Yesterday, I wrote about the amazing, natural properties of Bare Escentuals foundation. However, if you're new to the world of mineral make-up, the application process can involve a bit of a learning curve. Thankfully for us novices, beauty blogger Nadine Haobsh has provided a step-by-step tutorial on her beauty blog Jolie in NYC.

1) Take off the sticker from the jar (either fully remove it, or peel it back about halfway.)  You’ll see about twenty tiny holes, and that’s where you’ll shake out the makeup from.

2) Sprinkle a little of the powder from the exposed (or half-exposed) holes onto the inside of the black jar lid.

3) Take your brush and put it on the makeup in the lid, then move the brush around the inside of the lid, until you’ve swept up all the visible makeup there.

4) Tap the brush against something (your wrist, the sink, whatever.  Anything will do!) to let the extra makeup on the outside of the brush float into the air.  (Don’t do this two inches away from your new black or white shirt, as you will then be covered in tiny particles of makeup!)  The point of the whole lid swirling/tapping exercise is to get the makeup on the inside of the brush, rather than sitting on the edge of the bristles.  This is so the makeup is applied better and more naturally, rather than glopped on.

5) Spend about five minutes lightly applying the makeup to your face with the brush.  I like to start on my cheeks, working my way to the nose, go around the crevises of the nose, get my eyelids, go up to my forehead, work around the edges of my face, then go onto my chin and the area under the chin.  Take your time.  Buff, paint, press, insert-whatever-verb-you-want-to-use-here…just put the damn brush against your face and apply the stuff!

6) Repeat steps 2 -5 as much as is necessary to get a good application.  Doing it once or twice will give you light, tinted-moisturizer-esque coverage; doing it several times will make your skin look as flawless as a china doll’s.  Have fun!

Nadine swears by Bare Escentuals and repeatedly lists it as one of her all-time favorite beauty products. Visit Jolie in NYC for more of her tips and advice, or click here to purchase her book Beauty Confidential: The No Preaching, No Lies, Advice-You'll-Actually-Use Guide to Looking Your Best.

» Jolie in NYC