Nearly every list of makeup steps in order follows the same logic: care for your skin, build an even base, add shape and color, finish the eyes and lips, then set the whole face. Skin care goes on before any makeup, liquids and creams go on before powders, and the smallest details come last.
Brand tutorials word it differently, but most of them follow this basic makeup order:
- Skin care and sunscreen
- Primer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Powder
- Bronzer, blush and highlighter
- Brows and eyes
- Lips
- Setting spray
Makeup steps in order at a glance
This table breaks the makeup order into the individual products a full face can include. Nobody needs all 18 every day; the last column shows which ones you can drop.
| # | Step | Why it goes here | Skippable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleanser | Everything after it sits on clean skin instead of old oil and product | No |
| 2 | Treatment (if you use one) | Dermatologists put medicated products right after cleansing | Yes |
| 3 | Moisturizer | Comfortable, hydrated skin lets the base spread and blend evenly | Rarely |
| 4 | Sunscreen | The last skin-care layer in the daytime, so makeup can go over it | Only at night |
| 5 | Primer | It sits on prepped skin and gives the base something to grip | Yes |
| 6 | Color corrector | It cancels redness or dark shadows before coverage goes on top | Yes |
| 7 | Foundation | It evens out the whole face, and every later step builds on it | Yes |
| 8 | Concealer | It covers only what foundation missed, so you use less of it | Yes |
| 9 | Setting powder | It sets the liquids and creams underneath and controls shine | Yes |
| 10 | Bronzer or contour | Warmth and shape go down first; cream formulas move before step 9 | Yes |
| 11 | Blush | Color sits on top of the shape; cream formulas move before step 9 | Yes |
| 12 | Highlighter | The brightest point goes last so other powders don’t dull it; cream formulas move before step 9 | Yes |
| 13 | Brows | After the base, so foundation doesn’t smear them; before shadow, so they frame the lid | Yes |
| 14 | Eyeshadow | It needs a clean lid, and any fallout lands before liner and mascara | Yes |
| 15 | Eyeliner | A line drawn over shadow stays crisp | Yes |
| 16 | Mascara | Lengthened lashes get in the way of shadow and liner | Yes |
| 17 | Lip liner, lipstick, gloss | Done once the rest of the face is finished, so nothing smudges it | Yes |
| 18 | Setting spray | It mists over everything, so it goes on last | Yes |
If you wear contact lenses, put them in right after step 1, with freshly washed hands, before any cream touches your fingers. The FDA’s advice on lenses and cosmetics is covered in the prep section below.
The three rules behind the order of makeup application
Knowing how to apply makeup step by step is useful, but a list only helps until you buy a product it doesn’t mention. These three principles explain the whole order of makeup application, so you can slot in anything new.
1. Skin care comes before makeup
The American Academy of Dermatology’s guidance on skin care order is short: “Wash your face,” “Apply medication or treatment,” “Apply moisturizer and/or sunscreen,” then “Apply makeup, if desired.” Makeup is a layer on top of skin care, never underneath it.
2. Liquids and creams go before powders
This is how to layer makeup without streaks. Powder absorbs moisture, so a cream or liquid pushed over it tends to grab, drag and patch. The L’Oréal Paris makeup order guide sums it up: “apply liquids and creams before powders so your base stays seamless.” If you use a cream blush or cream bronzer, it goes on before your setting powder, not after it.
3. Work from broad to fine, then set
Among the color products, foundation covers the most area, so it goes first. Concealer targets smaller spots, cheek color targets specific zones, and liner and mascara are the finest work of all. Setting spray goes over the finished face. Building each stage in thin layers, and letting each one settle before the next, is also the simplest way to avoid cakey makeup.
Before makeup: how to prep skin
Prepping skin for makeup comes down to three steps and a little patience. Makeup looks smoother on skin that is clean and comfortable, and it wears better when each layer has settled before the next goes on.
Cleanse
The AAD’s first step reads: “Wash your face. Use a gentle cleanser and gently pat dry.” Rubbing with a towel isn’t needed; patting leaves the skin calm for what comes next.
Contact lens wearers should put their lenses in now. The FDA’s contact lens care page says: “Wash and rinse your hands before touching your lenses,” and “Put in your contacts before you use makeup.” Doing it before moisturizer and sunscreen as well means no cream travels from your fingertips to the lens.
