The 21 Makeup Terms Every Girl Should Know

The world of makeup has its own vocabulary. It often feels as if that vocabulary is expanding each day with all the “hot new trends” in makeup getting introduced. It can be really hard to keep up with the jargon.

Luckily, there is a core glossary of terms that almost everything else is based on. Here are the key 21 makeup terms that every girl needs to know.

What Is The Makeup Term Contouring

Contouring involves using makeup to give the illusion of shape to your facial features.

It’s a technique for enhancing certain features. For example, you can create the appearance of higher cheekbones or a smaller nose.

You do this by placing contrasting dark makeup (bronzer, foundation, contour sticks) and light makeup (concealer, highlighter) in key areas, then blend to sculpt your face the way you’d like it to look.

You can even use contouring to create cleavage. Here is the tutorial I wrote teaching you how.

What Is The Makeup Term Highlighting

You use makeup to enhance your natural beauty. Highlighting takes that enhancement up a notch.

Simply put, highlighting works to attract light areas of your face to help accentuate your features for an illuminated effect.

Typically, most girls apply highlighter to the bridge of their nose, cupid’s bow, the inner eye corners, and above the cheekbones. 

What Is The Makeup Term Baking

The first time I heard the term “baking” it brought memories of my mother’s warm oven-fresh chocolate chip cookies.

This term baking in makeup is actually the process of applying translucent face powder to your skin and allowing your body heat to melt the product, creating a flawless finish.

This is what to do if you want to try this technique. Begin by applying your normal foundation and concealer. Then, use a makeup blender to press powder over the top. Let that sit for about 10 minutes.

Essentially, the heat of your skin will work its magic and set your foundation and concealer while you wait. Finally dust off the excess translucent powder for a crease-free finish.

What Is The Makeup Term Kabuki Brush

A kabuki brush is the dense makeup brush used to apply loose powders.

The name is derived from kabuki theatre, which is a Japanese form of theatre.

These brushes usually have a short stem and are most often used to apply foundation, blush, bronzer, and setting powder.

What Is The Makeup Term Fan Makeup Brush

A fan makeup brush is a soft brush that’s used to lightly dust powder products onto your face.

It is perfect for those girls who have a heavy hand. This brush is super handy for applying just the right amount of product to create a seamless finish, especially so with highlighter.

What Is The Makeup Term Stippling Brush

A stippling brush is the dense makeup brush that you use to work small dots of liquid and cream products onto your skin to achieve an airbrushed effect.

These brushes typically feature two sets of bristles, white fibers at the top and dense black fibers at the bottom that work to build coverage and blur harsh lines. It is like my wrinkles magically vanish.

This brush is often used to apply foundation, cream blush, and bronzer.

What Is The Makeup Term Overlining

The term overlining your lips means using your lip liner to draw just outside of your natural lip line to make your lips appear fuller. This really accentuates your pout. It takes a little practice to get it right as you will likely tend to go a little overboard the first few times.

Even going just a hair past your lip line will make your lips look fuller. You don’t need to completely draw on a new pair of lips. Check out my complete tutorial on how to overline your lips.

What Is The Makeup Term Cut Crease

You create a cut crease when you use eye shadow in the crease of your eye to create a more dramatic appearance.

With this technique, the crease above your eyelid is “cut” sharply with a contrasting shadow to add depth to the look and enhance your eye shape.

What sets a cut crease apart from a standard eye shadow look is that with the crease shade you only blended upward. This means you will leave what would normally be considered a harsh line between your crease and lid.

It’s a more defined look that makes your eyes look extra lifted.

What Is The Makeup Term Halo Eye

You create a halo eye effect when your eye makeup features a pop of shimmery color on the center of the lid with darker eyeshadow that radiates outward.

The result will be the illusion of bigger and rounder eyes. This is also a great way to practice your eye makeup blending skills. Use this eye makeup trend to complement your beauty look with ease. 

What Is The Makeup Term Foiling

Foiling is when you apply wet eyeshadow to your lids to create a shiny, metallic-like finish.

