Its the difference between polished beauty style and overdone, ready for the circus.   

The key to your success?  This first step...

Knowing how to achieve a flawless, or near flawless (we are not all makeup pros in the making), application of foundation, concealer and powder.  

Your Goal? Makeup that is fresh, polished, feature enhancing and difficult to detect. Even if you are brilliant at every other step of your makeup routine, if you mess up this first phase of how to apply makeup, these undesired results will dominate your makeup application (no matter how great your eye makeup looks): off color match poorly blended, streaky excessive "pan-cakey" shiny skin irritation/ blemishes apparent dark circles

Of coarse...

Starting with your skin at its best, most healthy state, will ease the management of the above concerns.

You can take control and improve the appearance of your skin with Mario Badescu Skin Care - Click here

How To Apply Makeup: Getting it right...

To begin with, figure out what's best for you.

Consider the options available to you...The sheer volume of product options can overwhelm you, so by pass the extraneous product by establishing in your mind a few details about your own needs and your desired results.

There are lots of cosmetic companies producing these products, each with a variety of formulations i.e.. oil-free, water based, with sunscreen etc., and a variety of formats i.e.. liquid, compact, stick, and powder.  Not to mention adding to the mix, things like tinted moisturizers and skin illuminators...

  When making your choice, make sure you are complimenting your skin type needs, your skin tone and your desired results.

Example: pressed powder foundation will compliment oily skin-refer to chart

  Natural light and your jaw line are the best test for color matching foundation, concealer and powder tones.  

You can ask for the assistance of a knowledgeable professional if you aren't confident in your assessment.

How To Apply Makeup: What comes first?...

Although there may be a variety of opinions among the pros on what makeup is applied first and what technique to be used in it's application, I think we can all agree that it depends on the on the occasion, individual skin needs and individual desired results.  

In other words, after considering the general rule of thumb, your own needs will shape the choices you make and experience is truly the best teacher.

Generally speaking

I think for *most individuals, foundation  first,  followed second by concealer, is the most aesthetic and practical way to go. Once you have applied your foundation, you can then assess what, if any other coverage is necessary.  

Powder, third if the rest of your makeup application is powder based ie. powder blush, bronzer, eye makeup etc.  

If you like the moist look of cream blush or bronzer, then these would come before dusting with powder.

* Professional applications follow the criteria that meet the needs of film and lighting ie. photography and motion.