What’s your basic skin care/skin prep/makeup process? Here’s mine…
1. Hydrating mist all over my face
MAC Fix+ ($22) has been my long-time and still current jam. I almost always have a bottle with me, and I even bring one of these travel-sized one with me on trips.
But I’m eager to try Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herb and Rosewater. It’s only $7, so a third the price of Fix+, and my friend Kwmechelle (hey gurl, haaaaay!) swears by it. Right now it’s at the top of my never-ending list of things to get next time I visit Ulta.
2. Face cream (with a separate eye cream around my eyes)
Because I don’t usually start doing my makeup right after I wash my face and do my morning skin care, I usually take a few minutes to moisturize once more before putting on le face paint. I’ve been using Embroyolisse, which is available online at Sephora for $28, for my face and MAC Fast Response Eye Cream ($31) for my eyes.
3. Primer
I use one primer for my face — currently Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer ($36) — and a separate primer for my lids, and you can probably guess which one that is! 🙂 Yes, it’s NARS Pro-Longwear Smudge-Proof ($25).
As for under my eyes, I rarely apply primer under my eyes, but I know it’s a step that a lot of people do.
4. Color correcting around my face (if necessary)
I have a few spots of darker pigment around my left eye and the left side of my lip, which I sometimes color correct with either an orange primer ($36 Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Radiant Primer Peach) or an orange concealer (The Burnt Coral side of $25 MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Duo in Rich Yellow/Burnt Coral).
*sigh!* It really does take a village…
5. Foundation or tinted moisturizer
Which one I use depends on what I’ll be doing that day and how my skin’s behaving, like whether it’s been more oily lately, or dry, or if there’s a pimple par-tay on my chin, but most of the time, if I have the time, I’ll use some kind of medium- or full-coverage serum foundation.
You probably already know this, but I really like Diorskin Nude Air in 40 Dore ($53) for full coverage, and now I’m also liking MAC Studio Waterweight in NC 42 ($33) for medium coverage.
Or, if time is of the essence and I barely have five minutes to go from zombie Karen to full-blooded, real-life Karen, I’ll wear a tinted moisturizer like Chanel Les Beiges All-In-One Healthy Glow Fluid SPF 15 in 40 ($45) instead.
6. Color correcting under my eyes (if necessary)
Dark circles…I will not have thee!
This is where I’ll sometimes bust out the orange color corrector again, usually Trish McEvoy Instant Eye Lift in Shade 2 ($38) or the Burnt Coral side of MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Duo in Rich Yellow/Burt Coral ($25), this time to cancel out any blue or purple under my eyes.
7. Under-eye concealer
Never leave home without it! That’s what I always say…
There are a whole bunch I like and use, but the one I grab probably more than any other is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Biscuit ($29). Lately I’ve been alternating it with two new concealers I’ve been testing, Sephora’s Bright Future Gel Serum in 10 Eclair ($14) and bareMinerals Bareskin Serum Concealer in Medium ($20).
8. ⭐️ Eyes
The BEST part.
9. Lips
I usually do my lips before blush and bronzer because I think that seeing the color on my lips makes it easier to gauge how much color I should put on my cheeks.
10. Powder
Powder-wise, I’ve been loving MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Tan ($32) and Chanel’s Loose Powder in 40 Dore ($52).
11. Cheeks
Aaaand, this is usually my last step.
⭐️ If I plan to do a dark smoky eye (smo-kaaaay!) or another look where I know that fallout is bound to happen, I’ll do my eye makeup right after priming, before color correcting and foundation, so I can clean up the fallout if I need to without messing up my face makeup.
Please indulge my curious kitty tendencies, my friend, and share your process in the comments! What’s your basic rigamarole?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. So this morning I drove El Hub to his oral surgery appointment because he had to get his wisdom teeth removed, and guess who struck crazy cat lady GOLD in the waiting room. 🙂
Way too many steps!
Moisturizer, fix+, primer, foundation, concealer, a powder for my eyes, one for my face, then bronzer, blush, highlighter, then eyes and finally lips! Usually another fix+ at the end.
