When I was growing up, I didn't really use makeup. I can honestly say that ALL the makeup I owned when I moved to University could fit in a small toiletry bag. My mom didn't use much makeup, I didn't have an older sister, and my friends were more interested in dark, punk eyeliner and glitter than actual looks. I barely owned ANYTHING until I turned 25 and realized that makeup was, well... fun. But OH, the mistakes I made!

Here are some things I wish I knew in the meantime...

1: Mascara too clumpy? Roll the brush against a tissue and make sure to dab the edge of the wand to collect any excess product. This is especially important if you love intense, bold mascara!

2: Does your eyeshadow/eyeliner like to travel across your lid? I use Urban Decay's Primer Potion to keep my eyeshadow stay put, but Too Faced Cosmetics, Shadow Insurance is another popular option.

3: Do you get raccoon eye from your waterproof mascara? Me too! How do I solve it? Dab a bit of transparent setting powder under my eyes and voila, raccoon-eyes no more! I use Bare Minerals, but you can get elf Studio High Definition Loose Face Powder for only $6 on Amazon!

4: Never neglect the importance of a prominent brow. Don't overpluck!

5: Do you get an oily shine mid-way through the day? Don't load more product on your face, use an oil blotting sheet to quickly dab it all away! I use Clean & Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets.

6: Splurge on expensive lipstick. Honestly. Find a good Urban Decay, NARS or MAC lipstick in a colour that flatters you and OWN it. One good lipstick is worth, well, however many cheap ones you have lying around barely used.

7: Liquid eyeliner gets MUCH BETTER WITH PRACTICE. Keep at it.

8: Get the most mileage out of drugstore eyeshadow with a good eyeshadow primer and decent brushes. You can get ELF brushes at Winners or Dollarama for a steal.

9: There's no such thing as a perfect under-eye concealer, anybody who says so is lying to you about how much powder/foundation they used. So just get something half-decent, blend well, and stop worrying about it.

10: $4 Sally Hansen nail polish can be just as good as $30 Dior nail polish

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Bonus: Don't waste your time wanting to be a Kardashian, fuck extreme contouring.