Keep Your Makeup on All Day: For Real

Look, I'm in my thirties. I spent my teen years (and a couple before I was really a teen) pouring over fashion and beauty magazines. I spent my early twenties covered in diaper bags and burp shirts. My late twenties I was raising a preteen and other small lads. Now a couple of years into my thirties, I am watching these girls of mine blossom before my eyes. At some point in all women's lives, makeup becomes a wonder.



At first we question the lipstick and eye shadow. We dab it on at first with a slight shimmer and as an accent. Then as we do with our Iphones when they won't cooperated, we press with a firm finger smudging it with deft force. Soon family members and some friends comment on our makeup choices so we mostly retaliate in teen angst. Instead of the smoky, sexy but innocent look we were at first going for becomes a Taylor Momsen nightmare. Only until we see a photo after the fact of some great party we thought we looked great at resurfaces do we wonder how to apply these pieces of powder and tubes of cream really.

When we finally figure out how to apply these creams and powders, we wonder why they don't last. They streak, they flake, and then finally they rub off our faces leaving us with the look of a cat left in the rain. Well, with my experience in the makeup world I've got real answers. These tips won't sell any magazines but they will save you a lot of time, money and bad photo ops.

Phase 1:

  • If you want your makeup to last for the day, make sure your face is a clean slate to begin.

  • Use a face wash for your skin type and cleanse the area well. If you don't know your skin type, visit a makeup counter. They can tell you, just make sure you tip them or buy something.

  • Apply an anti-breakout serum to those spots known for breakouts. Even if you still are prone to breaking out in this area, applying this product here regularly will lessen the breakouts. If they occur again this will help the spot not turn into Mt. Kilimanjaro.

  • If you are using an Anti-Aging product, apply to those areas you are targeting lightly. No need to use the entire jar in one area.

  • Apply a light, light moisturizer on all over. Allow to dry at least 5 minutes. Brush your teeth during this time.

Phase 2:

  • Apply your foundation using a wedge sponge. Sweep across your entire face, lids, lips, jawline and under your eyes.

  • Allow to dry. Floss your teeth now.

  • Apply one more light layer of foundation in spots known to run easily. These include your cheeks, your forehead and your jawline. Pay special attention underneath your eyes. You may want to use a concealer here to lighten up the area here but be careful not to go too light here.

  • Allow to dry: Listerine time!

  • Use a pressed powder and sweep across all areas you just covered with your foundation. Make sure you get your neck also.

Phase 3:

  • Apply a light color on your lids extending to your eyebrow.

  • If you choose to use another color, apply just on your lid. Apply lightly for daytime and put a little more jab into it for night.

  • Extending your darker color towards the outer corner of your eye for a more dramatic look.

  • Curl you lashes, pulling the eye lash curler towards the ceiling when you curl. Yes, this hurts a tad but your lashes with thank you. They look amazing this way.

  • Apply your mascara.

  • Use blush: A rosy cheek adds color and depth to your face.

  • Apply to the apples of your cheeks until you can see it. Then add a little more.


Phase 4:

  • Choose your lip color choice wisely.

  • The younger you are the less color you need on your lips because your natural color is still very evident. A dab of gloss is perfect.

  • The older you become, and yes it does happen, the less color you have in your lip. Choose a bare lip color you adore and stick with it. Choose other colors for special occasions.

  • Yes, applying lipstick is inevitable. This is the one area that is never done. Think of it as your masterpiece; a dab may always be needed.


Leigh Ann Fisher is a Yahoo! Shine Beauty Guru and a Lifestyle Blogger at LeighAnnFisher.com. You can follow her on Facebook , or Instagram.