Here are my tips and steps i find give the best results when applying makeup. Follow these steps after your have cleansed and moisturised your skin (see my previous blog for these tips)
If you are lucky enough to be blessed with clear skin or are just having a 'clear skin day' then you should stick with a tinted moisturiser as there is no need to be caking on makeup when it is not needed, if you wear foundation then apply this mainly just to the areas it is needed at - any areas of discolouration or redness, add this in which ever way your prefer, finger tips are fine especialy when you dont have much time but if you want a flawless finish then i would always recommend a foundation brush or stippling brush and apply the product a little at a time so not to get any streaking, the best technique is to pat the foundation into the skin and use small circular motions when using a stipping brush.
(with foundation always get matched to the correct shade for your skin tone)
Now i would add concealer to the places where needed only - try to use a shade as close to your foundation colour, you can pat this on with clean finger tips or use a concealer brush for more of an accurate application.
For the under eye area you want a concealer or highlighter depending on how much coverage you need, the concealer should be around two shades lighter than your skin/foundation.
Place this only under the eye at the first third of the area nearest your inner eye area (or to cover any dark circles if needed) you dont want to apply lots of concealer all over the under eye area just where it is needed, be very gentle and only lightly pat the product onto the area with your ring finger.
To help eye makup last even longer and especialy if you have oily eyelids a great tip is to add a touch of concealer to the eyelid as a base for any eyeshaddow, this gives it something to hold onto and not move around the eyelid.
Next up i like to add a tiny touch of highlighter to the face, only apply a
touch to the tops of the cheekbones, down the centre of your nose, the tops of your eyebrows and above the cubids bow on your top lip.
This all just helps give a slight glow to the areas where you would naturaly glow from and makes the face looking instantly fresher (remember only the tiniest amount is needed)
Next up if you have oily skin then i would recommend powdering the skin, also if you want your makeup to last even longer then i would follow this step.
The best powder to use is a colourless translusant loose powder and a big fluffy powder brush, you only want to use one light dusting over the areas where you get oily if you do - normaly the T zone (over the forehead, nose and cheeks)
It is realy important to only apply a tiny amount to set the makeup (if you use to much certain product make you look like a ghost in phographs as the flash makes the product stand out)
Then a good way to help slim the face down is contouring the face (i will do a more in depth contouring blog post)
You take a non shimmer bronzer and apply with a small angled brush only to the under neath hollow of the cheekbones and blend only to the outer area of the cheek next to the ears, this adds a shaddow making the face look slimmer and cheekbones defined.
Dust a touch of bronzer to the tops of the forehead and underneath of the jawbone area - all around the outer area of the face.
Finaly blusher if you want or you can be fine just using a touch of the bronzer the the cheeks, when applying blush you want to use a small amount, preferably with a small brush or finher tips to pat on. Add a small amount to the cheeks only and blend back towards the cheekbones and where you have added bronzer, this all should look nice and blending together only giving you a tiny pop of colour where you would normaly flush.
With any of these steps always remember a little at a time, it is always easier to add more on that it is to remove so take your time and you will get great resluts.
Now you are ready to apply eyehaddoe and lipstick of your choice- i will do a post on different eyeshaddow techniques
