So right after I uploaded these photos into this post I realized I totally forgot to include my loose powder. Oh well, it's just the translucent Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder that I've mentioned a bunch of times so you're not missing anything too exciting. Let me back up a few steps and start from the beginning....
After several weeks of wearing minimal makeup or not wearing any at all, it seems I've finally gotten back into the beauty groove. It honestly feels so good to be back. There's a very big difference between wearing makeup because you feel like you have to and wearing it because you enjoy playing with colors and textures and giving yourself that extra oomph to tackle the day.
For the last few days this has been my workday makeup routine and, even though it looks like a lot, I've got it pretty down pat. For my current post-tropical vacation skin tone, this warm toned look is very flattering and hard to mess up at the same time.
First up, I always prep my lips with the Dior Baume de Rose which I recently repurchased. I feel like I'm going through this faster than my first one for some reason. On most days, this is the only lip product I wear. It's such a shame because I have so many gorgeous lip products in my collection but I just don't like to fuss to much with my lips. If I have time, I dab a bit of the Shu Uemura Laque Supreme in CR01 on my lips to brighten them up a bit. I got two samples of these Laque Supremes and they remind me a lot of the discontinued L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lipglosses.
For my face makeup i've been really preferring a flawless medium coverage look. The first step that really helps with that is the Benefit The Porefessional primer. The tiniest little bit blurs my pores really well and creates a nice smooth canvas for my foundation and concealer. For concealer I've been using either the Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector or the Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid. When I have time I'll use both to get more coverage but on most days I just use one. I've fallen back in love with the Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation because it gives the most beautiful natural finish and has medium coverage without feeling heavy at all. I've been applying that with my new Artis Oval 7 brush which sheers out the foundation really evenly without any streaking. I waited a while to pick up one of the Artis brushes but I definitely see their appeal. The bristles are super soft and make base makeup application very quick and easy. To set my foundation, I dust a bit of the Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder all over my face.
First up, I always prep my lips with the Dior Baume de Rose which I recently repurchased. I feel like I'm going through this faster than my first one for some reason. On most days, this is the only lip product I wear. It's such a shame because I have so many gorgeous lip products in my collection but I just don't like to fuss to much with my lips. If I have time, I dab a bit of the Shu Uemura Laque Supreme in CR01 on my lips to brighten them up a bit. I got two samples of these Laque Supremes and they remind me a lot of the discontinued L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lipglosses.
For my face makeup i've been really preferring a flawless medium coverage look. The first step that really helps with that is the Benefit The Porefessional primer. The tiniest little bit blurs my pores really well and creates a nice smooth canvas for my foundation and concealer. For concealer I've been using either the Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector or the Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid. When I have time I'll use both to get more coverage but on most days I just use one. I've fallen back in love with the Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation because it gives the most beautiful natural finish and has medium coverage without feeling heavy at all. I've been applying that with my new Artis Oval 7 brush which sheers out the foundation really evenly without any streaking. I waited a while to pick up one of the Artis brushes but I definitely see their appeal. The bristles are super soft and make base makeup application very quick and easy. To set my foundation, I dust a bit of the Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder all over my face.
I totally get the hype around the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. I've been using it nonstop because it gives the perfect amount of warmth and definition. The powder has the faintest sheen to it but it never looks shimmery on the skin. I dug out my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush because it's a beautiful spring and summer shade and it doesn't get enough love from me. This is an incredibly flattering blush and a little goes a long way. The lasting power of this blush it also phenomenal and by the end of the work day I can still see it on my cheeks. I've been consciously reaching for my Dior Nude Air Luminizer Powder in 01 because it's too expensive not to use. It's very shimmery, almost metallic, but also very wearable for every day.
Surprisingly the eyes are probably the easiest part of my routine. I've been putting Buck, the darker of the two matte brown shades in the Urban Decay Naked Palette, all over my lid and blending it out with Naked, the lighter matte brown shade. Then I line my eyes with the Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Highline Eyeliner in Dark Brown and smudge it out with an eyeliner brush and a mix of Dark Horse and Creep from the Urban Decay palette. Then I just curl my lashes and apply my go-to L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara which I've repurchased for two and a half years and have yet to find something better.
Surprisingly the eyes are probably the easiest part of my routine. I've been putting Buck, the darker of the two matte brown shades in the Urban Decay Naked Palette, all over my lid and blending it out with Naked, the lighter matte brown shade. Then I line my eyes with the Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Highline Eyeliner in Dark Brown and smudge it out with an eyeliner brush and a mix of Dark Horse and Creep from the Urban Decay palette. Then I just curl my lashes and apply my go-to L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara which I've repurchased for two and a half years and have yet to find something better.
For once I actually like my brow routine and it's really really easy. I've been filling in my brows with the Pony Effect Sharping (no typo, it's actually Sharping) Brow Definer in Deep Brown which is probably very similar to the Anastasia Brow Wiz but it costs only $13. The super thin pencil allows me to fill in my brows very precisely and the shade is neither too warm or dark. I've also been sitting my brows with the Surratt Expressioniste Brow Pomade which is constantly sold out at Sephora. The pomade has the consistency of Elmer's Glue but the brush makes it really easy to comb through the brows and add a lot of texture. I like how this pomade makes my brows look fuller and keeps them in place for the whole day without making them crispy.
The final step is setting everything with a few spritzes of the Laura Geller Spackle Mist which I don't love or hate. It's a decent enough setting spray but I think everything I use is pretty long lasting on its own. The spray mostly helps meld all the powders together ever so slightly, pulling the look together.
I think my routine is a good mix of old favorites (Naked Palette, L'Oreal mascara, Shiseido Synchro Skin) as well as new additions (Artis Oval 7, Surratt brow pomade, Dior luminizer). Even though I love this look, I know it won't be long before I feel bad for neglecting my other makeup bits and switch everything up. How often do you swap out products on your vanity? Every day? Every week? Never? I'm always fascinated by people who can use the same products until there's literally nothing in the pan!