Happy Friday, friends!!
I am so excited to be gearing up for a whirlwind trip over the next week! Today I’m heading to San Diego to visit one of my best friends who just moved there–then I’m heading to San Francisco (meeting Neal there, he’s there for work!) and then I’m flying from SF to Nashville for a girls’ weekend with three of my college besties. (Packing for this required some calculation. 😂)
My Everyday Makeup Routine
Today, I’m sharing my everyday makeup routine! You guys have been asking for an updated post on this for a while now. So I thought I’d throw together a post with all the products I’ve been using lately in one place!
Watch the Video:
(0-9:13 are product overviews. Jump to 9:14 for the tutorial portion!)
More About The Products:
Primer: Before foundation, I apply Lune + Aster primer (it’s Bluemercury’s clean brand!) I will say I was iffy about it at first but it’s grown on me. If you’re one who is a fan of the classic clear Smashbox type primer, this is much different! I like how it gives you a hydrated, super subtle illumination!
Also, if you don’t want an illuminating product and need more oil control, I really like Supergoop’s Matte Screen, which is a sunscreen AND acts as a primer. (I use this in the summer but my skin is too dry for it in the winter!)
Pre-concealer eye cream: I recently purchased OleHenricksen Banana Bright Cream on Grace, Shaheen and Hitha’s recco and so far I like it but I do think it gets a little mislabeled. It’s touted as an “eye cream” but it really is more of a primer that helps illuminate your under eyes and prevent creasing, while also delivering anti-aging ingredients!
(I still use the Countertime eye cream morning and night for anti-aging purposes–which I LOVE–but this doesn’t replace that–this just goes on right before my concealer as a prep step!)
I will say there is a lot of hype around it for “dramatically reducing wrinkles and dark circles” but I wouldn’t go that far. (Just being honest. 😂) I do still think it’s worth it as a concealer prep alone though! It really helps with the creasing and temporary brightening effect.
**What I’ve been testing lately: I’ve also been testing out Glossier’s FutureDew hybrid oil/serum and experimenting with applying it in lieu of a primer before makeup. I can’t really speak to long term effects, but I really like how it gives makeup that classic Glossier “dewy” texture and glow. I do think it’s beneficial if your skin tends to be on the drier side (or if it looks flaky at the end of the day!) I’m not sure if I’d recommend it to those with oily skin though! **I will report back, but I’ve received questions on this product recently so thought I’d share!
Foundation + Concealer:
Tint Skin Foundation: This is one of my most popular reader favorites, but I didn’t think it had enough coverage for me until I played around with the application, and then I loved it!! For the most coverage, I recommend using a full coverage foundation brush (this one is similar!) I also like using it with a damp beauty blender, or for light coverage, use your fingers!
I wear shade “Linen” in the winter! **Find your Beautycounter shade with this chart here!
Alima Pure Mineral Powder Foundation: I follow up in the areas I need more coverage with Alima Pure’s mineral foundation and I LOVE it. It looks really natural and is the only clean foundation I’ve found that is full coverage but isn’t drying. I wear shade “Neutral 3″–I love that they have so many colors to choose from! This is a smaller, clean brand and I really like their products!
IT Cosmetics Full Coverage Moisturizer: This is a new product that I’ve discovered just recently when my skin was going through those freak out spells where it was super dry––thanks to Chicago’s fun weather fluctuations. (You know how sometimes even if your skin isn’t flaking off per say, but it’s very dry and it makes the problem look 100x worse when you put regular foundation over it?) That was what I was working with, so I was looking for a moisturizer that had some coverage.
Is this product the cleanest around? No. But I was so desperate I was willing to forgo something that wasn’t clean. (Granted it is free of the worst offenders and is still far better than many brands in terms of questionable ingredients! So it doesn’t keep me up at night.)
Anyway, I was doing some research on * non-foundations* so as to not enhance my skin freakouts and ended up trying this one and LOVE it. I will sometimes wear this instead of or in addition to the Beautycounter one. It just depends on how my skin is feeling that day. I apply this with a damp beauty blender.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness cream: I don’t use this every day (only as needed) but I wanted to throw it in here because it’s an amazing product (again, not “clean” but not bad either) If you struggle with redness or unevenness and just want a lightweight product that will even out your skin tone, I highly recommend this! It’s got great coverage and is an amazing color corrector. Apply it with a damp beauty blender–a little goes a long way!
Concealer:
Under eye:
Beautycounter’s concealer: I follow with this concealer on my under eyes. Also, I put it on the bridge of my nose for a bit of highlighting. I have tried a lot of concealers and keep coming back to this one! I love that it’s very lightweight and doesn’t crease like a lot of concealers do. This is NOT enough coverage for spot coverage though–I only use this for under-eyes and highlighting! (Note, this also comes as part of Beautycounter’s “Flawless in Five” everyday makeup bundle!)
Tarte Shape Tape: I ran out of my Beautycounter concealer and needed more in a pinch, so I bought Tarte’s shape tape because so many of you rave about it. I will say that I prefer the Beautycounter one for under eyes because I like a very weightless option, but I know many people prefer a fuller coverage so I wanted to include that option here!
The biggest difference is that the BC one feels like you have nothing on (so it creases far less) and is a medium coverage. Shape Tape is a VERY full coverage. (I feel like the heavier the formula, the more it sets into your fine lines which just isn’t something I’m typically used to.) If you need something heavy duty, by all means, this could be your holy grail! This is my #1 most recommended concealer from my readers, though!
I think at the end of the day, it just depends on your preferences in a concealer!
