The best start to any good make-up routine is clean, moisturized skin. Once your face is washed and hydrated, here are some fundamental things to keep in mind for a great make-up look and healthy facial skin.

- Foundation
Some people prefer a tinted moisturizer to a foundation. Whichever you choose, apply it lightly and evenly with the fingertips. A good technique is to dab a dot or two on the forehead, chin, cheeks and nose and blend in with upward strokes.

-Powder
Translucent powder is best over foundation, and whether you’re using pressed or loose powder, applying it with a soft brush creates more even coverage than the little round pads that often come with it.

-Concealer
Everyone has a blemish they want to cover from time to time, or undereye circles. Look for a concealer that approximates your skin tone and, if you can’t find your exact tone, go with the darker rather than the lighter (this is to avoid “highlighting” blemishes).

-Blush
When choosing a shade of blush, try to approximate the color of your lips (without lipstick). Apply the blush to the “apple” of your cheeks using a large, soft brush.

-Mascara
Apply mascara from the base of the lashes upward to the tip, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the next to avoid clumping.

-Eye liner
Whether your use liquid or pencils, apply it from the inside outward, gently stretching the eye outward to make the lower lid a straight line. Eye pencils should be sharpened regularly to keep the tips clean.

-Eye shadow
Eye shadow can be applied as one shade or multiple shades. Start with a neutral shade and apply it to the whole upper eye area. Then add other colors if you choose, working gently from the inside outward.

-Lipstick
Lipstick looks best when applied to moist lips, so start with a foundation of chapstick or other clear base. If you have full lips, go for lighter shades. Thinner lips can be made to look plumper by using a lip pencil on the outer edge of the lips, but take care not to use dark liner and light lipstick. Lip gloss can be applied on top of the lipstick.

-Make-up removal
Your usual cleanser should be fine for removing foundation and power. For eye make-up, you’ll need to apply something oil-based to loosen the mascara and eyeliner. Olive oil on a cotton ball is effective, as are commercial eye make-up removers. Be very gentle with the eye area; the skin is thin and delicate. Press the oil or remover-saturated cotton ball to your closed eye for a minute or so, then gently swipe from the outside inward to wipe off the make-up.

While there is expiration date on make-up, it should be replaced any time it develops an odor or texture/appearance change. Even if there is no noticeable change, make-up needs to be replaced because bacterial growth can cause pimples or other skin and eye infections. Generally, replace mascara after 3 months, concealer every 6-8 months, and all other make-up after a year.

Your face is your first impression – these basic tips can help you present a natural, vibrant look to the world.