The Best Lighting To Apply Makeup In

Anyone who’s applied makeup in a dim bedroom and then caught sight of themselves in natural light knows that some lighting is good for makeup and some is terrible. However, it can be difficult to figure out which is which. The tricks that makeup artists use are typically too much to handle in the time before work, and not many people have a mirror with lights around the edge to aid in makeup application.

Use Natural Or White Light
Natural or white light is evenly diffused, rather than harsh and directional, making it easy to see your natural skin tone when it’s not affected by coloured lighting. The soft light means you can easily see if your foundation isn’t blended into your neck properly, or if your blusher is too harsh. Any natural light will do, even a small window is better than an artificial light.

However, if natural light isn’t an option, an energy-saving bulb that’s an alternative to a 60-watt conventional bulb in white or daylight is a great option too. Anything with more watts can lead to your face looking washed-out, and you’ll be tempted to put on more to compensate.

Stand Directly In front Of Your Light
If you can, try sitting in front of your light source. Any lighting from overhead can enhance things like bags under your eyes and wrinkles, causing you to overcompensate with concealer which can make you look slightly plastic-like in natural lighting. Different overhead lights can have different variations on this theme, but overall, lighting that’s directly above can often make skin look old.

Definitely Don’t Use Yellow Or Fluorescent Lighting

Most people use yellow lighting in their homes, as it creates a cosy glow in a room. However, when using it for makeup, it causes skin to look sallow. Often, the amount of makeup you put on to correct the sallow look will look far too heavy under natural light.

Fluorescent lighting is widely known in the makeup industry as being one of the worst lights to apply makeup in. It brings out imperfections in the skin, makes people look tired and unhealthy, accentuates any flaws, and can even sharpen colours — meaning that lipstick and eyeshadow can look incredibly different than they do in natural lighting, and might not suit your skin tone—something you won’t realise until it’s too late to remove it and start again.