Makeup for graduation photos

On the face I primed with Nyx porefiller primer and let it sit for 3 minutes, then I added Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12-hr full coverage foundation with SPF in "Medium Sand" and mixed it with Maybelline Fit me  Matte + poreless foundation in "Sun Beige" and blended it with a beauty blender. I added Maybelline Fit me concealer in "Light" as a triangle shape on her under eye area and blended it softly with a domed brush from Real techniques. I added Ben Nye translucent heavily on the under eye area and left it on while I did the eyes and dusted the rested of the face lightly. For the eyebrows I used Anastasia Beverly hills brow wiz in "Chocolate" and just lined the bottom and the top of the brow lightly and then swept it through the brows as if I was coloring but holding the pencil lightly. I used a skin toned concealer to clean under the brows and a concealer brush. I used too faced shadow insurance on the eyes to prevent creasing, then I put the Nyx jumbo pencil in the color "Yogurt" on the inner corner all the way to the mid eye lid and rubbed it lightly with my finger to defuse it. I used Lorac cosmetics Pro palette's "white" shadow on the lid, then "nude" on the mid lid  and makeupgeek cosmetics "Crème Brûlée" and "Peach smoothie" on the crease and blended it until I felt it was blended enough. I used "taupe" and "sable" from the Lorac Pro palette on the outer corner and the lower lid and finally "champagne" on the inner corner. Now, I dusted all the powder off the under eye area and blended lightly. I used demi whispies eyelashes to finalize the eye area. For contour I used Mac studio fix powder "C6" and Motives cosmetics for la la mineral blush "Carme-la" on her cheeks. On the lips I used Jordana easyliner for lips in "rose crush" and Milani cosmetics lipstick "Naturally chic" on top of that. Voila! and to set everything I finished with Urban decay's all night setting spray.

Makeup Basics..

Im am honestly surprised that many people dont really know the basics of makeup, the steps, and what goes first. I have been asked several times so i'm thinking maybe alot of other people dont know these things. So let me tell you the basics. 

Step 1-Moisturize. Although many people with oily skin feel like moisturizing will make them more oily, it is actually the opposite. The reason you get so oily is because your skin is trying to replace your natural oils that you washed off during cleansing. I was really oily around the T-zone area(forehead, nose, cheeks, chin) but once i started moisturizing, i noticed i was less oily. 

Step 2-Prime. A good face primer is essencial before applying makeup. I have heard a few people say they dont use primer and rather not use it. But i have experienced better makeup application when i have primer underneath my foundation. Primer creates a light layer between makeup and your skin so the foundation is not directly on the skin,it will look alot smoother and will make your foundation last longer.

Step 3-Foundation. All i gotta say about this is make sure it matches your neck, make sure its oil-free, and make sure it has what you are looking for. Do u want full coverage and hide blemishes, spots, whatever you are trying to cover or do you want something light-weight to just even out your skin tone? Another thing is your foundation and primer both have to have the same ingredient like water or oil. If your primer has water but your foundation has oils then its going to separate on your skin. Oil separates when poured in water right? Well same with makeup.

Step 4-Powder. After you have your foundation on, give it 3-5min to set into your skin. Use a  powder to set your makeup. Alot of translucent powders are too white and make you look pale or like a ghost when you take pictures with flash, so what i do is use a tinted powder. I use a mixture of Ben Nye's Banana Powder and Translucent Powder. I dust a little bit all over my face then i go back with my beauty blender and bounce it all over my face, it gives me a more natural finish.

Step 5-Setting spray. It is a weightless mist that keeps makeup looking just-applied for hours. It gets rid of the powder look on the face. Theres different types: long-lasting, oil-free, stay matte, dewy finish. It just depends on what you are looking for. 

And thats is all on the basics. Of course then theres conturing, highlighting, eyeshadow but those are all different areas ;)