Getting your skin tone right is the most important step of your makeup and the trick is to make it appear as if you aren’t wearing any makeup at all. Here are some important steps to take before you apply your makeup:

Exfoliate to get rid of all the dead cells that make your skin look dull and older.

Prep the Face: Foundation will glide over a moisturized, plumped face so much better than a dry one. Use a primer or a moisturizer with SPF.

Apply Foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out the skin tone, making sure the color matches perfectly. If it is too light or too dark it will be noticeable. Apply to each area of the face, especially in the forehead, nose and chin. Bring it down the jaw line, fading into the neck so there are no lines marked at the edge.

Cover Eye Circles, blemishes and red spots. Use a creamy concealer and remember to gently pat—do not rub—the concealer in.

Set the Face with a powder so your makeup doesn’t fade and your eye makeup stays in place.

Bring Back some color, once skin tone is evened out with bronzer and a light color blush. Apply darker tone directly under the cheekbone and blend upwards with a lighter color blush. The key to a perfect eye makeup or smoky eye is proper blending. You want to make sure colors are blended together flawlessly. It is also important to match your light base color with rich dark colors.

Eye Shadow. Our model is using a champagne base with a maroon color on the crease and a dark brown/black accent in the outer corner of the eyes.

Comb and refine your eyebrows, make them look clean and well shaped, as they are the frame of your face. You may want to go to a professional to do this. If you need to, you can fill them up with powder or pencil, match the color to you hair or a bit darker.

Apply Eyeliner. If you are going for a typical black, brown or gray look, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line. Blend with an angular brush or a sponge applicator into the lash line so there is no space in between the line and the lashes. For color on the bottom lashes, you’ll want lighter eyeliner. The key is to “smudge it.” You can apply a bit of shadow to get a full smudge effect.

Double Check your work. Make sure your eyes match and blend colors with a cotton swab if necessary.

Finish with several coats of waterproof or volumizing mascara. Start with the bottom lashes and let the mascara dry before you apply to the upper lashes.

Pick your eyes or mouth—which feature do people compliment you on? If you choose to focus on your lips, you’ll want to go bright. Red is hot for Prom, as are dark pinks. Just stay away from brown and make sure you keep your eye makeup soft and simple.

If you want to focus on your eyes, go all out with shadow, liners and mascara. Just make sure you stick with light lips capped with a light gloss.

Bring liner and lipstick or lip-gloss with you and apply (with a mirror) before you pose for your pictures. Also, take with you powder and/or blotting papers to avoid looking shiny in the pictures. Remember a fun and happy attitude, everybody looks beautiful when they are happy and smiling.

Myriam Fux resides as a Master Makeup artist and co-owner of M and E Image & Design, a photography and makeover firm based out of Lake Mary, Florida. Myriam has accrued over 20 years of experience in the field of artistry makeup for photography. Her work has been featured in and on the covers of magazines, including Shape, Lake Mary Life, Hispanic Image and Broker Agent. Myriam’s amazing level of expertise includes studying under beauty icon Kevin Aucoin. She has been commissioned for the Latin Grammys, as well as makeup art for Salma Hayek and other celebrities. Myriam can be reached by email at myriamfux@msn.com.