What’s The Correct Order To Apply Makeup?

How To Apply Makeup Correctly

Before you begin your makeup routine, make sure your skin is a “clean slate.” Wash your face with your favorite facial cleanser, to remove bacteria, dirt, oil, and old makeup residue that could interfere with your makeup application. Then, apply serum and moisturizer to help hydrate your skin (don’t forget SPF for daytime). Proper skin prep can help ensure your skin is smooth and hydrated ahead of your makeup application. Once your skin is prepped, follow the step-by-step makeup routine below.

Step 1: Prep with primer

As mentioned, applying primer should always be the first step in your makeup routine. This makeup step is key because it creates a smooth, even base for your products to adhere to and can help ensure your look lasts. The type of primer you choose should be guided by your skin type and whether you prefer a more matte or dewy-looking finish.

NYX Professional Makeup Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer

Meet the innovative, multitasking primer your makeup routine has been missing. This water-based primer with snow mushroom and niacinamide helps hydrate, calm, and revitalize skin. It also helps smooth the skin texture and makes pores appear smaller. You can wear it alone for a dewy, fresh-faced finish on no-makeup days or use it to help prep your skin for your makeup application.

Valentino Beauty V-Lighter Face Base Primer and Highlighter

If you love the look of radiant-looking skin, this lightweight primer may be a great addition to your makeup routine. The illuminating formula provides up to 24 hours of hydration and leaves the skin looking bright and glowy. Plus, it’s another multi-tasker: You can wear it alone, layer it under your makeup, or use it in place of your go-to highlighter.

Step 2: Apply foundation

The next step of doing makeup is to apply foundation. As with primer, you’ll want to pick a formula aligned with your skin type and desired end result. If you’re not sure which to choose, we suggest starting with a medium-coverage liquid foundation, as these tend to be versatile and easy to work with.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation

This iconic foundation is among our favorite formulas for a naturally glowy, lit-from-within look. The oil-free formula is hydrating, easy to blend, and buildable, so you can easily tailor your coverage to your liking. And the finish—luminous but not overly dewy—is flattering on just about everybody. Apply the foundation with a brush for a fuller-coverage finish, or blend it out with a damp makeup sponge for a slightly sheerer, natural effect.

YSL Beauty All Hours Foundation

If you favor a matte complexion, consider giving this lightweight foundation a try. The breathable formula offers a natural-looking matte finish but feels completely weightless on the skin. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic, so it’s suitable for those with acne-prone skin. Pick your perfect shade—there are 40 to choose from—and apply the waterproof foundation with the tool of your choice for a full-coverage finish that wears for up to 24 hours.

Step 3: Add concealer

Next, apply concealer to any areas that need additional coverage, such as over blemishes, dark circles, or to help mask redness. Keep in mind that the finish of your concealer should typically match that of your foundation for the most seamless-looking end result.

Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Concealer

This drugstore concealer is a great pick for those seeking a full-coverage finish. The lightweight formula comes in a range of shades and offers up to 24 hours of transfer- and smudge-resistant wear.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating & Brightening Concealer

If dark under-eye circles are your primary concern, reach for this medium-coverage concealer. It’s formulated with caffeine and vitamin E and helps de-puff while seamlessly camouflaging discoloration with a natural-looking radiant finish.

Step 4: Bronze your cheeks

Just because we know the importance of wearing sun protection on our faces every day doesn’t mean we don’t want the perks of some extra color. Luckily, this makeup step can help you fake a sunkissed glow—without the risk of sun damage. We suggest selecting a bronzer with slightly cooler undertones to avoid an unnatural orange cast.

NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer Powder

This powder bronzer with shea butter, mango butter, and almond butter melts right into the skin for a naturally bronzed effect with zero patchiness. Select a shade slightly darker than your skin tone (there are eight to choose from) and buff it onto your cheeks and temples for a soft wash of sun-kissed color.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder

Enjoy up to 24 hours of luminous wear with this powder bronzer, which contains micronized pigments and caring oils for an ultra-smooth, even application. Apply it liberally to your cheeks, hairline, and temples, and you’ll look like you just returned from a week in Ibiza.

