Today I have 5 things you need to be doing to get the most out of your makeup.  Super simple tips that make a huge difference in your makeup!

Using moisturizer before you put your makeup on is crucial.  Not only does it give your skin a softer feel even after you wash your makeup off and a dose of SPF, it makes your makeup go on, blend and look so much smoother.  If you have oily skin, look for a mattifying moisturizer.  After you put on your moisturizer, make sure to let it soak in for at least 10 minutes.  Your makeup stays in place for so much longer and blends so much better!

Wearing under eye concealer is one of the best things you can do to make yourself look awake (even if you barely are).  First, apply concealer in a shade that is a bit too light for the rest of your face with a brush or straight from the tube.  I use my winter foundation that is too light for my summer skin tone because a concealer that is lighter than your foundation (only a little) will make you look so much more awake.  I apply and blend it with a beauty blender because it blends seamlessly. Start at the inner corner and move outward and downward making a triangle sort of shape.  Then blend down almost onto the sides of your nose.

Use a foundation that matches your skin tone on your neck.  Always match foundations to the tone of your neck, not your wrist or face.  Ultimately, you are trying to make sure your face matches your body (especially your neck) and if you match it to your face, they aren’t always the same color.

Set your makeup.  Set your under-eye concealer with a lighter powder applied with a smaller brush.  Set the rest of your makeup with a powder that matches your skin tone and use a big, fluffy brush to make sure it is blended and applied evenly.  This is so important because if you use any liquid or cream makeup, it could be half-way down your face by mid-afternoon.

Last but not least, don’t leave your lips bare.  You can use a stain or lip crayon that is almost the same color of your lips, a nude lipstick, a sheer balm, or a clear balm for all I care.  If you are open to color, you can use a colored balm, a stain, a lip crayon, or a classic lipstick.  Lip color can brighten up your face no matter the tired look on your face on Monday morning.

xo