If you use hairspray, do your hair before you put your lenses in. The FDA’s everyday eye care guidance says: “Apply any aerosol products (hairspray, cologne, and deodorant) before inserting lenses.”
Treatment and moisturizer
If you use a medicated product or other skin treatment, the AAD places it right after cleansing. Follow the directions on its label or from your prescriber. Moisturizer comes next. Let it sink in until your skin no longer feels wet; primer and foundation slide around on a damp surface. L’Oréal Paris suggests waiting a few minutes after moisturizer and sunscreen before primer, if you have time.
A lip balm fits well here too. It has time to soften the lips while you do the rest of your face, and you can blot off the excess before lipstick.
Sunscreen
In the daytime, sunscreen is the final skin-care layer and makeup goes over it. The AAD’s sunscreen FAQs advise a broad-spectrum sunscreen and note that “Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.” Foundation or primer with SPF is useful, but it doesn’t replace this step. In the AAD’s words: “Some moisturizers and cosmetics have SPF. While these products are convenient, remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied approximately every two hours when you’re outdoors.”
Base makeup steps
The base is what every later step sits on. Get it thin and even, and the rest of the routine is easier.
Primer
Primer goes on after sunscreen and before foundation. It’s optional, but it can smooth texture, blur pores or control oil, depending on the formula, and it can help foundation wear longer.
A pea-sized amount is usually enough for the whole face. L’Oréal Paris advises letting it sit for at least 30 seconds, or until it’s no longer tacky, before foundation. It’s also worth knowing what primer does for your skin before you buy one.
Color corrector (optional)
Color correctors use opposite colors to cancel each other out. Green tones neutralize redness, and peach tones soften blue or purple under-eye shadows on lighter skin, while orange or red tones do the same on deeper skin. Tap a thin layer only where it’s needed. Too much will show through foundation instead of disappearing under it.
Foundation
Start in the center of the face, where most people need the most coverage, and blend outward toward the hairline and jaw. A brush, a damp sponge or clean fingers all work. Begin with a small amount and add a second thin layer only where you want more; two thin layers usually look more natural than one thick one.
Check the shade along your jawline in daylight. If the color stops at the jaw, blend it down a little so there’s no line. A skin tint or tinted moisturizer, if you use one instead of foundation, takes foundation’s place in the order.
Concealer
Most brand guides put concealer after foundation. The main exception is powder foundation: put a liquid or cream concealer on first, so cream never goes on top of powder. Emmy-winning makeup artist Nyssa Green explained her approach to Parade: “Put your foundation on first because we all tend to be a little heavy-handed with concealer.” She also noted: “Ultimately, it is a personal preference.”
Apply it only where something still shows, such as under-eye shadows, redness around the nose or a blemish. Pat it in with a fingertip, brush or sponge rather than rubbing, so it stays where you put it.
Powder
Powder sets the liquid and cream layers underneath so they last longer and shine less. Use a light hand and focus on the places that get shiny first, usually the forehead, nose and chin, plus under the eyes if your concealer tends to crease. Pressing powder in with a puff gives more hold; sweeping it with a fluffy brush gives a softer finish.
Cheeks: bronzer, blush and highlighter
With powder formulas, the usual order is bronzer, then blush, then highlighter.
- Bronzer: sweep it where the sun would naturally hit, such as the top of the forehead, the cheekbones and along the jaw. Contour is different: a cool-toned, matte shade a little deeper than your skin, placed in the hollows under the cheekbones to mimic shadow.
- Blush: smile slightly to find the apples of the cheeks, then blend up toward the cheekbones. Start with less than you think; it’s easier to add than to remove.
- Highlighter: tap a small amount on the high points, such as the tops of the cheekbones, the brow bone or the bridge of the nose.
Cream versions of any of these go on before setting powder, straight after concealer. Blend them with fingertips or a damp sponge while the base is still fresh.
Eye makeup steps
The eye makeup steps go from the frame to the finest detail: brows, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara.
Brows
Do brows once the base is done. Fill sparse areas with light, hair-like strokes rather than a solid block, then brush them into place with a clear or tinted gel.
Eyeshadow
An eyeshadow primer, or a thin layer of concealer on the lid, gives shadow an even base and helps it last. A simple way to build a look is a light shade over the lid, a medium shade in the crease and a deeper shade at the outer corner. Tap excess powder off the brush first to reduce fallout on your cheeks.
For a dark smoky eye or loose glitter, consider doing your eyes before foundation. The full-glam version below shows that order.
