Applying makeup can be super frustrating if you’re just starting out. For those with more experience, just looking at beginners attempt to do their makeup can be frustrating. After my own experience with a non-makeup wearer, I thought I’d compile a list of my personal makeup rules.

For starters, the very first thing you should do before going out and buying anything is determine your purpose for wearing makeup. Are you trying to conceal blemishes, look tanner, or accent a specific feature? If you’re have no idea why you’re wearing makeup, you shouldn’t be.

If you’re blessed with perfect skin, skip concealer. If you’re a typical pizza faced female like myself, you may want a good foundation or concealer. (For those who really don’t know makeup, concealer is applied only to blemishes and under the eyes to conceal dark spots and bags, while foundation is applied all over your face to even skin tone.) If your foundation and/or concealer are not the right shade, no amount or blending or rubbing in can help you. People will notice and you will be judged.

Skip blush and lipstick all together unless you’re a grandma, business woman or a clown.

As far as eye makeup goes, most beginners walk a fine line between looking normal and looking like a street walker-meets-a raccoon-meets-a seventh grader. There are a few ways to avoid this.

First, keep these eyeliner tips in mind. Only line your upper and lower lash lines, with the exception of liquid liner above the lashes for special occasions. Never ever use liquid liner on your bottom lash line or pencil liner on the top. Liquid is way too dark and should only be used above the upper lashes while pencil is too light to be worn above the upper lashes. Most importantly If your hair isn’t black, don’t opt for black liners. Browns look way more natural and less harsh and gothic than black for lighter hair.

Second, curl your eyelashes to accentuate your eyes. The lash curler is your friend, despite it’s resemblance to a tiny, medieval torture device. Apply mascara after curling to avoid the ‘spider’ effect (when lashes stick together and resemble spider legs coming out of your eyeballs.)

Thirdly, keep in mind that eyeshadow is tough. Therefore, if you’re new to makeup, it should be the very last thing on your agenda. Stick to nude tones and if you reach your eyebrows, you’ve gone too far.

Last and certainly not least, eyebrows. Personally I regard them as the most important facial feature there is. They can completely transform a face, for better or for worse. Getting them professionally done is pricy so I highly recommend learning to tweeze them yourself. Tweezing hurts, but so does childbirth. Sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

In summary, pursuing the natural look is often the best look best look for beginners and the simplest route to avoiding middle school-esque makeup habits.