Have you ever stopped in the middle of doing your makeup and began to question if yours doing your makeup in the right order? Well, you’re in the right place. We are going over the basic order of application so you can finish your makeup with confidence.
If you scroll on TikTok or YouTube, you’ll find so many different versions of how people are applying makeup. The truth is when it comes to makeup order, there is no “by the book” order of how you should apply makeup.
But there are specific steps that will get you flawless results, while others are optional.
Here is the best order of makeup you can follow for a daily makeup routine.
MAKEUP ORDER OF APPLICATION
Step 1: Moisturizer
Step 2: Primer / Color Corrector
Step 3: Foundation
Step 4: Concealer
Step 5: Contour/Bronzer
Step 6: Blush
Step 7: Powder
Step 8: Eyebrows
Step 9: Eyeshadow
Step 10: Eyeliner
Step 11: Mascara / Lashes
Step 12: Lip Liner, Lip Gloss, Stain, Stick
Step 13: Setting Spray
MAKEUP ORDER STEPS FOR A DAILY ROUTINE
Step 1: Moisturizer
Moisturizers can be in the form of a cream, lotion, or oil to moisturize the skin.
This is the first step to preparing your skin. The goal is to create a soft and smooth base before applying foundation.
If you have dry skin this step is very important. Moisturizer will help the foundation and concealer to blend into the skin. Moisturizer also prevents dullness and gives you a natural-looking glow.
Check out this post for an affordable skincare routine for dry skin.
Step 2: Primer / Color Corrector
Primer is the layer that helps your makeup last longer.
Like the moisturizer, it’s also used for blurring and smoothing pores. Giving you the best possible coverage.
If you want to learn more about face primer check out this post: Is Makeup Primer Necessary? Everything You Need to Know
Color Correctors are colored concealers.
They’re made to offset discoloration, dark spots, birthmarks, redness, etc.
Deciding which color to buy depends on your skin tone and your blemishes.
Check out this chart to see which color corrector is right for you.
Step 3: Foundation
Foundation can come in a liquid or powder. The purpose is to create an even skin tone and hide blemishes.
Step 4: Concealer
Concealer covers up dark spots, and blemishes, and enhances the highest parts of the face. It can help cover up darker blemishes that may peek through your foundation.
The most common areas concealer is used:
- Under eye
- Nose bridge
- Upper Lip
- Forehead
- Chin
Step 5: Contour/Bronzer
Bronzer warms up the skin to give you a sun-kissed type of look.
Contour shapes your face. The deep tones bring parts of your face back, creating depth.
Contour & Bronzer are used to:
- Creates a smaller forehead
- Make the nose appear smaller (when used correctly)
- Add shadow to your cheeks to elevate your cheekbones
- Creates a slimmer jawline
Step 6: Blush
Blush adds color back into the skin to give a flushed, soft natural look to the face.
Step 7: Powder
Setting powder is mostly used to set the areas where you have used concealer. To set your foundation you can use a powder foundation or a setting powder closest to your foundation shade.
Setting Powder can be loose or pressed. Its purpose is to keep your foundation in place. You can use the powder on your entire face or concentrate on the areas where you get a little oilier.
Step 8: Eyebrows
Filling your brows helps bring more attention to your eye area. Brow products can help to shape, fill and add color to your eyebrows.
Step 9: Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow enhances the appearance of the eye.
Step 10: Eyeliner
Eyeliner has many different purposes and how it’s used can depend on the actual shape of your eye.
- Thicken the appearance of your lashes and lash line
- Make the eye look bigger or smaller
- Can change the shape of your eye
Applying liner takes practice, patience, and a steady hand.
Step 11: Mascara / Lashes
Mascara makes your lashes longer, thicker, and darker. Lash extensions have the same effect as mascara x 5.
Even after applying mascara, you can decide if you prefer a more dramatic look. The easiest way to achieve this is by applying false lashes after mascara.
Step 12: Lip Liner, Lip Gloss, Stain, Stick
Lip liner helps even out your lip shape and prevents you from smearing it outside of the lines. Lipstick adds color and texture to the lips. Lip gloss gives the lip a fuller softer appearance.
Step 13: Setting Spray
Setting spray is the final step to making sure your makeup stays in place.
All you have to do is spray a decent amount all over your face & you’re good to go!
FAQ
Do I use bronzer or contour?
For a subtle look use bronzer. For a more dramatic snatched look go for the contour.
You can also use the two together but contour with a cream contour and set that contour with a powder bronzer.
What’s the difference between setting and baking?
When you set your makeup, you are only using a small amount. The setting powder absorbs into your foundation creating a matte finish.
When you bake, you want to use a generous amount and let it sit for a couple of mins in the areas you want to brighten. When your desired time has passed, lightly brush off the excess powder.
Setting powder can also be called “brightening powder”; this is NOT to be confused with highlighter!
Why do some people decide to apply eyeshadow before foundation?
This technique is commonly used by makeup artists to eliminate any eyeshadow fallout from mixing with your foundation or concealer.
Imagine how difficult it would be to wipe the black eyeshadow from your under-eye concealer. Yikes.
Decide which makeup steps are right for you.
Now that you have a better understanding of makeup order and how to use each product, take the time to decide what you want to achieve with makeup.
Makeup is so much fun to shop for but can also be expensive. Start with the basics and continue to build your collection.
