My everyday face

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Okay, guys, prepare your eyes. I'm about to share with you all my everyday face routine as of right now from bare faced to finish. I do a variation of this on a daily basis depending on how much time I have, how lazy I am that day, and where I'm going. This is what I do when I have an average time to get ready for work or running errands, it typically takes me about 10 to 15 minutes, less if I omit eyeliner and contouring.

Alright, so here it goes, after I moisturize with my Olay Complete:

 

YIKES, let's even out that skin and get rid of the redness around my nose and eyes. I've used a ton of different foundations but lately I've been using CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in number 335, I like that it's SPF 10 and it goes on smooth and doesn't break me out. I forget how much I got this for because it was on sale but I think it runs between 10 and 13 dollars, but don't quote me. I dot it on my face (too much is no good, you can always add more for more coverage but you can't take it away and cakeface is not festive). I use this e.l.f. powder brush that that I got at Target for $3 (e.l.f. brushes are really nice brushes for very reasonable prices, I use them as often as I do my high end brushes) and just blend out the foundation in circular motions all the way down onto my neck.

 

 

Thanks to genetics and lack of sleep I have dark circles under my eyes, I use Glamoflauge by Hard Candy (they only sell this at Wal-Mart or online around my area) and it's about $6. I also Like CoverGirl cover stick in medium beige for under the eye but it can be a little thick so if dark circles aren't an issue for you, skip this all together, I wish I could.

 The Hard Candy concealer is very full coverage so you really need less than you even think you do, if I have redness around my nose I dot a tiny bit around there too.

 I like this dome shaped foundation brush to blend this concealer but using your ring finger is just as effective and if I'm in a real rush that's what I'll do.

 

 

I like to set my foundation with powder and it really helps if you have oily skin (which I don't but I still like to set my foundation for wearing power). I have been using Rimmel Stay Matte in 004 Sandstorm for about a year now, I've used so many of these but it's a good price for a nice, smooth product. They cost under 4 bucks and it sits nicely on my skin. I use another e.l.f. powder brush (a DIFFERENT one than I used for my foundation, I have a few of these brushes). I like to just use a little on my t-zone and under my eyes to set my concealer.

 

 If you were born with wonderful brows, then I'll take this moment to express my jealousy. I have blonde eyebrows that are nearly invisible. You'd be surprised the difference your eyebrows make, they are a true anchor of your face so I do take the time to fill mine in just about every day. The best eyebrow pencil that I have found is Maybelline Define-A-Brow, I use the color 647 Light Blonde. If I can't find this pencil (I go through them SO quickly, I'm not sure if it's because I use it every day or if there just isn't much product in the pencil to begin with, but I feel like I use them so fast) I like e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit in light. This kit is a colored wax and a colored powder, I love the wax side to keep brows in place and add some color. It costs 3 bucks at Wal-Mart, Target or online at eyeslipsface.com. I just use short and light strokes following the natural shape of my eyebrow. 

 

After I pencil, I use a spoolie to comb the brows down into place and this also helps the pencil blend naturally.

 Yay, I have eyebrows!

 

I always prime my eyes but it's totally optional, I definitely recommend it if you will be wearing heavier shadow or a smokey eye for a night out, it really helps to prevent creasing and your shadow from wearing off. I like Urban Decay Primer Potion but a good drugstore dupe is e.l.f. Eyelid Primer, I use it constantly now because it's only $1 whereas the Urban Decay is about $20.

 

Just a little swipe on both eyelids and I pat it on to blend it out.

 

 

I really love NYX's Butt Naked Eyes palette, it's a total go-to for me. I got mine online for half price but it retails for 25 bucks, it's totally worth it for the 15 full sized versatile neutral shadows (it has a mix of matte and shimmer), four blushes, two highlighters and a bronzer. It's practically a whole face in one palette. It's available at Ulta. 

As you can see, I've hit pan on a few shades, these are the ones I use pretty much every day. You can find similarly colored shadows to these anywhere in the drugstore for reasonable prices but if I were to recommend a brand, it'd probably Revlon. They have great quads with complimentary colors and a good range of shades. I like that Revlon offers a mix or pearls, shimmer, and matte shades as well.

I use this Face Works shadow brush to apply this eggshell nude color (which is matte) to my entire lid all the way up to the browbone.

 

Next I like to add a little depth to the eye with a light brown shade in the crease, I am using another e.l.f. brush, this is the Deluxe Crease Brush.

 

I'll just pick a little up on the brush and tap off the excess then use a windshield wiper motion to follow the natural crease of my eye. I try not to go all the way in or too close to the inner corner of my eye because that can create weird shadows which makes me look tired.

Next, I add a highlight to my brow bone and the inner corners of my eyes, here I'm using the shimmery white because I've used all matte shadows on my eye so far and I need a little something to reflect light. If I am doing a dark smokey eye or a really shimmery look, though, I'll use the matte white that's on the other side of the palette so I'm not TOO shimmery, I'm not trying to look like a disco ball.

 

I like to use a matte black shadow and an angled brush to line my upper lashline on days that I'm in a rush or don't feel like getting into liquid liner. It still gives the effect of a thicker lashline without having to concentrate too hard.

I push the shadow into my lashline as close to the lashes as possible and I use whatever is left on the brush on the outer 1/3 of my lower lashline.

 

Mascara! This is the finishing touch and it makes so much of a difference for me because I have blonde lashes. If I wear no other makeup, I wear mascara. I've been into the CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara since I got it, but for some other ideas on mascaras click here.





 One eye down.

 Two coats on top and bottom lashes.

Another optional step is to line your waterline. I don't do it everyday but it does make a difference. I have two options here, either black or white. Both of these are Rimmel, this is coincidence as I usually by the Revlon Color Stay black liner for my waterline but I couldn't find it last time I was looking for it. I like to use the black to really define my eyes but if I'm feeling particularly tired looking or red eyed I use the white in the waterline to brighten up the eye area.

 

Blush makes me look alive. If I just wear foundation, blush and mascara I feel like a new person. It makes me look more polished and bright. I have clearly used a lot of this mauvy rose color from the NYX palette. Any nice matte-ish blush looks good on most skin tones and is universally flattering. 

 

I put it right on my cheek focusing on the apple of my cheek, less is more with blush but don't be afraid to put color on your face.

I like to add a bit of contour to my face too, I like this Physician's Formula Healthy Wear bronzer, it is SPF 50 and totally matte. It doesn't look muddy on my fair skin, I have it in both light and medium.

I make a fish face and put it under the cheek bones and up to the temple. I take it under my chin, too, and up to hairline. Think of your brush making a number 3 on your face. I like to take a little down my nose and on my chin too, where sun would naturally hit my face.

If I have time, I like to highlight my cheekbones with this fan brush, I put it right on top of the cheekbone above where I put my blush and a bit down my nose.

 

Last, a little lip gloss, lipstick or balm, I've been using Blistex Moisture Melt a lot since the winter has left my lips dry. 

 Done!

 

So, all of these steps may seem like a lot, but let me tell you, I have my routine down to a science and I could do it with my eyes closed. Well, maybe not closed. You could absolutely omit just about any of these steps and still look put together. I always put on foundation, concealer and mascara, though.