If you are really new to makeup the mounds of different products may be overwhelming. There are so many different skin toned things, and everyone is talking about contouring, tight lining, and highlighting. There are these things all over Pinterest about what order to apply makeup and how- to photos that don’t make sense.
I am not a pro makeup artist. You could say I am a self taught makeup artist. I have been playing with makeup for a few years and I have learned from trial and error, and researching. I am not a beginner anymore but I am not a makeup vet either. I don’t know everything there is to know about makeup but I think I’ve got the basics down. Or at least I know what all the products are for.
There are tons of different products. And those products come in different formulas. And most products come in more than one type of package. We have to start somewhere. So let’s start with a list of the basic face product names and then go into more detail.
Face Primer
Foundation
BB Cream
CC Cream
Concealer
Powder Foundation
Bronzer
Blush
Highlighter
Setting Spray
PRIMER
So let’s start with face primer. It goes on first, right after face moisturizer, under all the makeup. Face primer is optional. But if you do wear it, it has to go on the face first.
What’s it for?
Face primer smoothes out the wrinkles and lines in your face and helps make your pores look smaller. It creates a smooth base for your makeup. It also helps the makeup come off easier. Face primer also helps your makeup look like you’ve just done it longer and it helps your makeup stay put in hot weather.
What formulations does it come it?
Face primer only comes in a cream. It has the same consistency as face moisturizer. Face primer is white/clear or skin colored.
What type(s) of packaging does it come it?
Face primer typically comes in a squeeze tube, like face moisturizer.
FOUNDATION
Foundation is the first thing that goes over primer. You can apply concealer under foundation but I prefer to apply it over because you never know if your foundation will be enough coverage.
What’s it for?
Ok I think everyone knows what foundation is for but I’m going to sum it up anyway. Foundation is used to even out skin tone and cover up blemishes. It’s used to cover redness and any discoloration.
What Formulations does it come it?
Foundation comes is many formulas. Liquid, cream, mouse, and powder but we will get to powdered later.
What type(s) of packaging does it come it?
Foundation packaging depends on the formula.
The cream comes packed in a pot.
The mouse comes packed in a pot and in a bottle with a pump.
The liquid comes in a bottle, typically glass. Most bottles have a pump or the brand that makes them will sell an attachment for it. And some bottles are just a pour out.
There are also cream foundation crayons.
There is also an airbrush option which is what it sounds like. A airbrush tube sprays on liquid foundation. It is an expensive option and it’s kind of over-the-top for personal use.
Why are there so many different formulas?
All the different formulas are supposed to give a different effect. The mouse is meant to give an effect like the airbrush which is meant to look “flawless.” The mouse is also meant to be more matte that liquid foundation. The cream has the effect of the liquid with the texture of moisturizer and is also a bit more matte. And the liquid is what most people prefer is pretty self explanatory. In the end they all make your skin look like its one color. And along as it’s a good product it does what is says.
BB CREAM
BB Stands for Beauty Balm. BB Cream is “tinted moisturizer.” It usually has SPF in it and is usually advertised to moisturize, prime, conceal, cover, and sun block for the most part. It works just like a foundation. Every one I’ve tried has worked just like foundation and I ending up using concealer and pressed powder with it.
What’s it for?
Like I said BB cream like a liquid foundation mixed with moisturizer. It’s used to even out skin tone and cover up blemishes. It’s used to cover redness and any discoloration.
What formulations does it come it?
BB cream only comes in a cream formula. Kind of like a liquid like moisturizer. It’s thicker than liquid foundation but wetter than moisturizer.
What type(s) of packaging does it come it?
BB cream comes and a squeeze tube like primer and moisturizer.
CC CREAM
CC stands for Color Correction. CC Cream is a little but more liquid than BB cream but it essentially the same thing.
What’s it for?
Like BB cream, CC cream is used to even out skin tone and cover up blemishes. It’s used to cover redness and any discoloration.
What formulations does it come in?
CC cream is like BB cream. It is a cream formula.
What type(s) of packing does it come in?