It just always seems like I just need one more product/step and then it will make all the difference:)
I feel ya! I feel like there’s always room for another step (although there probably isn’t). Isn’t Fix+ the best?
I tried out that sephora concealer and couldn’t find a shade match!
My morning routine has been Mac Charged Water Gel Cream, Maybeline Fit Me Stick foundation on a few troubly spots, then Face and Body over the rest of my face, Bobbi Brown eyeshadows, I have a quad that has a light pink and grey matte and sparkle, UD Perversion Liner, Diorshow curling mascara, and different lip colors depending on what I’m wearing and how I feel. Sometimes I layer in a sunscreen and touche eclat under my eyes, sometimes I don’t.
I’m changing it up for fall though. MAC Waterweight is my big new purchase.
My rigmarole is pretty basic! Moisturizer, foundation, let it bake, eyes, brows, cheeks… Then just blending, setting, and lips.
But. BUT! More on point: Embryolisse. I just worked it into my skincare regimen recently, and I’m totally kicking myself for not trying it sooner! That stuff is SO good — brings new meaning to the word “silky.” ?
Rodan + Fields Regenerate regimen- cleanse, toner, eye cream, day or night cream.
Spot cover up as needed.
The end.
Gurl!!!! You just shouted me out!!! TOTAL fan girl moment!! Did I mention I would drink this stuff if I could? I dunno why it works for me. Like, I have oily/combo skin & was using my Physician’s Formula Argan Oil & still had flakes & peeling around my nose. Enter this stuff. Exit the peeling. I use it twice daily. The fragrance definitely appeals to me. Oh I hope it works for you like it does for me. Now to actually read this post (I have SUCH a short attention span….)
So, I was thinking about my face painting rituals then I saw the book of cute kitties & totally got sidetracked, because, HELLO, cute kitties. I mean, even I can’t resist cute kitties. I haven’t officially been diagnosed with ADD but your blog sure does have a sista wondering. I don’t think I could focus on just one thing if my life depended on it. Such a cute kittie…
So many good tips here. I never thought of doing my lips before the blush but I love it. So many times the blush looks too much after the lip.
My routine really varies depending on the day of the week. I can really only wear eye cream at night, otherwise my makeup slides off.
I’m a big Philosophy girl so I cleanse with Purity, then use an Ole Henriksen serum, then moisturize with a Philosophy moisturizer, it’s like Hope in a Jar but stronger. Then color correcting from Smashbox. My face tends to be ruddy so I really need that green tube. Then foundation, unless it’s the weekend then I might just use a BB cream. Then eye makeup if I’m wearing it, blush and lipstick. Then a flash of Bobbi Brown face powder to set everything.
Typically, and if I do a full face of makeup it would be something like that: vitamin C serum, clearing serum if breakout, eye cream/gel, face cream, sunscreen, eye makeup first, then primer, foundation and powder, brows, cheeks and lips.
Moisturizer, primer for face , and eyes, brows (either strut or spiked) , color corrector (either from Mac pro conceal and correct or mufe camouflage cream in orange )foundation, concealer , powder then blush , eyes which is one to two colors then lipstick. Finally. Whew!
1. I do all my skincare at night, and I don’t sweat or produce a lot of oil at night, and I have very sensitive skin so if I cleanse morning and night my skin gets REALLY irritated.
2. Sometimes if I’m really dry, I’ll do a few spritzes of MAC Fix+ before anything else.
3. Eye shadow! MAC Painterly Paint Pot, dust some translucent powder over that, then do the eye look. I used to do foundation first, but now I’ve been experimenting with more intense looks, with more fallout.
4. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer is the best smoothing primer I’ve used so far!
5. I almost always use MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation. Sometimes I’ll mix it with Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer for some more glow.
6. Under-eye concealer, usually Maybelline Fit Me, set with the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Translucent powder. After the under-eye concealer I’ll sweep some shadow underneath the lower lash line to really tie it all together.
