Make-up should make you look and feel great. To feel your best you need to be comfortable with the way you look. Everyone has a beautiful face and one distinctive feature, which is her very best. The purpose of make-up is to accentuate those beautiful features.

Remember -- the art of make-up application is one that is learned, and only mastered by practice.

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1. Eye-Shadow
The purpose of an eye shadow primer is to protect the eye area, prevent discoloration or uneven application and keep shadows from creasing. Apply over the entire eye area from the base of the lashes up to the brow.

2. Concealer
The purpose of concealer is to mask imperfections: blemishes, discoloration, dark circles, lines and wrinkles, distended capillaries, etc. Smooth concealer onto clean face, covering minor flaws and under-eye circles.

3. Lip Base
The purpose of a lip base is to help lipstick adhere, prevent discoloration and bleeding. Apply moisturizer to the lips and then top with foundation to create a smooth surface for applying lip liner and lipstick. Apply all over the lips and the edge of the mouth. Ideally it should be put on under lipstick.

4. Foundations
Foundation protects. Apply foundation with fingertips or cosmetic sponge using outward, sweeping strokes, carefully blending along jaw line and hairline. Never put foundation on neck. Choose your foundation formula based on your skin type, lifestyle and personal preference. Always match the color by testing on the jaw line. Apply foundation with a facial sponge, preferably dampened.

5. Blush
The purpose of blush is to add color to the cheeks and accentuate the shape of the face. Always stroke color downwards from top of cheekbone below the temple and blend color inward to no closer to the nose than the width of two fingers. Powder blushes tend to "grab" oily areas creating a blotchy application, so always apply face powder or foundation first.

• For oval shaped faces, apply color from the center of the eye, no lower than the bottom of the nose upwards towards the temples.
  
• For faces that are round, apply color from the inside corner of the eye, no lower than the bottom of the nose, upward towards the temples. A more vertical slant will give the illusion of a thinner, longer face.
  
• For faces that are long and narrow, apply color from the outside corner of the eye, no lower than the bottom of the nose, upward towards the temples. A more horizontal slant will give the illusion of a wider face.
  
• For square shaped faces, apply blush to bottom of cheekbone and brush upwards. Be careful not to get too close to the nose as it will make the squareness of the jaw look larger.

6. Brows
The purpose of brow powder or pencil is to reshape and define the brows to frame the eyes, and thus add balance and expression to the face. Use a light color powder and apply with small short strokes to naturally shape and define brows. Brow should begin above inner corner of eye and arch just above the outer edge of the iris. Brow should end at a point just past the outside corner of the eye.

7. Eye shadows
Eye shadows accentuate the color of the eyes and the shape. Apply using sponge-tip applicator. Shadow goes over the entire lid and brow bone. Eye shadow application depends on eye patterns which are described as: deep set; protruding lid; small or narrow; droopy, puffy or mature; close set; or wide set.

• For deep set eyes , apply a light to medium toned matte shadow to the lid. Blend the shadow around the outer corner of the eye. Avoid light, frosty or extremely dark shadows. Line the outer half of the eyes, widening at the outer corner. Smudging the liner and shadow is sometimes effective.
  
• For protruding lids , apply a deep or smoky matte shadow to the lid. Blend the shadow around the outer corner of the eye. Avoid light, frosty or extremely dark shadows. Line the outer half of the eyes, widening at the outer corner. Smudging the liner and shadow is sometimes effective.
  
• For small or narrow eyes , blend a light shadow on the inside corner of the lid. Blend a deep toned shadow on the outer corner, extending past the eye. Blend the crease shadow upward and outward. Line the outer two thirds of the lids.
  
• For droopy, puffy or mature eyes, apply a medium deep matte shadow on the puffy or droopy area. Shade out and up to lift the crease line. Use a light shadow on the lid and line the eye with a thin line. Shortening the brows can help to de-emphasize the downward slant.
  
• For close set eyes you will need to create the illusion of more space between the eyes. Use a light off white or skin tone on the inner corner of the lid. Apply a darker shadow at the outer corner. Blend the shadows upward and outward. Eyeliner should be applied to the outer two thirds of the lid. Mascara should be thicker on the outer lashes.
  
• For wide set eyes you will need to create the illusion of less space between the eyes. Use a medium dark shadow on the inner corner of the eye and along the bridge of the nose.

8. Eye Liner pencils
The purpose of eye liner is to accentuate the eye, change or define the shape and thicken the eyelashes. Eye liner is applied by drawing a line close to the base of the lashes. The point of origin will vary according to the shape of the eye.

9. Mascara
Mascara is used to thicken, elongate, and darken the lashes. To apply mascara on top lashes, tilt your head back and then, look down. For bottom lashes, reverse the procedure: tilt head down and look up.

10. Brow Set
The purpose of a brow gel is to set the brow powder and hold your brows in place. Brush on brows, positioning the hair as you apply.

11. Lip Liner pencils
Lip liners shape and define the lips. Lining the lips also helps to prevent lipsticks from bleeding. Draw a small "V" at the center of the upper lip. Use short, feather-like strokes to line toward each corner. Line center of lower lip and then apply from corners of the lip toward the center to connect the lines. For thin lips, line on the outside of the natural lip line. For full or large lips, line on the inside of the natural lip line.

12. Lipsticks
Lipsticks add color and accentuate the lips. Stroke color from center to corners of upper lip and from corner to corner of lower lip. Use a lip brush to blend with lip liner pencil. Use popsicle technique to rid any lipstick on the teeth. As for the kind of lipstick, remember, gloss lipsticks bring the lips out; matte lipsticks hide the lips.

13. Contouring and highlighting
Countouring and highlighting light colors that highlight and emphasize. Dark colors shade and minimize. Remember the color wheel. Light brings out. Dark hides. Green covers red. Golden-toned concealers counteract purplish circles under eyes. Apply with brush or sponge tip applicator.

• Noses - For a wide nose, shade the sides and highlight the bridge. For a long nose, shade the underside and tip and highlight the bridge - but only on the top half. For a short nose, highlight the entire bridge of the nose and also the tip and the underside. For a crooked nose, shade the parts you want to minimize and highlight with a straight line down the center of the nose.
  
• Chins - For a double chin, shade the area and blend well. For a square jowl, shade the area to give a softer roundness to the jaw line. Lightly highlight above the shaded area. For a narrow jaw, highlight the area and blend well. For a prominent chin, shade the area blend well. For a receding chin, highlight the area and blend well.
  
• Cheekbones - For faces with obscure or no cheekbones, draw an imaginary line from the middle of the ear to the corner of the mouth. Shade under it and highlight on top of it. For persons who are lucky enough to have nice cheekbones, apply shading to the top of the bone. Always shake brush before applying.

14. Powders
Powder sets the foundation, absorbs excess oil and gives the skin a flawless finish. Use a loose powder to set makeup by applying over face using light downward strokes. Dust powder lightly all over the face with a large brush.

Ixchel is a hair & make-up artist at Alex Emilio Salon in Royal Oak, Michigan. Schedule your appointment with Ixchel at Alex Emilio Salon in Royal Oak, MI by calling 248-414-7600, or contact Ixchel online.