1. Powder!!!

Powder is a key step in any makeup lover’s makeup routine. Not only does it lock your liquid foundation and concealers into place, it also provides a smooth, even surface for any other powder products you might apply later, like bronzer or blush.

Without setting powder, tackier, dewier foundations/complexion products (BB creams, CC creams, concealers, tinted moisturizers, etc.) do not fully dry down and are subject to slip and slide all over your face. That doesn’t sound like something you want your makeup to do, does it?

Without setting powder, when you go to apply something like blush directly on top of your foundation, it will stick just to the spot where you apply it and become virtually impossible to diffuse and blend throughout your cheeks. If your blush is looking a bit too bright for you, even after you’ve set your face with powder, bring that powder back out and blend it on top of the blush to mute it even more.

Not everyone can use a lot of powder, as I know dry skinned folk tend to steer clear of unnecessary powder on their faces. However, everyone’s makeup could benefit from a light dusting of powder, and the more oily you are, the more powder I would recommend applying (it will absorb some of your oils throughout the day). Depending on your personal makeup habits, you can use loose powder or pressed powders, though my personal preference is a loose powder, since I like to bake, as seen in the video above.

2. Setting spray

Setting sprays do different things for different people, and not all setting sprays are created equally. However, I think if you wear a full face of makeup and don’t want anything to move, fade, or smudge throughout your day, testing out a few setting sprays to find your perfect match is a worthwhile hunt.

For me, I use setting spray to intensify shimmery eyeshadows before I apply them (get some eyeshadow on your brush, spritz a bit of spray onto the bristles, and apply it to your eye to see the reflect really stand out) or to melt powders that seem to just sit on top of the skin into the skin. My main motive for setting spray is actually to keep my eyeshadow on my eyeballs throughout the day.

If it weren’t for quality setting spray, the thirty minutes I spent blending out and building up the colors on my eyelids would be a waste as my super greasy (yuck, I know) lids cause the eyeshadow to crease and fade into a muddy line. Tragic, right?

3. Wet your beauty sponge

Like almost all of these ‘tips,’ to some people, this suggestion is common sense. Beauty Blenders and all makeup ‘egg’ type sponges are made to be used damp! Sound weird? Let me explain.

You use this sponge to apply your foundation or complexion product(s), AKA a liquid product. This is a sponge. Sponges absorb liquid. By running your sponge under water for a few seconds, wringing out the excess water so it’s not drenched, and then using it to apply your liquid products, the sponge won’t soak up as much valuable, expensive makeup.

Using your sponge after it’s wet will help you to use less product and more flawlessly, seamlessly apply your complexion product. Isn’t that what we all want, anyway?

Oh, and, please, DAB don’t swipe.

4. Fill in those brows. I beg of you.

Eyebrows make the biggest difference in a makeup routine. Sometimes, filling in my eyebrows is my makeup routine.

Brows shape your face, and, if you wear eyeshadow, can shape how you blend your eyeshadow. Some people are fortunate enough to have naturally thick brows, but some people, like me, can’t even get them waxed because I need all the eyebrow hair I can get.

Once you see yourself with filled in brows for the first time, you’ll hopefully understand why this is such an important step in my book. You can even just start small, with a tinted brow gel to define whatever brow situation is naturally on your face, or you can take a step above that and try to do it with powder. Try lots of methods and see what you prefer, and keep in mind that as long as you like how you look, that’s all that matters.