A lot of people ask me how to get a flawless face for photos or special occasions. The right makeup and makeup application techniques can make or break any photo. Here is a step by step run down of the basics to get you looking your best for photos or any special occasion.

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Skincare steps:

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize. Exfoliate once to twice a week. I love Dr. Brandts Microdermabrasion Cream or Philosophy Micodelivery Peel for exfoliation. Remember to ALWAYS wear SPF of at least 30, with an exception to film and photography makeup. Sunscreen and makeup with SPF will not photograph or film well.. However, under the harsh rays of the Arizona sun you can get premature wrinkles, sundamage and sunspots.Remember sunscreen for daily wear. Taking care of your skin is very important because after all, pretty skin is the perfect accessory to any makeup look!

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Makeup steps:

1. Start with your eyeshadow first. Eyeshadow fallout is not pretty, and it is very hard to fix when you have already applied your foundation. If you start with the eyeshadow, you can simply wipe away any fallout under they eye when you are finished. Start with an eyeshadow primer to decrease the visibility of fine lines on the lid, and to also help your eyeshadow to stay all day and into the night. I like Cambria Couture Cosmetics eye primer, Kat Von D High Voltage Primer, and Urban Decay Primer Potion. Remember to blend, blend, blend your shadow! Harsh lines in your eyeshadow, do not look good or photograph well. Try using more than one eyeshadow color. The darkest on the outer corner, midtone on the lid, and a light color on the brow bone and around the tear duct.

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2. Apply eyeliner if desired and mascara. Never line all the way around eyes that are smaller or closer together. Open the eye up and make them appear larger by only lining the outer corners. You can always set your liner with a matching shadow for longer wear, even on the water line. When applying mascara, wiggle the brush back and forth in tiny motions, going from root to tips. This helps lengthen, seperate, and prevent clumping.

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3. Apply Foundation Primer. My favorites are Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and Bare Escentuals Foundation Primer. Priming the skin before applying foundation helps to minimize pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and helps the foundtion to stay on all day. Your foundation will aply better if you use a high quality primer, creating the look of smoother skin.

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4. Apply foundation. You can use a brush to apply your foundation, or you can apply it with fingertips. Remember to have clean hands any time you touch your face! Fingers warm up the foundation and help to melt it flawlessly into your skin. A stipling brush or foundation brush can also give you and even application of foundation. Either way is a great choice, and it all depends on your personal preferrence. I don’t recommend using a makeup sponge to apply foundation. It soaks up alot of the makeup, and in most cases does not leave the skin looing the best it can.

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5. Apply setting powder. Use a pressed powder that matches your skin to add more coverage and control shine, or a loose translucent powder to control shine without adding any more color. The powder will also prevent the makeup from rubbing off.

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6. Apply bronzer, blush, and highlighter. Contour your face with a bronzer that has no shimmer in it.The shimmer can look like oily skin in photos. Apply bronzer to the hollows of the cheeks, around the hair line, on the chin, and accross the sides of the nose. Apply blush to the cheek bones. Remember to blend your blush really well. Over done blush is a beauty don’t. Apply highlighter to the upper cheekbone and the cupid’s bow if desired. You can also highlight the forehead and the chin if you would like to. I prefer powder highlighters but there are many great liquid highlighters available as well.

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7. Lips. Apply chapstick or exfoliate the lips if you have dry, chapped lips. Wipe the lips clean of any residual product. Apply lipliner all over the lips. This helps the lipstick to adhere better, and stay longer. Apply a coordinating lipstick straight from the tube, or for more precision use a lip brush. If you are going for a matte finish your lips are ready to go, but to add shimmer and shine you can add colored or clear lipgloss.

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8. Apply setting spray. My favorite setting sprays are MAC fix + for a dewy look, or Skindinavia for a matte look. Skindinavia also makes a setting spray that keeps your skin cool and sweat proof during the summer months. Hold the spray a good distance from the skin to avoid wet streaky makeup. Setting spray helps your makeup to stay on longer and your skin to look even better. After following thse steps correctly, you will be catwalk ready. Your makeup will be perfect for photos and special occasions, and most importantly you can feel confident that you look your best!

Written by Makeup Artist Dayna Dorris of Alluring Makeup.