7. Cheeks! Bronzer along the perimeters of my face, under the cheekbones and along the sides of my face. I use Too Faced Endless Summer Bronzer. I love blush, I have too many faves to pick. I always apply it along my cheekbones not on the apples of my cheeks. After that, I use the ColourPop highlighter in Smokin’ Whistles! It’s very intense but it’s a cream so it looks so natural and glow-y.
8. After this, it’s the finishing touches! Brows, usually brow powder, then a setting spray, then eyebrow gel and mascara, and finally lipstick.
Having it all written out like this makes me feel like I wear so much more makeup than other girls my age… Whatever! I like it and it makes me feel pretty!
Karen, where do you include your sunscreen?
Mine is more skincare heavy but if I do decide to wear makeup it’s pretty minimal.
1.Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
2. Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence
3. Hydraluron (if I have some dryness)
4. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen
5. Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer
Makeup if any:
Smashbox Primer Water
Light base (Smashbox BB Water/BB Intensive Skin Serum Foundation)
Brows, Mascara, lipstick/balm
Done!
Thanks for sharing, Karen! My whole routine kind of changes while I was away on honeymoon. My skin started having other needs because of the drastic change in climate and I kind of lost my routine a bit and just decided to start over from scratch. I’m back home now though, so I guess another reboot is in order…
Wow, that sure sounds a lot.
After cleansing and serum and moisturizer I apply my sunscreen, then my color correctors, my base, my concealer and then powder. Eye primer and the makeup. Lips are usually my last step.
I looooooooove these types of posts so much!
1. Moisturize and prime with Too Faced Hangover RX. I find this gives my oily skin just enough moisture for the daytime and it primes at the same time. I’m honestly not sure how good of a job it does at priming but my skin is loving it as a moisturizer.
2. If I’m using my MUF pro finish powder foundation I’ll conceal first using the ELF HD concealer in light (sometimes topping that with Garnier eye brightener roller ball thingy). I’ll typically set that immediately with a mix of the yellow and highlighting powder from the ELF contour kit. If I’m using liquid foundation (lately I’ve been mixing Maybelline matte and poreless with an ELF BB cream foundation), I’ll conceal afterwards. I’ll also set the liquid with a powder like Rimmel Stay Matte after I’ve let it dry as long as possible.
3. Brows next using the ELF eyebrow kit. I loooooove the wax in this kit because it is so pigmented and can really be used on its own. I also like their eyebrow pencil.
4. Contour/blush/highlight next. I bought the ELF contour kit plus the blush kits so I’ve been using a combination of everything. I also love Revlon Wine Not blush for the fall. This comment is making me realize how much ELF I’m using.
5. If I remember, I spritz my face with the NYX matte setting spray.
6. I tend to skimp on eyeshadow. More often than not I tightline my eyes using an Urban Decay liner in black and then put on about a billion coats of mascara. I love the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara but go through it quickly so I supplement with L’Oreal voluminous, Revlon grow luscious, and whatever else I might be trying that day. I use a ton of mascara and rely on it to define my eyes more than eyeshadow.
If I’m using eyeshadow I’ll typically grab my Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, sweep a neutral all over the lid, put a brown in my crease, and highlight the brow and inner corner. I also like to keep the lid bare with just a sweep of neutral shadow and then smudge a deep color into the lashline.
My morning routine is mostly skin-care. I start with Andalou Leaf and Blossom Toner, followed by a serum (Vitamin C/Brightening-right now I have Derm Doctor and Tatcha in rotation), light moisturizer mixed with a cpl. of drops of oil (right now I am using Belif with Fresh Seaberry Oil/Odacite’ Pomegranate+Rose oil), followed by sunscreen (Shiseido at the moment). That done, I apply Too Faced “Better than Sex” mascara, apply light blush, lip color, and line my eyes. If I am in a mood, I apply Dior Nude Air Serum Foundation prior to color cosmetics. Usually, I just skip foundation :P.
You are so industrious! I’m so lazy!
