What order do you apply your makeup?

[Karren Hutton]

I've asked this on a makeup forum and surprising got more variations than I would have expected.. Many women don't have to use all th products and many do them in different orders.. So how do you do yours?

For me its:

I usually dress first then
Lip plumper
Moisturizer
Foundation Primer
Concelaer
Foundation
Eye Brows
Eye Shadow Primer
Eye Shadow
Eye liner
Mascara
Clean up any fallout below the eyes and touch up foundation
Lip Liner
Lipstick
Touch up foundation around lips
Blusher
Powder
Hair
Jewelry
Done

I like the top down approach (gravity being what it is and all) so don't contaminate anything below expect my cheeks which clean up easily. Sometimes I powder my cheeks early on to facilitate cleaning.

[Anita]

Hi Karren--
I generally don't put any clothing on until I've applied the foundation and the powder, because the powder can go everywhere, and does.

I do put on hose while I'm waiting for the foundation to set up. Then I apply the powder. Once that's out of the way, I do the eyebrows. Then I concentrate on the eyes. I line them, and then do eye shadow.

Blush is next, and then lip pencil and lipstick.

Dressing comes next to last, because that's the (relatively) easy part. I can rush that if I have to, whereas, I don't want to rush foundation and eye makeup.

Then I comb the wig, and get it adjusted. After it's on, I put some eyelash glue on my clip-on earrings, and set them in place. If I have time, I do nail polish, but that's just not a big deal to me.

There's not always as much time as I would like to do all that needs to be done. False eyelashes can go by the wayside, for instance, and I just add more mascara. I don't use false eyelashes for anything but going onstage, anyway.

[Karren Hutton]

I always get foundation all over the inside of my tops when I put them on last.. Maybe my tops are too tight? Lol. And I always get eye shadow all over my eye liner if I do the liner before the e/s... and end up doing it twice.. You never wear false eye lashes when your just going out enfemme and not performing, Anita?

[Anita]

I always get foundation all over the inside of my tops when I put them on last..

Ah, that's where my scrambling-in-the-dark method comes in. I've got all the makeup on, and it's time for that top, right? I put an old t-shirt over my face, and then slide the top or the dress over that. It takes several tries sometimes, but there's no makeup transfer--no tops or dresses were smeared in the making of this epic!

Eye shadow versus eye liner? --I'm still dealing with that wrestling match. Generally I do have to apply the liner twice.

As for false eyelashes--I just feel that they're too 'flashy' for everyday wear. I even feel that way about mascara; I tend to just brush my lids with some dark eyeliner, and let it go at that. I feel like I blend in better without them, but I may be totally off-base on this one.

I used to shy away from false eyelashes because I had such a difficult time getting them to place properly. I was using a thin line of glue on a toothpick, like I'd been instructed. My drag queen band mate said, "Apply the glue thick! It disappears when it dries." He was right, and my false eyelash technique went up several notches at that point. I could get them positioned where I wanted them, AND, they stayed on! Wow!

[Rik]

I dont have all the skin products,but this is the order I put on what I have.

Foundation
powder
eye shadow
eye liner
mascarra
lippy
blusher
dress
wig

[DonnaT]

About the same order as you, Karren.

But I don't use the primers.

Sometimes I reapply concealer after the foundation.

[Kimberly Kael]

The ordered things in varies a little depending on whether I'm looking to do something more dramatic, but for a relatively neutral daytime look it's pretty much ...

Shower
Hair smoother applied, then clipped back
Moisturizer
Spot concealer as needed (not most days)
Powder foundation
Blush, blended using a little light powder
Eye shadow
Eyeliner
Getting dressed
Hair styling, additional product per style
Jewelry, usually just earrings and wedding ring
Lip liner and gloss
Mascara

Why do I wait so long to do my mascara? Doesn't it run the risk of requiring eyeshadow touch-up? Yes it does, but it is also the most likely to stain clothing, along with lip product, since everything else I use is just powder. As a result it's the one thing I'm most likely to forget when I'm in a hurry, so I have a spare mascara in my car for those days.

For an evening look I'm more likely to get dressed before doing my eyes to coordinate color palettes.

[Karren Hutton]

About the same order as you, Karren.

But I don't use the primers.

Sometimes I reapply concealer after the foundation.

I don't know how many women I've heard that put concealer on last? And I still don't understand all the color correcting concealers yet.. One day I was going to the grocery store and this little lady was setting in her car putting lipstick on her upper lip.. I'm like???? First I thought she had a stroke and just missed her lips till I realized she was color correcting.. Lol.

[DonnaT]

I don't know how many women I've heard that put concealer on last?

That's is what the ladies at the makeup counters have been telling them to do.

I don't know why.

[NieA]

Im probably doing this wrong so point it out if ever... ehm

til I really get this right consistently I do these first
foundation on the eye area
eyeliner

then if its ok:
moisturizer
makeup primer(dont know what its called I left it at home)
smoothing veil
mattifying veil
foundation
concealer
eyeshadow
blush
powder
lip conditioner
lip stick
lip gloss

[Karren Hutton]

There is no wrong way to do makeup, its what ever works for you.. I love reading how other people do their makeup since I always find some small thing I can do to make mine look better..

[Alana]

Karren,

My routine is usually as follows:

Clothing, except a top.
Moisturizer
Foundation
Concealer
Powder
Eye Shadow
Eyeliner
Mascara
Blush
Lipliner
Lipstick
Lip gloss
Top
Wig
Artificial nails

Voila!

Alana

[DanteCarrie (FTM)]

If i'm wearing makeup lol
either:
eye liner,
mascare,
cover stick
then powder or if no eye makeup then cover stick then power. thats all i ever wear

[Elizabeth]

Hi Girls,

Shower, shave body, shave face, moisturizer, baby power, dry hair, hose(if wearing), clothes. That is all pre-makeup. Then:

Pluck eyebrows
Concealer
Foundation
Packed powder
Eyeliner
Eyebrow pencil
Mascara
Eye shadow(if wearing)
Blush(if wearing)
Wig
Earrings
Other accessories(watch, bracelet, etc.)
Shoes

Love always,
Elizabeth

[Shelley]

Hi!
For me it's :

Foundation
translucent powder with color tone
lip gloss light pink
mascara - always waterproof
and finally - a spritz of Light Blue by Dolce Gabana : )