The Perfect Makeup Routine (With Product Recs You’ll Actually Love)

Makeup isn’t about hiding—it’s about highlighting what’s already beautiful. The perfect routine feels effortless, enhances your features, and holds up through real life. Whether you’re getting ready for class, brunch, or a solo self-care photoshoot, this routine has your back—with product suggestions made for melanin and beginner hands alike.

Step 1: Skin Prep Is the True Base

No makeup routine can slay without proper prep. Cleanse your skin, moisturize, and follow up with sunscreen if you’re heading out. A primer comes last—it helps your makeup glide on and stay in place all day.

Product picks:

• Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
• Sunscreen: Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
• Primer: e.l.f. Power Grip Primer or Milk Makeup Hydro Grip

Step 2: Apply Foundation That Matches You

For the perfect base, you need a foundation that actually fits your undertone and depth—not one that leaves you gray or orange. Dot it around your face and blend with a damp beauty sponge or foundation brush for a skin-like finish.

Recommended foundations:

• Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation (amazing shade range)
• NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (for that radiant glow)
• Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless (affordable and beginner-friendly)

Step 3: Conceal, Don’t Cake

Use concealer under your eyes, around the mouth, or on any dark spots. A shade or two lighter helps brighten the center of your face, especially under the eyes. Blend with your finger or sponge until smooth.

Top concealers:

• Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Concealer
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser
• L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer (budget classic with deep shades)

Step 4: Set It Without Ashiness

The wrong powder can ruin the whole look—ashy isn’t cute. Use a golden or translucent setting powder that melts into deeper skin tones. Lightly tap under the eyes, nose, chin, and forehead—no need to bake unless you want to.

Melanin-safe powders:

• Laura Mercier Translucent Honey or Medium Deep
• Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder in Kunafa or Coffee Cake
• Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder

Step 5: Define the Brows (But Keep It Soft)

Brows don’t have to be intense to be beautiful. Lightly fill them in following your natural shape, then brush them up with gel to lock them in place.

Go-to brow tools:

• NYX Micro Brow Pencil
• Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil
• e.l.f. Brow Lift Gel

Step 6: Warm It Up With Blush

Blush makes everything better. Opt for burnt oranges, berries, terracotta, or deep peach tones—they add warmth and look stunning on melanin-rich skin.

Blushes that pop:

• Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Cream Blush (Rose Latte, Summertime Wine)
• Juvia’s Place Blushed Duo
• Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush (Love, Grateful)

Step 7: A Little Glow Never Hurts

Use a golden or bronze-toned highlighter to add dimension and glow. Apply to the cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and above your brow arch for a radiant finish.

Glow givers:

• Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter (Ginger Binge/Moscow Mule or Trophy Wife)
• Danessa Myricks Lightwork Highlight Palette
• Maybelline Master Chrome in Molten Gold

Step 8: Simple Eyes, Big Impact

Stick to neutral eyeshadows like browns, golds, and soft oranges—they blend easily and work on every skin tone. A bit of shimmer on the lid and a matte in the crease is all you need for an everyday glam.

Great starter palettes:

• Juvia’s Place The Nubian Palette
• Morphe 9T Neutral Territory
• ColourPop “That’s Taupe”

Step 9: Mascara + Lashes (Optional)

If you’re not into lashes yet, that’s okay—mascara alone can lift your whole look. If you do love lashes, go for a wispy, natural set with clear glue for a beginner-friendly finish.

Top picks:

• L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara
• Maybelline Sky High Mascara
• Ardell Demi Wispies Lashes + Duo Clear Lash Glue

Step 10: Lips You’ll Want to Wear Daily

Start with a brown lip liner (always), then layer with gloss, nude lipstick, or both. Ombre it in or go full shine—it’s your call.

Lip combos to love:

• NYX Lip Liner in Espresso + Fenty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit
• Morphe Lip Liner in Trendsetter + Juvia’s Place Lipstick in Toffee
• MAC Chestnut Liner + NYX Butter Gloss in Ginger Snap

Final Thoughts

The perfect makeup routine is the one that makes you feel good—simple as that. You don’t need every step, every tool, or every trend. Start small, find what works for your skin, and build from there. It’s okay to mess up, to mix products, and to make it your own.

Stick around—The Wellness Diaries is your go-to guide for calm, clarity, and care.