Archived Post

In what order do you apply your makeup?


In what order do you apply your makeup? Share!

For simple looks, then I do foundation, brows, blush, powder, eyeliner, mascara, lips. For more complicated looks, then I do eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, brows, foundation, blush, powder, lips.

Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

63 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Kathleen Avatar

I always go primer, eyeshadow, curl my lashes, eyeliner, eyebrows, concealer, mascara, highlighter, blush, powder, and then lipstick and gloss. I am SO low maintenance.

Doriana Avatar

For normal everyday makeup:
– primer
– foundation or BB cream
– eye primer
– eyeliner
– mascara, and curl my lashes
– brows
– concealer
– powder
– blush/bronzer
– lip products

For more fancy makeup:
– Primer and sometimes BB cream if i want very full coverage
– Eyeshadow
– Eyeliner
– Mascara, and curl my lashes
– Brows
– Foundation
– Concealer
– Powder
– Contour and bronzing
– Blush
– Lip products, usually lipstick with a liner

VickyM Avatar

I must be one of the few who starts her makeup with the lips. First lip liner, then lipstick which erases the lip liner, then concealer on my undereye circles, blended until it looks natural, then black mascara on lashes, and finally blush, if I still have time before applying the mascara I will try to use eyeliner but that is only when I have a lot of time, because I´m so clumsy since I´m new to eyeliner. If I have no time at all, then I will just use an application proof lipstick that doesn´t require lip liner, then concealer on undereye circles and maybe mascara, if no time for mascara just lipstick and concealer and I´m out of the door.

Meiya Avatar

I do eye primer, eye base, eyeshadow, eyeliner, curl lashes, mascara, foundation, concealer, creme contour,

if creme blush, then creme blush, powder, lipstick

if powder blush, then powder, and lipstick or blush in whatever order, depending on whether I need to make sure blush matches lipstick.

Danyelle Avatar

Full eye makeup (depends on how I feel, usually just 1 neutral shade + eyeliner), clean up excess sparkles, moisturizer, concealer, bb cream then powder. This is my routine lately, but this can all change depending on the season (summer = way less makeup) or the occasion (full-on foundation, multiple shades of eyeshadow, brow powder etc).

Ryou Avatar

Nowadays I do my eyes last, since my eyes have been watering uncontrollably in the morning especially (you know, when you actually put your make-up on). I find that giving it a few minutes after I get up helps a little. I still put my lip color last, though, since I do suffer from bleeding and feathering a lot.

Alesia Avatar

Foundation, blush, powder, brows, eyes, lipstick. when i am using loose eyeshadow or bold eyeshadow colours i usually start with the eyes and then foundation etc.

Jan Avatar

Simple: Tinted sunblock or moisturizer, light concealer, eyeliner, blush, lips, maybe contour. If a hot place, I’ll also dust with setting powder.

The flawless evening look: moisturizer, eye primer, shadow, brows, liner, under eye concealer,face primer, mascara or lashes, two foundations, blemish concealer, cream blush, powder blush, setting powder, Fix+, highlighter, lips

Lisa Avatar

My answer is similar to Christine’s. If I’m short on time or just feeling lazy I’ll mix my foundation with my moisturizer, then eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, concealer, sometimes powder, then lipstick. If I decide on a more complicated look I’ll do eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, concealer, primer, foundation, brows, highlighter, blush, finishing powder, then lips.

tzwiggy Avatar

ALWAYS in the same order.

Moisturizer
Eyeshadow primer
Eyeshadow base
Eyeshadow on upper lid
Eyeliner upper lashline
Curl lashes
(Clean up under eyes)
Under eye concealer
Under eye setting powder
Eyeshadow on lower lashline
Mascara
Face primer (MoM)
Foundation
Brow powder
(Contour)
Blush
(Highlighter)
(Concealer on blemishes)
Setting powder
Lipstick/gloss/balm

Sunny Avatar

Most of the time it’s foundation, brows, eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, highlighter, bronzer/contour, setting powder, and then lips! I could skip steps but the order remains the same. When I know I’m dealing with something that could produce fallout, I do eyeshadows first. I don’t really like it though. Feels like I have to tread really carefully in my undereye area, and if the foundation takes longer to set, other powder products I put on could end up with a weird texture!

Dominique Avatar

I always sraet with a foundation. I tried changing my routine by starting with eyeshadows but I felt lost and felt that I didn’t do a good job on my eyes because of that.

Wwendalynne Avatar

I have no set routine other than I always do my base first and lips last regardless. Sometimes I’ll do my eyebrows second, especially if I am doing a really simple look and other times I will do my cheeks or even eyeshadow second.

