9 makeup terms you need to know now

While I find it exciting to see so many new products and techniques popping up in the makeup world, it's honestly a challenge to keep up with so many developments! As beauty writers, we need to keep up to date with the hottest makeup trends and brush up our vocab. Some have become permanent additions to the beauty dictionary, though, so here's a handy list of terms beauty lovers should know about by now:

Image via lorensworld.com

Cut Crease. Skip the blended smoky eyeshadows and try out this Kardashian-approved makeup technique. By setting the crease higher than usual then contrasting the spaces above and below with dramatic colors, you can get the appearance of bigger eyes. Pair this with graphic winged liner and falsies for a strong beauty look. You can also stick to neutral shades of eyeshadow for a more wearable version.

Image via XOVain

Tightlining. Watch any Korean drama, google any K-pop star, and you'll notice that their eyes are always so defined. At first glance they don't seem to be wearing any makeup but in reality, eyeliner is their secret makeup weapon (take note that this is not limited to Koreans and/or to girls only!). Waterproof eyeliner is applied in gentle motions in between the lashes so you end up with “no-makeup” thick eyelashes look. This works great with a coat of mascara afterwards.

Root Stamping. Similar to the tightlining, this one also refers to a technique for getting thicker, fuller, and natural looking lashes. The difference? Bring out the mascara instead. Using a mascara wand, gently and carefully stamp the pigment on the roots of the lashes. The preferred tool for root stamping is a curved wand since it's easier to follow the entire lashline. In case you get mascara on your lids, a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover will solve that for you.

Blurring. Filters are great for Instagram selfies, but what about hiding those fine lines and large pores IRL? That's the effect this makeup technique from Korea does. Natural looking makeup is the objective of this look so instead of covering them up completely, the surface diffuses the light for a translucent cloudy effect. Sounds good right? You can apply your primer or foundation with built-in “light-reflectors” using this technique especially for casual events. You can even try DIY-ing your own blur cream concoction with this guide.

Ombre Lips. Similar to the hair trend that goes from a dark shade to a lighter one, this lip technique uses the same concept. A darker lip color gets lighter in color towards the center of the lip, which has the effect of plumping up your lips. When trying this look, stick with two or three shades, preferably in the same color family. Also known as "gradient lips", this trick is easy enough to do for your everyday makeup routine to add a pop of color, but you can do this for neutral lip shades as well. So far, we've managed to come up with three different variations for this technique!

Strobing. Surely, you've already watched our video tutorial on this, right? Compared to the type of contouring that adds shadows on your face, strobing adds highlights instead. And we mean a LOT of highlights, almost as if you're walking around with perfect lighting focused on your face. This technique makes use of highlighters so you can stash your bronzers and dark powders in a drawer. Go light on the products if you have oily skin though and soon, everyone will be asking you the reason for your fresh glow.

Image via BellaDeLune on YouTube

Clown Contouring. With all the fuss about contouring, makeup artists have shared many ways to keep makeup fun, resulting in the technique that became known as clown contouring. A funny-looking face results when a combination of color correctors, highlighters, bronzers, and blushes are applied on the face in a specific mapped order. What you would apply would depend on what look you want to achieve. The magic of this technique is transforming the circus-worthy application into a contoured yet natural-looking face after blending. It's too time-consuming for everyday application, but worth the effort for really special events.

Baking. The term usually conjures up images of yummy baked goodies but in this case, it's a technique to make your makeup last longer. Worry not; the only heat you'll need is produced by your face. In a nutshell, all you'd need is a thick concealer, some translucent powder, a setting spray, a sponge applicator, and an extra 10 minutes of your makeup time. We also have a video tutorial here to show you how it’s done. 

Tontouring. If you love the effects of contouring but don't have the time to apply it every morning, this is the perfect makeup hack for you. Instead of busting out contour powders and bronzers, tontouring makes use of self-tanners to leave semi-permanent "shadows" on your skin. The results can last anywhere from a day to several days, depending on the staying power of the product used.

Do you have any terms to add to the list? Which ones have you tried, or would be interested in trying?