local beauty colleges. It was inexpensive, and I treated every visit like a private lesson. I watched carefully as they worked on me, asked what they were doing and why, and got them to talk through things like foundation matching, contouring, blush placement, and eye looks. Most of the students and instructors were more than happy to explain and to recommend specific products and brushes.
You can do something very similar at places like Ulta Beauty and other large chain stores that have in-house makeup artists. Many of them will do a free or low-cost makeover, especially if you are open to buying a few items they use on you. If you tell them you are trying to learn, they will often slow down, show you how to hold the brush, where to place color, and help you find shades that work with your skin tone. You can also ask them to write down or photograph the products they used so you can recreate the look at home.
For me, that combination of "live, on-my-own-face" lessons plus practice at home was what really made things click. YouTube is great, but there is something very powerful about having someone show you, step by step, on your own features and then building your routine from there.
It takes a bit of trial and error, but once you get the hang of what works best for your face, it becomes second nature — and honestly, a lot of fun. 💄 Practice is the key. When I first started, it would take me 30–40 minutes; now I can do a full face in under 15.
With love,
— Susan 💜
