My Everyday Beauty Picks

April 22, 2015

I don't wear a ton of makeup, and I'm also not keen on going out in public without makeup. I like it in moderation, something that won't take a ton of time to apply, but also makes me feel put together for the day. 

I started my little beauty routine in eighth grade, perfecting it in the years since. I still make a terrible mess putting mascara on (ask anyone who has seen me apply it), insist on using an eyelash curler, and I've finally found a way to tame my crazy eyebrows! Once you figure out what works best for you, make-up doesn't seem so daunting. Below are my everyday beauty picks. They're the supplies that get applied to my face each morning, with the exception of the eyeshadow, that is always changing. 

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 



I basically fell into my beauty routine, and I'm always interested in different tips when it comes to applying makeup. I made it up as I went, and have settled into my own system for applying these products. 

After I shower, clean my face, and my eyelashes have dried, I apply mascara. When I first started using mascara I thought that's how everyone did it, applying it first before all other things. Turns out not so much. I'm not sure I've met another gal who applies mascara first. Anyone, I've never changed this pattern because I make a crazy mess with mascara. Cue the q-tips! Using three q-tips I clean up my mess, leaving myself with full and lush lashes and no mess. 

My next step is to apply the face moisturizer. And once that is well rubbed in, I use just a tiny dab of the face primer under each eye. I have found that it gives a silky surface to apply the concealer, and rubbing the concealer in isn't such a job if I use the primer first. This is the only place I use both primer and concealer. 

You guessed it, after the primer comes the concealer. There's no dry time in between the two. After this, I will use the eyebrow gel to tidy up my brows and keep them in place all day. I love this particular eyebrow gel because it dries clear and doesn't flake. You do have to give a good 5 to 10 minutes for the gel to dry on your brows. So if you've got your hair to blow dry, do that first then fix your eyebrows. 

Next I apply whatever shade(s) of eyeshadow I'm feeling. I'm a neutral kind of gal, and nudes are my best friend when it comes to make-up. That goes for the eyeshadows as well. 

Blush is my second to last step. I apply a healthy amount to my cheeks and jawline. To do this, I make a pucker face to accentuate my cheekbones and jaw. Then I dab the brush again and add some to my chin, nose, and t-zone. If I ever apply too much for my liking, I just use my finger to gently rub some away. If that doesn't work, a tissue will. 

By the time my make-up is on and my hair is fixed, I can assume the mascara on my lashes is dry. That's when I use the eyelash curler to really turn my lashes up. If you ever try it this way, always be careful when taking the curler away from you lashes. Some may be slightly stuck, so gently wiggling the curler will free them without you pulling a lash or two out. Don't worry, I do this every morning, and I still have my lashes :)

Lastly, I will sometimes use a brown eyeliner if I really want to make my eyes stand out. If I ever do, I use a Covergirl eyeliner pencil and it does the trick!



And because makeup takes up such space, I found the best way to store it. I came across a couple of wooden makeup boxes in Target, and they beautifully hold all of my products. Before, I was using a basket to toss everything in, and that was total chaos. This way, I can see all of my makeup and I have easy access to it. 

I've never been a big wearer of lipsticks. However, I feel the need to be bold. I've tried out some covergirl lip balm and liked it. So leave me your recommendations for fun lipsticks and shades. This summer is going to be a bit brighter, and not because of the sun! Bring on some sassy lipstick!

p.s. If you want to know how I take my makeup off, then visit my skin routine post!


Last but, not least...if you haven't already, go enter the Vine + Branches Giveaway happening now on the blog! It closes Monday!