Step 5: Sculpt with contour

Pair your bronzer with contour products in order to make your features look more defined. Apply a contour on the areas of your face where you want to create shadows, like the cheeks, jaw, nose, and forehead. If you need a more specific breakdown, we explain the details in our article Our Advice On How To Contour for Your Face Shape.

NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick

We adore this contour and highlighter stick for its convenience. It has both products you need to achieve a stunning, sculpted contour in one double-ended stick, and it’s easy to toss in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups.

L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

You don’t need to buy a contour product to sculpt your features—a concealer one to two shades darker than your skin tone can do the trick, too. We love this one because it’s easy to blend and has a hydrating formula that feels lightweight on the skin.

Step 6: Add color with blush

Blush is a crucial makeup step for many of us. There are lots of ways to apply blush, but two things are key: blending and choosing the right formula.

YSL Beauty Nu Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint

A cream blush like this one is a great way to give your complexion a subtle, natural-looking flush. You’ll love how the sheer, buildable color melts seamlessly into your skin. The fact that you can use it as a nourishing tinted lip balm is just an added bonus.

L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush

Give your skin a natural-looking radiance with this liquid blush, which has a buildable, blendable formula that’s easy to apply. Choose from six vibrant shades and two finishes (glowy or dewy) and apply it to the apples of your cheeks for a fresh-faced flush.

Step 7: Apply highlighter

Highlighter is the final face makeup step before moving on to your eyes and lips. The type of highlighter you reach for is up to you—luminous liquid formulas are ideal for those seeking a subtle glow, while a shimmery powder highlighter can provide a more noticeable glowy effect.

Maybelline New York FaceStudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter

Give your skin a metallic glow by applying this highlighter to your cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose. The final effect gives your face an effortless shimmer.

YSL Beauty NU Halo Tint Highlighter

If you favor liquid highlighters, this ultra-light formula is worth a try. It contains finely milled light-reflecting micropearls for a radiant-looking finish and leaves the skin looking luminous, but not greasy. Apply it to the high points of your face—such as your Cupid’s bow, brow bones, and along the top of your cheekbones—for a natural-looking glow.

Step 8: Fill in your brows

Once you’ve finished your face makeup steps, you can move on to your eyes We suggest doing your eye makeup steps in order of area, starting with your brows, then moving on to your lids and lashes. For your brows, you can use a brow pencil, brow gel, or both—it’s up to you to decide how defined you want your arches to be.

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil

If your brows are patchy or have any sparse areas, try filling them in with a brow pencil. We like this option because it boasts an ultra-thin tip perfect for drawing precise, hair-like strokes.

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Brow Lamination

Fake a professional brow lamination with this long-lasting brow gel, which boasts a clear formula that holds hairs in place for up to 24 hours without any sticky residue. Use the angled applicator to brush your brows upward for a full, bushy brow look, or brush your in the direction of hair growth for a natural-looking finish.

Step 9: Apply your eyeshadow

After grooming your brows, you can move onto eyeshadow. There are countless ways to wear with eyeshadow: A sultry smokey eye is great for night-out looks, while a subtle nude shadow is ideal for daytime wear. But of course, feel free to experiment—this makeup step is all about having fun and getting creative.

Urban Decay Naked Half-Baked Mini Eyeshadow Palette

Inspired by the brand’s original (and beloved) Naked palette, this miniature eyeshadow palette contains six warm neutral shades perfect for creating an array of eye makeup looks. Use an eyeshadow brush to sweep your favorite shade (or shades) onto your lids, and toss the bite-sized palette into your bag for on-the-go touchups.

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eyeshadow Stix

You can use this versatile product as a liner, an eyeshadow, or a primer, making it the perfect addition to your eye makeup routine. Swipe one of the neutral hues onto your lids for a super easy daytime eyeshadow look, or create a statement-making night-out look with one of the line’s vibrant or shimmer shades.

