If you're like me, you can get dizzy standing in front of the makeup counter, overwhelmed by the vast array lipsticks, brushes, blushes, and eyeshadows laid out before you. To cut through the clutter, here are the eight items makeup artists can't live without:

Sponges
Makeup sponges ensure you get good foundation coverage without looking cakey. They're also great for applying cream blush or a highlighter. And when you've applied all your makeup, dab a damp sponge on your forehead and the apples of your cheeks to take off a layer of makeup and allow your glowing skin to show through.

Solid Foundation
Whether you prefer sheer or matte, thick or light, be sure your foundation is the right shade! Try applying several foundations on the part(s) of your face where you usually wear foundation and then go outside with a mirror. If one of the foundations blends so well you can't see it on your skin in daylight, you've found your shade!

Concealer
Choose a concealer that is light, rather than thick and cakey. And pick one that's a shade lighter than your skin color to give it a little boost. The best way to find a good concealer is to test several out at a makeup counter to see which one covers best but still looks natural.

Eyeshadow Brushes
Dome-tipped eyeshadow brushes are perfect for highlighting under brows, lining lids and creases, or filling in your eyelids. Keep a couple of different sizes on hand for applying different shadows to different parts of your eye. If you want to save a few bucks, buy your brushes at an art store - they don't charge as much and they also carry a selection of cruelty-free products for you animal lovers!

Cream Blush
The best shade of blush is the one that makes you look like you just pinched your cheeks and gives you that sexy flush - try a sheer, deep red applied to the apples of your cheeks.

Lipstick
The perfect shade of lipstick should make your lips look like you just finished making out - slightly flushed, but not too brown. Test several lipsticks by applying one to just one half of your lower lip while leaving the other half bare. If the lipstick side is just one shade deeper and glossier than the bare side, you've found your color!

Mascara
Unfortunately, the perfect mascara formula and the right brush may not come in the same package. A good formula should cover and darken your lashes, but shouldn't be clumpy or make you look like a raccoon, and a good brush should separate your lashes while reaching even the tiniest ones.

Highlighter
Liquid highlighters can often be too drippy, while powders can be too glittery, so choose a silicone-based formula for a subtle shimmer. For fair skin, stick with near-white shades. But on darker skin tones, go for peach, coral, bronze, or gold tones. Apply to the cheekbones, brow bones, and the inner corners of your eyes just to give you a little boost.