1.
Set yourself up in a well-lit area with a mirror, preferably near a sink. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and wash your face with your usual product. Rub a little lotion into your hands and over your face, and wait a minute or two for it to soak in.
2.
Start with concealer. If your concealer is the kind with its own sponge-tipped applicator, use that. Otherwise, put a tiny dab of moisturizing lotion into the palm of your hand, roll one end of a cotton swab in it to dampen it a little. This will prevent the swab from absorbing too much concealer, allowing for a lighter touch. Apply the concealer with the dampened swab, a little at a time, and only where you need it. If you have freckles, don't even think about trying to cover them up with concealer -- everyone else loves them, and you should too!
3.
Apply foundation. With liquid or mousse foundation, squeeze a very small amount into the palm of your hand. Take the index and middle fingers of your other hand, dip them into the foundation and tap them on the side of your hand a little to remove excess product. With a solid foundation, take a little product directly with your fingers. Start with your forehead, tap-tap-tapping your fingers very gently and evenly over the skin. Only take more foundation with your fingers when absolutely necessary.
4.
Before moving on to another part of your face, dampen a cotton ball with a tiny dab of lotion and squeeze the ball so that the lotion soaks in rather than sits on the surface. Blend the foundation on your forehead with a gentle, circular, tapping motion, rather than wiping. Repeat for the rest of your face, one area at a time.
5.
Wash your hands with soap and water, then moisturize them with lotion. Roll a new cotton swab over the surface of your eyeshadow. Blow on the swab or tap it on the edge of the sink to remove excess powder. Position a tissue under your lower eyelashes to catch any sprinkles of eyeshadow that may fall where they are not supposed to. Apply eyeshadow as you usually would with a brush, but use a very gentle touch, starting with less shadow and adding more only as you need it. Use a brand-new cotton swab if you apply a second or third shadow color. To blend the shadow, use a new, dry cotton swab, leaving the tissue in place while you blend.
6.
Wash and moisturize your hands again. Apply eyeliner and mascara as usual. Apply your lipstick the old-fashioned way: Swipe it on, squeeze your lips around a tissue and repeat. Take the lipstick with you for touch-ups through the night.
7.
To apply blush, take a cotton ball and tease it apart with your fingers a little to make it fluffier. Barely swipe it over the surface of your blush, then blow on the cotton ball to remove excess powder. Apply blush where you normally would with a brush, barely touching your cheeks with the cotton ball. Start with a tiny amount and add more only if you really need it.
If the mascara looks a little clumpy, there is a solution, although you'll have to sacrifice a little of your mascara. Take the applicator and wipe off as much mascara as you can on the rim of the tube. Wash the brush thoroughly under hot water, using a tiny bit of soap, until it is completely clean. Let it dry completely, or use a hair dryer if you are in a rush. Use the dry, clean brush as you would an eyelash comb. You can also use it to tame your eyebrows.
