Make-up Routine: Everyday Work-Wear

-->

1.     Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Matifying Oil-Free Moisturizer // 2.     L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base // 3.     Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal // 4.     Smashbox Camera Ready BB Crème in Medium Deep // 5.     Makeup Forever HD Foundation // 6.     E.L.F Blush + Bronzer in Antigua // 7.     Physicians Formula BB Powder in Medium/Deep // 8.     NYX HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder

1.     Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Matifying Oil-Free Moisturizer

I am basically a walking grease stain so this is a MUST. Sometimes I wear it overnight, but I always prep my face with it for daily wear.

2.     L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

Recent discovery while on an impulse buying spree at CVS BUT unlike most of those purchases go- this one is a phenomenal product and easily a main staple in my daily routine! It is THEE ultimate primer…and I have 4 others to compare it to so consider that a well-founded opinion. I feel like so many primers glide on and sit, kind of creating a slippery barrier between skin and makeup. But this one actually perfects the texture of my face and provides a platform for makeup to connect with- rather than just slide on top of.

3.     Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

My boyfriend’s sister is a professional makeup artist (!!) and she gave me this bottle of highlighter- which is now an everyday product for me.  It’s great for achieving that dewy look (I put it on my cheek bones/brow bones/lightly across forehead always UNDER my face makeup). Great “summer face” look. Also a great subtle eye shadow for a light and bright look.

4.     Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Medium Deep

SUCH a “swear-by” product of mine. I have two so I’m never without it. It’s great for every day coverage during the work week, but also my go-to for the weekends. It stands up great for beach wear! Beach makeup can be so tricky because I obviously don’t want to look “done-up” on the sand, but my face needs some help, some base, and some protections (spf 35!). I feel like I *could* be in Davidoff Coolwater ad when I wear it (you know those magazine ads with the token bronzed model tanned out of her mind, with a flawless face and just a few freckles and in a white bikini on a yacht in the most perfect blue water).  Anyways…

5.     Makeup Forever HD Foundation

A great great full coverage foundation. There are a ton of endorsing reviews out there and they are no lie!  I mix a dab of this with the Smashbox BB Cream and blend all over for my everyday office face.

6.     E.L.F Blush + Bronzer in Antigua

JUST like the Nars duo. I only use the bronzer though- because so far it’s the best color that I’ve found for my face. I can contour all over without looking like I’m wearing Lion King makeup.

7.     Physicians Formula BB Powder in Medium/Deep

TOTAL OBSESSION. No clue what made me pick this up originally- but I have hit pan on this and have searched high and low in every drugstore I’ve been in the last month with NO luck. Going to have to order online- which seems so silly for “Physicians Formula”! Here’s why this powder is awesome: Great texture and INCREDIBLE coverage. I almost have to remind myself to be light with it so my freckles aren’t covered up and I can maintain a natural base. But I love that it is such a thoroughbred quality powder that actually covers! Texture AND staying power are great. Only complaint is that it comes in just 3 shades and I’m already using the darkest. Come summer I will be too dark for this stuff!

8.     NYX HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder

Speaking of staying power- THIS STUFF IS A GAMECHANGER. I know there are tons of brands out there that make finishing powders but I opted for the NYX version ($10) because this stuff is essentially just white silica powder. There’s not a whole lot of room for high-end or low-end there. That being said, this is my new favorite piece of makeup. Well maybe not FAVORITE (because it’s really not that “fun”) but definitely ESSENTIAL. I get up between 5 am and 6am every work morning and wear my makeup until at least 8 pm…sometimes later. That’s over 12 hours for my face to look like its melting… But this powder absorbs shine all damn day and gets my face through those evening hours. Another thing I’ve noticed is by swooshing this stuff all over, its helps to blend and even out everything- no harsh blush or bronzer marks, and overall acts to soften and naturalize. I could seriously keep raving about this…

So that’s my face routine. Pretty standard schedule right now because I really am trying to get my whole morning down to as short as possible so I can sleep in longer…or devote more time to curling my hair…

My weekend makeup routine is a little different- I spend pretty much all day in the sun at the beach so it’s a lot lighter. Maybe I’ll elaborate in a future post.

Now onto eyes: I used to be so focused on eye makeup and would just leave my face with a quick sweep of powder or bronzer. But now that I’m older and really settling in to a work-wear routine I have come to appreciate not only taking good care of my skin, but also getting a pristine base going. I cannot emphasize enough how important good face make-up is.

That being said, now I put a lot more into my base than I do my eyes. For my eyes-I just do a little eyeliner (sometimes not always) and mascara! (Ok- lots of mascara…)

Currently- these are my go-tos for eyes.

1.     L’Oreal Voluminous  Smoldering Eyeliner // 2.     L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black // 3.     Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara // 4.     Victoria Secret Eyeliner w/ Smudge Tip // 5.     NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder

1. L’Oreal Voluminous  Smoldering Eyeliner

A great deep black pencil. It’s soft and has rich color. Also comes w/ its own sharpener!

2. L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black

OMG. New discovery. In Carli Bybel’s youtube tutorials (CarliBel55), she swears by it. Being the mascara junkie I am I decided to try it- but was skeptical for so long because the brush is like a thin comb. Does nottt inspire too much confidence there. But let me just say- this stuff really is SO. AWESOME. It builds length like to other and just opens up the eye like I’ve never experienced. You need to train yourself a bit to use it though (I had to anyways…) because the brush is not your typical mascara brush, and it can get clumpy if you’re too liberal or not patient.

3. Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara

My go to before discovering Telescopic was this Lashblast. I have a friend with GORGEOUS eyes who always has flawless eye makeup and she always and only wears Lashblast mascara. I believe she wears the Lashblast Fusion (purple packaging) but from my experience the Lashblast line is not tOo different from one another- just slightly varied for consumers looking for specific aspects in a mascara.

4. Victoria Secret Eyeliner w/ Smudge Tip

A great soft liner with deep coloring- perfect for smokey eye looks or those days (nights) when I go a little darker ‘round the rim.

5. NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder

I’ve recently been realizing how much eyebrows are really an art. I’m  trying to master a good eyebrow but my brows are SUPER sparse, so for me, that means a lot of shaping and filling in. I like this NYX kit because it comes with a pot of wax to keep everything in place and help look “more done.”  Also the browns are more ashy, which I like- as opposed to the more reddish orange browns that some brow powders tend to lean towards…