Starting a makeup routine can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like everyone else already knows how to do it. As someone who didn’t start wearing makeup daily until college, I understand how daunting it can be. If you’re interested in learning how to do makeup but don’t know where to start, I’m here to help!
I’ll take you through the steps of building a routine, including the correct makeup routine order, how to apply, and some helpful tips.
Remember: Makeup should be fun, not disheartening!
Prepping the face: Skin care
Every makeup routine starts with skincare! There are certain qualities in your skin that you should consider when buying products:
- Is your skin dry or oily?
- Is your skin sensitive?
- Do you have texture, or are you prone to acne?
It’s important to know what you can and can’t do to keep your skin happy and healthy. Here are the basic steps of a skincare routine, which is best to complete before applying your makeup.
Using a gentle cleanser will remove dirt and oil from your face, without stripping the useful oils or harshly rubbing against your skin.
A moisturizer will add a layer of hydration, especially after hot water and cleanser might have stripped some of the natural oils from your skin.
Sunscreen is a daily essential. Sunscreen prevents sun damage, premature aging and sensitivities, and skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection, water-proof formula, and an SPF of at least 30. You can use a moisturizer and sunscreen combo, too.
Lastly, make sure to take off your makeup at the end of the night. It can be tempting to just jump into bed after a late night or quickly splash your face with water. I’ve been there! However, it’s noticeably better for your skin and eye health to remove all product. Stay away from skin or eye infections by cleansing with a makeup remover, like an oil or balm, before proceeding with your skincare routine. Makeup wipes are wasteful and irritating to your skin.
This is a baseline skincare routine to start with. Personalizing your routine can have even greater effects.
Tools
The best makeup tool is actually your hand. Your index finger is strong, and able to place concentrated shadow on your eyelids or pat in cream products. Meanwhile, your ring finger is the weakest finger on the hand, meaning it is great for tapping concealer gently onto your under eyes. Lastly, the back of your hand is the best place to warm up cream products and “prime” the brush.
However, some basic tools will make the application much easier and more precise. The size, shape, and density of each brush allow it to aid in different parts of the application.
- Fluffy brush – for blending eyeshadow
- Packing brush – for packing on eyeshadow
- Foundation brush – applying foundation
- Concealer brush – for patting in concealer
- Angled, packed brush – for applying creams
- Fluffy big brush – for applying powders
- Small angled brush – for applying eyeliner
My biggest tip for brushes is to be patient. Use gentle tapping motions rather than swiping on makeup. You want the brush to stipple product into your skin, rather than on top of it.
Some other helpful tools are less necessary when beginning a makeup routine, but can still be useful.
Optional:
- Beauty blender
- Eyelash curler
- Q-tips
Brushes would be a good option if you want to splurge on any step. They are tools, and they will last you for years. Some of the cheaper ones will lose bristles or even break over time.
The first steps: Base routine
Everyone has a different order for applying makeup. Nevertheless, I think it is best to start with your base. This allows product to melt into the skin, creating a natural look.
Primer
Primer is a smoothing and blurring product that helps makeup stick to your face and prevent it from going into your pores. However, primer is not necessary on a day-to-day basis. I mainly recommend primer if you want your makeup to last for a long time (say, an important event like a graduation) or you get oily quickly. You are already “priming” your skin for makeup with your skincare.
If you are using primer, apply a small amount of product to your fingers and focus on smoothing over the areas that feel the most oily and likely to crease. This may include your nose, your forehead, or around your mouth.
With the rise of glowy makeup, sometimes people use “illuminators” or bronzing drops as primer.
Foundation/skin tint
Foundation and skin tint are both complexion products, but foundation is usually thicker and has a wider range of options (matte, sheer, glowy). Skin tint evens out the skin tone, keeping it very light and sheer.
For an everyday look, I recommend skin tint. Because it is sheer and lightweight by nature, skin tint is much less noticeable on the skin than foundation is.
For skin tint, apply a small amount of product onto the back of your hand. Using your fingers, gently spread some product across your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Use your fingers, a makeup sponge, or a foundation brush to blend it into your skin. I prefer to blend with my fingers and then go over it with a damp makeup sponge.
I highly recommend in-person shopping to color-match your foundation and concealer. Specific makeup stores like Sephora and Ulta have tester products, and Sephora offers free color-matching services.
