10 Celeb Makeup Artist Secrets That Help Makeup Stay All Day

Clean Skin Is Key

Sonia Kashuk, makeup artist and founder of Sonia Kashuk Beauty, says that the first step for getting makeup to stay all day is to start by making sure your skin is clean and free of any oils or dirt, as these can accelerate makeup breakdown. “Moisturize clean skin and let it absorb. Follow with a thin layer of face oil—my Radiant Boost Restorative Face Oil is great for extra glow.”

Pick a Good Primer

You’ve heard it before, but celebrity makeup artist Tracey Levy (she’s responsible for faces like Mila Kunis, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Wiig) says this is the ultimate go-to. “I use the Mineral Veil from Hourglass, which helps keep foundation and concealers stay in place.”

…And That Includes for Your Eyes As Well

Kashuk says that when creating any eye look, no matter how simple or detailed, start by applying a thin layer of foundation or eye primer (she likes her line’s Extreme Wear Eye Primer), over the entire lid to create a smooth base. “Then I like to either line the eye or color in the entire lid, depending on the look I am trying to create, with a pencil for a color base. Pencil formulas usually include wax providing extra staying power.”

Go in This Order

Another pro tip: “If you are doing heavy, dark eye makeup, start with eyes first then do skin,” Kashuk says. “This way, if you have any heavy fallout you can clean up around the eye and then start on the rest of the face. It will make sure your skin is pristine instead of having to try and fix or re-do around the eye.”

Warm Your Foundation

Might sound counterintuitive, but after you’ve applied your foundation, use warm fingertips to gently press the foundation into your skin. “The warmth of your fingers warms the product up and the pressing motion allows the product to become part of your skin and not sit on top of your face,” says celebrity makeup artist Natasha Severino. “By it not sitting on top of your face, the product is less likely to slip or transfer off.”

Depend on Powder

This isn’t totally what you might think. Levy says she likes using a cream blush and then setting it with a light dust of powder “to keep the color looking like skin and make it last.”

Do a Shadow Duo

This powder rule applies to eye shadow as well. “I love using cream eye shadows alone or layered with powdered eye shadows,” Levy says.

Look for It on the Label

Sounds like a no-brainer, but celebrity makeup artist and Beauty For Real founder Leslie Munsell says the easiest and most effective way to guarantee long-wearing makeup is to use those formulas (they’re made that way for a reason) created especially for long wear.

Layering = Longer-Lasting

Munsell also suggests layering textures to extend the wear of your makeup. Three examples: Cream blush under powder blush; a pencil under lipstick or gloss; and a pencil under your eye shadow.

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance

Maintenance is also very important for keeping your makeup together over long periods of time, Kashuk says. “So if you’re very oily, use blotting sheets to absorb oil throughout the day before touching up with powder to avoid buildup. Later in the day, you can also reset pre-applied foundation or concealer by refreshing it with a damp sponge or a light misting of Evian water. Make sure the products that you’re working with are buildable and can be easily reapplied. When reapplying foundation or concealer, it’s always good to break it down to give it a little more luminosity for a brighter, fresher look.”