Four makeup looks to try over break

Makeup is an amazing thing. Truly. With the swipe of some lipstick or mascara, your look can immediately be changed. It’s fun to experiment with different colors and techniques because at the end of the day, all makeup washes off (besides that waterproof mascara because let’s be real, that stays on forever). Over break, don’t be scared to try a new technique or new product. Makeup is all about expressing yourself and having fun being your creative self. If you need a little push, here’s 4 looks to inspire you this winter season.

The ‘Starbucks run’ look

On an everyday basis, I like to keep my makeup very simple and glowy. You know, that radiant from within look? To achieve this, I stick to just five simple products and these products make up my “five product face”. First, I start with tinted moisturizer. The reason I love this is because it gives me a good amount of coverage to conceal small blemishes and skin discoloration but it allows my natural freckles and skin texture to peek through. If you don’t own tinted moisturizer and want to try it out, simply mix your foundation in with your fave face moisturizer! Next, brows. Brows are so important because they frame your face. Brow pencils help you to create defined, hair-like strokes and brow powders allow you to add fullness.

After brows, I curl my lashes and apply mascara. Lengthening mascaras are great for daytime because they make your lashes look long without accidentally achieving the “clumpy look.” The next are blush and highlight. Blush can add color to your cheeks to give a natural flush and highlighter is essential if you really want your cheekbones to pop. To cheat and make this a “six product face,” finish the look off with chapstick or a tinted lip balm. Now, your ready to rock those errands!

The ‘I secretly want to run into my ex’ look

Okay, so matter how much we hate our ex boyfriends, we secretly wish that one day we’ll run into them somewhere looking fab just to show them everything they’re missing. To achieve a look that will make them wish they had you back, I would opt for full out glam. Glam means the works.

Don’t hesitate to pull out all your extreme makeup products. Got glitter? Do a glitter cut-crease eyeshadow look. Just bought a supersaturated red lip? Wear it with classic winged liner and fluttery, fake eyelashes. It’s simple, really. Do your makeup so you feel fierce and so that you feel confident and beautiful. This confidence will then shine through whether you flip your hair and walk by your ex making them jealous or when you walk past someone attractive at the local cafe and just have to get their attention.

This is a really unique eyeshadow that you can use to create a smokey-eye look because it’s black but it has blue and green sparkles throughout, Colour Pop “Shameless”

The ‘fancy, last minute family NYE party’ look

“Why are you wearing all that makeup?” “You look better without makeup.” “You spent how much on that lipstick??” We have all been to a family party like this where the questions from relatives and family friends are relentless. To keep these questions at bay, try a makeup look that still adds a little sparkle without doing too much. My favorite look for when I want to look polished and put- together but not too over the top is a warm nude and gold eyeshadow look. To achieve this, I like to use really warm tan and chocolate brown eyeshadows and add a little sparkle to the lid with a gold or copper cream eyeshadow. To finish off the face and keep everything else rather simple, go in with your favorite foundation, add a little blush and counter and opt for a nude/ light pink lipstick to keep the focus on your shimmering eyelids. But, don’t forget the highlighter because having cheeks highlighted enough for you to be seen from space compliments any makeup look all too well.

The ‘GNO’ look

Girls night out with all your BFF’s is the perfect time to try something new with your makeup. Whether you are just hitting up PF Chang’s or Applebees’ (for all us college kids on a budget) or going out to a bar or club, adding a fun pop of color on your lips or graphic liner to your eyes will help you stand out. Try a bright fuchsia lipstick or maybe try navy blue eyeliner, pop on a leather jacket and you’re good to go out for a fun night with your girlfriends. And although this isn’t required, jamming to the Weeknd or Justin Bieber in the car to wherever you’re going always helps.

Try pairing a bold lip with a neutral colored bodysuit!

These are my favorite bold lip colors for a night out! In order from left to right, NYX Matte Lipstick “Indie Flick,” Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain “Rio Rush,” NARS Audacious Lipstick “Liv,” and Kylie Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick “Mary Jo K”

With makeup, it is really all about having fun. Do not let anyone tell you that you are wearing too much or that you need to put on more. The beauty in makeup is that it can help you look and feel like your best self but, it isn’t permanent. It’s important to remember that even without any makeup on, we are all beautiful, freckles, skin discoloration, and blemishes in all. But in the meantime, there’s no harm in spending hours playing with eyeshadows, blushes and highlights and looking fierce while doing it. Have fun getting glam!