Makeup, translated.
Plain-English definitions for the terms you will see throughout Beauty by Alyn. Hover a glossary term in an article for a quick definition, or use this page when you want the full reference.
Brows
Cheeks
Blush
A cheek product that adds color to mimic or enhance a natural flush.
Bronzer
A product used to add warmth and sun-kissed dimension, usually around the perimeter and high points of the face.
Contour
A technique or product used to create the appearance of shadow and visually define or recede facial areas.
Draping
Using blush beyond the apples of the cheeks, often sweeping it toward the temples, to shape the face with color.
Highlighter
A reflective or luminous product used on selected areas to catch light and visually bring them forward.
Color
Cool Undertone
An undertone that commonly reads pink, rosy, red or bluish beneath the skin.
Neutral Undertone
An undertone that does not read strongly warm or cool and may show a balanced mix of both.
Olive Undertone
An undertone with a green, gray-green or muted golden quality that can occur across many skin depths.
Shade Match
The process of finding a complexion shade that blends naturally into the skin without a visible color line.
Undertone
The subtle hue beneath the skin’s surface color, commonly described as warm, cool, neutral or olive.
Warm Undertone
An undertone that commonly reads golden, yellow or peach beneath the skin.
Complexion
Base
The complexion products used to even the skin before adding color, such as skin tint, foundation or concealer.
BB Cream
A multipurpose tinted complexion product that typically combines light coverage with skincare-like benefits.
Buildable Coverage
Coverage that can be increased gradually by applying thin additional layers without immediately becoming heavy.
Cakey
A heavy or visibly layered makeup appearance where product emphasizes texture, dryness or buildup.
CC Cream
A tinted complexion product typically marketed around color correction or evening visible tone.
Color Corrector
A tinted product that uses opposing colors to visually neutralize discoloration before concealer or foundation.
Concealer
A concentrated complexion product used to brighten or cover targeted areas such as under-eyes, blemishes and discoloration.
Coverage
How much a complexion product visually conceals or evens discoloration, redness, spots or texture.
Creasing
When makeup settles into natural folds, expression lines or fine lines and becomes visibly concentrated there.
Dewy
A luminous finish with visible light reflection that gives skin a fresh or hydrated appearance.
Finish
The visual surface effect a product leaves on the skin, such as matte, natural, satin or dewy.
Flashback
A pale or reflective cast that becomes more visible in flash photography.
Foundation
A complexion product used to even skin tone and create a more uniform base, with coverage ranging from sheer to full.
Full Coverage
High-opacity coverage designed to conceal most visible discoloration or unevenness.
Matte
A low-shine finish that reflects little light and generally appears more velvety or flat.
Natural Finish
A finish intended to resemble the skin's normal level of light reflection rather than looking distinctly matte or dewy.
Oxidation
A visible color shift, often darker or warmer, that can occur after a complexion product has been on the skin for a while.
Pilling
When skincare or makeup rolls into small flakes or balls instead of forming a smooth layer on the skin.
Primer
A prep product applied before makeup to change how makeup sits, grips or wears on the skin.
Satin Finish
A finish between matte and dewy, with soft natural-looking light reflection and minimal obvious shine.
Setting Powder
Loose or pressed powder used to reduce tackiness, control shine and help cream or liquid makeup stay in place.
Setting Spray
A facial mist applied after makeup to help layers meld together or extend wear, depending on the formula.
Sheer Coverage
Very light coverage that evens the skin while allowing most natural skin tone and texture to remain visible.
Skin Prep
The skincare steps done before makeup to create a comfortable, even surface for application.
Skin Tint
A lightweight complexion product that gives sheer, natural-looking coverage with more skin showing through than foundation.
T-Zone
The forehead, nose and chin area, often more prone to visible oil or shine.
Tinted Moisturizer
A moisturizer with pigment that adds hydration and light complexion coverage in one step.
Eyes
Crease
The natural fold or socket area above the eyelid, often used as a reference point for eyeshadow placement.
Cut Crease
An eyeshadow technique that creates a crisp contrast between the eyelid and crease.
Eyeliner
A pencil, gel, liquid or powder product used to add definition along the lash line or around the eyes.
Eyeshadow
A color product applied around the eyelids to add depth, definition or visual interest.
Eyeshadow Stick
A cream or cream-to-powder eyeshadow in stick form designed for quick swipe-on application.
Fallout
Loose powder or pigment that drops away from the application area, often beneath the eyes during eyeshadow use.
False Lashes
Temporary lashes applied to add visible length, volume or shape beyond mascara alone.
Hooded Eyes
An eye shape where skin from the brow area folds over or partially covers the natural eyelid crease.
Inner Corner
The area where the upper and lower eyelids meet nearest the nose, often brightened to open the eye.
