Face/Base Makeup Tutorials — Tips & Techniques

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1950s Pin-Up

Winged black liner, matte skin, bold red lip, defined brows (Marilyn Monroe style).

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1970s Disco / Boho

Shimmer/frosty pastel eyeshadows, bronzed skin, glossy lips OR natural earthy tones.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1980s Power

Bright blue/purple eyeshadow, heavy 'draping' blush (blush up to the temples), bold fuchsia lips.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

Y2K (2000s)

Frosted blue/silver eyeshadow, ultra-glossy lips, glitter, thin arched brows, heavy bronzer.

Hard

Decade Throwbacks

2016 Glam

The 'Instagram Era.' Heavy contour, 'baking' powder, thick dip-brow eyebrows, cut crease, ultra-matte liquid lipstick.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Goth

White/pale base, heavy black eyeliner, black or dark red lipstick, sharp contour.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

E-Girl

Heavy blush over the nose, faux freckles, winged liner, hearts/stamps under eyes.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Coquette / Dollette

Heavy pink blush, wispy lashes, blurred pink lips.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Clean Girl

Fluffy 'soap brows,' dewy skin, minimal mascara, clear gloss.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Soft Glam

Full coverage but neutral tones.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

VS Bombshell

(Victoria's Secret) Glowing skin, pink glossy lips, inner corner highlight, big volume lashes.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Cottagecore

Sun-kissed blush, faux freckles, minimal eye makeup, berry-stained lips.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Strawberry Girl

Focus on berry-pink cheeks and lips with faux freckles.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Latte Makeup

Monochromatic browns, caramels, and tans.

Easy

Global Beauty

Igari (Japanese)

'Hangover makeup.' Heavy blush placed high under the eyes and over the bridge of the nose.

Medium

Techniques

Contouring

Using cool-toned dark shades to create shadows and recede features (cheekbones, jaw).

Easy

Techniques

Strobing

Using only highlighter (no dark contour) to sculpt the face using light.

Medium

Techniques

Underpainting

Applying contour, blush, and highlight underneath foundation for a seamless, natural blend.

Medium

Techniques

Baking

Leaving loose powder on the face for 5-10 minutes to set concealer and sharpen contour lines.

Medium

Techniques

Draping

Using blush as contour, bringing it from the cheeks up to the temples and brow bone.

Hard

Techniques

Tantouring

Using self-tanner to semi-permanently contour the face.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

Ancient Greek/Roman

Unibrow (sign of intelligence), pale skin (lead powder), beet-stained cheeks.

Hard

Decade Throwbacks

Elizabethan

Dead-white skin (ceruse), high plucked hairline, no eyebrows/lashes, red rouged cheeks.

18th Century French (Rococo) makeup look

Hard

Decade Throwbacks

18th Century French (Rococo)

Heavily powdered white faces, beauty marks (patches) to hide scars, extremely pink round circles of blush.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

Victorian

'Consumption Chic.' Pale, sickly skin, watery eyes, pinched cheeks (makeup was scandalous, so they bit their lips/pinched cheeks for blood flow).

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1950s Pin-Up (Timeline)

Winged liner, matte skin, red lip, pastel eyeshadows.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1960s Hippie

Face paint flowers, natural skin, no mascara.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1970s Disco

Frosted/shimmer eyeshadows (blue/silver), glossy lips, heavy bronzer.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1980s New Romantic/Power

'Draping' blush (temple to cheek), neon blue/purple eyeshadow, fuchsia lips, bushy brows.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

1990s Supermodel

Matte brown lips, neutral matte sculpting, 'brick' tones.

Easy

Decade Throwbacks

1990s Grunge (Timeline)

Heroin chic, dark circles, smudged liner, pale skin.

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

2000s Y2K

Frosted lips, icy blue/silver shadow, thin angular brows, glitter body gel, spray tan.

2010s 'Instagram' / YouTube Guru makeup look

Hard

Decade Throwbacks

2010s 'Instagram' / YouTube Guru

Cut crease, heavy full-coverage foundation, baking, dip-brow (blocky brows), matte liquid lipstick, blinding highlighter.

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Trad Goth (Subculture)

White foundation, Siouxsie Sioux geometric liner, sharp cheekbones, black lips.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Mall Goth

Smudged thick black liner, red eyeshadow, pale skin (Avril Lavigne era).