Step 10: Line your eyes

Eyeliner is much easier to apply when your lashes are bare, so we suggest applying yours before swiping on mascara. Opt for a formula that aligns with your skill level and desired end results. Pencil liners are easy to use and can be used for an array of looks, from smokey eyes to wings and ‘90s-inspired grungey eyeliner looks. Liquid and gel liners are best suited for sharp wings and cat eyes, but tend to require a steadier hand to apply.

NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil

This creamy pencil is a great eyeliner to keep in your makeup kit. It boasts an ultra-smooth formula and has a retractable tip, so you don’t need to sharpen it to achieve a clean, precise line. Plus, we love the shade lineup: There are 12 gem-toned hues to choose from, including options with shimmery and metallic finishes.

Lancôme Idôle Liner

If you want to go for a sharp, defined wing, pick up this liquid eyeliner pen. It has a thin and flexible felt tip for ultimate control over your lines and glides on easily in a single swipe. Choose your favorite hue from the lineup and trace your upper lash line for a classic wing that lasts for up to 24 hours without smudging, flaking, or fading.

Step 11: Add mascara

Complete your eye makeup routine with a coat (or two) of mascara. The best formula largely depends on your desired end result. If you’re after full, thick fringe, you’ll typically fare best with a volumizing mascara. Lengthening options, meanwhile, are great for those seeking longer, wispier-looking lashes.

L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Washable Mascara

This drugstore staple features an exclusive double-hook bristle brush that captures every lash for a one-and-done application. Use the front hook bristles to lift and load lashes with the long-lasting mascara, then rotate the wand and use the side hook comb to separate your lashes for fluttery, full-looking fringe.

Lancôme Monsieur Big Volume Mascara

If you love the look of falsies but can’t stand the application process, this mascara is for you. The volumizing formula makes lashes appear up to 12 times fuller for a false lash effect without the glue (or mess). The long-lasting formula won’t clump or flake, and it holds up for up to 24 hours without smudging.

Step 12: Apply lip liner and lipstick

Lipstick or gloss should be one of your very last makeup steps, since you don’t want it to smudge while you’re trying to do the rest of your makeup. To make sure it stays defined and locked in place all day, don’t forget to start with a lip liner.

NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil

Start by outlining your lips with this classic lip liner, which comes in 31 versatile shades to complement an array of lipstick colors. The coconut oil-infused formula is smooth and creamy, making it easy to apply—and you don’t have to worry about the color fading or bleeding.

Valentino Beauty Rosso Valentino Refillable Lipstick

Whether you favor a matte lip or a more satiny finish, you’ll be able to find your match with this collection. The extensive lineup boasts 34 pigment-packed shades in both matte and satin finishes, each of which delivers one-swipe color for a bold lip look. While some matte lipsticks can feel drying, the shine-free shades in this collection are infused with 80% caring ingredients for an ultra-comfortable feel. Plus, it’s refillable—which is good news for the environment and your wallet.

Step 13: Spritz on setting spray

Just as primer should always be the first step of a makeup routine, setting spray should be the last. This crucial makeup step helps lock your products into place, ensuring your hard work doesn’t go to waste. As with primer, we suggest opting for a formula that aligns with your desired finish, whether that be matte, dewy, or something in between.

Urban Decay All Nighter Hyaluronic Acid Dewy Setting Spray

Give your skin a fresh, dewy-looking finish with this beloved setting spray. The hyaluronic acid-infused formula delivers instant and long-lasting hydration and helps keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours—even if you get caught in the rain (it’s waterproof!).

L'Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist

With just one quick spray, this lightweight mist locks your makeup in place for up to 36 hours. The innovative formula helps protect face, eye, and lip makeup from smudging and transferring, and it boasts a natural-looking finish that complements both glowy and more matte makeup looks.

Next Up: The Right Way to Apply Bronzer, According to a Pro