To do this, mist your eyeshadow brush with some makeup setting spray before dipping into your eyeshadow or powder of choice to create a creamy consistency. Apply, then blend until even. 

What Is The Makeup Term Draping

Draping refers to the process of contouring your face with blush.

Instead of your usual blush application, you sweep the product from your temples to the apples of your cheeks for a more youthful look. 

What Is The Makeup Term Hitting Pan

Hitting pan simply means you are starting to run out of a product and can now see the bottom of the container.

Don’t see hitting pan as a bad thing. It means that you have been using your makeup and getting better at putting it on. To my mind, it is something that you can feel proud of.

It also means that it is nearly time to go makeup shopping again.

What Is The Makeup Term Fallout

Fallout happens all too often, even more so when you are in a rush and sort of time. At least that is how it feels.

It is when you’re applying eyeshadow and particles fall on other areas of your face such as the bridge of your nose, the tops of cheeks, and pretty much anywhere you wouldn’t want it.

One solution to get around the issue of fallout is to apply eyeshadow first to avoid messing up the rest of your face makeup.

What Is The Makeup Term Transferring

Transferring involves having your makeup rubbed onto your clothing, which is one of the things that seems to happen at the worst possible time.

The key to preventing your makeup from transferring is to always start by applying primer before the rest of your makeup. Then after you are finished doing your makeup, setting your makeup with powder and setting spray, and blotting your face as needed. 

What Is The Makeup Term Tightlining

Tightlining is when you fill in the base of your lashes with eyeliner to define your lash line.

This will make your lashes look thicker. It is also a good idea to do tightlining if you are wearing false eyelashes as it will help hide any lash glue smudges.

What Is The Makeup Term Waterline

Your waterline is that wet part of your eyelid between your lash line and your actual eyeball.

To add definition to any makeup look, line this area with dark eyeliner. To make your eyes appear bigger and more awake, use a white or flesh-toned eyeliner on your waterline.

However, be very careful when applying any product to your waterline. Poking yourself in the eye is no fun.

A useful trick if you are going out for the evening straight from work is to do your waterline with flesh-toned eyeliner during the day and then waterline with dramatic dark eyeliner just before you leave work to instantly change your look for the evening.

What Is The Makeup Term Root Stamping

Although root stamping is an easy way to make your lashes appear thicker, it needs a bit of practice to get right.

Press your mascara wand against the root of your lashes before swiping up.

If you press too hard you will end up with clumpy lashes, so be gentle.

What Is The Makeup Term Strobing

Strobing is the opposite of contouring.

The main emphasis of contouring is to bring attention to the shadows on your face, which is what you do for indoor/low light makeup. Contouring also gives you a more mature look.

However, when you are going to be in brighter light, strobing puts the focus on the high points.

Apply a highlighter to areas of your face where the sun would naturally hit like cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose. This will achieve a youthful, natural-looking glow. 

What Is The Makeup Term Face Beat

A face beat is what we all strive for every time we put on makeup. It simply means achieving the perfect makeup look.

If you follow the correct makeup application techniques and use the right products, you will be able to craft the perfect face beat with every look. 

The good news is that here on Pink Femme we have the tutorials to help you do exactly that.

What Is The Makeup Term Monochromatic Makeup

Monochromatic makeup is the art of using a single color hue for your complete makeup to enhance your eyes, face, and lips.

This is an excellent option for girls who are new to the world of makeup and are worried that some colors may clash and bring them unwanted attention.

It is also great when you are in need of a quick and easy look. The relaxed French café style makeup is essentially monochromatic, but with a splash of red on your lips.

I have a feeling monochromatic makeup will become your favorite in no time. 

What Is The Makeup Term Setting Your Makeup

Setting your makeup is the process of using a setting spray so that your makeup lasts longer before starting to look dull. It is also what will help prevent your makeup from transferring onto your clothes.

It should always be the last step of every makeup routine. To keep your makeup in place all day long you will need to seal it in place with a makeup setting spray.