Geneva Avatar

I do foundation, eyebrows, undereye corrector, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipgloss. If I wear eyeshadow, I add it after eyebrows.

Soleil Avatar

Daytime: lipbalm, sunscreen, primer, foundation, eyebrows, mascara, concealer, bronzer, blush, lipgloss
Night: lipbalm, moisturizer, primer, foundation, eyebrows, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, concealer, contour, blush, highlighter, lipstick

Amber Avatar

This is a great question! To make sure my moisturizer/eye cream and primers have enough time to absorb and set, I usually apply face moisturizer and eye cream, then while they are absorbing, I apply my eye shadow primer. That usually sets super fast, so I apply my eye shadow/liner and then apply my face primer, followed by foundation, concealer, setting powder, blush, eye brow pencil/powder, mascara and finally lipstick/gloss.

Carrie Avatar

More days than not I tend to stick to my eyes – eyeshadow, liner, mascara and then brows. If I do go full face I’ll tack on foundation/powder/blush to the end of my routine.

Lee Avatar

Foundation/concealer/powder, blush/contour, primer/cream base/eye shadow, eyeliner, brows, mascara, lipstick.

I get the point in doing foundation after eye shadow but I don’t usually have much problem with fall out and it just feels weird to me. I went to a MAC make-up seminar a few years back and the make-up artist recommended doing mascara first so you could apply it without worrying about messing up your eye shadow which makes sense but also feels strange to me.

Danielle Avatar

For my everyday makeup: foundation (or tinted moisturizer), eyes, concealer, blush, highlighter, brows, lips. The order make change slightly if I am wearing more makeup for a special occasion or something.

Katherine Avatar

Moisturize and prime, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, lips, mascara. I put blush (and if I’m using bronzer this is when I put it on) on last. For some reason if I do my blush/bronzer last then I never make the mistake of overdoing it with them. I’ve been known to get carried away with the blush if I put it on before the rest. hah!

Samira Avatar

Primer, tinted moisturizer (or foundation, if I want more coverage), brows, eyes (usually just shadow and mascara), concealer (if I wear it), blush/contour, powder, lips. Doesn’t change much for nights out except that the eyes get more attention.

Andrea Avatar

If I’m doing full face, then: sunscreen to prime/protect, foundation, spot concealer if needed, loose powder, blush, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eye liner, eyelash curler, mascara, lipstick or gloss.

xamyx Avatar

It varies, and since it’s been so warm lately, my routine has changed quite a bit:

Sunscreen
BB Cream/TM
Brows
Mineral Powder Foundation
Contour or Bronzer
Highlighter
Cream eyeshadow
Lip balm

If my eyes aren’t giving me problems due to allergies/dryness, I’ll add liquid liner to the upper lashline, mascara, then line the waterline.

When I do fuller looks in cooler weather, the basic order is pretty much the same, although products/formulas change a bit, and if I’m wearing lipstick/liner, lips are last.

Emily Avatar

Eyelash Curler – Moisturizer – Primer – Eyeshadow – Eyeliner – Mascara – Undereye Concealer – Foundation – Concealer – Blush – Bronzer – Powder – Highlighter – Lip Liner – Lipstick/Gloss

… or most days, Moisturizer – Mascara – Undereye Concealer – Foundation – Concealer – Gloss.

Laurel Avatar

Silica powder on eyelids
Eyeshadow primer
painterly paint pot
eyeshadow
tightline
liquid liner
mascara
undereye primer
face primer
foundation/tinted moisturizer
concealer under eyes
set undereye concealer
face conealer
face powder
bronzer
blush
highlighter
lower lash liner
lower lash mascara
eyebrow powder
fix +
lips

If I’m wearing powder foundation, I do undereye concealer before foundation powder, and if I’m not wearing something I just skip that step

Libby Avatar

Normally moisturizer, primer, eye primer, foundation, all else eyes, concealer, (cream blush or bronzer if I want that day), bronzer/contour, blush, highlight, brows, powder, setting spray and lips.

MikaelaMikaelas Avatar

Basic every day look:

moisturizer
orange tinted under eye cream
Foundation
Concealer on face and under eyes
Mascara
Tinted brow gel
Shadow on brows
Blush
Powder under eyes and t-zone
Lips

Laurie Avatar

lip scrub followed by lip balm or lip primer of some sort
primer
tinted moisturizer
eyeshadow
eyeliner
mascara
under eye concealer

THEN, I get dressed.

And then I apply my lipstick/lip gloss/lip tar/stain whatever. Oh, and I’ve been loving mineral sunscreen powders too!

