Foundation:
Start out with a good primer (after cleansing and treating, of course). I'd suggest Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. This will allow the makeup to glide on smoother and more naturally, as well as minimizing the appearance of pores. Use one pump, and dab it on the T-Zone, then smooth into the rest of your face with your fingers. Wait about a minute, then I'd recommend applying Cosmedicine Tinted Moisturizer in Fair. This gives a sheer layer of color to even out skin tone and downplay minor blemishes. Squeeze about a dime sized amount onto your fingers, and warm it up by rubbing it in between the fingers of both hands. Starting at the nose and moving outwards, using small circular motions, blend into the skin, making sure to blend well along the line of demarkation (down onto your neck), into the hairline, and even slightly onto the lips (to avoid that ring of different colored skin around them). If you plan on using any eye makeup, do not blend onto your eyelids or the area around them, as this will just cause the makeup to slip and/or crease later. If not, feel free to blend onto the eyeids and underneath the eyes to help downplay darkness, allowing for less concealer in these areas. Make sure to blend downwards at the end to smooth down any facial hair (EVERYONE has it; though on most women it is miniscule, not smoothing it down will result in a less effective makeup application.).
Concealer:
Use NARS Concealer in either Vanilla, Honey, or Custard (you'll need to find which one matches your skin tone and undertone the best). Using a synthetic concealer brush, swipe it gently over the stick a few times (on only one side of the brush). Lightly dab it onto any blemishes, and then use the other side of the brush to gently tap and stipple the areas into the rest of the skin. If more coverage is necessary, wait a minute, and then apply another layer. Get some more concealer on the brush, and dab it GENTLY underneath the eyes, on the bridge of your nose near your eyes, and onto the eyelid (again, only if you're not going to be using eye makeup). Gently dab at it, and then, using the ring-finger of your non-dominant hand, gently tap it in and blend upwards from the line of demarkation under your eye. Blending downwards will simply make the surrounding skin lighter, which will make the circles under the eyes just look darker again.
Finishing:
If your skin gets oily, dust a little bit of loose translucent powder over the T-Zone area (I'd recommend Aveda's Loose Translucent Powder and a large, soft, natural-bristle powder brush). I personally don't think that most mascara is good for a natural look. Instead, simply curl your eyelashes with a good curler (I'd recommend Shu Uemera. Possibly the best one out there). Starting at the lashline, squeeze lightly for 5-10 seconds, then "pulse" up the rest of the lashes, moving up slightly and squeezing and releasing quickly as you go up. Make sure to comb your lashes afterwards to separate them and give them more definition. Make sure to comb your eyebrows up and out, and use some clear brow gel if necessary (for unruly brows).
Lips:
Apply a generous amount of chapstick to your lips, and let it sit for 5 minutes (you can also do this at the beginning of the process if you're running short on time). After the 5 minutes, blot off, and using the concealer brush, apply a VERY thin layer of concealer to the middle of your bottom lip (in a horizontal line that dips down slightly at the very center) and a small elongated dot in the very middle of your upper lip. Then apply a slightly shimmery gloss with only a sight tint. I'd recommend the bronzer shade of CARGO's Macchu Picchu, although this may be too dark for use with blonde hair. Try to go for a glossy, transparent pink, light peach, beige, or honey color. After letting it sit for a minute, kiss the back of your hand or a tissue two or three times to remove the excess gloss. This will leave a slight glow that will give your lips a more natural, plump appearance (the concealer on the lips helps to make them appear bigger).
Blush:
Finally, take a bit of blush (such as NARS Blush in Orgasm, or, for a more natural glow, apply the redder shade of the Macchu Picchu gloss underneath your tinted moisturizer but on top of your primer (for a glow from within look) or on top of your moisturizer for a slightly more "pinched cheek" look in the following manner) and apply in one the two following methods (type dependent). For a powder blush, take a bit on a blusher brush (making sure to tap off excess), and apply to the cheekbone area, starting at the back (closest to your ear). Sweep towards the apple of your cheek, then sweep back towards the ear again. Go back in the opposite direction to blend. For a creme/liquid blush (such as the Macchu Picchu gloss), dot a bit onto the apples of your cheeks and blend back towards your ears. For a powder blush, make sure to apply a bit of translucent powder to the area first to avoid a blotchy finish. For a creme/liquid blush, apply powder afterwards to avoid caking and smudging.
This is it! For a really natural look, I wouldn't recommend using mascara, eye makeup (at least not anything more than a shade or two from your natural color), or heavily colored lip color. Good luck!
I'm gonna try that!!You really know your stuff!
