I get a lot of compliments on my makeup, so I wanted to share some of the products that I use to create my everyday makeup look. I’ve gotten my routine and techniques down to a science, so regardless of what products I use, I can get my makeup done within 8 minutes and create a look that’s natural but polished-perfect for every day.
First things first
Make sure you’re taking care of your skin and have a routine in place that helps to keep your skin, clean, hydrated, and healthy. This will affect how products apply to your skin and how your makeup ultimately looks. Above all things, I make sure that I moisturize before I get started. During the Summer or if I’m planning to go somewhere where there might be heavy lights I will wear a primer because I have naturally oily/combination skin, but because I started taking my routine more seriously, I really don’t have to use one that often anymore. I use everything from high-end to drugstore makeup, so the lasting power is definitely tied to my skin prep.
Every person’s skin is different, but I’ve found that a simple cleanser, toner, and moisturizer (plus an exfoliate that you can add in periodically), is more than enough for your routine. During the day, add in sunscreen if your moisturizer doesn’t already have it, and at night a treatment or two when needed, but you do not need 20 different products in your routine. If your budget is tight, try products from Urban SkinRX, Cerave and The Ordinary. They are reasonably priced and effective without jacking up your skin. After I got caught up in SkinTok and went a little overboard with my products, I switched to this cleanser, serum, hyaluronic acid, and moisturizer and repaired my skin.
Products That I Use
Base
The amount of coverage that I want determines what foundation or tinted moisturizer I use that day. My favorite foundation is Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I love how this both feels and looks on my skin, and the shade match is unbelievable. It’s the most expensive foundation I’ve ever used ($45 for the small bottle), but it’s totally worth it because I get great coverage while my skin still looks like skin, it lasts long with and without setting with powder and it DOESN’T oxidize.
My drug-store equivalent is the Black Radiance Tinted Moisturizer. I randomly picked a tube up a few weeks ago and was floored by how well it matched and how long it lasted. My skin also looked great after 6+ hours of wear, and it was only $6!
I will cry if they ever stop making these 2 products because they are now my holy grails. A close runner up for foundation is Too Face’s Born This Way Foundation. It’s another great color match for me, but I usually have to wear a primer with it because oil starts to peek through a little quicker than I like. When it’s cooler that’s fine but I skip it in the Summer.
If I ever wear powder, it’s usually Maybelline’s Fit ME Loose Powder or their Pressed Powder. I’ve used higher end ones and these reign supreme.
Concealer
I usually go for a full coverage concealer bc I have hereditary dark circles. Sometimes I will use a color corrector (the new ones from E.L.F. are amazing!), but for the most part, I’m good with just using a full coverage one. For higher end, I LOVE Huda Beauty’s FauxFilter Luminous Matte Concealer-it’s so so so good!
For drugstore, E.L.F.s Camo Concealer is amazing as well. My key for both is finding one that matches my skin vs. highlighting; that way I can use it to spot treat and still look natural once I apply the rest of my makeup.
Blush/Bronzer Duo
The key for adding in a healthy glow without looking too done up is to mix a warm bronzer with a peachy blush. Sometimes I’ll contour when I want to look extra snatched, but for the most part, I stick with this combo so that I always look sun-kissed. I will add in a touch of pink blush sometimes for an extra pop, but I’ve found that this works best for me. I apply the bronzer on my cheeks, eyelids (instead of eyeshadow), forehead and tip of my nose, and then layer the blush over my cheeks and eyelids. If I feel the look is too matte, I’ll add a touch of a golden highlighter to the high points of my face but that’s it.
My go-to Bronzers are M.A.C.’s Mineralized Skin Finish in Dark Deep (it’s such a pretty shade and I know a lot of women that use it), and NYX’s Matte Bronzer, which is a tinch cooler but still works for added warmth. For blush, I love Sephora’s SEPHORA COLLECTION Soft Matte Perfection Blush Duos, and anything by ColourPop. Highlighter will forever be Becca’s Champagne Pop.
Brows
If you do NOTHING else, please shape your brows. Having your brows done will bring so much structure and dimension to your face; don’t go too heavy with it but shaping them up will do wonders. I prefer to use a pencil and I have 3 that I rotate through: ABH Brow Pencil (the classic one), E.L.F.’s Brow Pencil, and M.A.C.’s Brow Pencil in Spike. Each one is thin, precise and so easy to blend in for brows that look sculpted but not overdone.
Lashes
Mascara has always been a hard one for me because I have oily eyelids, so even if it’s waterproof, if I don’t use powder or a lash primer, I will end up with varying versions of raccoon eyes. Thankfully, I’ve found a few that I can keep in rotation. Right now, I am loving Maybelline’s Sensational Lash (thanks Sophia Richie Grange, lol), but Lancome’s Lash Idole is a close second, followed by Too Face’s Better Than Sex (I prefer the regular because waterproof clumps), then Maybelline’s Falsies Mascara. A tip with the higher-end versions: buy travel size, especially if you have to get waterproof versions. They are amazing, but I’ve found that they dry out hella quick, so that’s my work around for that. For primer, Loreal’s Lash Primer is *chef’s kiss*.
Lips
For a LONG time I was a faithful liquid lipstick girlie, but something shifted over the last year and I’ve fallen in love with gloss again. NYX Cosmetics makes some of THE best lip products, and their butter glosses are a gloss lovers dream. They are creamy and pigmented but NOT sticky, and very rarely migrate. I like their matte creams too (though RARE Beauty makes a really good matte cream too). If I do wear a regular lipstick, it’s usually a matte one by M.A.C. I think everyone should own Ruby Woo!
So there you have it! While I love to try out different products so that I can switch it up when I’m feeling a little spicy, I’m a firm believer in finding your holy-grail products that you can keep with you at all times. When you know what works for your skin and you don’t have to think about what you’re putting on, it makes getting ready so much easier!
What are some of your go-to makeup products?