Eyeliner
Liner goes on after shadow, so the line sits on top and stays sharp. Pencil is the most forgiving for beginners, and you can smudge it with a small brush for a softer finish. Liquid liner gives a crisp line but shows every wobble.
Mascara
Mascara comes last for the eyes. The Charlotte Tilbury makeup order guide explains why: “If you apply mascara before your eyeshadow and eyeliner, it will be trickier to precisely apply them, as your newly lengthened, lifted lashes could get in the way!” If you curl your lashes, do it before mascara. Wiggle the wand at the roots, then pull it through to the tips.
Lips, then setting spray
Lips take four quick steps, and setting spray closes the routine.
- Blot the balm. Blot off any leftover lip balm from the prep stage so lipstick doesn’t slide.
- Line. Outline the lips with a liner close to your lip or lipstick shade. Filling in the whole lip with liner gives the color a base that wears evenly.
- Color. Apply lipstick from the center outward, then blot once on a tissue if you want it to last longer.
- Gloss. If you use gloss, add it last and keep it to the center of the lips.
- Setting spray. Hold the bottle at the distance its label gives, close your eyes and keep them closed until the mist settles, especially if you wear contacts. Let it dry without touching. This is the final step of the makeup routine.
Setting powder and setting spray do different jobs. Powder controls shine and sets the base early in the routine. Spray goes on at the end and helps everything look less powdery and hold together. Many people use both.
Where makeup guides disagree (and which order to pick)
If two tutorials have ever given you opposite answers on what order to apply makeup, neither was necessarily wrong. Brand guides from Charlotte Tilbury, L’Oréal Paris, Makeup.com, RMS Beauty and Colorescience agree on most of the makeup steps in order, but not on these.
| Question | Most guides | The other camp | When to switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concealer before or after foundation? | After foundation | Before foundation when you use powder foundation (L’Oréal Paris); Colorescience calls the order “truly a matter of preference” | Go concealer-first with powder foundation, or if you like foundation to blur its edges; stay with after if you tend to overdo concealer |
| Face or eyes first? | Face first | Eyes first for smoky or dramatic looks (L’Oréal Paris) | Dark shadow, glitter or anything with heavy fallout |
| When does powder go on? | Right after concealer (Charlotte Tilbury, RMS Beauty, Colorescience) | In the final setting step (L’Oréal Paris), or after the eyes (some personal routines) | Set early if you get oily or crease fast; later if your skin is dry |
| Where does blush go? | With bronzer and highlighter | After the lips, just before setting spray (Charlotte Tilbury) | If you often end up with too much or too little color |
| Cream cheek products and powder? | Creams before powder | Powder first, but none on the cheeks (Charlotte Tilbury) | Either works, as long as cream doesn’t go over powder |
| Brows before or after eye makeup? | Before eyeshadow (L’Oréal Paris, Charlotte Tilbury, Makeup.com) | After mascara (some personal routines) | After, if you’d rather shape brows to match the finished eye |
For the eyes-first approach, L’Oréal’s guide puts it this way: “If you’re going for smokey or dramatic eye makeup, do eyes first before foundation and concealer, then clean up the under-eye area so fallout does not disrupt your base.” Charlotte Tilbury’s case for late blush is that “When the rest of your beauty look is complete, you’ll be able to better see how much colour you need” to finish the look.
The simple rule: follow the standard order unless most of your makeup is around the eyes. Then do the eyes first.
Three versions of the makeup routine
The full 18-step makeup routine is a menu, not a requirement. The first two keep the standard order and just skip steps; the third moves the eyes to the front.
The 5-minute version
- Cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen
- Concealer only where you need it
- Cream blush, tapped on with fingertips
- Mascara
- Tinted balm or a sheer lipstick
If you’re building a first routine from scratch, start here: makeup for beginners goes more smoothly when you learn a few steps well before adding more.
The everyday version
Skin prep, primer if you like it, a light layer of foundation, concealer, powder on the T-zone, bronzer and blush, filled brows, one eyeshadow shade across the lid, mascara and lipstick. It takes longer than the 5-minute face but still skips liner, highlighter and color correcting.
Full glam, eyes first
For a full face with a strong eye, move the eyes forward: skin prep, primer, eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow and liner, then clean up any fallout under the eyes. After that, return to the normal order with foundation, concealer, powder, cheeks, brows (after the base here, so foundation doesn’t smudge them), mascara, lips and setting spray.
