foundation foundation is the base of all make up and also provides great coverage if you have an uneven skin tone.choose a colour that is similar to your natural skin tone. a mousse foundation is great for all over coverage but can be pretty thick in the summertime. for this type of foundation try GOSH (only available at superdrug) or maybelines dream matte mousse. always apply your foundation in natural light. if you want a foundation that's feels lighter on your face, always use a liquid foundation. Cheap make up is great but no for foundation, so always buy the best you can within your price range. If you have skin which is blemish free and just needs to be perked up a little it is probably better to use a tinted moisturiser, and they can be supplied by most leading skincare brands, such as johnsons, nivea etc.... If you would prefer a foundation but don't want something that feels too heavy, a mineral foundation would be perfect. these are available by most cosmetic brands, but for a cheap alternative ( which is just as good.) try NYC's mineral foundation.

powder loose powder always tends to look caked on because there is too much of it on the sponge. try using a compact powder which allows you to control the amount you put on. power is great for evening out your complexion. it also helps to reduce shine.

blusher 2true do a great variety of blushers and all of their products are £1.99. try opting for the lightest shade. this will give you a rose tinted effect and will look natural. always remember to smile when applying blusher so you are apple to apply it to the apples of your cheeks evenly. you can also find blusher which are available as stains, these will stay on longer but the variety of different tones is usually lacking.

eyeshadow
stick to neutral shades in the daytime, dark and colourful shades look pretty but a bit too much for everyday wear.you hair colour and skin tone will determine what colour eyeshadows will suit you.

for blonde hair, stick to subtle pinks and browns.

for dark hair ( either brown or black.) browns will suit you best, and also
subtle blues and greens.

for blending , ie; using two colours going from darker to lighter, use dazzle dusts, these are easier to blend than normal eyeshadows. Barry M do these in a variety of colours.
You can easily create a more dramatic look but adding a drop of water to the eyeshadow for that "wet look" which gives more definition to the eyes.

eyeliner
eyeliner is great for really defining your eyes and making them stand out. black kohl eyeliner is soft on the eyes but can wear off in a couple of hours, so liquid eyeliner is great for long lasting wear and creating flicks.
when creating flicks think pretty and girly more than amy whinehouse! because large flicks tend to look too much. for softer eyes use a brown kohl pencil.


mascara
mascara is the perfect way for long lashes, but to avoid looking like a spider you need a mascara with a brush that seperates and defines, avon are good for mascaras, but rimmel and maybeline offer more selection. avoid blue mascaras as these can sometimes be too bright. for softer eyes use a brown mascara or for a barely there look use a clear one. a really good tip is to curl your eyelashes before you apply the mascara. a good investment is heated eyelash curlers, but if these are above budget a normal pair will do, and a handy tip is to hold the eyelash curlers under a hot hairdyers for about a minute, and this will heat them up, a cheaper alternative to heated eyelash curlers (:

lips
the rule is, the darker the eye make up, the paler the lip make up. for example if you've created the smokey eye look, use a nude lipstick. red lipsticks look great with eyes that have just eyeliner and mascara on, and pink lipsticks look soft and girly.