Makeup Essentials Checklist

Choose a creamy formula that can hide under-eye circles and cover blemishes.

You don’t need to slather it all over your face—just in places where you see uneven skin tone or discoloration. If you don’t need as much coverage as foundation provides, consider a tinted moisturizer instead.

Look for a warm tone to add a pop of color to the apples of your cheeks.

A quick, light dusting of powder sets makeup and controls shine.

There’s no better way to define your eyes than by enhancing your lashes. Stick with basic black (or dark brown if you have light hair and lashes).

A neutral beige or taupe is an instant brightener when swiped all over the lid.

Choose a medium, neutral shade like a warm brown or charcoal gray. Brush it in the crease of the eye, under the brow bone, to add depth.

You can use your darker shade of eye shadow as a liner along the lashes—or use a dark brown or black pencil to create a thin line that will define and enhance your eyes.

How about some color? Lipstick (or gloss, if you want a more casual look) is the perfect antidote to the blahs.

Have one big, rounded brush to dust on powder once you’ve finished your makeup.

This brush is a bit smaller than your powder brush and is the right size for dabbing the cheeks and blending along the cheekbones.

An all-over brush that gets your lid covered in one swipe.

This smaller, rounded brush will get into the crease when you add a darker shade for definition.

A small, flat, angled brush can be used to line the eyes or add a bit of brow powder to thin eyebrows.

Clean up any stray hairs around your brows that sprout up in between brow appointments.