A look like this often goes with an evening invitation. If the outfit is still undecided, the types of dress codes explained in our Fashion section show what each one expects.
Adjusting the order for your face
The order doesn’t change much with eye shape or age, but technique does. Hooded eye makeup usually works better when you check shadow placement with your eyes open, since the crease is hidden. Makeup for older women often leans on cream formulas and less powder, because powder can settle into fine lines.
Skin type changes the details too: oily skin usually does better with a mattifying primer and powder on the T-zone, while dry skin tends to look better with cream formulas and powder only where it gets shiny.
Hygiene habits that belong in every routine
A good order is wasted if the tools or products are dirty or past their best. The FDA’s eye cosmetic safety tips are worth building into the routine itself:
- Start with clean hands: “Wash your hands before applying eye cosmetics.”
- Keep products to yourself: “Don’t share your cosmetics. Another person’s bacteria may be hazardous to you.”
- Stay still: “Never apply or remove eye cosmetics in a moving vehicle.”
- Don’t revive dried mascara: “Discard dried-up mascara. Don’t add saliva or water to moisten it.”
- Skip eye makeup when eyes are sore: “Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection or the skin around the eye is inflamed.”
- Avoid true kohl: also sold as kajal or surma, it is not approved for cosmetic use in the U.S., and the FDA explains that “Kohl consists of salts of heavy metals, such as antimony and lead.” Some eyeliners use the word “kohl” only to describe the shade.
- Stop if it irritates: “If any eye cosmetic causes irritation, stop using it immediately. If irritation persists, see a doctor.”
Brushes and sponges pick up oil and product every time you use them, so it’s worth learning how to wash makeup brushes and how to clean makeup sponges properly.
Makeup doesn’t last forever: the FDA notes that “Manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase,” and other products have their own shelf lives, so it’s worth checking whether makeup expires and how to tell. If you’re packing a small kit for a trip, check the rules on bringing makeup on a plane before you pack any liquids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sunscreen go on before or after makeup?
Before. Sunscreen is the last skin-care layer, and makeup goes on top once it has settled. SPF in foundation or primer is a bonus, not a replacement; the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reminds readers that “sunscreen needs to be reapplied approximately every two hours when you’re outdoors.” For how often to reapply, follow your sunscreen’s label.
Should you do your hair or makeup first?
Either can work. L’Oréal Paris’s guide on the question says “there is no one-size-fits-all answer,” and suggests hair first for oily skin, summer heat, a wedding day or styles that need time to set, and makeup first for heat-free styling, second-day hair or a rushed morning. If you wear contacts and use hairspray, do your hair first: the FDA advises aerosols before lenses, and lenses before makeup.
Do you put contacts in before or after makeup?
Before. The FDA’s advice is to “Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup.” The FDA also says to wash and rinse your hands first. If you use hairspray, spray it before the lenses go in. At night, reverse the order: lenses out, then makeup off.
Does setting spray go on before or after makeup?
After, as the very last step. Mist it over the finished face and let it dry without touching. Some brands sell sprays meant to double as a primer; Charlotte Tilbury says its setting spray “can be applied both before and after your foundation.” If yours says the same, follow its label, but the standard spot is still last.
Should you do eyebrows before or after foundation?
After. If you fill your brows first, foundation and concealer can smudge them as you blend. The brand guides that include brows, such as Charlotte Tilbury’s, L’Oréal Paris’s and Makeup.com’s, place them after the base and before eyeshadow, so the brows frame the lid as you work on it.
Does concealer go before or after foundation?
Usually after. Foundation evens out most of the face first, so you only need concealer where something still shows, and you tend to use less of it. The main exception is powder foundation: put a liquid or cream concealer on first, let it set, then sweep the powder over it so nothing creamy lands on top of powder.
Do you need every step?
No. In the daytime, the only steps worth keeping every time are skin care and sunscreen. Everything else is optional and depends on the look you want and how much time you have. Skipping steps doesn’t change the order; it just means some numbers on the list stay empty.
The short version
If you only remember three things about the makeup steps in order, make them these: skin care comes first, creams go before powders, and the finest details go last. A dramatic eye is the main reason to change the order.
Learning how to do makeup gets easier when you start with the steps you use every day and add the others only when you need them. When a new product comes along, ask whether it’s skin care or makeup, cream or powder, and broad or detailed. That tells you where it belongs.
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