Like BB cream, CC cream comes in a squeeze tube. It Cosmetics puts a pump on the end of theirs. CC cream from high-end brands can also come in a pump bottle like liquid foundation and looks like two or three products twisted together.
CONCEALER
Concealer can go under or over foundation/BB cream. It can go under the eyes and over any spots that need extra coverage.
What’s it for?
Concealer is used under the eyes to cover dark circles, and on spots on the face that need extra coverage.
What formulations does it come in?
Concealer comes in liquid, and creams.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
The liquids come in tubes with different applicators, a plastic tube with a sponge on the end of a wand, a squeeze tube with a brush on the end of the tube, and a squeeze tube with a hole at the end of the tube like some lip glosses.
The cream comes in a pot package or crayon.
POWDER FOUNDATION
Powder foundation goes on over the wet foundation. It can be used all over your face or on places of the face with too much shine.
What’s it for?
Powder foundation is used for shine control. And to create a complete matte effect over the whole face.
What formulations does it come in?
Powder foundation is only a powder but it has different packing types. Pressed/packed powder & loose powder.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
Powder foundation comes in a pot package. It can come pressed in a pan like eyeshadow or it can come loose in the pot and can come just loose product in the pot or sometimes it comes with a this little sifter thing on top.
BRONZER
Bronzer goes in the hollows of the cheeks, around the sides of the forehead, on the jaw line, and on the sides of the nose. It goes on after the foundation/powder foundation.
What’s it for?
Bronzer is used to add a tan look to the face and to add shadows to the face to make the hollows of you cheeks look deeper and to make your jawline look sharper to make your face look smaller. It is also used to make your nose look smaller or bigger.
What formulations does it come in?
Bronzer comes in a packed powder, a loose powder and a cream.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
The loose and packed powders come in pots like powder foundation and the cream comes pressed in a pot/pan and in a stick/crayon.
BLUSH
Blush is used on the apples of the cheeks and personally I also use it for eyeshadow.
What’s it for?
Blush is meant to add the pink color back to your cheek that is covered by foundation. It is meant to add a rosy glow to the cheeks.
What formulations does it come in?
Blush comes in pressed & loose powder and cream.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
The loose and packed powders come in pots like powder foundation and the cream comes pressed in a pot/pan and in a stick/crayon.
HIGHLIGHTER
Highlighter is used on the tops of the cheek bones to make them look higher, down the bridge of the nose to make it look smaller or bigger, on the middle of the forehead and on the brow bone just under the eyebrow.
What’s it for?
Highlighter is meant to make your cheek bones look higher, and to make your nose look smaller or bigger or make your forehead look smaller or bigger. It’s also used on the brow bone to make it look higher.
What formulations does it come in?
Highlighter comes in pressed or loose powder and cream.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
The loose and packed powders come in pots like powder foundation and the cream comes pressed in a pot/pan and in a stick/crayon.
SETTING SPRAY
I personally don’t use setting spray. But it is applied after all your makeup is done.
What’s it for?
It is meant to set all of the makeup in place and keep it from moving through-out the day.
What formulations does it come in?
It is a liquid spray product.
What type(s) of packaging does it come in?
A spray bottle.
That is all for the face products! You can read my other product posts eye, and lips for details about those. This is the third post in my Beauty Basics series. The first two are about Makeup Lingo, which you can read here, and Types of Makeup Packaging, which you can read here.
Thanks so much for reading this post! I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a like if you did, it's much appreciated!
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to message me or leave them in the comments below.
Disclaimer: I AM NOT a professional makeup artist. You could say I am a self taught makeup artist as I have taught myself a lot though trial and error and playing with makeup. I have researched a lot of things on makeup over the past few years. I’m not claiming to know everything but I think I’ve got the basics down and want to make learning them easier for anyone just starting to get into makeup. I am not a newbie anymore but I’m not makeup vet either.
Photo Credit: Photo taken by me with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 with an 18-55mm lens and edited by me in Photoshop.
**This post was not sponsored**
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