Being a makeup artist is a tough gig. Starting my freelance business, Because Makeup at 17 years old, and diving into the art of makeup years and years before that, it's gotten to the point where people are so used to seeing me without makeup, that if I go bare-faced for the day I get asked questions like "Oh my gosh, Em! Are you feeling okay? You look awful!" Or my personal favorite, "Wow, did you get any sleep last night?" to which I reply, "Hey, I may have bags under my eyes, but at least they're designer." So here is the makeup routine of a professional makeup artist going through the joys and excitement of what each new bare-face morning brings.

1. Moisturizer and Primer

Two CRUCIAL components of the foundation of makeup. I compare it to the concrete slab underneath a house. It's what is the building block and the stabilizer. I use Lubriderm lotion, but you can use any sort of moisturizing lotion you want; as long as it's not scented. Most people don't think about a setting cream primer but really, this is what keeps your makeup from looking "cakey." I'm HUGE on drugstore brand products if it's not something I feel the need to splurge on, so I use Revlon's Photo Ready Perfecting Primer 001. You can just apply those two with your hands and rub them in until it's not still all over oily.

2. Under-eye Concealer (liquid and loose powder)

If you're prone to lovely purple circles under your eyes then this step is definitely to be taken advantage of. For liquid concealer, I use Neutogena's Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfecter in the color Buff. This product comes in a silver twist tube for easy application. I have a Peaches and Cream-ish skin tone, but they have a variety of different colors. Apply this as an upside-down triangle under both eyes and BLOT (not rub or smear) until blended. I use a beauty blender (available at any beauty store or drug store) but you can use your fingers as well. You can also use this to cover any blemishes you may have. Next comes the loose powder concealer. Because of the intensity of my zombie eyes, I splurged and got myself bareMineral's Eye Brightener in the color Well-Rested. And let me tell you, after I apply it (with a must have soft beauty blender), I look like I got a solid 10 hours of sleep.

3. Foundation

This is another product I splurged on just because my skin tone is very hard to match. I use Benefit's Better Than BB Big Easy Liquid to Powder foundation in the color Light/Medium. Either applied with a fluffy brush or blotted on with another beauty blender, this product is my saving grace. AND is has SPF 35. SCORE!

4. Eyebrows

To get those eyebrows on fleek, I recommend watching some YouTube tutorials to find just the right look for you just because everyone's brows are shaped differently. Personally, I style mine with a light brown powder and a thin, sharp-edged brush. Make sure that if you have dark hair, you use a color a couple shades lighter than your hair color that way your brows aren't blinding.

5. Highlight, Contour, Blush, and Illuminate

PERSONAL FAVORITE! There are so many ways and products people contour, it is so confusing and insane. I've tried them all, and finally I've settled on a liquid blot-on highlight and again, after months of looking around for just the right contour, I yet again splurged on the Anastasia Beverly Hills' Contour Kit in the shade Light to Medium. Let me tell you, when I opened this kit, I saw heaven in my very hands. In my opinion, it is worth the $40 purchase. Going back to the highlight, I use a much cheaper outlet of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in the color Brightener. It comes with a nifty sponge top for blotting a twist up top for more product to come out. Blot this in with a beauty blender (ALL ABOUT THE BLENDERS!!). For the contour, use the dark color with a thin brush. Again, look up makeup tutorials for where to apply these products just because everyone's face shape is different. Ultimately, you will be bringing out your cheekbones, jawline, and slimming your nose. Blush may be one of the trickiest products to buy just because of your skin tone. I would suggest walking into your local Sephora and asking someone to help you find your color. That's how I found mine! Buy an angled brush and apply the blush just on your upper cheekbone; NOT all the way down your cheek. That will take away everything you've accomplished with the highlight. Get a HUGE fluffy brush and blend, blend, blend, until you get that flawless mix. Lastly comes the illuminator. I didn't realize how magical this product was until I purchased it. Using Urban Decay's 8-hour Afterglow Powder Highlighter in the color Sin, apply this with a fluffy brush across your cheeks for that sparkly glow.

6. Setting Powder

Another important product, this goes hand in hand with the setting primer. I use NYX's HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder and apply with a fluffy brush. This will set everything you've done and seal it all in place. Make sure you hold your breath, or else you'll get a nose full of powder and believe me - that is NOT fun.

7. Eye Shadow

Go crazy! I must admit; I am stuck in my makeup rut - I do a simple smokey eye every day. Although I dream of owning a real Naked Pallatte, I am a broke (almost) college kid. So, I bought the knockoff Maybelline The Nudes and it works just as well. Buy a simple set of assorted brushes. Take a small one and take a very light color to the corner of your eyelid. Take a slightly bigger brush with a medium color to the center of your lid. Finally, take a small rounded brush and add either black or dark brown to the outer corner. Take a thin brush and add grey to the crease of your eye and blend it all together with a blending brush (another must-have). And there you have it! The simple Smokey Eye!

8. Eyeliner and Mascara

I love love love gel liner. It goes on easy and stays on all day. I use Sonia Kashuk's 03 Ebony with a sharp angled brush. Apply the liner however you want! I usually do a complete all the way around - bottom and waterlines included. For mascara, I use Loreal's Voluminous Carbon Black and I have never loved a mascara more in my entire life. Va-va-volume!

9. Setting Spray

As you can tell, I am all about setting makeup. I have a naturally oily face, so setting spray in one last thing that I splurged on. I use the Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray in Oil-Control. All you need is about three spritzes and you're good to go.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Emmie Pombo gets her face the way it is. Enjoy my secrets!