This is a guest post by Martine de Luna of Makeitblissful.com

I’m what you call a “makeup virgin.” I never learned how to put on makeup, even though I really, really wanted to, later on in my, er, early twenties. I missed the whole phase between middle and high school, when everyone learned to apply makeup. That said, I went to a school that didn’t care much for makeup, anyway, so it probably wasn’t on my mind back then.

Ironically, I end up working with Acie Fores, makeup artist, and suddenly, I am thrust into a world of makeup. Each week, we talk about her love for the craft, the best products on the market, and the kinds of looks she loves to create. I find it fascinating how she is able to transform plain Janes like me into all-out glam babes!

Well, I was honest with her about my little dilemma, and asked her to give me a once-over makeup virgin makeover. My request? That the makeup be easy to put on, even for a “makeup virgin” like me!

The Virgin Face

I don’t wear makeup at all, not even on dates. Yes, seriously. However, I know I would look better with a little enhancement, simply because I do have some features that people often compliment me for. The best, they say? My eyes! Ironically, they are my biggest area of doubt when it comes to makeup, because I never know what to do with them. Good thing Acie had some tips for me, as well as some product recommendations for how to make them stand out.

Makeup Virgin Lessons

Here’s what I learned from Acie about my face, and how to ensure that my makeup feels natural to me, both how to do it and what kind of products to use.

1. When applying a makeup, always do so in natural light. Because I tend to look like a geisha when I apply makeup on my own, this is a great tip.

2. Foundation tip: When using foundation, I should use a brush, not a sponge. I need to make sure to smoothen the foundation past my jawline, down to my neck, so that the tone gives me even coverage (and I don’t look pale).

3. Blush tip: Since I don’t want to look like a clown, Acie recommended using a blush that was closer to my natural skin tone/hue, which was more on the brown side, not the pink/red side. I should focus more on the contours of my face, not on the actual cheekbones.

4. Eyeshadow tip: My biggest misconception about eyeshadow is that it is difficult to put on, and so I just never bothered with it. But hey, I look damn good with it, so I should make the effort to use it more! The solution? Practice. That’s it! I just have to commit to study the contours of my eyes and their natural shape, so that I’ll know how to make the products work for me.

5. Makeup know-how is all about knowing what works for you. Learning how to do my own makeup meant (1) being willing to learn one more new thing, and (2) not being afraid to take some risks. I’m usually good with both learning things and taking risks, but I suppose this was such an emotional thing for me, it took me some time to face up to it. Since Acie gave me this tutorial, I’ve even been trying to do my makeup on my own, but I still need more practice! Still, I’m glad I took on the challenge, because now, I feel like I can accomplish anything.

Martine de Luna is an award-winning blogger, a work at home advocate, and a creative blogging mentor. Through her creative inspiration website, www.makeitblissful.com, Martine encourages women to live meaningfully, whether at home, work or in the pursuit of life goals. Her Make it Blissful Blog Workshops are held monthly, and she provides blog coaching & website design services at Martinedeluna.com. Martine is also the director of the WAHMderful Workshops (www.wahmderfullife.com), a series of workshops and masterminds that equip mothers and married women to work or run a business from home. She lives in Manila, the Philippines, with her husband Ton and their son, Vito, whom she homeschools.