I sometimes do my brows but I usually forget it. That usually comes last, if I remember.

And I’m going to start working blush into my routine. I’ve been blush-shy for so long due to my rosacea, but I’ve finally got a great primer that does a wonderful job at minimizing redness so I might give it ago.

Lauren Avatar

– Skincare
– UD DeSlick spray
– Primer
– Tinted Moisturizer, BB Cream or Foundation
– Concealer
– UD DeSlick Spray
– Setting Powder
– Bronzer
– Blush
– eyeshadow primer
– eyeshadow
– Fill in brows
– Curl eyelashes
– Mascara

Elise Avatar

sunscreen, primer (only used for wearing makeup longer), foundation, eye primer + eyeshadow, then set my face, and lips ….no mascara,eyeliner, or false eye lashes because I don’t want to look too different from my usual lazy self =] eventually i will get a finishing spray

Carla N. Avatar

In general, my route for my “full face” goes thusly:
Primer with SPF 15 all over my face
A swipe of pinkish brightener pencil under each eye
Eyeshadow primer on upper lids
Concealer where needed
Lip stain + clear liner + lip balm
Foundation, stippled on with a moistened Beauty Blender
Fill in brows with matte taupe eyeshadow, using an angle brush
Powder entire face
Eyeshadow
Eyeliner
Curl lashes
Lash primer + mascara
Blush
lipstick, liner, and gloss
[Sometimes] Touch up T-zone with powder
Finally done!
For a “quick” face, it’s:
Primer with SPF 15 all over face
Swipe of brightener pencil under each eye
Smudge long-wear eye pencil in taupe or plum right along upper lashlines
Curl lashes
Lash primer + mascara
Lip stain
Fill in brows with matte taupe eyeshadow, using angle brush
Dab on concealer, where and if needed
Lip gloss
Powder entire face
Done!

Melissa Avatar

Right now I have to eliminate moisturizer. But on a normal Summer day (100 + degree weather aka Texas weather) it’s…
-Sunscreen
-Face & Eye Primer
-Foundation
-Eyeshadow
-Eyeliner
-Mascara
-Lip Primer
-Lipstick

During the winter I’ll add a bit more to the routine.

Montréalaise Avatar

Primer – eye shadow primer – foundation – concealer – loose powder – bronzer – blush – eye shadows – eye liner – mascara – brow pencil – lipstick – gloss.

Marina Avatar

I usually base my make up on my lips, so my order is:

Moisturizer – SPF – Concealer – Foundation – Powder – Lip primer – Lipstick – Eye primer – Eye Shadow – Eyeliner – Mascara – Highlighter – Blush – Finishing powder

Zee Avatar

Contacts, Moisturizer, Eye primer, base, 2-4 e/s & liner, curl lashes, mascara, clean off fallout, under eye moisturizer

Sunblock, concealer, foundation or bb cream, powder, blush, eyebrows. MAC Fix+

L/L, L/S & gloss♡

Cat G Avatar

If its an eyeshadow formula where I have trouble with fallout, then I do eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, blush, powder, brows, mascara and lips.
Otherwise, foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, brows, blush, powder, mascara, lips.
I guess I’m weird.

Emmm Avatar

I don’t wear foundation/BB cream everyday because I don’t have time/don’t care/etc. But in order:

moisturizer-concealer-powder-lipbalm-eyelid primer-eyebrows-eyes-blush-lips

spackie03 Avatar

I do brows, eyeshadow, concealer, banana powder, bronzer, blush, highlight, eyeliner and mascara. And then I need a drink! LOL…

Tina Avatar

I ALWAYS do my eyes first: primer potion, eyeshadow, eyeliner in my waterline only, & then set that with powder, then prime my face, concealer, foundation, set with powder, contour, blush, & highlight. Then once my face is set, I apply my cream liner on my upper lid, do my eyebrows, then curl lashes and apply mascara. Lipstick is very last. My thing is, is that I apply eyes first to clean up fallout and apply all my “wet” makeup towards the end because I don’t want to get powder over my freshly applied mascara/eyeliner… So low maintenance! bahahah

dzehnie Avatar

Always the same way. Even on clients!
Lip balm, Brows, eyeshadow, foundation, powder, mascara, blush, lip liner, lipstick and maybe some gloss, setting spray. If I’m contouring or wearing falsies, I do so before putting on lipstick.

Khalilah Avatar

Lip balm
Mix moisturizer with liquid foundation
Powder blush
Hd powder
Mac blot powder
Pencil eyebrows
Lip colour
Eye makeup optional, but might do this after base

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!