Having an arsenal of easy makeup tips at your disposal can help the most cosmetic-challenged women put their best face forward every day.
Makeup Know-How

Not everyone is a pro with a makeup brush and lipstick applicator. While some women seem to take to flawless makeup application from the time they first discover lip gloss, others are constantly on the lookout for tips and advice. Makeup should be a way for women to enjoy being women; feeling anxious about cosmetics takes away from that enjoyment.

10 Easy Makeup Tips

These tips can help transform you from having two left thumbs when it comes to makeup and into a real beauty whiz.

Face
Foundation is usually used to smooth out the complexion and hide any minor blemishes. Although many of today's formulations are very lightweight and sheer, you don't have to wear it if your skin is already in great shape.

1. Before you apply any foundation or powder, use your favorite facial moisturizer. Let your skin "settle" for 10-15 minutes before putting on any makeup. This will help foundation and powder go on more smoothly.

2. Dust your entire face with a fluffy powder brush in a mineral or translucent shade that closely matches your skin tone. Your even-toned face is now ready for the rest of your makeup application.

Eyes and Brows
You don't have to be a contouring master to get great eyes. All you need is eye shadow in one or two flattering shades.

3. Curling the lashes only takes seconds, but opens up the eyes a great deal. To get maximum curl, place your eyelash curlers as close to the base of your lid as you can without pinching. Give a quick squeeze and move the curlers to the middle of your lashes. Squeeze again and move them out a littler farther. Give one more squeeze and your lashes should be nicely curled.

4. Apply a primer to your eyelids before putting on eye shadow. Your shadow will last longer and won't crease.

5. For a flawless eyeliner look, gently hold the outer corner of your eye with one finger as you draw on your line with pencil or liquid liner.

Lips
If you love your lips and want them to be the focal point of your face, you have numerous ways to highlight them.6. Light-colored lipsticks don't need the careful application that dark colors call for in order to look neat and professional. If you don't have a lot of time to spend on your lips, swipe a pale color across your lips and follow up with lip gloss.

7. To make a dark lipcolor last longer, line and color your lips in first with a lipliner in a matching shade. Then apply lipstick.

8. Dark lipsticks make the lips appear smaller, while light lip colors give the illusion of larger lips.

Cheeks
Some women are especially perplexed when it comes to blush. They may wonder how best to apply it and which colors are most flattering. To avoid that clown look, try these tips:9. To figure out where blush should go, smile a big smile to identify the apples of your cheeks. Place blush on the fullest part of your cheeks and blend well and outward. You want a soft, rosy glow that imitates slightly flushed skin.

10. Rosy blush flatters almost all skin tones. One favorite among many women is NARS Orgasm blush.

Great Makeup Every Day

When following makeup tips, use ones that work for you and leave the rest. Everything won't work for every woman, but when you find a look that's flattering, stick with it. Use magazines and your favorite celebrities for ideas and inspiration, but your best colors and style are unique to you. Whether you want a quick way to open up your eyes or have always wondered where that blush should go, easy makeup tips should always make your life easier.