Remember to stay within two to three shades within your natural coloring to look as natural as can be. African-American and other dark skin tones sometimes suffer from dry spells, resulting in the appearance of ashiness. Select cream blushes and foundations that appear smoother on dry skin than powder products. For those of you who suffer from oily skin, counteract oil slicks by brushing on a light layer of loose powder over your makeup. Keep your powder puff with you for touchups during the day.
Lips come in all shapes and sizes, so there are obviously different application processes.
For those with full lips, don't try to de-emphasize their voluptuousness, just define them. Start by applying a dark liner to the outer edges of the lips and gradually blend the line inward. Then apply a similar shade of lipstick to fill in your natural shape. Again, use a lip liner to shape lips, but use the side of the liner rather than the tip. This will create a thicker line that result in the appearance of full lips.