35 Makeup Hacks Every Woman Should Know How to Do

If you’re anything like us (a.k.a. a total makeup fanatic), we bet you live for finding new makeup hacks. In fact, your motto in life is probably: I want to know it all—and I want to know it now. Well, today’s your lucky day! We’re spilling all of our favorite makeup hacks that will make your routine easier (and perhaps even more fun!). From how to get fuller-looking eyebrows to tricks that can help make your lip color last all day long, we’re counting down the top makeup hacks for your lips, face, brows, and eyes. With these in your back pocket, it won’t be long before everyone thinks you have a glam squad on call. Here are 35 makeup hacks every woman should know how to do.

LIP MAKEUP HACKS

Looking for ways to make your lip color last longer than it usually does? Start taking notes!

Makeup hack #1: Exfoliate first

Anytime you’re planning on wearing a dark or pigmented color on your pout, you should start by sloughing away dead skin cells from your lip’s surface to create a smooth canvas. Use a lip scrub to help smooth things out and follow up by applying a moisturizing lip balm. If you don’t have a lip scrub handy, some face scrubs, like the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub, can double as lip scrubs.

Makeup hack #2: Use an invisible lip liner

Prior to applying your lipstick, line your lips with an invisible wax liner. These invisible lip liners are designed to grab on to color to help it last longer and prevent feathering. Start by lining the outside of your lips with the liner to fill in any fine lines. Then, fill in the rest of your lips with a lip liner in a shade that matches the lipstick color you’ll be using.

Makeup hack #3: Perfect your cupid’s bow

Here’s how: Using your lip liner, draw an X on your cupid’s bow, then trace out the rest of your lips and fill in. It’s an easy and quick way to give your pout instant definition.

Makeup hack #4: Blot and set your lipstick with translucent powder

Another way you can make your lip color last longer is with a tissue and translucent powder. First, outline and shade your lips with a lip liner that has the same hue as your lipstick. Try the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner. Then, apply one coat of lipstick using a brush to get better pigmentation and more precise application. Next, gently blot your lips with a tissue. Repeat the lipstick and tissue process two more times. Once you’ve done that, hold the tissue to your lips and finish off by lightly dusting translucent powder onto your lips with a powder brush through the tissue.

Makeup hack #5: Pat and smudge your lipstick

This next hack is especially great if you’re looking for a way to try a standout lipstick shade without it being too extreme. The “pat-smudge” technique is an easy way to get a more natural look and just a hint of color. Using your ring finger, gently pat on your lip color and smudge it slightly. Doing this allows you to have more control over the amount of color you apply to your lips.

Makeup hack #6: Prime your lips with concealer

Did you know that your concealer and foundation can also double as great primers for your lipstick? Yep, it’s true! Just use a wet makeup blender to apply concealer or foundation onto your lips. Then, take a lip brush and apply the lip color of your choice on top. Swiping the lipstick on over the concealer can cause the color to look dull or muted, which is why you should use a lip brush to apply your color.

Makeup hack #7: Use lip liner to contour your lips

Whether you want a larger or more defined pout, did you know that you can use lip liner to contour your lips? To do so, use a darker lip liner pencil to outline your lips, then use a lighter shade to fill them in. Just be sure to blend the two shades together where they meet for a natural look!

Makeup hack #8: Drink from a straw

This is probably not something you give much thought to, but it can really help if you’re rocking a vivid lipstick shade! The next time you’re sipping a cold beverage while you’re wearing lipstick, drink through a straw. This is an easy way to keep your lipstick on your lips instead of having it transfer to your cup.

Makeup hack #9: Use the finger technique

To help keep your lip color on your lips and off your teeth, use this classic makeup hack. Simply put your pointer finger in your mouth, make a fish pout with your lips around your finger, then pull your finger out. It will remove all the excess lip color from the inside of your lips and prevent it from transferring to your teeth. 

FACE MAKEUP HACKS

The base of your makeup look is undeniably important, so you obviously need a few face makeup hacks, too!

Makeup hack #10: Clean your makeup blender using massaging motions

Using a clean makeup blender is imperative since you don’t want anything getting in the way of a smooth finish—and you also don’t want bacteria or germs being carried from the sponge to your face. When cleaning a makeup sponge, get all of the makeup residue off by using massaging motions and a gentle cleansing solution to help squeeze out any excess product—just be careful not to scrub the sponge (gentleness is key!) since it could cause it to break.

Makeup hack #11: Use your makeup blender for more than makeup application

Nope, makeup blenders aren’t just useful for applying makeup. Did you know you could use one to apply various skin care products like sunscreen, serum, and moisturizer, too? Just make sure you use a different, clean sponge for each product.

