Complete Guide: Master Your Step-by-Step Makeup Routine

A high-quality photo showing a person with natural and radiant makeup, or a flat lay with well-organized makeup products on a clean surface.

Wondering what order to apply your products for a flawless finish? Discover the correct sequence after skincare and learn how to choose the ideal shades for your face. With this guide, you'll master every step and look radiant.

Content: Welcome to the ultimate guide to perfecting your makeup routine! If you've ever felt confused about what product goes first or how to select the perfect color, you've come to the right place. Successful makeup doesn't just depend on the products, but on the order and technique of application.

The Correct Order After Skincare

The first step to perfect makeup is well-prepared skin. After your cleansing and moisturizing routine, it's crucial to follow a logical order so that products adhere better and the result is long-lasting.

1. Step 1: Primer After your moisturizer, apply a primer. This product creates a smooth layer between your skin and makeup, minimizing pores, controlling shine, and making your foundation last longer.

2. Step 2: Foundation Apply a thin, even layer of foundation. You can use a brush, a sponge, or your fingers, blending well from the center of the face outwards.

3. Step 3: Concealer Only after foundation should you apply concealer to areas that need more coverage, such as under-eyes, blemishes, or imperfections. Blend it in with gentle dabs.

4. Step 4: Setting Powders To set your foundation and concealer, apply a light layer of translucent powder. This will prevent your makeup from shifting and will reduce shine.

5. Step 5: Face Color Now it's time to bring dimension back to your face. Start with blush on the cheeks, contour to define cheekbones and the jawline, and highlighter on high points like the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the brow bone.

6. Step 6: Eye and Brow Makeup The recommended order is to first do your eyebrows (if you do them) and then your eyes (eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara). By doing this after your face makeup, you avoid any eyeshadow fallout from landing on your foundation.

7. Step 7: Lips Line and fill in your lips with a lip liner and your favorite lipstick.

8. Step 8: Makeup Setting Spray For a professional finish that lasts all day, spray a bit of setting spray about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) away from your face.

How to Choose the Right Shades

Makeup doesn't look good if it doesn't match your skin tone. The key is to identify your undertone: warm (golden, yellow), cool (pink, red), or neutral (a mix of both).

• For Foundation: Test the color on your jawline, not your hand. The correct shade should disappear and blend seamlessly with your skin without leaving a visible line. If your veins look green, your undertone is warm; if they are bluish, it's cool; if you can't tell, it's neutral.

• For Blush and Lips:

  • Warm Undertone: Opt for peach, coral, or brown shades with golden undertones.

  • Cool Undertone: Pinks, fuchsias, plums, and blue-based reds will flatter you.

  • Neutral Undertone: You're in luck because almost any color looks good on you. Soft pinks and peachy tones are a safe bet.

• For Eyeshadows: Neutral shades like nudes and browns are universal. If you want to experiment, cool tones like grays and blues enhance warm (brown) eyes, while warm tones like bronzes and golds enhance cool (blue and green) eyes.