The Imperfect Tense of maquillarse is used to describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past, for example, Ella se maquillaba todas las mañanas antes de ir al trabajo. (She used to put on makeup every morning before going to work.)

Maquillarse is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the standard pattern for that verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Maquillarse (to put on makeup) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

The imperfect tense of maquillarse is used to describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past.

Applying makeup: For example, Cuando era joven, me maquillaba todos los días para ir a la escuela. (When I was young, I used to put on makeup every day to go to school.)

Wearing makeup: For example, En esa época, las mujeres se maquillaban mucho. (In that time, women wore a lot of makeup.)

Figurative usage: For example, No te maquilles la verdad, dímelo como es. (Don’t sugarcoat the truth, tell me how it is.) This usage implies hiding or disguising something.

Slang usage: For example, ¿Qué te maquillaste hoy? ¡Estás muy guapa! (What did you put on your face today? You look really pretty!) This slang usage refers to putting on makeup in a complimentary way.

Examples

Examples of Maquillarse in the Imperfect Tense

Cuando era niña, mi mamá se maquillaba todos los días antes de ir a trabajar. (When she was a child, my mom would put on makeup every day before going to work.)

En la fiesta, todas las chicas se maquillaban unas a otras para verse más bonitas. (At the party, all the girls were putting makeup on each other to look prettier.)

Antes de salir de casa, me maquillaba un poco para ocultar las ojeras. (Before leaving the house, I would put on a little makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes.)

Mi hermana mayor se maquillaba de manera exagerada cuando era adolescente. (My older sister used to put on excessive makeup when she was a teenager.)

Para las fiestas, mi abuela se maquillaba con mucho esmero y elegancia. (For parties, my grandmother would put on makeup very carefully and elegantly.)

Aunque no le gustaba mucho, mi tía se maquillaba un poco para las ocasiones especiales. (Although she didn’t like it much, my aunt would put on a little makeup for special occasions.)

En su juventud, mi mamá se maquillaba de forma muy natural y sencilla. (In her youth, my mom used to wear very natural and simple makeup.)

Ellas se maquillaban mutuamente antes de salir, para verse más arregladas. (They would put makeup on each other before going out, to look more put together.)

Nosotras nos maquillábamos con colores brillantes y llamativos para el festival. (We would put on bright and flashy makeup colors for the festival.)

Aunque no era necesario, él se maquillaba un poco para resaltar sus facciones. (Although it wasn’t necessary, he would put on a little makeup to enhance his features.)

Para las obras de teatro, los actores se maquillaban de acuerdo con sus personajes. (For the plays, the actors would put on makeup according to their characters.)

En su época de rebeldía, mi prima se maquillaba de forma extravagante y llamativa. (During her rebellious phase, my cousin used to wear extravagant and flashy makeup.)

Antes de las entrevistas de trabajo, ella se maquillaba de manera discreta y profesional. (Before job interviews, she would put on discreet and professional makeup.)

Para las fiestas temáticas, todos nos maquillábamos de acuerdo con los disfraces. (For themed parties, we would all put on makeup according to our costumes.)

Aunque no era su estilo habitual, él se maquillaba un poco para las citas importantes. (Although it wasn’t his usual style, he would put on a little makeup for important dates.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Maquillarse (to put on makeup) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperfect tense is also known as the Past Imperfect, Descriptive Past, Past Progressive, or Imperfect Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Copretérito, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Descriptivo in Spanish.