verb
to put on makeup, to make up (someone)
B1
schminken: verb meaning 'to put on makeup' (reflexive: sich schminken, to make oneself up) or 'to make up' someone (jemanden schminken). Regular weak verb; auxiliary haben (Perfekt: hat geschminkt). Used both reflexively and non‑reflexively; participle: geschminkt. Imperative: 'Schmink dich!'. Not separable; not modal.
Examples
Ich schminke mich.
I put on makeup.
Die Schauspielerin schminkte sich, bevor die Vorstellung begann.
The actress put on makeup before the performance began.
Sie schminkt sich jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit.
She puts on makeup every morning before work.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone using a 'smink' brush stroking the face to remember the action.
Sounds like 'shmink' — imagine a small brush (shmink) painting the face.
Notes
Can be used reflexively (sich schminken = to put on one's own makeup) or transitively (jemanden schminken = to make someone up). Regular weak verb.