Makeup Testing Tips From The Pros At Allure

When people come to me to find new makeup, I always recommend testing it out before buying it.

I also highly recommend using the products correctly when trying things out (i.e. test foundation on your face, eyeshadow on your eyes). 
Just make sure to wipe the makeup clean and be sanitary.

There are some people who don't like to try on makeup before buying it.

For those people,  here are a few tips on the best ways to shop for beauty products from an online Allure article.

I test tons of beauty products every day (rough life, I know), and over the years I've found that there are a few simple tricks for spotting the winners. Here are the the best techniques for testing products that I've learned from makeup artists (and other Allure editors). The methodology may be less than scientific, but it's sure to help the next time you go shopping for makeup, skin care, and fragrance.

Choose a lipstick shade that flatters your coloring

Instead of testing a lipstick shade on the back of your hand, try it out on your fingertip. “That’s the closest to what it will look like on your lips,” says Maybelline global makeup artist Charlotte Willer, who showed us this trick backstage at Max Azria's Fall 2011 show.

Find a shadow that won't crease

When deciding which cream shadow to carry in their line, Illamasqua’s director of product development, David Horne, tests them on his wrist.
He bends his wrist five to six times and, if the shadow creases, he knows that it won't wear well through the day.

Choose an eyeliner that won't budge

Allure associate editor Sophia Panych says you can tell a lot by drawing a line on the back of your hand: Wait for it to dry, and then try smudging it with your finger (if the line stays in tact, it will most likely stay put on your lid). You can even splash it with a little water, to really put the liner to the test, says Horne.

Bring your own mirror

Having one stashed in your purse means you can step out of a department store to check out foundation in natural light before deciding whether or not to buy it.
"The light in stores is often designed to be incredibly flattering, so unless you live in a mall, it’s best to see how the colors work on your skin in the real world," says Allure contributing executive beauty editor Alyssa Kolsky Hertzig.

Figure out whether skin care products will pill
It's frustrating to buy an expensive moisturizer, only to have it pill when you apply foundation on top. The next time you're shopping for skin care at a department store, you can see if it will flake.
First, apply the moisturizer to the back of your hand.
After two-to-three minutes, grab a foundation sample (any old one will do) and rub it on top to see how well the moisturizer holds up.

Sniff out the best perfume
Instead of spraying five fragrances up and down your arm, spritz the scent into its cap first.
After you've found one or two that you love, try them on your wrist to see how they'll smell on your skin.

Personally, I generally don't like to sell or recommend any makeup without trying on the makeup first
(The same colors can look different on everyone, and your skin can react differently to different formulations), but if you don't have the time or the desire to try on the makeup, these are some great tips to test out makeup before buying it.

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*