How to Apply Natural-Looking Makeup

The best makeup is the kind that your friends and family members won't even notice. You can learn to cover blemishes, even out your skin tone and brighten your appearance with ease.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your foundation. This is the most important makeup you will purchase. Try several brands and consult an expert if you have problems finding the correct shade. The best shade for you will disappear into your skin and look natural in both natural and artificial light. Make sure you get a foundation that makes your skin's undertones.

2. Decide what concealers you might need. For general blemishes and imperfections, try a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than the foundation. You can also buy colored concealers to address specific problems. Green reduces redness. Yellow is great for purple spots and under-eye circles. Purple can help add life to skin with yellow undertones.

3. Purchase a concealer. Remember that stick concealers tend to be more heavy coverage. Liquid concealer doesn't cover as well, but it is often easier to apply evenly.

4. Apply your foundation using a foam applicator or your fingers. Be sure to blend the makeup in evenly, especially around your hairline and chin/neck to avoid looking like you have a mask on.

5. Apply your concealer on top of your foundation so that it will stay in place. Warm fingers are often the best applicators.

6. Add a soft blush to the apples of your cheeks for a natural flushed look. You might also like a lightly-applied bronzer or eye shadow in a neutral tone.

7. Finish with light dusting of translucent powder to keep your makeup in place. There are also spritz products available to set your makeup.

8. Use a neutral, soft color for natural lips. Alternatively, choose a tinted gloss.

9. Try a brown mascara, rather than black, for a natural-looking eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your face well using a makeup remover to ensure that your pores stay clear and your makeup applies more evenly.
• Use a quality moisturizer. Even if you have oily skin, a moisturizer can help.
• Many women mistakenly apply concealer before the foundation, but this often results in the concealer being ineffective.
• You can also try a mineral makeup if you have trouble blending or applying liquid makeup. Mineral makeup generally results in a very natural look.
• Look for hypoallergenic or natural makeups if you are concerned about the ingredients in many popular cosmetics.