10 Game-Changer Makeup Tips I Wish I Learned Sooner, From Experts

Whether you learn tips from your best friends, social media, or guides like this one, you're sure to pick up a few new methods as the years go by. Here, 10 game-changer tips I know now that I wish I knew sooner, so you can be ahead of the curve. Take them or leave them, but I can vouch for every last one:

It wasn't until I saw makeup legend Bobbi Brown using an entirely different approach that I considered switching it up. On TikTok, Brown used her fingers (yes, that's it), to blend in her concealer. Since the day I adopted this new application method, I've never looked back. 

Even if you're only wearing tinted SPF and a bit of mascara, applying a touch of highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes will make you look more awake and elevate the look in seconds. You can use a shimmer eye shadow if you choose; however, I found that highlighter provides the perfect subtle glow. 

Using a cream or powder blush, apply the product below your under-eyes and swipe a tad on the bridge of your nose. This way, you'll look like you spent endless hours on the beach, sans sun damage. 

This is one of those tips that's much easier to see than read—so here's a TikTok tutorial to give you a visual demonstration, too. 

Whether you're concealing under-eye bags or covering up a breakout, letting your product sit before blending is the key to creating a finish that lasts. You don't necessarily want to let the concealer sit for so long that it dries out but just enough time to ensure it sticks. 

If you want to avoid having eyeliner run down your face or fade after just a few hours, you have to set it in place. Using a matching shadow and angled liner brush, dab the powder directly over your liquid or crayon line. 

If you have smile lines, fine wrinkles, or crow's feet, this tip is for you. To avoid makeup settling into those crevices, set your base products with a powder. I like to take a bit of translucent setting powder on a blending sponge and dab it over the fine lines right after applying my liquid products. Even if I'm just wearing concealer, this step makes all the difference. 

Even if you're in a rush, you should try to let your skin care products sit for at least five minutes before applying makeup. This way, your base will actually stick to the skin rather than sit on top of your layers of serum, moisturizer, and SPF.

If you're prepping your skin for makeup, you can't forget about the lips. To ensure your lipstick goes on smooth (and stays that way), you need to deeply hydrate the lips. My go-to method: lip slugging. All you have to do is use a nourishing lip balm underneath a thicker, more occlusive lip treatment.

This method creates an illusion of shadow to help the brows look fuller rather than mimicking actual hairs, as the latter can look a bit overdone if you're not careful. I use the Luxe Brow Powder in Corduroy from Healy's own line, and let me tell you, it's the best of the best. Here's how to nail the look.

Our makeup routines evolve as we do, and each year you probably pick up a few new tips and tricks that become a part of your staple routine. These are my best makeup tips for now, but who knows what's to come in the future?