Makeup Application Tips for a Flawless Face

Foundation Primer
If you’re going to apply foundation, primer should be your best friend. Using primer before applying foundation can create a smooth base that reduces appearance of blemishes and unevenness in skin tone. Primer also helps reduce oil throughout the day, preventing excess shine that may cause makeup to appear patchy or blotchy. Choose a water-based primer designed for oily skin types if you have oily skin and an oil-free formula if you have dry skin.

Foundation
Apply foundation with either your fingers or a brush. Dab it on to cover imperfections and even out skin tone. Don’t go overboard, however, as too much foundation can create that dreaded caked-on look and be hard to remove later. Consider using BB creams or tinted moisturizers, which often offer sun protection and coverage in one step.

Concealer
The trick to applying concealer is to keep it simple, and match your skin tone. Using your ring finger, apply a small amount of concealer on dark spots or blemishes under your eyes with light, feathery strokes. After you’ve dotted concealer around each area of your face that needs brightening, blend it in with your finger until it feels smooth.

Eye Liner
Depending on your level of expertise, applying eye liner can be tricky. Though it seems to be just about drawing two lines above your eyelids, there are several points to remember in order to achieve that professional look. First, use a pencil liner instead of liquid or gel; otherwise you may end up with uneven spots and smudges along your lash line. To avoid this, draw the lines using small and light strokes so as not to tug at the delicate skin. Secondly, always start by outlining the top lashes first and then fill in between them with short strokes from the outer corner of your eye towards the inner corner. Lastly, when doing your bottom lashes (if desired), make sure not to skip an inch or two between where you left off on top as this will create a gap.

Mascara
Our eyelashes are one of our most expressive features, so it’s only natural that many of us want to draw attention to them—but a clumpy application can end up doing more harm than good. To avoid those spider lashes, try curling your lashes with an eyelash curler before you apply mascara. It may take some practice, but once you find what works best for you, you’ll have fuller-looking eyes in no time.

Eye Shadow (1)
Apply your eye shadow in two steps: First, use an eye primer to prevent creasing. Take a bit of primer on your finger and gently pat it onto each lid. Next, take one or two shadows that are similar to your skin tone and apply them just above your eyelid. You can mix these with additional shades if you’d like (we love copper) but start with two hues that are true to your complexion.

Lip Liner & Gloss
You might not have considered wearing lip liner, but it can really make your pout pop. It will create contrast, and your lip color will look more vibrant and last longer. Start by making a small O with your lips. Then use liquid or pencil liner to trace along that shape, staying about 1/8 inch from your natural lip line; fill in with any matching lipstick or gloss.

Setting Spray
It may seem counterintuitive, but you should use setting spray before applying foundation. The light mist helps set everything in place and prevent your makeup from slipping into fine lines. It will also reduce caking, discoloration and it evens out skin tone. Make sure to choose one that has SPF to protect against UVA and UVB rays. A good rule of thumb is: if you can smell it on your face, it doesn’t belong there!