Believe it or not, there is a way to apply your own makeup that is quick, goof-proof and easy, yet noticeably improves your appearance. Follow these steps for everyday use, or as a base for more dramatic and varied looks

1- Apply the foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone. A foundation brush uses less product, but a makeup sponge is just as effective. If your complexion is already smooth, clear and even, and it is a regular day with no special occasion, you might want to stick to under eye concealer and forgo foundation completely. On the other hand, if you are a little self-conscious about perceived flaws, you have the option of using spot concealer with the edges seamlessly blended into your foundation.

2- Fill in the spaces in your brows with a pencil that is slightly softer than your hair color if it is dark, or as dark as the darkest hair on your head if you are blond. Stroke on the pencil as if you are drawing in tiny fine hairs. Make sure your pencils are always sharpened so you don't tug on your skin and create harsher looking brows. For a milder effect, you can also utilize a small angled brush dipped into brow powder. Shaping your brows does wonders not just for eyes, but for your overall look.

3- Put eyeshadow primer on your lids. With an eyeshadow brush, press on some flesh-colored or taupe shadow with subtle shimmer. On your top lash line, smudge on a brown eyeliner. Do not extend past the outer corner of your eye so as not to drag down your eyes in appearance. Select a lighter colored eyeliner, like a soft caramel, and smudge it onto your lower lash line. Run a cotton swab over both your top and bottom lash lines for more natural definition. Finish up your eyes with a waterproof mascara on top lashes. Your bottom lashes are optional, as to lessen the possibility of smudging. Depending on your coloring and your preference of intensity, pick either a black or dark brown mascara.

4- Brush blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Blend away any hard edges with your sponge to avoid an artificial look. Your best option as the color of your blush is the same one that naturally appears on your cheeks when your skin is flushed. Dab on some pinkish-gold highlighter onto the tops of your cheekbones upwards towards your temples, and blend as well. It is very important that your skin looks as though it glows from within, not like you are deliberately trying to get your makeup noticed.

5- Find a lipliner the color of your lips but more vibrant. Staying away from shades that are obviously not found on a real human helps keep your look authentic. When drawing on your lip shape, stay on top of your actual lip line for a full but natural look, unless you want to make alterations. In this case you'd draw just slightly under or very minutely over your lip line to capture the illusion of smaller or larger lips respectively. Fill your lips in; to add more life to them, you can choose to either dab a clear gloss on, or a moisturizing lipstick the same color as your lipliner.

6- Take your oversize fluffy brush and sweep translucent powder lightly over your forehead, nose and chin, where you deliberately wish to remove shine. Avoid getting powder on the highlighter so as not to dull down the already subtle shimmer. Clean up any remaining uneven lines or product distribution with your makeup sponge. When you step back to survey your look, you will see that you are now a more polished version of yourself. No fussing around with complicated colors.