My rigamarole is similar to yours! btw, you must try the Mario Badescu Facial Spray – I use it every morning when I get out the shower. I stash it in the fridge for that added touch 🙂 (I even take it to the beach in my cooler lol)
1. Mario Badescu Facial Spray
2. Embroyolisse (which I just started using last week, and LOVE for my combination skin, which has been looking dryer lately, what gives?!) and Roc Retinol eye cream
3. Smashbox Photo Finish oil free primer
4. Foundation: as my skin has been feeling like it’s not mines lately, I’ve been mixing foundations, making a cocktail using either Mac Studio Fix Fluid, MUFE HD and Loreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundations
5: Concealer: again, my skin has been very dry and flaky and my concealers are not here for it. I’ve literally been at Sephora 3 times this month to try new concealers. I’ve been rotating my HG Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, and Mac Mineralize Concealer that I’ve been scraping at since it’s almost done. I’m going to check out the bareMinerals Bareskin Serum Concealer today (fingers crossed)
6: Setting: immediately after tapping out my concealer with my Beauty Blender, I grab either my Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder or my Ben Nye Banana Powder to set my undereye. For my face, I too have been digging my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural with a kabuki brush!
7: Brows: my trusty Anastasia Brow Wiz, set with a Loreal brow gel.
8: Contour/Bronzer: I’m in need of a “winter” bronzer, so I’ve been mixing my summer color NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep with NYX blush in Taupe.
9. Eyes: I’ll apply some of the taupe blush in my crease, as I rarely wear eye makeup. Maybe I’ll throw in an orangey/brown shade in my crease to jazz it up. I curl my lashes, and maybeee apply some mascara.
10. Blush/Highlighter: I’ve been going back and forth, either applying blush before or after highlight, depending on the look I’m going for (learned the matte blush over highlight from you recently!) I’ve been OBSESSSSSSED with my Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop, applying it on my cheekbones, tip of my nose, tearducts.
11: Lips! I’ve been hooked on liquid lipstics, especially Kat Von D’s Lolita lately, wearing everyday for the past week lol
12: Final touches: I blend everything with a duo fiber stippling brush that I dabbed in some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Wayne Goss taught me this!) FINALLY, I set it all with my Skindinavia Bridal spray, and walk away from my SimpleHuman mirror slowly, wind blowing like Beyonce is around LOL
Keeping it in the fridge is a great idea!
Right out of the shower I apply Purpose Dual Treatment Moister lotion on my damp face.
Than it’s to the kitchen we go, where I get my life sustaining coffee and apply my Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller (whew thats a mouthful..) I keep it in the fridge. By that time my moisturizer is completely absorbed and I can start my makeup. I start with a face primer (right now it’s Benefit “The Porefessional”) and I then prime my eyes with TooFaced Shadow Insurance. I also apply a thin layer of MAC paint pot in Painterly and fluff a bit of City Color HD powder over the top. Then I do my eyes (that way I can combat any fall out) When my eyes are done (all except mascara), I mix a bit of BooBoo Fix concealer and my current low end foundation love, Hard Candy Glamoflauge foundation and apply it under my eyes and around my nose and any other spots that need help. Then, I put 3 dots of the same foundation on the back of my hand
and apply it to my face using a damp foundation brush (Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush) I let my foundation dry and then lightly poof on more of the City Color HD powder over my entire face.
I apply a light contour, blush, highlighter and do my brows last (Ofra Universal color brow pencil, and Nyx control freak eyebrow gel) Sprits with Nyx mat setting spray, curl my lashes and apply my mascara. Last but not least while my mascara dries I apply lip color (sometimes I do invisible lip liner first if I think it’s a color that needs it.
Like my dear sweet Hubby says, I’m basically creating a beautiful painting of myself every morning…… :0)
Kylie Jenners make up artist used that $7 facial mist on her in a video on her app!
