Applying makeup in the wrong room can make all the difference, or lead to makeup mistakes. The environment in which you apply your foundation, blusher and mascara can impact the final results. Lighting, humidity and even wall colour can all play a role. Here's an expert guide to the best and worst rooms to apply makeup in, and how to get the best results.
The Best Rooms
Bedrooms or Bathrooms with Natural Lighting
These rooms tend to have the best natural lighting and pared-back décor. If you have a separate dressing room, set it up near a window. Natural light gives you the most accurate view of your skin and makeup. It helps you see where foundation needs blending, if bronzer looks too warm, if blush placement is balanced and whether or not concealer is seamless. Louise recommends sitting facing a window for the best results.
Any Room with Soft, Evenly Distributed Lighting
If you struggle with natural lighting, any room with soft, evenly distributed lighting is the second-best option. This light should be positioned around the face rather than directly above it. If you need to use artificial lighting, opt for white lighting that mimics daylight, rather than anything too yellow-toned or warm.
The Worst Rooms
Artificially-Lit Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be hit-or-miss. If you have a beautifully-lit space, your makeup will look great. However, if the lighting is far too harsh, dim or badly placed, it can lead to over-blending, under-blending, using too much product or choosing the wrong shade. Yellow-toned lights can be counterintuitive for flawless makeup application, casting shadows in all the wrong places. Overhead lights can make under-eyes look darker, skin texture look more pronounced, and foundation appear more blended than it really is.
Rooms with Coloured Walls
Take note of the colour of the walls in the room where you’re about to do makeup. Deep red or blue tones can change how you see tones as you are applying your makeup. Anything pink, yellow or grey-toned can subtly reflect colour onto the skin and throw off your makeup judgement. Embrace a space with neutral wall colours and ambient lighting.
Dark Rooms or Those with Very Warm Lighting
Dark rooms or those with very warm, yellow-toned lighting can cause issues. Foundation can look darker or more golden-toned, leading to shade mismatches and a lack of effective blending. Any room that’s too dark can cause people to apply too much concealer, bronzer or blush because features are harder to see clearly.
Conclusion
Regardless of the specific room you choose, as long as you have some natural light, fairly bare, neutral walls, and clear air that's unaffected by shower steam and heat, your makeup will likely be a hit.
