Everyday Makeup Routine

Unless I'm going to work or getting dolled up for a date night, I like to keep my makeup really light and super simple. It's not a "no-makeup makeup" look by any means because I definitely use my fair share of products. I instead like to call it the "you, but better" makeup. Plus, because it is so simple I'm able to do this makeup in 10 minutes, which is perfect because that's about as long as EJ's attention span (on a good day!). If I'm just hanging out at home I usually don't wear makeup and I let my skin take a breather. That being said, I almost never just stay at home because I usually work or have a lengthy list of errands to run. So for those days, this is my go to look! 

Unlike Beyonce, I woke up like this. Yikes! While I don't have any problem quickly running to the store to pick something up looking like this, I just rather look a little more fresh-faced and spare the general public from trying to internally guess if I'm sick (nope) or crazy (nope) or just tired (yep). I like this makeup for when I want to look a little more put together and I'm running around town doing errands or going out to lunch.

In the morning, this is what I'm working with and, aside from the dark circles under my eyes (that I'm pretty sure are just genetic and would be there even if I slept 8 solid hours a night) and the few spots, I'm pretty happy with where my skin is at! I've added a couple new items to my skin care routine and if I'm still as happy with them in a couple weeks as I am now, I will definitely be sharing my routine in an upcoming post.

After cleansing, putting on serum and moisturizing, I start by mixing one part Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation in the shade 820 with one part Nivea Post Shave Balm. I would say this Covergirl foundation is medium coverage so I like to sheer it out with the post shave balm, and since I use it as my primer most days, it helps keep me looking fresh-faced all day! I apply and blend this with my fingertips, just as I would any tinted moisturizer.

Next I use Maybeline's Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in the shade fair. I apply it under my eyes in an upside down triangle shape and anywhere I want to highlight, such as the tops of my cheeks and the middle of my nose. Then I use a tapping motion to blend it  out with a damp Real Techniques beauty sponge (I wrung it out too hard the first time I washed it and it ripped in half! I'm thinking about splurging on the Beauty Blender next but I'm just using my sad sponge for now). I also conceal any spots I might have going on.

Anytime you use concealer you always want to set it with some sort of powder. I've been using the Elf High Definition Powder in translucent and while I'm not in love with it, I don't hate it either. That being said, I probably will be looking for a better setting powder once I'm done with it (so if you have any suggestions please share!). I found that with this powder that I have to "bake" it (which basically just means leave an excessive amount of it on there for a few minutes) under my eyes to keep my concealer from creasing or melting off my face, and I use the other end of my sad beauty sponge for this.

I once heard a quote that eyebrows are not twins, they're sisters, except for in my case I have the beautiful sister on the right and the ugly sister on the left. So, needless to say, unless I'm wearing my bangs straight across to where they hide them, I have to fill my eyebrows in. To do that, I use a small angled brush and the dark brown shade in a Revlon Colorstay eyeshadow quad that I've had for a while. I then go in and brush through my brows with a spooly brush.

By the time I finish my eyebrows, my setting powder has finished "baking" (such a weird term and I kinda hate using it but it is what it is!) so I use the Elf mineral powder brush (I use basically all Elf brushes.. I should be sponsored by them but I'm not - I just genuinely love them that much!) to sweep away all the excess setting powder.

Next I use my all-time favorite bronzing powder to do a little contour just under my cheekbones. They sell brushes specifically for contouring but I honestly love using the cheesy little brush that came with the compact! I then use Elf's complexion brush to blend it all out and add a little more bronzer to warm my face up.

With Elf's contour brush, I use the same bronzing powder in the crease of my eyelids. It just gives a little definition to the eyes without it feeling like it's too obvious.

Next is my all-time favorite step - blush! Seriously, if I was on a deserted island with only two beauty products it would most definitely be blush and concealer. You probably recognize this blush from my February favorites, its the Ulta mineral blush in the shade sweet pea, aka the perfect pink blush. I use an Elf angled blush brush to apply it to the apples of my cheeks.

Next is highlight! This is another product from my February favorites, the Milani eye shadow in Bella Chiffon. I dip the very tip of the (you guessed it) Elf blush brush to dust this on the top of my cheeks, down the center of my nose and across my entire eyelid, just to give my skin a little glow. 

This step looks and feels the creepiest but it makes all the difference! I take my Rimmel Scandaleyes in the black shade and tightline my eyes. It not only makes me look more awake but it helps define my eyes and makes my lashes look fuller.

If I could choose a third beauty product in my deserted island scenario, it would most definitely be mascara! I have been blessed with long eyelashes but I'm seriously lacking in in the volume department so I like mascaras that plump up  my lashes without any clumps. I didn't like Maybelline's Lash Sensational at first, but like a fine wine it has gotten better as it's "aged". (Now, don't go getting grossed out, by "aged" I mean a few weeks!). I like to focus on the root of my lashes and really wiggle the product in there, and then quickly pass through the rest of the lashes.

Last but certainly not least, my all-time favorite lip balm! Josh and I are the king and queen of chapstick and lip balm. We have one in each car, one on each of our nightstands, one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen.. you get the idea. Anywhere we are there's always a chapstick or a lip balm within arm's reach because we hate having dry, naked lips. I've been obsessed with this Fresh Sugar lip treatment in the clear color for quite a while now. I use it every night after I moisturize and, when I'm not using a lipstick or stain, I reach for this. It just keeps my lips so moisturized and so soft throughout the day, it's worth the splurge!

And that's it, you're all done! Seeing this all written down probably makes it seem like this is a super lengthy makeup routine, but like I said earlier, it takes me about 10 minutes to go from bare-face to fresh-face. All the products I use are pretty light and sheer so even though they let your natural skin show through, it really makes all the difference in making me feel like me, but better, and ready to face the day! What are your everyday, must have beauty products? 

xo Kristina