I thought it was about time I do a post about my every day make up routine. I recently filmed a YouTube video about it and thought I'd do a blog post to go with it. I love seeing what people's holy grail items are and with so many products around, it's difficult to distinguish between what I use every day and what I only use occasionally. I've got together the items that I use most of the time, this really is my standard, every day make up routine and I'd love to hear about yours too...
Step 1: Prime - Okay, so after moisturising, I always prime. I used to think that a primer was an irrelevant item in my make up bag, but now I hate my make up without it, if anything, I always make sure that I have primer on. Firstly, it makes your make up stay on longer, so no touching up is needed. Secondly, it acts as a barrier between your skin and the make up, therefore, protecting your skin from some harsh ingredients which can be in foundations and other things that you'll be putting onto your skin. I absolutely adore Shu Uemura's UV Under Base and have done for years now, it's expensive, I think it's around £30?! I've forgotten now as it softens the blow, but trust me - it's well worth it and I've never come across a primer like it. It immediately makes your skin look flawless and even, so imagine how good it looks once you put foundation over the top of it? (even if I do say so myself). Everyone seems to compliment my make up when I've put this on underneath. If you treat yourself to one expensive make up item, make sure it's this.
Step 2: Conceal - Next it's time to conceal, I don't conceal all the time, only when I either have dark circles under my eyes or spots, but when I do, I turn to either Estee Lauder's Double Wear Concealer or Seventeen's Phwoar Under Eye Concealer (I've done a review of both here which you can read). I usually just dot concealer on spots and then sometimes, if contouring, I'll draw a contour line along my cheek bones with a darker concealer and blend it in. I use Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer on a day to day basis under my eyes, it seems to just completely 'wake me up', ironic, but it really does work.
Step 3 - Foundation - Now I've prepped, primed and concealed, basically, giving the skin the best kind of base that you possibly can before any real make up application, it's time for the foundation. I am obsessed with Vichy's Dermablend foundation, as most of you will know as it's all I seem to talk about. You can read a full review of Dermablend foundation here to see what it's all about, but basically, I apply the tiniest bit to my chin and then using my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, blend it all around the rest of the face. It covers all of my face, really well with the tiniest bit. Dermablend gives great coverage, without being cakey.
Step 4 - MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Powder - After foundation, I always apply MAC's Mineralize Powder in medium to dark. I've loved this since the day I was introduced to MAC and I can honestly say that I've never changed my powder for longer than a week or so, I always go back to MAC. This powder is so warm, it gives a flawless finish and if you blend more onto the cheeks, it gives a really beautiful contoured look. I hope MAC never discontinue this.
Step 4 - MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Powder - After foundation, I always apply MAC's Mineralize Powder in medium to dark. I've loved this since the day I was introduced to MAC and I can honestly say that I've never changed my powder for longer than a week or so, I always go back to MAC. This powder is so warm, it gives a flawless finish and if you blend more onto the cheeks, it gives a really beautiful contoured look. I hope MAC never discontinue this.
Step 5 - The Eyes - I'm pretty boring when it comes to eyes, generally I just use L'Oreal Telescopic mascara. If I'm going all out, I'll curl my eye lashes first and use two mascaras, but at the moment, I've found that just using Telescopic is more than enough, in fact, it sometimes makes my lashes too long. I've done a review of this mascara here, including photos if you want to have a read.
The Cheeks - Bronze Goddess Estee Lauder and Clinique In Bloom Blush - I use this religiously and really hope it never runs out. This is just the perfect bronzer for contouring, I am smitten, well and truly. I then use my Real Techniques Blush Brush on the apples of the cheeks.
The Lips - I always do my lips last, my go-to neutral lip colour is actually a lip gloss, embarrassingly, I adore this one by One Direction for MUA. Who'd have thought that One Direction would have brought out a make up line which I can't live without? Oopsy. Thanks though boys, seriously. I blame you for my extra glossy lips. Find out all about One Direction's incredible make up brand here as I wrote about it when it first came out.
Now it's time for my new YouTube video, hope you like it! You can subscribe to my channel here.
I'd love to know what your every day make up routine is? What can't you live without?
