This is a question we hear asked regularly from customers emailing us and clients who come to us for a makeover. Although some make-up artists will vary one or two steps according to their own technique and the needs of the customer having an application it DOES matter. Products like Make-up Primer, Foundation, Moisturizer etc have definite uses and if applied in the wrong order they will be ineffective. They also give a hint as to the natural order of application with their generic names i.e. ‘primer’ gives enough of a clue that hopefully even the most peroxide of blonds would ensure this was applied before and underneath foundation !

Before you begin applying your makeup it is important you have everything you need, including applicators, tissues etc so that you can be relaxed and focus on the task at hand rather than having to do a little and then fetch another item you need. Lay everything out on a work surface in front of the mirror you are using and try to order the products in the chronological order you intend to use them; this will help relative ‘newbies’ to remember the correct order of application rather than guessing or doing it incorrectly. Make sure all your brushes and sponges are clean and dry and in good condition and check your make-up supplies too. Make-up will breakdown over time, dry up, crack and even split so check the condition in advance of an application in case you need to purchase refills. Be sure to have the correct shades of foundation, eye colors, lipstick and blush particularly if you are trying a different look.

Now where to begin – what is the correct order to apply your makeup ?

Very important before any Make-up application is to prepare the skin – if necessary this will obviously include hair removal/shaving and then moisturizing. Applying an oil-free moisturizer not only gives the skin a smoother finish after cleansing but it actually stops the skin from creating excess oil. So, in addition to conditioning and hydrating the skin a good moisturizer will help maintain the eventual makeup application.