Concealer
Concealer is meant to cover blemishes and dark spots on the face. It is also used to brighten up certain areas, such as the under-eye area and below the cheekbones.
Some people do concealer before foundation, but I find that I use less product when I do concealer after.
I prefer to dab some concealer on the back of my hand and then apply it to my under eye, around my nose, and over any blemishes with a brush. I let it sit for a minute before blending.
When picking concealer, try to match the finish of your foundation or skin tint. If you use a sheer, glowy skin tint, a thick and matte concealer will look incongruous with the rest of your face.
Brows
Brows are notoriously tricky because they frame your face; changing the shape can change how you look.
When starting out, I think it’s best to stay simple. Use a clear or tinted brow gel to comb through and tame the hairs. Brush them into the shape you like. If they are sparse, gently use a brow pencil and draw in some hairs. Keep your touch light; a blocky or overly dark brow will be noticeable.
Adding dimension to the face: Bronzer, blush, and highlighter
Now that you have a base layer, your face might look a little flat. That’s where bronzer and blush come in!
For these products, cream, liquid, and powder versions are available. Cream and liquid melt into your skin, leaving a natural finish. Powder versions can set the makeup, helping it to last longer. You can either use a combination or just one product.
Remember to use cream and liquid products before applying powder.
Bronzer
Bronzer adds warmth to your face. It’s often described as mimicking a sun-tanned, glowy look. It’s often confused with contour, which is a technique meant to emphasize the shadows of the face. Contour is often cool-toned, creating an angled, sharp look. Bronzer is a softer, everyday technique.
Bronzer should be applied to the cheekbones, the sides of the forehead, the sides of the nose, and the chin. You can also apply bronzer to the crease of your eye. However, you don’t need to put it everywhere regularly. Personally, I only put bronzer on my cheekbones and forehead.
Blush
Blush is meant to add a flush to the face. Depending on your face shape, you may want to focus the blush on the apple of your cheeks or tap it above your bronzer. For a summer-y look, you can also dab it on your nose.
Blush is notorious for fading quickly. I find that using a cream or liquid blush and setting with a healthy amount of powder
Pay attention to the color of your blush. If you have a pinky cream blush, don’t get an orangey powder.
Highlighter
Highlighter adds a shimmer to the high points of the face: the cheekbones (above the bronzer and blush), the tip of the nose, the brow bone, and the cupid’s bow. It can also be placed on the inner corner of your eye.
Be sure to use a fluffy brush when applying highlighter. A brush that’s too dense will create a harsh strip instead of a gentle glow.
Eyes: Lids, liner, and lashes
Eyes can be the most important step in your routine. The color and shape of your eyes will affect how you should do your makeup.
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow can come in cream, stick, or gel form, but is most commonly powder. Before applying eyeshadow, dab on some extra concealer or eye primer. This prevents patchy application.
There are lots of easy eyeshadow looks. You can always buff a neutral color (a brown or tan) over your lid and into your crease. If you like shimmer, add highlighter on the lid, brining it to the middle of your eye. To finish the look, take a dense brush and smoke out the under eye in the same color. Make sure to keep the brush parallel to the lash line to keep it clean.
There are plenty of great, detailed tutorials that will walk you through a specific look. Try to follow along first and notice some of the patterns before trying a look all by yourself.
Eyeliner
Arguably the most intimidating step, eyeliner can also be your best tool. It darkens your lash line and enhances the shape of your eyes.
There are three main ways to apply your eyeliner: liquid, gel, or powder (eye shadow). Eye shadow is the most forgiving medium, and I use it to map out where I want my wing. Gel liner is creamier, giving you a darker (and sometimes smudgier) wing. Lastly, liquid eyeliner is the trickiest, but it can be the most precise and long lasting.
For a basic wing, start by drying your lash line with a Q-tip. This helps the product stick. Use a dark brown shadow on a skinny brush. Gently tightline your lash line Apply a thin line to the outer third of your eye. Flick outwards in a straight line, creating a baby wing that extends just past your lashes. Try experimenting with the length and angle of the wing. If you like something thicker, draw a line from the end of the wing to the start of the wing and fill it in.
Eyeliner can be tricky to match. Sticking to tight lining, smudged wings, or wiping away mistakes with a Q-tip can help your makeup look cleaner. Pay attention to your inner corner as well. One small difference can alter the appearance and shape of your eyes.
