Young woman applying make-up in mirror, using brush, close-up
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Say goodbye to that sexy, smoky eye, step away from the electric-blue eyeliner, and forget the false eyelashes. Your makeup doesn't have to be bold to be beautiful. A natural look is simple enough for daytime and flawless enough for an evening out. When designing a versatile, everyday makeup look, choose classic shades that flatter your skin tone.

Prep Your Skin

Apply a primer or BB cream with a built-in moisturizer and SPF—go for an SPF 15 or higher. These multipurpose products prep, hydrate, and protect your skin in one step.

Conceal

Hide under-eye circles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation with a concealer that matches your skin tone. Use a pointed concealer brush to dab the product on, then blend with your clean finger.

Tip

Professional makeup artists use color-correcting concealers to minimize inflammation and balance skin tone. To hide redness, opt for a green-tinted concealer.

Build a Base

Apply foundation to your T-zone and any problem areas. For sheer coverage, use your fingers to blend foundation into your skin; for more coverage, use a foundation brush.

Tip

If you were blessed with an even skin tone, show it off. Use a subtle tinted moisturizer instead of a complexion-covering foundation.

Set Your Foundation

Lightly dust loose translucent powder over your foundation to set it and leave a matte finish.

Add a Rosy Glow

Use a large soft-bristle brush to apply blush to your cheeks. Start at the apples and then sweep upward toward your temples.

Fill in Your Brows

Use an eyebrow pencil or cream to fill in sparse areas and create a well-defined arch. Focus the product on the upper half of your brow line for an instant brow lift.

Tip

If you have brunette or black hair, go a shade or two lighter on your brows. Blondes can emphasize light brows by going a shade or two darker.

Accentuate Your Eyes

Swipe a neutral eye shadow across your eyelids and up to your brow bone. For more definition, blend a darker earthy shade, like taupe or charcoal gray, into your eyelid crease.

Define Your Eyes

Apply black eyeliner on your upper lash line. Start drawing from the inside corner of the eye to the outer corner. Keep this line thin so that it works well from day to night.

Pump Up Your Lashes

Apply two coats of black or brown mascara. Hold the mascara wand, starting at the root of your eyelashes, and move it up in a zigzag motion to ensure every lash is coated.

Color Your Lips

Line your lips with a lip liner that coordinates with your lipstick. Then, use a brush to dab the color onto your lips in a downward motion. Choose a medium-hued color for daytime—think rose or coral—and add a layer of shimmery gloss to play up your lips for an evening out.

Tip

Lip color might inadvertently emphasize dry, chapped lips. Before applying the color, buff any dryness with a damp washcloth. Apply lip balm and let it absorb into your lips before adding any color.