The Correct Order to Apply Makeup for Girls Who Want to do It Right ...

Primer First • Apply Your Foundation • Conceal Spots and Dots • Blush Some Color onto Your Sweet Cheeks • Bring Some Drama in with Eye Makeup • More ...

By Alicia • Oct 4, 2021 MD

Sometimes it can be confusing to know which order your makeup should go on. There’s a lot of room for personal preference here. After all, you need to do what works best for your makeup routine. But if there’s an area that you’ve been confused about, consider this advice.

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1. Primer First

hair, eyebrow, face, person, black hair, First and foremost, you want to apply your primer. That’s an easy, commonsense first step. Primer has to do its job before anything else can go on. Primer helps your makeup to have a better finish and have staying power, something we all want from our makeup. It’s a makeup product that can save you from multiple touch-ups later on in your day.

2. Apply Your Foundation

hair, face, eyebrow, clothing, nose, After you’ve allowed your primer a couple moments to set, apply your foundation. Foundation is exactly what it says it is, the foundation for the rest of your makeup to rest on. It’s important to take your time and apply your foundation carefully. How it looks is going to affect how the rest of your makeup looks. If you’re like most women, certain parts of your face will probably need more coverage than others.

3. Conceal Spots and Dots

color, hair, face, blue, black hair, If you have spots, dots or under eye circles then this is the time to cover them. Some women apply concealer under their foundation but that generally doesn’t work out well. When you do that, you’re likely to rub it off when you’re applying foundation. I’ve always found that it works best to apply concealer after foundation with a gentle touch or a concealer brush. It can be completely blended in without being blended away.

4. Blush Some Color onto Your Sweet Cheeks

human action, face, hair, person, black hair, Next comes blush. By now, your skin is prepped and ready to receive whatever your favorite shade of blush is. Your makeup should be set enough to receive another product at this point but still at a wonderful, workable point for blending. The best blush looks are blended carefully so this is the perfect time to apply it. You can choose to apply finishing powder both now and later or just wait a few minutes longer to take care of it all at one time.

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5. Bring Some Drama in with Eye Makeup

hair, human hair color, face, blond, eyebrow, Perhaps the most fun part of your makeup is your eyes. Most of us love to find ways to bring attention to our eyes. You can do this through an eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara. Eye makeup is fun! It can take a bit more time to apply than other makeup products but it’s worth the effort.

***

Embrace your inner artist with vibrant eyeshadows or go for a classic smoky look to elevate your appeal. Experiment with color and blending to create a captivating gaze that holds attention. With eyeliner, carve out a sharp cat-eye or a subtle waterline enhancement to define your eyes. Don't shy away from mascara; a few coats can amplify your lashes, adding volume and drama. Remember, eyebrows frame your face, so fill and shape them to perfection. While it might be tempting to rush, taking your time with eye makeup ensures a stunning impact that's absolutely eye-catching.

6. Finishing Powder Sets Your Makeup

hair, human hair color, face, eyebrow, blond, After your eye makeup is the perfect time for finishing powder. It sets your makeup and whisks away any eyeshadow fallout. Using powder after applying your eye makeup is essential to a beautifully finished face. If you feel the need for it after applying blush and then again now, that’s fine, too. That’s usually the option I choose.

7. Lipstick is the Lovely Last Touch

human action, face, hair, cheek, nose, Lastly, bring some color and warmth into your face with your favorite lipstick. It’s always best to apply your lipstick last. If you’ve tried it another way then you’ve probably found that it doesn’t work out very well. Your arm or makeup brushes end up smudging it. Letting it be the last product applied works out best.

These are some tips about the best order of makeup application. Do you need to make some tweaks in your application order? I’d love to hear from you!

***

When it comes to applying makeup, the correct order is essential for achieving the desired look. To begin, start with a clean, moisturized face. This will help the makeup glide on smoothly and evenly. After moisturizing, apply a primer to create a smooth base and help your makeup last longer. Then, it’s time to apply foundation. Choose a shade that matches your skin tone and use a brush or beauty blender to blend it in. After your foundation is applied, use a concealer to cover up any spots or discoloration. Next, apply a light dusting of powder to set your foundation and concealer. This will help your makeup stay in place all day.

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Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Mel

    2016-10-16T02:52:07.569Z

    Correct step doing eyes first
  • Jackie

    2015-09-11T19:00:26.499Z

    I always start with a moisturizer for face& eyes. Let that soak in. Then I add a face primer all over my face lips& lids. Give it a minute to set. Then I apply foundation concealer powder brow pencil shadow liquid eyeliner mascara primer a few coats of mascara bronzer blush and finally all day stay stila lipstick.
  • chelsea

    2015-09-16T00:30:29.084Z

    What about eyebrows????
  • Zuri

    2015-09-11T17:29:17.773Z

    Ummm I do moisturizer, eye makeup, primer, foundation, high light, contour, blush, eyebrows then lips and mascara
  • Beth

    2016-10-10T19:05:27.052Z

    I always do my eyebrows and eye make up first just incase I do it wrong don't want to be taking off all my make up off 😂😂😂
  • Nickie

    2016-10-09T23:23:34.848Z

    Eyebrows is always first in my routine in case you mess up you can always run it off and start over without messing up al your foundation and etc.
  • Splashhhh

    2016-10-10T06:39:35.025Z

    Isnt moistrizer supose to b first of all
  • Alyx

    2015-09-11T17:19:49.539Z

    Moisturizer is part of skincare and makeup prep, not makeup, so the author didn't include it. You should be doing your entire skincare routine before applying makeup, but that would make for this article to be doubled.
  • Cara_21

    2015-09-11T07:09:59.718Z

    What about mascara,eye liner & brows
  • Nancy

    2015-09-11T06:18:11.942Z

    I always end my application by spritzing Fix-it + by MAC on to set my makeup in place all day
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