Lashes
Mascara is one of the most accessible makeup products. It’s easy to throw on without anything else. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of steps and products, start with just some mascara and liner!
Every mascara is going for a different goal. You’ll often see words like “fluffy” or “long” or “curl,” explaining how they are trying to elongate your lashes or make them denser. Choose a mascara that seems to target your needs.
While not necessary, using an eyelash curler can lift your lashes. Carefully line up the curler below your lashes, gently closing the gap. If it hurts, immediately stop. And don’t use an eyelash curler with mascara on. The lashes can stick to the metal and peel off!
For the mascara itself, start at the base of the outer lashes. Gently wiggle the wand back and forth as you apply. Go slow; don’t apply three layers all at once. Using the end of the wand, apply the mascara to your inner lashes without dipping back into the mascara. I find that focusing on the outer lashes elongates the eye without leaving the inner corner clumpy.
Some people forgo applying mascara on their bottom lashes, and some use a different kind of mascara. Again, I find it best to focus on the outer lashes.
If your mascara smudges, use a Q-tip and concealer if necessary to clean it up.
Lips: Gloss, balm, stick – what should you pick?
The final step! There’s a plethora of options when it comes to lip products. Have fun with them, and see how this finishing touch can bump up your look!
If you are going for a casual, daily look, a lip balm or lip butter will be your best bet. Popular options like Summer Fridays or Glossier are hydrating, but they are also glossy and scented, adding a final (and functional) touch.
For something thicker, you might want a lip gloss. Brands like Tower 28 and Fenty Beauty have mastered all kinds of non-stick glosses: clear, shimmery, plumping, and always shining.
For a more elevated event, you may want to use lipstick. Gently tap the product instead of swiping it, then press your lips together to spread it. To prevent lipstick from getting on your teeth, gently blot on a napkin. There are also plenty of lipstick options, but the main thing to remember is that matte will dry down on your lips, meaning it stays longer but may accentuate wrinkles, while satiny lipstick is more hydrating but won’t last as long.
Another helpful lip tool is a lip liner. It’s shaped like a pencil, giving you the precision needed to outline the shape of your lips. Lip liner can be especially useful for opaque lipsticks or a trendy “lined lips with gloss”.
Tips
Start small and slow
Take your time! Makeup is a skill and an art, so be patient with yourself.
You also don’t have to do every step when you do makeup. Play around with it.
Be observant
As you’re applying your makeup, take note of what you like and dislike. Does your eyeliner look off? One side might be thicker than the other. Does blush look weird on your cheeks? Try angling the blush a different way.
When something is off, I find it best to look straight into the mirror and describe what each side looks like. For example, my left eye has a straight wing, and the liner starts at the middle of the eye. This helps me notice that the right eye is more curved than straight, and starts at the front of the eye.
Keep learning.
There are plenty of in-depth tutorials on Youtube and TikTok that will walk you through each step of a routine. They will do a deep dive on a product, telling you exactly who should (and shouldn’t) buy it. I encourage you to seek out new methods and looks as you practice.
Also, be sure to follow creators with similar features. Different skin tones, features, and styles will have specific techniques. Find creators and makeup artists with the right expertise to guide you.
Spend your money wisely
Makeup can be an expensive hobby. Joining rewards programs can help you save up points and earn discounts. Also, watch out for sales — sometimes they’re storewide, but sometimes they are brand specific.
Sephora and Ulta have their own lines of makeup, too. Sometimes their products can be cheaper and just as good as the “name brand” ones.
Lastly, use your student discounts! Student Beans lists discounts and rewards in a variety of categories, including Health and Beauty.
Be confident
Wearing makeup for the first time can be daunting. It might feel weird, like everyone somehow knows this isn’t you. Don’t lean into those fears!
I do encourage you to notice what is making you uncomfortable. Is it the makeup, or how you think others will perceive it? Makeup should boost your confidence, not impede it.
Find what speaks to you
There are so many styles, trends, and avenues of makeup. Shop around and find what speaks to you. If you’re loving the eyeliner, try out a grungy look! If you can’t put down the highlighter, maybe a super glowy base is the way to go.
Hopefully, this article has been a helpful crash course on the basics. If you have any questions or tips of your own, drop a comment below. Good luck!
