10-Step Guide to Perfect Makeup

Even the most basic makeup look will take 10 steps to perfection. Learn all the steps to perfect skin here!

  Pre-Makeup Moisturizing is the key to achieving a fresh-looking finished look, and is also a very important part of keeping skin healthy. Always begin with a lightweight eye cream to ensure that under-eye concealer goes on smoothly and evenly. 

Moisturizing before applying makeup creates the perfect base for makeup to apply smoothly. For normal skin, use a lightweight moisturizing lotion. For dry skin, use a rich hydrating cream or balm. For oily skin, use an oil-free formula that hydrates and helps control oil production.

  Step one. Corrector/Concealer First, neutralize darkness with a pink- or peach- toned corrector. Using a brush, apply the chosen corrector color to the deepest or darkest are to prepare for concealer. (sometimes you can stop at corrector if you feel the coverage is enough. Next, choose a yellow-based shade of concealer and layer this over the corrector underneath the eyes. 

Using a concealer brush, apply underneath the eye up to the lash line and on the innermost corner of the eye. Blend by patting with your finger. Under-eye concealer should be one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. If the concealer looks ashy, it is too light. If it looks very yellow, it is too dark. 

Concealer used to conceal blemishes on other areas of the face should make your skin color exactly. Using a concealer that is too light or too dark will draw more attention to the blemish. Lastly, you want to apply a pale yellow or white powder with a brush or puff onto the lighter concealer under your eye to set the concealer in place.  

Step Two. Foundation To match your perfect foundation shade, swatch a couple shades on the side of your face by your jaw line and on your forehead , and check the colors in natural light. The shade the seems to disappear is the right one. 

Using a brush, sponge, or your fingers to apply foundation where the skin needs to be evened out - around the nose and mouth where there is often redness. 

For full, all-over coverage, use a brush, sponge or your fingers to apply and blend foundation to the outer edges of the face. Then using a concealer the same color as your skin, spot-apply the concealer onto your blemishes and pat with your finger to blend.

  Step Three. Powder For crease-free, long wear, apply a loose powder in a pale yellow tone (or white, if you a very fair) over concealer using an eye blender brush or a mini powder puff. Then using a correct shade for you skin, apply powder to the rest of your face using a powder puff or powder brush. If skin feels dry, dust powder only around the nose and forehead.  

Step Four. Blush Give yourself a smile and apply a natural shade of blush on the apples of your cheeks. Blend up toward the hairline, then downward to soften the color. For long-lasting results, layer a pop of brighter blush on top. 

And if you want a little extra glow, dust a shimmer powder on cheekbones with a face blender brush, or use a creamy formula applied with your fingers. To add a warm tint to the skin, use a bronzer on areas where the sun normally hits the face - cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.

 Step Five. Lipstick Start with clean, smooth and moisturized lips. Neutral lipstick shades and sheer formulas can be applied directly from the tube. Use a lip brush to apply darker colors, which require precise application. The most flattering shades will either match or be slightly darker than your lips.  

Step Six. Lip Liner To achieve natural-looking definition and to keep color from feathering, line lips with a lip liner after applying lip color. Use a lip brush to soften and blend any hard edges. 

  Step Seven. Brows Define browns using a shadow or pencil in the color of your eyebrows and hair. To apply shadow, begin at the inner most corner of the brow, and follow its natural shape using light, feathery strokes. Set unruly brown in place with a brow shaper. Fill in sparse areas or holes in the brow with an eye pencil. For the most natural look, layer powder shadow on top.  

Step Eight. Eye Shadow Sweep a light, skin colored shadow color from the lash line to the brow bone. Dust a medium eye shadow color on the lower lid, up to the crease. Apply contour color if needed to fleshly part of lid as a correction and to add depth to eye.  

Step Nine. Eyeliner Line the upper lash line with a dark shadow color. Apply damp or dry. After lining the upper lash line, look straight ahead to see if there are any gaps that need filling in. If you also line the lower lash line, make sure the top and bottom lines meet at the outer corner of the eye and that the lower line if softer. 

  Step Ten. Mascara Choose your mascara formula based on your needs and desired effect. Thickening mascara gives individual lashes a denser look and is ideal if you have a sparse lash line. For lashes that are enhanced but still natural looking, choose defining and lengthening mascaras. Waterproof mascara is good choice if you want long-lasting look or if your mascara tends to smudge. 

When applying mascara, hold the mascara wand parallel to the floor and brush from the base of the lashes to the tips. Roll the wand as your go to separate lashes and avoid clumps. Always apply two to three coats. 

If you choose to curl lashes, do so before applying mascara. Doing so after can break and damage the hairs. Then Viola! Your perfect makeup look is achieved. This may seem like a long, and over done process. But as you get use to the technique your apply time will cut down and this technique should save you from touch ups through out the day.