Makeup hack #12: Color code your blenders

If you decided to follow our previous hack, it could be a good idea to invest in a couple of different shapes and sizes to make sure your sponges, and more importantly, your skin, stay clean. Buy them in various colors so you can keep track of which one you use for each product.

Makeup hack #13: Tap the sponge on your skin

Get an airbrushed finish by tapping the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender against your skin. This is called the “stippling” technique. Stippling is when you gently tap the sponge onto your skin and blend using quick patting motions, which allows you to deposit makeup onto your skin and blend it at the same time.

Makeup hack #14: Get dewy-looking skin

Getting dewy skin requires one simple step. Mix a sheer foundation or concealer with a hydrating facial oil or moisturizer and apply it with your makeup blender. This will give you a no-makeup makeup feel with a beautiful, natural-looking glow.

Makeup hack #15: Don’t skip setting spray

If you think that setting spray is an unnecessary, extra step, think again. Just a few spritzes will help make sure your makeup look doesn’t smear and lasts throughout your entire day, whatever it may bring. Once you’ve completed your makeup look, spray your face with the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray in an X & T motion, while making sure to hold the bottle about eight to ten inches away from your face.

Makeup hack #16: Apply your bronzer in a “3-shape”

No time to contour? No worries. Grab your bronzer of choice, then apply it in a three shape down both sides of your face. If you can’t quite picture what we’re talking about, you should be sweeping the bronzer on starting at your forehead, going from your temple to your cheekbone, then down to your jawline. Hit those spots and you'll be following a path that essentially looks like the number three!

Makeup hack #17: Color-correcting concealer can work wonders

A well-known makeup trick among professional makeup artists involves harnessing the power of color-correctors to help conceal things like an uneven skin tone, discolorations, sun spots, under-eye bags, and blemishes. To copy the pros, pick up a color-correcting palette, like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit. The peach shade can be used to disguise dark circles, yellow works on discolorations, green is for redness, and purple can help brighten dullness.

Makeup hack #18: Test foundation and concealer on your neck, not your face

We’ve all been there: Trying to work out the perfect foundation or concealer shade while standing in a beauty store or pharmacy. It’s tricky and awkward, and you may go through all the trouble of swatching various shades only to still not find your match. Part of the problem could be that you’re testing face makeup products on your face. It’s slightly counterintuitive, but rather than matching it to your cheek or your forehead, which can be affected by things like acne and too much sun, the skin on your neck is the best place to swatch. That’s because it’s more reflective of your true skin tone!

Makeup hack #19: Check your look under different lighting

This hack seems obvious, but it's super easy to forget—and then you risk showing up to work or wherever you’re headed with makeup that’s less than flattering under office lighting. To avoid that scary situation, make sure to take a quick look at your makeup in a few different lighting situations, including indoor and outdoor lighting.

Makeup hack #20: Wash your brushes with a gentle face wash

You have a collection of amazing makeup brushes, but they won’t do you much good unless they’re clean. If you don’t have brush cleanser on hand, you can use a gentle facial cleanser. In addition to washing with the right product, don’t forget—or neglect—to wash your brushes often. Dirty makeup brushes can harbor bacteria, oil, and old makeup, which can cause breakouts and rashes—not to mention being gross. Aim to wash your makeup brushes once per week.

EYEBROW MAKEUP HACKS

Brows are back and bolder than ever. That’s right: Gone are the days that pencil thin brows were a major fad. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to embrace this beauty trend!

Makeup hack #21: Figure out your brow shape

Take the time to determine your perfect brow shape before you start tweezing away. Your eyebrows accentuate your facial structure, so it’s important to determine which shape suits your face best. If you have a square face, the best eyebrow shape for you is gently curved. This brow shape helps soften your facial features. If you have a round face, the best eyebrow shape for you would be one that’s more angular since they can give you the illusion of defined bone structure. If you have a heart-shaped face, keep your brows well-groomed and remember: when you’re plucking your brows, only pluck from the underside to help keep the top of your arch in perfect shape. Lastly, if you have a long face, go for slightly extended brows.

Makeup hack #22: Use a brow gel for fuller-looking brows

Fake full brows with a brow gel. The L'Oréal Paris Unbelievabrow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel is a longwear brow gel that comes with a brush and spoolie for easy application.

Makeup hack #23: Go one shade lighter to fill in your brows

When it comes to filling in your eyebrows, using a shade that’s too dark—even just slightly—can really come off as unnatural looking. Instead, whether you’ve chosen to use eyebrow makeup, use a shade slightly lighter than your natural eyebrows. Trust us, it will look much more natural and help keep your brows from appearing drawn on—even if they are.  

