Let’s talk make up! I’ve always been fascinated with make up and how it can make you feel. I would say my love of make up began when I was 10 years old and I found a red lip liner at my grandmother’s house. It was a mess and it took me some time to get the hang of it, but it sparked an interest.
Here’s a little back story: I was a very introverted and insecure middle school-er, so skipping the ages of 11 through 13 would have been amazingggg! Except maybe I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My mom used to joke with me and reference the movie Big Daddy where the little boy is told to put on sunglasses and he’ll be invisible. She would tell me I would have loved to own those because I would have been invisible if I had the choice (queue sad music) lol! There’s a happy ending! I promise!
There was another part of me who didn’t want to be invisible at all, who actually felt pretty sometimes. When I would come home from school one of my favorite things to do was sit on my bedroom floor in front of a mirror and do my entire make up. I felt like I could be completely myself and feel confident even if only inside my four walls. Fast forward a decade or two and I still love make up, except my routine has changed a bit and so has my confidence. Now it takes a lot less make up and a fraction of the time to apply a full face.
These are my favorite products that I would buy over and over again. What I love most is that they require easy steps and a little bit goes a long way.
Step 1: EVEN SKIN- There is nothing more important to me than having an even, mat finish to my skin. I have been using tinted moisturizers for a while, but they are mostly sheer and a little bit on the dewy side. I have been using the It Cosmetics CC Cream for about 2 weeks and I don’t think I am ever using anything else. It has all the coverage of a foundation with all the benefits of a CC cream. I need to be practical in the mornings so I use my hands to apply it, but a beauty blender would be my next choice. Even though CC creams pack moisture I always use a moisturizer first. It makes a difference in the overall look of your make up. I have been using the Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream with Manuka Honey by Kiehl’s, but they have been out of stock. I recently purchased their Deep Moisture Balm and it’s doing the job, but I think the Manuka is more moisturizing so I definitely recommend that one.
Dark circles are a battle I will never win, so concealer is the next best thing. I have used many brands, but I find that MAC Pro Longwear concealer does the best job at providing a ton of coverage with very little product while not leaving any creases. The only thing I don’t love is the pump because I can’t always control how much comes out. I like to set my under eyes with the Laura Mercier lose translucent powder and the rest of my face with my Estee Lauder Double wear Powder. Sometimes I’m lazy and use my powder for the entire face, but I find that my under eyes look dry when I do that. If you don’t need full coverage then the Estee Lauder powder might be too heavy, so go with a setting powder instead.
Step 2: CHEEK BONES- Lately I have been leaning towards blushes with a little sheen or a highlighter. I like it because it gives the illusion of hydrated skin even though mine can be pretty dry at times. Some days if I’m in the mood for an extra step I use the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer for some contour. I feel like the face looks flat and dull when the cheeks aren’t accentuated. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.
Step 3: BROWS- Can we take a moment and thank the Beauty Gods for the full brow trend? Long gone are the days of over tweezed skinny brows and I couldn’t be happier! No matter how much I grow my brows, there is always a little gap that needs to be filled in to make them look full and shaped the way I like them. I have used pencils, cream pigments and powders and I actually like them all. Lately I have been sticking to the powder just because the pencils run out quickly and the cream will dry a bit over time. I am using the MAC Brow Duo in brunette, but now they have one with a third powder for highlight.
Step 4: LASHES- If I could only choose 2 steps in my beauty routine it would be even skin and then lashes. I feel like they make a world of a difference and complete any look. And let me tell you about this mascara! Lancome Grandiose Extreme is the BEST mascara I have EVERRR tried! Nothing else has ever compared and I haven’t even been curious to try other brands. I highly, highly recommend.
Step 5: LIPS- For every day I like a blush or nude shade, but it has taken me a long time to find the right ones for my skin tone. I discovered MAKE cosmetics through J.Crew and their Silk Cream lipstick in the shade Taffy is always in my purse. I also had a friend recommend Half and Half by MAC and I am so happy I finally found a nude shade that doesn’t wash me out.
BELOW YOU CAN SHOP ALL PRODUCTS LISTED IN MY EVERY DAY FACE ROUTINE.