#1. Moisturiser and SPF
No matter what your skin type, it’s never okay to ditch the moisturizer. Moisturising your skin smooths it out, and applying makeup onto dry skin will lead to caking and flaking.
A SPF is also non-negotiable. Choose a moisturiser with a built-in SPF, otherwise just be sure to apply your sun cream after your moisturiser. Go make yourself a cup of coffee while you wait for these products to fully dry before moving onto the next step. Or you can use a foundation with a SPF.
Our product picks: Nivea Perfect & Radiant Light Moisturiser Eventone & Vitamin E and IQ Clear Start Oil Free Skin Clearing Moisturiser SPF15.
#2. Primer
Think of a primer as a magnet for your makeup. It makes foundation last longer, holds onto your products’ pigments, and creates a smooth base. A primer can also minimise pores and decrease redness, meaning you need less make up.
The skin on your eyes is much thinner so use a special eye primer here to smooth out fine lines and help your eye shadow really stay put.
Our product picks: Essence Fresh & Fit Awake Primer and Palladio Herbal Eyeshadow Primer.
#3. Eye Shadow
The first section of your face to apply makeup to is your eyes. This is so that if any colourful pigment falls onto your cheeks while applying your eye shadow you can simply wipe it off without worrying about reapplying your foundation.
Eye shadow techniques vary depending on what look you’re going for but generally the rule is: lids first, then crease, then a touch of highlighter on your brow bone.
Pro tip: If you are a fan of eyelash curling (who isn’t?), do it before you apply your shadow so nothing gets smudged.
Our product picks: Almay Intense I Color in Neutrals for Hazel, Physicians Formula Enhancing Eyeshadow in Warm Nude and Catrice The Modern Matt Collection Eyeshadow Palette in Must Have Matts 010.
#4. Colour Correctors
Colour correcting products need to go on before any other skin make up. This is the stage of your makeup routine where you’ll look the most bizarre, but don’t worry; your foundation is going to cover all of those weird green and orange splotches later on.
Our product picks: LA Girl Pro Concealer in orange for dark undereye circles or green to cover red spots, and a multi coloured option like Essence Correct to Perfect CC Concealer Palette.
Read More. Valuable Tips on How to Use Concealers to Really Conceal
#5. Foundation
Some people believe that applying concealer first means you’ll use less foundation. But the truth is applying your foundation on top of your concealer will just un-do all your concealing work. Use your foundation to create a flawless blank canvas, then your concealer can just focus on what wasn’t quite covered in this layer.
Remember that if you use a combination of powder and liquid/cream products on your face that you need to apply liquid/creams first. Applying a fluid formula on top of a powder formula will lead to caking and pilling.
Our product picks: Maybelline Superstay Foundation in True Caramel 058, L’Oréal Infallible Matte Foundation in Golden Beige 24 and Clarins True Radiance Foundation in Sand 108.
#6. Concealer
You can use your finger or a small brush to apply your concealer. Besides blemishes and spots, concealer can do wonders for under eye darkness. Apply in an upside-down triangle shape under your eyes and blend well. This will give you a more natural look than if you were to just dab it on your dark circles.
Our product picks: Revlon Youth FX Fill & Blur Concealer in Deep and Yardley High Definition Concealer Pen in Medium.
#7. Powder
Now you need to set your products in place. A powder is the best way to do that, either in the same shade as your face or a translucent formula, which will suit you all year long. This step is extra important if you have oily skin or sweat a lot during the day.
Our product pick: Yardley Absolute Translucent Pressed Powder.
#8. Eyeliner
You need to apply eye makeup to bare lashes, so eyeliner comes before mascara. For a simple way to enhance your eyes use a pencil just along the upper lash line on your lids and smudge with your finger or a small sponge.
The best way to apply eyeliner is not by looking straight on at yourself: rather get super close to the mirror and tilt your head back. Start at the inner corner of your eye and move outwards.
Our product picks: Rimmel Eye Pencil Soft Kohl in Jet Black and Michelle Ori Feline Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black 428.
Read More. Expert Tips on What to Do If You Suck at Eyeliner
#9. Brows
First brush your brows with a clean spoolie brush. Next fill in your brows using short strokes with your pencil for a natural look. Finally set them in place with a gel formula so your now-perfect brows don’t budge.
Our product picks: Palladio Brow Definer Micro Pencil in Medium Brown, Maybelline Brow Satin Duo in Medium Brown and Essence Lash and Brow Gel Mascara in Transparent.
Read More. How to Choose the Best Eyebrow Shape to Perfectly Suit Your Face
#10. Bronzer/Contour
Contouring isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a fan of the sculpted look then this is the time to get it done.
When you apply foundation, you cancel out the natural shadows on your face, so contouring with bronzer is the best way to add dimensions to your face. Remember that bronzer comes before highlighter and blush; otherwise things look a bit ‘muddy’.
Our product picks: Palladio Matte Bronzer in Nude Beach, LA Girl Velvet Bronzer Contour Stick in Suede and Essence Strobing & Contouring Palette.
#12. Highlighter
Highlighter will catch the light in all the right places. If you suffer from acne scarring or unevenly textured skin then don’t apply highlighter to these areas as it will draw attention to them.
Our product picks: LA Girl Strobelight Strobing Powder 50 Watt and Essence Strobing Highlighter in Let It Glow 10.
Read More. Insider Secrets on Highlighting for Awesome Glowing Skin
#13. Setting Spray
Anyone who’s serious about makeup will invest in a setting spray. Besides the magical way it makes your make up really last, it also helps powder formulas to soak into your skin; giving you that dewy finish. Apply this before mascara so that it doesn’t make your mascara wet and smudge it.
Our product picks: LA Girl Pro Setting Spray - Matte Finish and Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Makeup Locking Setting Spray.
#14. Mascara
Apply your mascara from the root to the tips of your lashes in a zig-zagging motion to build volume. If you often suffer from ‘raccoon eyes’ skip the bottom lashes altogether.
Be sure to give yourself a few moments to sit still while you wait for your mascara to dry. You wouldn’t want to ruin your look at this stage.
Our product picks: Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara and Rimmel Extra Long Lash Mascara.
#15. Lips
Lipstick is the first makeup to smudge and fade so always apply it last. If you really want your colour to stay put fill in your whole lip with your lip liner, then apply your lipstick on top. Otherwise use a tinted lip balm for easy on-the-go touch-ups.
And if by mistake you smudge your lipstick outside your lip line, use a little bit of concealer on a brush to cover up and neaten your edges.
Our product picks: Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner in Sienna and LA Girl Lipliner Pencil in Coral.