Makeup hack #24: Try a brow blender for softer-looking brows

The L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Kabuki Blender is a creamy crayon available in three blendable shades that can be used on their own or mixed together to create a custom hue. To use, fill in your brows using the tip of the crayon, build to your desired intensity, and blend with the kabuki blending brush on the opposite end.

Makeup hack #25: Use a small amount of concealer to help accentuate your brows

Just as your highlighter helps accentuate all your best features, a small amount of concealer can help accentuate your brows. Apply just a teeny amount along the outer edges of your arches using an angled brush to create super sharp arches.

EYE MAKEUP HACKS

Upgrade your eye shadow and eyeliner routine to really become a makeup master.

Makeup hack #26: Always start with primer

Want to keep your eye makeup from ending up all over your face? Use an eye shadow primer first and your eye shadow and liner will stay in place, plus you’ll create a smooth base for easier application.

Makeup hack #27: When you’re out of eye shadow primer, use concealer

If you don’t have any eye shadow primer, not to worry—using a bit of concealer can work just as well. Simply take your concealer of choice and dab a couple of dots onto your upper eyelid, then use a makeup brush to blend out.

Makeup hack #28: Create a standout eyeshadow shade with white liner

Applying just a little white eyeliner underneath your eyeshadow can create a totally different look! If you’ve ever heard that it’s a good idea to layer white nail polish under neon shades, this works on the same principle. By layering shadows over a white base, your eye shadow will appear more vibrant and opaque.

Makeup hack #29: Use nude eyeliner on your waterline

Your lash line isn’t the only spot for eyeliner! Lining your waterline with nude eyeliner is a trick to help make your eyes appear bigger and more awake. Try this hack using the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Nude the next time you look like you didn’t get enough sleep the night prior!

Makeup hack #30: Apply glue to false lashes using a clean bobby pin

Applying false lashes can be such a tricky feat, but the end results look so gorgeous! One of our top tips for applying falsies: Rather than just dabbing glue directly onto the lashes, use one end of a clean bobby pin to apply it onto each lash. This way, you won’t end up with too much glue on your lashes.

Editor’s note: Sick of applying falsies every time you’re headed out? Consider eyelash extensions! Here are 7 Things to Know About Eyelash Extensions.

Makeup hack #31: Apply under-eye concealer in a triangle shape

Dark circles? Puffiness? General discoloration? The under-eye area is one of the most delicate, and therefore most annoying to treat and conceal, areas on the entire complexion. When applying your under-eye concealer (we love the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage), apply it in a triangle shape under each eye. Making this simple switch to how you apply your concealer can make all the difference in brightening your under-eye area for a dark circle-free makeup look.

Makeup hack #32: Use multiple eyeliners

It’s common to think that when using eyeliner, you should stick to one shade at a time, but this isn't always the case. For example, if you’re using black liquid eyeliner on your top lash line, applying it on your bottom lash line as well can actually make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, try using a black eyeliner, such as the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Black, up top and brown on the bottom.

Makeup hack #33: Highlight your eyes

Everyone knows to highlight the tops of their cheekbones in order to become a glowing goddess, but what about your eyes? A well-placed highlight can really open up your eyes and transform your look. Try highlighting around the inner corners of your eyes and on the center of your lid for a beautiful, spotlight effect. 

Makeup hack #34: Tailor your eye makeup to your eye shape

For a look that’s totally you, keep your eye shape in mind when applying eye makeup. If you have almond eyes, just about any shade or style will look absolutely stunning. If you have round eyes, contouring them can help to bring the focus to the center of your eyes. If you have upturned eyes, try rocking a little dark shadow or liner on the outer edge of your lower lash line. If you have downturned eyes, shade them with natural colors. If you have monolids, add dimension by applying a gradient effect—starting with darker colors near your lash line and gradually fading into a light, shimmery shade beneath your brow bone. If you have hooded eyes, keep your brows well maintained and carry neutral eye shadow shades all the way up to your brow bone.

Makeup hack #35: Use the dot technique

Creating the perfect cat eye with liquid eyeliner is far from the easiest thing to do. To make the process easier, try the dot technique. Start by taking the eyeliner and making a dot where you want the point of your flick to end up. Then, draw another dot on the outer corner of your upper lash line. Repeat this process on the other eye and make sure your dots are placed evenly—this way, you’ll ensure your cat eye is even on both sides! Next, join the two dots with a straight line of eyeliner before continuing to line your eyes as usual.

Next: 13 Lip Liner Hacks That Will Make Applying Lipstick Easier