I have a friend who forced me to go with her so that she could purchase her foundation that is around $100. I was in a state of shock to hear that she uses that on a daily basis. And I am here to tell you that I cannot see any difference that $100 foundation makes in comparison to my $8 foundation. I'm a no fuss makeup girl. I like a look that is natural and easy & quick to apply. Five minutes is all I am willing to commit to my daily makeup routine. And since I'm a girl on a budget, today I'm going to show you my daily routine with a few of my tried and true favorites.
SKIN PREP
The secret for an easy makeup routine is well prepped moisturized skin. As soon as I get out of the shower, I wipe my face down with some astringent and then immediately apply moisturizer. I have a few favorite moisturizers, but that is a post for another day. After a few minutes, my skin is a sponge and takes makeup so easily!
The secret for an easy makeup routine is well prepped moisturized skin. As soon as I get out of the shower, I wipe my face down with some astringent and then immediately apply moisturizer. I have a few favorite moisturizers, but that is a post for another day. After a few minutes, my skin is a sponge and takes makeup so easily!
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
The first thing I do is swipe concealer under my eyes and nose and any problem areas. The key to seamless concealer is to use your fingers to blend everything in. I use Covergirl's Smoothers Concealer in Light and swear by it. It works magic! Next, I use the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 120 as an all over color. Again, using my fingers, just a little bit goes a long way to cover my face and have an even skin tone. To be sure that everything is evenly distributed and there isn't that terrible line on the chin/neck area, I wet the Beauty Blender Sponge with HOT water and ring it out and blend my face lightly, focusing mostly on my chin. This also helps give you that dewy skin look that I love so much! If you tend to be a bit on the oily side, you can swipe a tiny bit of translucent powder on with the Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush and it will help keep everything in place. I swear by Revlon's Color Stay Translucent Powder.
CONTOURING
Now that my overall color is in place, I like to do a bit of contouring-nothing fancy, just a little bit goes a long way. Using the Bare Escentuals Precision Face Brush, I use the bronzer in the ELF bronzer/blush combo kit. $3 at Target well spent, I assure you. This is lightly swiped on my jaw line, temples, hairline and sides of my nose while I apply a bit more heavily under my cheekbones. Next, I like to use the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in "Radiant" under my eyes, top of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and the ridge right above my lips. I avoid the forehead area like most contouring instructions suggest because it tends to have a greasy look on me. Again, this is all blended, sometimes with The Beauty Blender and now my face is contoured naturally.
Now that my overall color is in place, I like to do a bit of contouring-nothing fancy, just a little bit goes a long way. Using the Bare Escentuals Precision Face Brush, I use the bronzer in the ELF bronzer/blush combo kit. $3 at Target well spent, I assure you. This is lightly swiped on my jaw line, temples, hairline and sides of my nose while I apply a bit more heavily under my cheekbones. Next, I like to use the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in "Radiant" under my eyes, top of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and the ridge right above my lips. I avoid the forehead area like most contouring instructions suggest because it tends to have a greasy look on me. Again, this is all blended, sometimes with The Beauty Blender and now my face is contoured naturally.
ADD IN SOME COLOR
Next up is the blush combination that I have fallen in love with. I first apply Benefit's Coralista Blush directly on my cheekbones. It smells so good and has just enough sparkle to give a slight glow. I have to give my sister, the ultimate makeup go-to, credit on this find (thanks Sassy!!). Then I take a stiff blush brush like Bare Escentual's Heavenly Face Brush and apply NYX Blush in "Pinched" starting lightly at the top of my cheekbone and moving in circles down that bone and really focusing on the apples. This will blend the coral color with a more saturated coral for that healthy glow. I've mentioned this blush before, but it is almost identical to NARS' Orgasm. In my opinion it is even better. AND it is only $6 and stays on all day.
At this point, I want to be sure everything is well blended so I do a few circles with the Bare Escentuals Kabuki Brush. I have used this for probably 10 years and it is hands down the best blending brush I've used.
Now you have the perfect glow that will combat any undereye circles and you have the perfect palette to have any eye makeup look you want. I typically keep my eye makeup routine rather light during the day, but I will share that with you on another day. My makeup routine is simplified, affordable and easy to maintain-exactly what I need!
What are your daily makeup essentials?
RESOURCES FROM THIS POST
Next up is the blush combination that I have fallen in love with. I first apply Benefit's Coralista Blush directly on my cheekbones. It smells so good and has just enough sparkle to give a slight glow. I have to give my sister, the ultimate makeup go-to, credit on this find (thanks Sassy!!). Then I take a stiff blush brush like Bare Escentual's Heavenly Face Brush and apply NYX Blush in "Pinched" starting lightly at the top of my cheekbone and moving in circles down that bone and really focusing on the apples. This will blend the coral color with a more saturated coral for that healthy glow. I've mentioned this blush before, but it is almost identical to NARS' Orgasm. In my opinion it is even better. AND it is only $6 and stays on all day.
At this point, I want to be sure everything is well blended so I do a few circles with the Bare Escentuals Kabuki Brush. I have used this for probably 10 years and it is hands down the best blending brush I've used.
Now you have the perfect glow that will combat any undereye circles and you have the perfect palette to have any eye makeup look you want. I typically keep my eye makeup routine rather light during the day, but I will share that with you on another day. My makeup routine is simplified, affordable and easy to maintain-exactly what I need!
What are your daily makeup essentials?
RESOURCES FROM THIS POST
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation
Cover Girl's Smoother Concealer
Revlon Color Stay Translucent Powder
ELF Bronzer/Blush
Benefit Coralista Blush
NYX Blush "Pinched"
Beauty Blender Sponge
Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush
Bare Escentuals Precision Face Brush
Bare Escentuals Heavenly Face Brush
Cover Girl's Smoother Concealer
Revlon Color Stay Translucent Powder
ELF Bronzer/Blush
Benefit Coralista Blush
NYX Blush "Pinched"
Beauty Blender Sponge
Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush
Bare Escentuals Precision Face Brush
Bare Escentuals Heavenly Face Brush
Love this post! I'd love to hear about your facial moisturizer, too. My skin is seriously SO DRY in the winter and it's annoying!
ReplyDeleteThanks Caitlin! I have post about affordable skin care products planned for next wek, so stay tuned!!
DeleteCan't wait for your affordable skin care products post!
ReplyDelete