Makeup Order Matters: The Correct Order for Applying Makeup
Alyssia Chang
- Published
Do you ever wonder if there’s a right order to apply your makeup?
Understanding the correct makeup application sequence can make a world of difference.
Our comprehensive guide will help you streamline your routine, ensuring each product enhances the next for a flawless, lasting look. Get ready to elevate your makeup game!
Summary
Prep and Prime: Start with a clean, moisturized face. Apply primer to create a smooth base and enhance makeup longevity.
Foundation and Concealer: Apply foundation evenly, followed by concealer to cover imperfections and brighten specific areas.
Eyes First, Face Second: To avoid fallout, apply eye makeup before foundation. This includes eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, followed by brow makeup.
Set and Finish: Complete your look with setting powder, bronzer, blush, and highlighter. Apply lipstick last and lock everything in place with a setting spray.
Best Order to Apply Makeup
Now if you came to this article to just know the basic steps to applying your makeup order, then this section is for you!
Makeup order is important so you can learn good habits and understand why certain your makeup routine can use a bit of structure. As you get comfortable you’ll know which rules are essential for you and which can be broken.
Anyone who claims there’s only one way to do makeup isn’t being truthful. However, before you can run, you need to learn to walk. This is the makeup order I recommend to achieve a consistent and flawless look every time!
Skincare: By adding moisture, SPF, your serum, and eye cream, you’ll be doing your skin and makeup look a favor by creating a happy plump base to help the rest of the makeup do their part.
Prime: There is no point in taking 2 to 30 mins to apply your makeup if it all disappears by the end of the day! Make sure to prime your eyes, face, and lips to create a smooth canvas to prevent fine lines and creases from showing up.
Eyes or Foundation: Some people will apply their foundation first BEFORE applying their eye makeup. This only makes sense if you are baking or applying a lot of full coverage face products because it needs time to sit and rest.
If not, then you’ll want to do your eyes BEFORE your face products because if you get eyeshadow fallout, mascara smudges, or rest your hand on your face to do your makeup work, then it’s going to make a mess all over your perfected face makeup!
Brows: After your eye makeup, apply your brow products. OR apply your brow makeup before your eyes to match your eyeshadow and liner length to the eyebrow length.
Concealer: Once your foundation has been applied, use concealer to hide your imperfections and dark circles. Feel free to use it before your foundation too if you need to “sandwich” your concealer layers to hide bad acne or circles.
Setting powder: Apply a layer of setting powder over the face, neck, and brows to set the previous products.
Face Makeup: Use your bronzer, blush, highlighter; to add color, lift the cheeks, and add a sunkissed tan.
Lips: You can apply this step on before your blush if you wanted to match and make a monochromatic look. Otherwise, applying lips on last makes the most sense so that you can have fresh looking skin around the lips and not get color all over your face brushes by accident.
Setting spray: Last but not least, keep all that wonderful art work on all day and mist your favorite setting spray!
Makeup Order: How to Master the Basic Steps
Skin Care Makes the Foundation
Before applying makeup, skin preparation is vital as it influences the final makeup appearance and durability. Think of your skin as a canvas that needs to be prepped and primed before painting!
Here are the steps to follow:
Start by using your daily cleanser on your face and neck to remove dirt, oils, and impurities.
Follow this up with a toner to restore your skin’s natural pH balance and refine its texture, laying the groundwork for effective moisturization.
Finish your skin prep by moisturizing your skin and using eye cream to nourishing it, and create a hydrating base effect before you apply your makeup.
The Role of Primer
Makeup primer helps prepare the skin by filling fine lines and wrinkles, creating a clean base for makeup, and acting like Velcro to your makeup products.
Your unique skin type benefits from using specific types of primers that help correct your facial needs: matte primers for oily skin, hydrating primers for dry skin, primers with oil control for acne-prone skin, and those with hyaluronic acid or light-reflecting properties for mature skin.
Make sure to use very little face, eye, or lip primer as half a pump goes a long way!
Setting Spray Dynamics
Setting sprays are crucial in preserving makeup appearance, managing shine, and suiting various skin types and finishes. Their effectiveness, particularly those containing alcohol, greatly contributes to the makeup’s longevity. Setting sprays are available in various finishes such as matte, dewy, and radiant, catering to different desired aesthetics and skin types.
For optimal application, setting spray should be shaken and then spritzed over the face both after each makeup layer and as a final step to the entire look.
Seamless Coverage: Foundation and Concealer Techniques
We can now focus on achieving impeccable coverage using foundation and concealer techniques. To create full coverage without a heavy makeup look, follow these steps:
Use a lightweight, oil-free foundation.
Start by applying the foundation in the center of the face and blend it outwards.
Focus on blending seamlessly to avoid any harsh lines.
After applying foundation, use concealer to brighten specific areas like the center of the nose and cheekbones.
Choose the right shade of concealer to add extra coverage to blemishes or under-eye circles.
By following these techniques, you can achieve flawless coverage while maintaining a natural look.
It’s also important to adjust foundation application to enhance natural features without covering them fully, such as by avoiding foundation on the bridge of the nose if freckles are present.
