I Turned Myself Into a “Zombie” Using Only Drugstore Makeup
The Toilet Paper and Glue Method
I wanted a realistic, gory zombie look for Halloween but didn’t have any expensive special effects makeup. I used simple, household items. I took some Elmer’s glue and some single-ply toilet paper. I would lay a piece of the toilet paper on my skin, paint over it with the glue, and then rip it to create a gruesome, peeling-skin texture. I used some dark eyeshadow and some fake blood to color it. The final result was a horrifyingly realistic zombie effect, all created from stuff I already had in my house.
The Secret to Blending Eyeshadow Like a Pro
The Clean, Fluffy Brush is Your Eraser
My eyeshadow was always patchy and had harsh lines. I thought I just needed to blend more with the same brush. The real secret is to use a second, completely clean, fluffy blending brush. After you have applied your colors, you take the clean brush and just use gentle, circular motions to blend the edges. The clean brush acts like a soft, gentle eraser, diffusing the edges and creating a beautiful, seamless, professional-looking gradient.
How to Create a “Fake Bruise” That Looks Painfully Real
The Color Wheel of Pain
I wanted to create a realistic-looking fake bruise. I learned that a real bruise isn’t just one color; it’s a whole progression of colors. I used a color wheel. I started with a light layer of yellow eyeshadow where I wanted the bruise. Then I added some green, and then a deep, reddish-purple color in the center for the “freshest” part of the bruise. By layering the colors in a realistic way, I was able to create a bruise that looked so real and so painful that it actually made people wince.
The “Cut Crease” Eyeshadow Look, Made Easy
The Spoon is Your Stencil
I could never get that sharp, clean, perfect line for a “cut crease” eyeshadow look. My hand was just too shaky. I learned a brilliant, simple hack. I just took a regular spoon from my kitchen drawer, held it against my eyelid, and used the curved edge of the spoon as a perfect stencil to guide my eyeliner and create a sharp, flawless cut crease. It was a simple, free tool that gave me a perfect, professional result every single time.
I Used “Liquid Latex” to Create a Horrifying Wound Effect
The Art of the Peel and Reveal
I wanted to create a truly gruesome, gaping wound effect. I painted a few layers of liquid latex onto my skin, embedding some toilet paper for texture. After it dried, I carefully used a pair of tweezers to tear a hole in the middle of the latex, peeling the edges back to create a horrifying, torn-flesh look. I filled the “wound” with some dark makeup and a generous amount of fake blood. The effect was so realistic and so disturbing that I actually scared myself in the mirror.
Stop Wasting Money on Primer: This DIY Alternative Is Better
The Monistat Miracle
I was spending a fortune on expensive, silicone-based makeup primers. I read a bizarre tip on a makeup artist’s forum. They swore that the “Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel” is a perfect, and much cheaper, dupe for high-end primers. I was skeptical, but I tried it. It has the exact same smooth, silicone-y texture, and it filled in my pores and made my makeup go on flawlessly. It’s a weird, but incredibly effective, budget-friendly hack.
The One Brush That Does 90% of Your Eye Makeup
The Mighty MAC 217
I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of different makeup brushes. I learned that for eye makeup, one brush reigns supreme: the MAC 217 (or one of its many cheaper dupes). It’s a simple, white, fluffy blending brush. It’s perfect for applying a wash of color all over the lid. It’s perfect for blending out the crease. It’s perfect for smoking out the lower lash line. It is the ultimate, multi-purpose, workhorse of an eyeshadow brush, and it can do the job of a dozen other, more specialized brushes.
How to Cover Your Eyebrows for a Complete Transformation
The Glue Stick Method
I wanted to do a creative makeup look that required me to completely hide my eyebrows. The secret is a simple, purple, disappearing glue stick. I just take the glue stick and use it to press my eyebrow hairs down flat against my skin, all in the same direction. I do a few layers, letting it dry in between, and then I cover it with a thick layer of concealer and powder. The eyebrows completely vanish, giving me a blank canvas for a completely new and transformative makeup look.
I Recreated a Famous Instagram Makeup Look
The Deconstruction of the Diva
I saw a stunning, complex, artistic makeup look on a famous Instagram artist’s page. I thought, “I could never do that.” Then I decided to try and deconstruct it. I broke the look down into its individual components: the eyebrow shape, the three colors in the eyeshadow, the eyeliner style, the contour. I then practiced each individual component separately. After a week of practice, I put it all together. The final result was a shockingly accurate recreation of the “impossible” look.
The Easiest Way to Apply False Eyelashes
Let the Glue Get Tacky
I struggled with false eyelashes for years. They would always lift at the corners or end up glued to my eyelid. The single most important trick I learned was to be patient with the glue. After you apply the glue to the lash band, you must wait. For at least 30-60 seconds. You need to let the glue dry and get “tacky.” When the glue is tacky, not wet, the lash will instantly adhere to your lash line without slipping and sliding around. It’s a simple step that makes all the difference.