SIX THINGS I WISH I KNEW AT 18 – Ladies who online

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In September 2010, I was on my way to university at the fresh age of 18. Among my many possessions was my makeup bag. A makeup bag that was the size of a mini pencil case, a pouch that makes 2020 me cringe and wonder why I even considered using it.

Inside the kit were eyeliner (strictly pencil and black), red lipstick, baby pink lipstick (completely the wrong shade for my skin color), a tube of black mascara, and my Maybelline Matte Mousse foundation (my most prized piece of cosmetic). Unfortunately, it was a shade too light for me. I purchased all these five cosmetics in August, just a month before. It’s obvious to say that 18-year-old Fatma had little to no knowledge of makeup.

Nothing really changed within the three years I was at university. It’s safe to say that 21-year-old Fatma had just about the same knowledge of makeup, and still makes the same makeup mistakes as my 18-year-old self. Heck, I was still using the same cosmetics bag and hadn’t even changed most of the products I had started with.

Now most people find it hard to believe that up until about five years ago, makeup was not my thing. But everyone has a makeup journey. You’ve got to start somewhere. Along my journey, I learned some essential lessons, some were good and some weren’t.

But that’s why I’m here today, I want to share my wisdom with you, and the things I wish someone had shared with me then. And here it is, part one of the six things I wish I knew at 18: Practice makes perfect.

The first thing most people ask me about cosmetics is, how do I get better at doing my makeup? I cannot stress this enough: practice makes perfect. Just like most things in life, if you practice again and again, you’ll keep getting better.

So for that winged eyeliner you just can’t seem to get right, just practice it. Sit in front of the mirror and do it. Today’s attempt will be better than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s will be better than today’s. I guarantee it. Practice is a sure way to improve your makeup skills.

I can hear you asking, that’s great and all but how and where can I learn what to practice? Simple, there is social media. I used to (still do) spend a crazy amount of time watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. 75% of my social media feed is makeup related. On any day, I watch at least five makeup tutorials. Yes, I am just a little obsessed with makeup.

You don’t necessarily have to watch an endless amount of makeup tutorials a day. You could always watch one a day, maybe just one a week or whatever suits you best.

I swear, it is through these tutorials that I learned my makeup skills, and it is through practice that I honed and perfected these techniques.