1. Use waterproof mascara.  It won’t smear or run beneath your eyes by the end of the day like most regular, non-waterproof mascara will.
2. Lipstick with a blue/cool undertone will make your teeth appear whiter.  Blue counter-acts yellow and will give the illusion of brighter, whiter teeth. There are of course some provisos on this, if you have very warm toned skin, a blue toned lip color could look ‘off’.  So, here’s what you want to do:  Use a warm tone lip color on the outer part of your lips, this will blend and compliment your warm skin tone, then on the inner part of your lips nearest to your teeth, use a cool toned lip color.  This is going to make your teeth look whiter. Also, using this tone variation can give you plumper, fuller looking lips.
3. Set your foundation with powder.  Powder over your foundation will help it stay all day.  It will absorb the natural oils and moisture in your skin prolonging the wear of your makeup. Now, don’t just fluff it on, set it by pressing it gently into your skin.  Make sure that your foundation is blended well into your skin, as too much moisture will make the powder look thick and cakey. No matter how good of a setting spray you have, nothing out performs setting powder for all day wear.
4. Light before dark.  Apply your light shadows first, then the dark, as this will keep the light shades from getting muddy while you blend.
5. Lift your Brow.  When applying your eye liner, lift up your eyebrow to get a flat line.  Doing so will tighten up the skin on your lid for smooth application without any “skips”.
6. Clean your brushes.  Clean brushes will apply your makeup more quickly and cleanly.  A clean brush will also keep your colors bright and true.  So wash your personal brushes at least once a month. (Also, ew!  Who wants dirty brushes?  All those ugly bacteria running around…..)
7. Don’t Powder your eyelids.  Leaving your eyelids moist from your liquid foundation or cream concealer will make your eye shadows wear longer.  The moisture will “grab” the shadow and make it stay.
8. Use blush LIGHTLY.  Blush adds healthy color to a face, giving the impression of youth, life and health, but it is NOT a contour!  It should be applied lightly onto the apples of your cheeks (Where the actual cheek bone is) and not beneath the cheek bone where your contour goes.
9. Blend.  Blend, blend, blend your eye shadows.  Un-blended shadows can leave hard lines and make your eye shadow appear unfinished. Blending your colors leaves a beautiful gradation which gives a finished, polished look.
10. Do your eyebrows.  Even if you have naturally dark brows, adding a little bit of powder or pencil to them will help define and finish off your face. Choose a shade 1-2 shades lighter than your head hair and use lightly just to add conformity to your brows.

Method Makeup Academy, Sacramento’s Makeup School