Laura Mercier Concealer: If you’re looking for a full coverage cream liquid concealer for spot treatment, I really like this one. Again, not clean, but Laura Mercier makes great products! I find that I don’t use this very often though because the Alima Pure does a good job of adding full coverage in the spots where I need it! However, everyone’s preferences are different so I wanted to include this option in case that’s what you were looking for!
**TIP!** For brighter under eyes–apply a bit of highlighter over your concealer! (Often I’ll run the Beautycounter highlighter stick in “Pearl” on top of concealer for added brightness!)
Blush and Bronzer:
For a subtle bronzer: I use either this Beautycounter bronzer (not included in the Flawless in Five set but a great add on!) I use the shade “Dune” and I apply it with an angled brush. I would compare the formula of this bronzer to HOOLA!
For a more pigmented bronzer: Alima Pure’s bronzer in Mauna Loa is great! I would say if you want more bronze pigment, go with this one! The Beautycounter one is much more subtle! (Haha usually when I wear this people say, “omg you look so nice and tan! Were you on vacation?” 😂I’m like nope, just my bronzer, haha!)
For powdered blush: I use Beautycounter’s blush in “Nectar”–it’s a perfect peachy shade and gives you a really pretty subtle glow! I would equate these blush colors and formulas to NARS! If you want something more pink, I love “Melon” which is very pigmented and gives you a pretty flush! (Note, this also comes as part of Beautycounter’s “Flawless in Five” everyday makeup bundle!)
For a cream blush: I just got Glossier’s Cloud Paint and think it’s SO cute and fun!! And I do think it takes a bit of getting used to with the application. (I used way too much and then it looked like literal paint, haha!)
I like to apply it with my fingers, blend, and then lightly blot it out with a damp beauty blender to make sure it doesn’t look streaky–I love the dewy look it gives you! And I got this dusty rose “Dusk” color because it’s kind of like a bronzey blush. (If I’m feeling extra lazy and don’t want to apply both!)
For illumination: I love Beautycounter’s highlighter sticks. They come in pearl glow (which is just a sheen), a blushy glow or a bronze glow. Very subtle and natural!
Brows and lashes:
Brow gel: Maybe my favorite beauty breakthrough product ever? I use this AMAZING brow gel. I like it even more than Glossier’s Boy Brow! (It actually stays put all day!) I think it’s more buildable so you can get more of a sculpted look like you can with a pencil, or you can apply it really lightly. It looks SO natural. I use “Medium brown.” (Note, this also comes as part of Beautycounter’s “Flawless in Five” everyday makeup bundle!)
For a natural, daytime mascara: Beautycounter’s Volumizing mascara is a great everyday mascara. It does a really nice job of adding a lot of natural-looking volume without it looking like you have heavy mascara on–but it makes a really big difference!
For more dramatic lashes: I typically stick to something more subdued during the day. But at night (or if I’m shooting blog posts) I love both Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes mascara, Dior’s DiorShow Iconic Overcurl mascara, and for a drugstore buy, it’s tough to beat L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise! I realize none of these are clean but I’ve yet to find a clean dramatic mascara!
Eyeshadow and liner:
If I have an extra 2 minutes, or I’m going out at night, I’ll use the Velvet eyeshadow palette. I use every single one of these colors (so rare for a palette) and it’s SO pretty.
I use a liner brush (mine is part of this $2.99 brush set from EcoTools!) to line my upper and lower lids with “Sable” and then follow up with a combination of whatever colors I’m feeling! (I’ll just dust my lids with “suede” for daytime, or I’ll layer on more colors for a dramatic look!)
This is pretty much the only eyeshadow I ever use. For those who like a neutral look, I don’t think you can beat it, really! I used to be a Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow snob and this shadow is every bit as good!
Daytime lips:
For day time I usually will just grab whatever is around in the way of lip color. 😂But here are some of my favorites:
Kopari’s Lip Glossy: I LOVE this formula–a truly hydrating glossy balm. It’s amazing and smells/tastes like fresh coconut!
Glossier’s lipstick in “Zip”: LOVE their lipstick!! It’s on the matte side so sometimes my lips are too dry for it in the winter. haha. But it almost feels like no product is going on but then you look in the mirror and it kinds of gives off that “just bitten” look. Or like you just ate a popsicle or something. They describe it as “subtle color that gives you that “just blotted look”. It apparently adjusts to your skin tone and looks a little different on everyone! COOL! Hard to explain, but trust me–perfect amount of color for daytime. 😂
Beautycounter’s Sheer lipsticks: Love this formula–hydrating (won’t highlight dry/flakiness) and a great bit of color while still looking natural. (I use “Currant” most often, but “Twig” is a great beigy neutral too!)
Beautycounter’s Lip Gloss: If you’re more of a gloss girl, I like their clear gloss or any of their red and pinky hues. Subtle color and shine!
Alima Pure’s lipstick in “Iris”: This is one of my favorite colors ever. I would say depending on how much color you typically wear this would be in a grey area between daytime lipstick and statement lipstick. (Making it great for BOTH!) It’s the most beautiful burnt Siena color. I actually lost this a few months back when it likely fell out of my purse at a bar and this reminds me I need to order a new one!!
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Save 20% on a lot of my above favorites AND get a free makeup brush!
So many of my Beautycounter favorites from above are sold in a discounted set called “Flawless in Five”–you can pick and customize your foundation, brow product (including my favorite brow gel!), blush, mascara, and lip gloss all for $150!
ALSO, right now, they’re running a special where anyone who purchases a Flawless in Five set also gets a FREE retractable makeup brush–which is awesome for travel and so easy to throw in your bag!
(Including the makeup brush, that’s a $222 value for $150! That’s $72 off!)
