The Correct Makeup Application Order, According to Makeup Artists

Skin Prep

Skin prep is key for ensuring that your makeup looks its best. How you choose to prepare your skin is dependent on a variety of factors—from your skin type to how much makeup you're looking to apply and how long you want it to last. Similarly to makeup, skincare routines also come with their own recommended order.

Opt for a three-step skin prep routine.

• Start with a lightweight hydrating serum like The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum to help plump the skin without residue.
• Then, apply a moisturizer that best suits your needs. We recommend using La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Daily Moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin, Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentré for those with combination skin and Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream for dry skin types.
• Finish with your SPF of choice. We recommend using one that works as both a moisturizer and a primer like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen.
  

Primer

Primer is the unsung hero of many a makeup look; it can help enhance your makeup by smoothing out pores, preventing excess shine, and helping make your look last longer. It is the opportunity to target your main skin concerns before applying makeup. Opt for a primer that addresses your needs– some suggestions based on concerns, below.

• If you are prone to redness, try a color-correcting primer like Make Up Forever Step 1 Primer Redness Corrector.
• If you are concerned about visible pores, try a primer that has blurring and smoothing properties like Caliray So Blown Clean Blurring Primer with Collagen Peptides.
• If you have oily skin, try a mattifying primer to help control shine and prolong makeup wear like One/Size Secure the Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer.

Foundation and Concealer

Makeup artists are split on the order in which you should apply foundation and concealer. “Play around and discover what works for you,” Murdick recommends. “I am a ‘concealer over foundation’ person, but some people love to put it under foundation. It's okay to try a few different techniques and see what you prefer.”

Shakeshaft says choosing which one to apply first depends on your skin’s needs. “If I see uneven skin tone—redness, blemishes, and the like—my first step will be to even out the skin with foundation,” she says. “If the under-eye darkness is what stands out, I will begin by neutralizing the darkness and brightening the under-eye area using [color] corrector and concealer. When the skin is evened out, you create a beautiful, clean canvas, and the color products will pop, using less product.”

Contour and Bronzer

Apply bronzer and/or contour after foundation and concealer, Shakeshaft recommends. She says this step is part of the complexion process. “Bronzer adds warmth and dimension to the skin and helps connect the surface tone of the face to the body,” she says.

Brows

This is when you may start filling in your brows. Doing the brows before the eyes is essential, according to Henney. They help frame the face and create a finished look. And by adding an air of polish before you apply your eye shadow, you may find that you don't need as much. Whether you opt for powders, pencils, gels or a combination of these formulas, brush out the hairs first then fill in only where needed. This will create a soft and natural brow look.

Eyeshadow and Liner

Those who regularly create eyeshadow looks like smoky eyes or use darker/brighter colors often prefer starting their makeup routine with this step. It is because fallout can be easily cleaned up before applying the base. Still, most makeup artists prefer to do the eye at this point in the routine. “When you are applying color next to a dark under eye, the tendency is [to get] a bit heavy-handed with the eye makeup because it's competing with the darkness,” Shakeshaft says. “So I tend to apply concealer and color corrector first.”

Eye makeup looks can have endless iterations based on color and product choice, as well as preferred formula and finish. Cream eyeshadows can often be applied on their own. If you are using powder shadows, consider adding a primer beforehand to promote longevity and avoid creasing. Greenberg suggests using Lime Crime Electric Slide Eyeshadow and Brush Sticks for a seamless application and hold.

Mascara

You may complete your eye makeup look by applying mascara. If you plan on using an eyelash curler, do so prior to applying mascara in order to keep the formula from sticking to the curler and potentially pulling out lashes. Make sure mascara is fully dry if you choose to touch your shadow or liner afterwards.

Blush and Highlighter

Applying blush near the end of your routine allows you to tailor the color to your overall look. Shakeshaft suggests pairing your lip color to your blush by opting for similar undertones in order to achieve a more cohesive result.

“There is often the question of whether to apply blush or highlighter first,” she adds. “There is no right or wrong answer but keep in mind the product you apply first will usually be more prominent.” If you want to achieve a glowy look with a tinge of color, Shakeshaft recommends applying the highlighter first and diffusing the blush into the glow. If you prefer a pop of color and a subtle glow, apply the blush before the highlighter and diffuse the glow into the color.

Lips

Lip color tends to be applied near the end of a makeup routine with one caveat. “I love finishing with the lip as it can be changed easily and... alter the look dramatically,” Henney says. If you're going for a bold lip, feel free to swap its spot on the list with eyeshadow because it will lend itself to how much makeup you apply in each of the other steps.

Powder

While those prone to creasing or with an oily skin type may prefer setting their concealer with powder directly after application, waiting until the end has some benefits. It allows you to use cream and liquid formulas without having to consider how it may affect powder. You can also set specific areas more strategically as areas of the face may have already been set by other products containing powder like powder blush.

Setting Spray

“I always make sure that I'm finishing off whatever order I do with setting spray and a lippie,” Greenberg says. While most setting sprays are simply meant to prolong makeup wear, consider your preferred finish and be sure it aligns with your goals.