1) Facial moisturizer and brightening eye cream,. Let them soak in. 2) Face primer, eyeshadow primer. 3) Color correct, if needed (I occasionally I get a little redness in the checks and nose). 4) Brightening concealer on undereyes, if needed (I occasionally get dark circles from insomnia or illnesss). 5) Foundation or BB Cream. 6) Setting powder. 7) Light contouring. 8) Blush. 9) Highlighter. 10) Eyes (I may do this before contouring/blush/highlighter if I’m using messier shadows.) 11) Brows. 12) Setting spray. 13) Lashes. 14) Lips.
LOL that is the perfect waiting room book! My basic day to day is:
1) After a cleansing water and the Pixi Glow Tonic, I use the Mario Badescu facial spray (I tried it as a setting spray just to see but nothing compares to UD/Skindinavia for that). I used to use Clinique’s Moisture Surge, and it’s great, but this is basically the same and much cheaper.
2) Eye cream
3) Few drops of Aveda’s Beautifying oil
4) Brush teeth while that absorbs
5) Avene Redness Relief moisturizer – this has the tiniest bit of green to help with my redness
6) Foundation blended with a BB – right now I’m mixing It Cosmetic’s CC cream with L’Oreal’s Pro Matte and a tiny pump of L’Oreal’s Magic Lumi. (Born This Way wasn’t even close to pale enough for me, sad panda!)
7) Concealer – Nars Radiant Creamy under the eyes, on the chin and bridge of the nose and on my eyelids to cover my veins. Mac Studio Fix for anything super pigmented. I blend again with fingers and the BB.
8) Set undereyes with Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Powder and the rest of my face with Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.
9) Brows
10) Eyes
11) Bit of contour using Nyx blush in Taupe
12) Blush (usually Kat Von D’s Bellissima)
13) Set with UD All Nighter
14) Lips always in the car on the way to work! 🙂
I think I have just as many steps as you lol
1. I start every morning by cleansing my face either with my Murad Essential-C cleanser or Cetaphil gentle cleanser
2. Next, I follow up with my morning skincare which includes Lancome Genefique serum, Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
3. Then, I prime my face with Too Faced Hangover primer or YSL Blur Primer and then prime my eyes with my NYX eye base
4. Now I do my eye makeup
5. Then, I move on to my foundation, corrector and concealer
6. Next, I set everything with a powder then move on to highlighting, contouring and blush.
7. Lastly, I apply my lip liner and lipstick and done!
6. Last is lips. All done!
Tell the truth. You chose that oral surgeon for El Hub based on the likelihood of waiting-room-kitten-books, didn’t you? 😉
1. CeraVe face lotion
2. Benefit Porefessional on T-zone
3. Tarte BB tinted moisturizer all over face
4. Faux Cils on lashes (brush teeth while it dries and clean up lids with Q-tip)
5. Pro Prime (of course!) on lids and under eyes
6. Anastasia Brow Wiz on brows (while primer dries)
7. UD Whiskey on upper and lower lash lines
8. Chanel Malice on cheeks
And I don’t have to tell you that this is pretty much every day. 🙂 Occasionally I’ll spice it up and try some new looks, colors, add a gloss or lipstick, etc. But, this is pretty much the gold standard.
I have the Mario Badescu rose spray and actually prefer Fix + as it doesn’t leave a sticky layer on my skin. I love the Chanel Healthy Glow fluid too for when I need to rush out of the door! 🙂
My routine is skincare heavy as I’m 46 with dry & dehydrated skin. Here goes!
Cleanse or a mask in the shower, Nip+Fab glycolic fix toner pad all over the face & neck, Superdrug Vit E spritz toner all over, Vichy Liftactiv eye cream, Vichy Liftactive 10 serum (face & neck),Sanctuary Spa facial oil if very dry, Vichy Aqualia thermal rich day cream (face & neck).
Make-up.
Avon magix primer, Max Factor foundation, either Facefinity or Miracle Match currently, Rimmel Match perfection concealer under eyes and Rimmel last finish on blemishes, cream shadow on eyes, sometimes poweder, depends on my mood! L’Oreal telescopic mascara, Soap & Glory Solar powder, blush (one of several). Lipstick also one of several! Oh and browgel just to tidy.