Flawless Foundation
Foundation serves as the base of your makeup look, and perfecting it is critical for an impeccable finish. Liquid foundations offer various finish options and coverage levels, making them suitable for a natural, second-skin appearance. To achieve a flawless finish, use a minimal amount of foundation, focus on areas needing coverage, and press gently with palms for blending.
For an added glow, mix a drop of liquid highlighter into the foundation, creating an all-over subtle luminosity.
Concealing Imperfections
Concealer acts as a secret tool for hiding imperfections and illuminating specific areas. Applying thin layers of concealer and lightly patting them into the skin will provide the best coverage. It’s all about layering and blending to create a seamless transition between your skin and the concealer.
Defining Features: Sculpting with Color
With our base ready, it’s time to introduce some color and dimension to the face. By applying bronzer, blush, and highlighter in a specific order, you can sculpt the face naturally and create a radiant complexion. Let’s dive deeper into each of these steps.
Apply Blush for a Natural Flush
Nothing adds a youthful glow to your face like a touch of blush. When choosing blush shades, opt for ones that are no more than two to three shades darker than your natural flush tone for easy blending. Cream or liquid stain blushes are recommended for a second-skin look and natural non-cosmetic effect.
To apply, start with your fingers to feel the cheeks and encourage natural circulation, then blend with a small fluffy brush in a circular motion for a natural flush.
Contouring with Bronzer
Contouring with bronzer is a great way to add warmth and depth to your complexion. To ensure a natural contour, select a bronzer that is one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Use a large, fluffy brush for a diffused warmth or a tapered brush for precise contouring.
Apply matte bronzer starting at the top of the ear down to the cheek in circular motions or utilize the chisel technique with a swiping motion on the cheek for a sculpted contour.
Illuminating with Highlighter
Finally, bring out your inner glow with some highlighter. Cream highlighters can take blush to the next level when applied to the high planes of the face. To accentuate the cheekbones, use a dewy elixir on the cheekbones in ‘C’ shapes around the eyes and blend it softly, including down the bridge of the nose for a light-catching effect.
Eye Confections: Crafting the Perfect Eye Look
Eyes, considered the windows to the soul, can become the highlight of your look with the appropriate makeup. Crafting the perfect eye look involves mastering eyeshadow blending, striking eyeliner, and volumizing mascara techniques, as well as using eyebrow makeup to cover any dark circles.
Eyeshadow Essentials
Eyeshadow can add depth and dimension to your eyes, making them appear larger and more striking. Careful blending with a fluffy eyeshadow brush is essential to maintain the intended look and prevent darker colors from inadvertently making eyes appear smaller.
Start with a transition color slightly darker than the skin tone and apply it through the crease using a fluffy blending brush, utilizing windshield wiper motions for an even distribution, which helps in addressing uneven skin tone.
Liquid Eyeliner for a Cat Eye
No eye makeup look is complete without the perfect eyeliner. Achieving a cat-eye look with liquid eyeliner requires precise application. Start by finding the endpoint for your cat eye wing by using a slim makeup brush angled from your nose to your outer brow.
Draw a line from the dot to the outer corner of your eye for the bottom edge of the cat eye, and draw another line from the dot to the middle of your upper lash line, forming the top edge of the cat eye.
Final Touches: Lips and Set
Having finished the face and eye makeup, we can unify everything with a few final touches. First, we’ll add some color to the lips, and then we’ll set everything in place to ensure it lasts all day.
Lip Color for Impact
Choosing the right lipstick color can instantly elevate your look. Opt for a color that complements your skin’s undertone; cool undertones are flattered by blue or purple shades, while warm undertones do well with oranges and brick reds. Use lip liner to define the lip’s edges and create fullness.
Apply a bold lipstick with a coordinating lip liner for an evening look, adding a layer of lip gloss to enhance dimension and shine.
Locking in the Look
After completing your makeup look, the next step is to secure it in place. Setting your makeup with setting powder or spray is essential for controlling shine and ensuring it lasts all day.
The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder are highly recommended for setting makeup, ensuring long wear with a lightweight feel.
Summary
Whether you’re a makeup enthusiast or a newbie looking to elevate your makeup game, understanding makeup order can be your passport to achieving a flawless, radiant finish. Remember, the secret to a great makeup look lies not just in the products you use but also in the order of application and the techniques used. So go ahead, experiment with these steps, and let your inner beauty shine!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of makeup?
Start with skin care and SPF, then use primer, eyes or foundation, brows concealer, setting powder, bronzer, highlighter, blush, lips, and finish with setting spray for a complete makeup routine. Enjoy your flawless look!
What do you need for a full face of makeup?
All you need for a full face of makeup is foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick! Grab your brushes and get ready to slay!
What role does primer play in makeup application?
Primer plays a crucial role in makeup application by preparing the skin, filling fine lines and wrinkles, creating a smooth canvas for makeup, and ensuring better adhesion for a flawless look!
How can I achieve a natural flush with blush?
To achieve a natural flush with your blush, start with a light application of cream blush and build intensity as needed, while always blending out the product for a seamless effect. You’ll love the natural glow it gives!
