How to Put on Professional Makeup

Makeup appropriate for professional settings

If you're used to experimenting with makeup but have never applied it before for professional or work-related purposes, you may have to learn a new set of application methods once you start going on job interviews. After all, makeup suited for activities such as partying and clubbing is different from that used to create an aura of professionalism. To be taken seriously in the workplace, make it a point to enhance your features rather than calling attention to trendy shades of makeup. As long as you keep this in mind, the rest of the steps outlined here should fall more effortlessly into place as you create your new look.

Things You'll Need

• Oil-free moisturizer
• Facial tissue
• Makeup primer
• Foundation
• Makeup wedge
• Creamy salmon tone undereye concealer
• Translucent powder
• Tweezers and mini-scissors
• Brow color
• Eye makeup primer
• Eyeshadow base
• Mid-tone matte eyeshadow
• Flathead eyeshadow brush
• Flesh tone eyeshadow
• Creamy eyeliner pencil
• Eyelash curler
• Mascara
• Cheek and lip stain
• Clear lip gloss (optional)

Instructions

1. Dot and blend an oil-free moisturizer all over your face. This will soften your skin and get rid of any dry patches without breaking your makeup down as a moisturizer containing oil will. After about 5 minutes, press a facial tissue all over your skin to absorb any excess moisturizer. Blend a makeup primer onto the center of your face outwards. This will help your makeup go on smoothly and give it a more flawless finish.

2. Apply foundation that matches your skin tone exactly and has the texture that complements your skin type. Use a liquid foundation if your skin is on the drier side and a creme-based or powder foundation if your skin is oily. Make sure as well that your foundation can give you the coverage you need. If you have good skin, light coverage is sufficient. If you have a few blemishes or some scarring from acne, try an intensive coverage formula. If you are uncertain, stick with medium coverage. Blend any lines or edges in your foundation with a makeup wedge for skin that appears naturally flawless. Even if you choose not to use much color on your face, a fresh-looking complexion will considerably improve your appearance.

3. Dab a creamy salmon-hued concealer under your eyes and on the inner corners of your eyes by the bridge of your nose. Rather than blending the product with your finger--which is harsh on your skin--gently pat away demarcation lines to get a seamless finish. Undereye concealer with a salmon tone will brighten up your eye area and make you seem more awake without giving you the raccoon look that you will get from using a too-light shade of flesh tone concealer. Dust translucent powder over the concealer and the rest of your face to set your foundation.

4. Fill your eyebrows in with a brow pencil or a stiff angled brush dipped in brow powder to bring out the shape of your brows and eliminate the appearance of any sparseness. Use a shade that's slightly lighter than your brows if they are very dark, and slightly darker than your brows if they are very light. Your brows frame your eyes and the rest of your face, so it is important that they are clean and defined if you want to look polished. Groom them on a regular basis by tweezing strays that grow outside of your brow line and by trimming hairs that extend past the brow line.

5. Smooth an eye makeup primer on from lash line to browbone. After it absorbs into your skin, apply an eyeshadow base, also from lash line to browbone. This creates a bare canvas that will help your eyeshadows blend effortlessly and appear more vivid against your skin.

6. Stipple a mid-tone matte eyeshadow on from lash line to just slightly past the crease using an eyeshadow brush with a flat head. Stick with browns, grays, peaches and other soft or neutral hues to avoid detracting attention from your features to your makeup, as would happen if you used vibrant and bold shades. Blend the edges of your eyeshadow application so there are no harsh or evident lines in your eye makeup. Blend a flesh tone eyeshadow on your browbones under your arches to lift your brows and subtly highlight your eyes.

7. Bring out the shape of your eyes with a creamy eyeliner pencil worked into your top lash lines. Use black if you have dark coloring or want more definition, and dark brown if you have lighter coloring. If you are used to having color along your bottom lash lines, you may work some color in here as well, but keep your hand light to avoid pulling your eyes down with too much darkness. Curl your eyelashes and apply black or dark brown mascara on only your top lashes. Dislodge any clumps with the mascara wand as you go along. Use a waterproof formula to protect against smudging if this is one of your issues with eye makeup.

8. Give yourself a flattering flush with a matching blush and lip color, which you can get from a two-in-one cheek and lip stain. Find one that is just slightly more vibrant than your natural coloring. Use a peach-hued one if you have warm undertones in your skin, and a pinkish one if your skin has cool undertones. Keep the color on just the apples of your cheeks rather than attempting any complex contouring. On your lips, blend the color from the center outwards, topping with a clear lip gloss if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Pack oil-absorbing sheets in your touch-up bag. When retouching your makeup, lift away the oils that have built up on your face before powdering. This will ensure that your face continues to look fresh rather than cakey, as it will if you layer powder over your facial oils.

Resources

• Giving a make-under for the office
• Defining your features with makeup without using color