Women use makeup to enhance their natural beauty. Following these instructions will help you will learn how to apply makeup for all occasions. Begin by washing your face. Use a gentle cleanser that does not dry out the skin. Follow up with a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. Cover your clothing with a towel to protect it while you do your makeup application.

Concealer comes next

Even top models don't have flawless skin. Concealer hides any blemishes or undereye circles. Select a color one shade lighter than your foundation. Using your ring finger, put dots of concealer over any blemishes and undereye circles. Blend it in with the tip of that finger or a makeup sponge. You can use either a liquid concealer or a solid type.

Foundation is the base

A liquid foundation that matches your skin tone exactly is the best choice. Start by putting it on in dots over the middle of your face. Use your fingertips or a makeup sponge to spread it out until it covers your entire face. The foundation will cover the concealer.

To keep the foundation in place, dust on loose or pressed powder in the same color with a brush or powder puff. You can take a compact with pressed powder with you for touchups later.

The eyes have it

There are several steps in how to apply makeup around the eyes. Start with the eyebrows. If they have been plucked excessively, you will need to create a browline using eyebrow pencil or powdered shadow. These products can also fill in any gaps in the natural brows. Eyebrow pencil can look harsh and unnatural unless used carefully. To apply powdered eyebrow shadow, use a hard slanted brush.

Eye shadow should coordinate with your eye color and your skin tones. Use dark eye shadow to line the edge of your upper eyelid, following along above the upper lashes. Medium colored eye shadow is placed above that and up to the crease of the eye. Light eye shadow goes from there to just under the eyebrow. For day wear, use matte colors. Gleaming or sparkling colors are more appropriate for evening.

Wet a cake eyeliner in a darker coordinating color to bring out the eyes more and apply it in a thin line on the bottom edge of the upper eyelid using a brush. If you wish the eyes to appear larger, apply the eyeliner only on the upper eyelid, extending the line about one-half inch beyond the corner of the eye. Women with large eyes or who prefer a more dramatic evening look may also apply eyeliner on the edge of the lower lid below the eyelashes. Make sure the lines are thin to avoid a raccoon appearance. Eyeliner pencil can be used instead of the cake eyeliner.

Mascara is the last step in the eye part of makeup application. Again, select a color based on your skin tone, using dark brown if you are fair and black for darker skin. Navy or plum can be used for evening, but are not really appropriate for work. Dip the applicator into the tube and gently wave it over the upper and lower lashes. Wait a few minutes for it to dry before applying a second coat. This will help avoid clumping. For evening, you may wish to use an eyelash curler to get a more exotic look, but be sure to do this before applying mascara.

Blush adds life

Blush comes in both powder and gel forms. Whichever you choose, apply it sparingly to avoid looking like a clown. Find the apples of your cheeks by smiling and then put the blush either on them or just below, whichever is more flattering to you.

Kissable lips

Pick a lipstick color that goes with both your skin tone and your outfit. Either apply it from the tube or use a lipstick brush as professional makeup artists do. Add lip liner around the edges of the lips after the lipstick has been applied. Make sure the lipliner color is a similar shade to the lipstick, as very dark lipliner with pale lipstick will look silly.

Be safe with your cosmetics

Cosmetics don't last forever. They can become contaminated with bacteria, so to be safe they should be discarded once they get old. This is especially important for mascara which should not be kept longer than one year after it is first used. Avoid risking health problems by not sharing cosmetics with other people.

Now that you know how to apply makeup, why not practice before your next big event? By following these instructions, you'll look great wherever you go.

About the author:

Jean Feingold is a copywriter for Catalogs.com. Catalogs.com is the Internet's leading source for print and online catalog shopping - and a growing hub of original content and "how to" information at http://www.catalogs.com>www.catalogs.com.