From weddings to work-functions, races to all-night parties, a lot of effort goes in choosing the right outfit for a big event. So we don’t want our makeup to let us down. 

Who wants to get to the late afternoon only to find their lipstick has faded, their mascara has smudged and there’s barely a trace of colour left?

Luckily there are tricks of the trade that will help you ensure your face stays on your face all day and into the night.

Like everything in life, it’s all about the preparation.

Cleanse

They key to long lasting makeup is first and foremost make sure the canvas is clean. Put make-up on a dirty face, and it’s likely to slide right off again. Your make up will be far more effective on clean, fresh skin. Use a gentle cleanser (avoid soap as it is harsh and can dry your skin) to wash your face in the morning before you apply makeup. In addition, use an exfoliator weekly to cleanse the skin of built-up dead skin cells. Remember to exfoliate your lips to help lipstick stick!

Moisturise

Use an oil-free or gel moisturiser. Avoid using a rich moisturiser in the morning as it can make your skin look shiny. Let the moisturiser sink in for a good five minutes. When you apply your makeup it’s important to apply it properly. Don’t rush – makeup needs time for each layer to set.

Primer

Invest in a good primer. While they can be expensive, using a good primer is the trick to long-lasting makeup, and you don’t need to use a lot to get a great result. Use the primer on any red or oily areas or any blemishes that you want to conceal.

Eye primer helps keep your eye-shadow looking good all day long. If you don’t plan to wear a lot of eye makeup, an eye primer may not be necessary, but it does help to stop those smudges under your eyes. Eye primer stops makeup creasing in the lids, and helps your eye-liner stay in place.

Foundation

Choose a matte foundation. Oil-free foundations stay put best, but be sure to use a hydrating formula if your skin is dry. You could opt for a mineral powder instead – it’s a lighter coverage, but it is more likely to help your skin breathe than a liquid one.

To lock the foundation in place, use a translucent setting powder.

Eyes

For long-lasting eye-colour, avoid cream shadows which tend to slip off. A powdered eye-shadow applied over primer will stay on all day long. For intense evening colour, layer on matching cream and powder shadows, putting the cream on first.

When it comes to eye liners, liquid and gel-liners last longer than pencils. But if you love your pencil, trace over it with a matching eye shadow using a slant-tipped brush or tip of a foam applicator.

Unsurprisingly, you’ll want to use waterproof mascara on your eyelashes. Any kind of moisture-humidity, sweat or tears will see the mascara streaking off. Apply it in quick layers before the product starts to dry.

Blush

Try a gel, liquid or cream cheek stain. While they go on transparently, they add colour in layers so you can build up the intensity you’re after. With a powder blush, use a brighter shade than you usually would – it will fade during the day. Try applying the powder in an "X" shape on the apple of your cheek, giving you plenty of colour and guaranteeing the strongest pigment is where you want it.

Lips

Long lip colour is great at staying on your lips all day long, but it’s drying, so make sure you moisturise properly first. Anchor the colour by outlining your lip-line with a pencil in a similar colour to your lipstick, and then apply the colour with a brush.

Keep it nice

To keep your make-up looking fresh all day, you’ll need to try to avoid touching your face, otherwise it will smudge. Consider wearing your hair to stop it brushing against your face. Finally, if the weather is hot, consider going lighter. Most makeup will want to slide off when you perspire, so keep it simple with waterproof eye makeup and a powder instead of foundation.

Get help

For a big event you’ll want to look your best, and sometimes DIY just doesn’t cut it. With more than 27,000 beauty experts listed right around the county, Yellow Pages can help you call in the experts.