A Step by Step Makeup Guide

{Step 1}

Begin any makeup application with moisturized skin and conditioned lips (find a facial moisturizer and a lip balm you love and use them religiously). If you overdo it, simply blot the skin with tissue.

{Step 2}

Review your face -- do you need more concealer or foundation? The true test of a color match comes when you start blending it out and the foundation dissapears. Apply foundation where you need to it most and concealer under the eyes, around the nostrils, and on any blemishes or discolorations.

{Step 3}

Use powder to take away any shine but leave a healthy sheen -- just a bit on a large powder brush, swept around your entire face.

{Step 4}

If you are going to use dark eyeshadow colors, use the "drop cloth" trick of depositing extra powder under the eyes to catch any eye makeup fallout.

{Step 5}

On to the eyes: Pick the shades of color you want to use and decide how dark you want to go. Then, use an allover brush to apply a beige color all over lids (from lash line to browbone). Then, use a blending brush to apply a medium shade in the crease. And last, use a smaller ‘crease’ brush to apply a dark color either against the lash line or in the crease. Note: As long as the shadow you use is a powder, you can go back and add more -- even after it's set with translucent powder -- to get to the level of intensity you want. Then dust with translucent powder again.

{Step 6}

Curl the lashes and apply mascara, 2 coats on top and 1 on bottom.

{Step 7}

Now the brows. Groom them into shape with a spoolie brush. Any thin areas? Fill in with a brow pencil (taupe works best), using little feather-like strokes. Then, brush through with the spoolie again to soften and blend. Finally, a coat of brow gel keeps everything in place. Now that the eyes are done, brush away excess loose powder (applied in step #4) from under the eyes.

{Step 8}

Apply a soft pink or a peach powder blush with a blush brush on the apples of your cheeks, then dust cheeks with powder to blend all the edges.

{Step 9}

Choose a lip color. Remember if your eyes are dramatic, you want to keep the lips soft and natural. If you want definition, choose a natural colored lip liner and follow your natural lip line. Then, fill in the rest of the lips and finish it off          with the lipstick or gloss.