Step 1: Even Out the Skin

Everyone has something she wants to cover up. Dark circles are probably the biggest problem, but there are also broken capillaries, blemishes, and other skin discolorations. You don’t have to cover every square inch of your face with a thick coat of base. Use a foundation to touch up only those areas that need it, just to even out your skin tone.

Foundations come in liquid, cream, cake, and stick form, but makeup artists say stick varieties are the most user-friendly. “A stick foundation is sheer enough to blend over undereye circles and opaque enough to conceal a pimple,” says New York City makeup artist Liz Michael. Choose one that’s creamy but not too greasy in texture, neutral or yellow-based (since yellow tones neutralize the red in your skin), and a shade that matches your natural skin tone exactly. The best place to test foundations is along the jawline — the color that disappears into your skin is the right one for you.

If you’re in a rush, try mixing your foundation and moisturizer — it will save you the time of slathering on two products, and it will simplify application. “It’s easier to put on a tinted moisturizer than it is to use a sponge to get a full coverage of foundation,” says Tobi Britton, owner of the Makeup Shop in New York.

Step 2: Define the Eyes

The first thing people notice about a person is her eyes, so it’s no surprise that the experts recommend playing them up. The easiest way to do this is with mascara. “A coat of mascara really opens up the eyes and makes you look more awake,” says makeup artist Sonia Kashuk.

Like foundation, mascara is available in a variety of formulas. Professional makeup artists use thickening mascaras on almost everyone, except those with naturally full lashes, in which case they switch to a lighter-formula lash darkener. If you wear contact lenses, make sure that the mascara you use has been ophthalmologist tested.

Black mascara works on just about anyone. But if your lashes are blond or red, try brown instead.