Lash Line
The edge of the eyelid where the eyelashes grow, commonly used as a reference for liner and shadow placement.
Lid
The visible movable eyelid area between the lash line and crease.
Mascara
A lash product used to darken, define, lengthen, separate or volumize eyelashes.
Outer Corner
The area where the upper and lower eyelids meet nearest the temple, often used for deeper shadow or lifted liner.
Smoky Eye
An eye look created by blending deeper shades around the lash line and socket for soft, diffused depth.
Tightlining
Applying eyeliner along the upper waterline or directly into the lash roots to make lashes appear fuller.
Transition Shade
An eyeshadow shade used to create a soft bridge between skin tone and deeper eye colors for smoother blending.
Tubing Mascara
Mascara made with polymers that form small tubes around lashes and typically remove with warm water and gentle pressure.
Waterline
The narrow inner rim of skin just behind the eyelashes where eyeliner can be applied.
Wing
An eyeliner extension drawn outward from the outer corner of the eye.
Formula
Blendability
How easily a product can be diffused or softened without becoming patchy or muddy.
Cream Product
A makeup formula with a soft emollient texture that blends like a cream rather than a dry powder.
Liquid Product
A fluid makeup formula that spreads easily and can range from sheer to highly pigmented.
Payoff
How much visible color or product effect appears from a given amount of application.
Pigment
The color-producing material in a makeup formula; more pigment generally creates stronger visible color.
Powder Product
A dry pressed or loose formula generally used to add color, reduce shine or set cream and liquid products.
Lips
Feathering
When lip color migrates into fine lines around the mouth beyond the intended lip edge.
Lip Balm
A conditioning lip product designed primarily to soften and protect the lips, sometimes with tint or shine.
Lip Gloss
A lip product that adds visible shine and may provide sheer to medium color.
Lip Liner
A pencil or crayon used to define the lip edge, reshape appearance or reduce lipstick migration.
Lip Oil
A glossy, oil-rich lip product designed to add shine with a conditioning feel and often sheer color.
Lip Stain
A long-wearing lip color designed to leave pigment behind after some surface product wears away.
Lip Tint
A lightweight lip color that leaves a sheer or translucent wash of pigment.
Lipstick
A lip color product, typically in stick or liquid form, designed to add visible pigment with finishes ranging from glossy to matte.
Liquid Lipstick
A fluid lip color applied with a wand that typically dries down to a more fixed finish.
Overlining
Drawing slightly outside the natural lip border to create the appearance of fuller or differently shaped lips.
Looks
Full Glam
A more dramatic, highly finished makeup style with fuller coverage and stronger definition.
No-Makeup Makeup
A makeup style designed to look minimal and natural while subtly evening skin and defining features.
Soft Glam
A polished makeup style with blended definition and softer contrast than traditional full glam.
Product
Safety
Technique
Baking
Applying a visible layer of loose powder over concealed areas, letting it sit briefly, then brushing away the excess.
Blending
Softening the edges between products or colors so there are no obvious lines of demarcation.
Blotting
Pressing away excess oil or product without rubbing, often with tissue, blotting paper or a powder puff.
Buffing
Using small circular or sweeping motions, usually with a brush, to diffuse and work product into the skin.
Layering
Applying products or additional thin coats in sequence to gradually build color, coverage or longevity.
Patchy
An uneven application where product appears concentrated in some areas and sparse or missing in others.
Patting
Pressing product into place with fingers, a sponge or brush to preserve coverage and reduce movement.
Placement
The specific area and position where a makeup product is applied to create a desired visual effect.
Spot Concealing
Applying concealer only to individual blemishes, redness or discoloration instead of covering the whole face.
Stippling
Applying product with repeated tapping or pressing motions rather than wiping or dragging it across the skin.
Swatch
A small application of product used to preview its color, texture, finish or shade match.
Touch-Up
A small makeup refresh during the day, such as reducing shine or reapplying lip color.
Tools
Dense Brush
A brush with tightly packed bristles that generally applies or buffs product with more coverage or intensity.
Fluffy Brush
A loosely packed brush designed to diffuse powder or pigment softly rather than place concentrated color.
Lash Curler
A tool that gently bends lashes upward before mascara to create a more lifted appearance.
Powder Puff
A soft pad used to press loose or pressed powder onto the skin with controlled placement.
Sponge
A soft applicator, often dampened, used to press and blend liquid or cream makeup into the skin.
Spoolie
A small spiral-bristle brush used to groom eyebrows, blend brow product or separate lashes.
Wear
Long-Wear
A product designed to remain visibly intact for an extended period compared with a standard formula.
Smudge-Proof
Designed to resist blurring, streaking or moving when lightly rubbed after setting.
Transfer
Makeup moving from the face or lips onto another surface such as clothing, glasses or a cup.
Waterproof
Designed to resist water exposure more strongly than a standard formula.