Getting Started

This is a basic sequence that makes practical sense. You can certainly skip steps, if you want. And of course the amount of time you spend on each feature will vary according to where you want the most emphasis. Just enjoy every minute you spend in front of the mirror. Don't rush! When you work slowly, you can evaluate the effects of each step better -- and you won't find yourself in the position of having an "overdone" anything. By Sonia Kashuk

Step 1

Begin any makeup application with moisturized skin and conditioned lips (find a facial moisturizer and a lip balm you love and use them religiously). If you overdo it, simply blot the skin with tissue. Review your face -- do you need more concealer or foundation? Here, you see a hard edge of foundation, with the rest blended out. The true test of a color match comes when you start patting and blending it out.

Step 2

We put foundation over the eyelids; concealer under the eyes, and around the nostrils.

Step 3

We use powder to take away the shine but leave a healthy sheen -- just a bit on a large powder brush, swept around her entire face


Step 4

Next: the "drop cloth" trick of depositing extra powder under the eyes to catch any eye makeup fallout.

Step 5

On to the eyes: Aubergine shadow goes across the lid, from the lashline to slightly beyond the crease, where it fades away. I worked with a minimal amount of product on a large shadow brush. Just one shade of shadow -- that's it, for this look! Then a thin veil of powder sets and blends the edges. Note: As long as the shadow you use is a powder, you can go back and add more -- even after it's set with translucent powder -- to get to the level of intensity you want. Then dust with translucent powder again.

Read the entire article. "