Medium

Decade Throwbacks

Scene Queen

Neon blue/pink eyeshadow, raccoon eyeliner, nude 'concealer' lips, leopard print painted on temples.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Grunge (Subculture)

'Slept-in' liner, matte skin, blurred berry lips.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Punk

Anarchic, messy, often war-paint style markings.

Expert

Global Beauty

Visual Kei

(Japanese Rock) Androgynous, elaborate elaborate painted designs, sharp contour.

Easy

Global Beauty

Igari (J-Beauty)

'Hangover makeup.' Heavy blush right under the eyes and over the nose bridge.

Hard

Global Beauty

Douyin (C-Beauty)

(Chinese TikTok) Spiky 'manhua' lashes, excessive glitter, intense blush placement, blurred over-lined lips.

Medium

Global Beauty

Jirai Kei

'Landmine' girl.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Clean Girl (Modern)

Soap brows, dewy skin, no-makeup makeup.

Coquette / Dollette (Modern) makeup look

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Coquette / Dollette (Modern)

Excessive blush, wispy lashes.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Strawberry Girl (Modern)

Faux freckles, pink cheeks, pink glossy lip.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Tomato Girl

Mediterranean summer vibe.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Cold Girl

'I'm cold' makeup.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Crying Girl

Glitter tears, red nose/eyes, puffy lip.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

E-Girl (Modern)

Heavy blush on nose, heart stamps under eyes, winged liner.

Easy

Decade Throwbacks

VSCO Girl

Chapstick, sun-kissed, (very minimal).

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Baddie

Heavy contour, perfect matte skin, sharp brows.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Cottagecore (Modern)

Soft, nature-inspired, barely there, rosy.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Fairycore

Pastel shimmers, glitter, faux freckles.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Succubus Chic

Thin brows, hollow cheekbones, dark eye circles (intentional).

Easy

Global Beauty

French Girl

Red matte lip, almost zero eye makeup, imperfect skin texture allowed.

Hard

Global Beauty

Arabian Glam

Double winged liner, heavy black kohl, full coverage, sharp contour.

Expert

Creative & Theatrical

Drag (Western)

Blocking out natural brows, drawing new high brows, heavy baking, 'cutting' the cheek, overlining lips into nose area.

Hard

Techniques

Airbrush

Flawless, pixel-perfect finish (often for weddings/TV).

Medium

Techniques

High Definition (HD)

Invisible to the camera 4K lens.

Easy

Techniques

Mineral Makeup

Powder-based, natural finish.

Medium

Techniques

Bakery Method

Baking (powder), cooking (letting product sit).

Medium

Techniques

Underpainting (Technique)

Applying contour/blush under foundation.

Easy

Techniques

Strobing (Technique)

Using only highlighter to contour.

Medium

Techniques

Striping / Draping

Using blush to contour.

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Glass Skin

Wet, reflective.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Cloud Skin

Soft matte, hazy.

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Dolphin Skin

Slick, wet-look.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Yoga Skin

'Just worked out' flush and sweat.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Balletcore

Inspired by ballerinas.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Barbiecore

Hyper-feminine, hot pink everything.

Hard

Creative & Theatrical

Cyberpunk

Futuristic high-tech.

Medium

Global Beauty

Decora

Japanese street style focused on excessive accessories.

Medium

Creative & Theatrical

Festival / Rave

Euphoria-inspired.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Sunset Blush

A gradient of bright orange and pink blush placed high on the cheeks, often with gold highlighter to mimic a sunset.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Boyfriend Blush

Blush placed lower on the cheeks (below the cheekbone) to mimic a natural, athletic flush from exercise.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Pearl Skin

Distinct from 'Glass Skin' (wet).

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Old Money

More structured than 'Clean Girl'.

Hard

Global Beauty

Ganguro

A specific 90s/2000s Gyaru sub-style.

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Classic Bridal

Timeless, photography-friendly makeup.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

No-Makeup Makeup (Everyday)

The goal is imperceptibility.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Corporate / Professional

Polished and commanding but conservative.

Medium

Viral & Aesthetic

Date Night (Sultry)

Designed for dim lighting (restaurants/bars).

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

Passport / ID Photo

Viral trend focused on extreme symmetry and matte finishes.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Gym / Athleisure

Sweat-proof minimalism.

Easy

Viral & Aesthetic

Vacation / Resort

Focus on bronzer and glow.

Hard

Viral & Aesthetic

TV / Broadcast News

Full matte coverage to combat studio lights.

Medium

Creative & Theatrical

Festival Glam (Coachella)

Boho-chic mixed with durability.