The Not So Pro Make Up Routine

In my early college years, before I even knew what highlighting was I remember taking a shimmery eyeshadow and putting it under the arch of my brow, on the brow bone. I didn’t know exactly why but I tried it once and liked it. Oh the tragic memories of my barely there eyebrows back then is enough to make me cringe. I’ve sense elevated my techniques through trial and error and the love for makeup has only gotten stronger.

I get a lot of questions about doing makeup and the products that I use. I even have people ask if I will do their makeup. I shy away from doing other peoples makeup because simply I don’t know how. People think it is crazy because I am pretty good at doing my own but for some reason I just cant seem to replicate it on others. Ask my mom and sister who always beg me to do their face and when I do….well lets just say there is no photo evidence. I am by no means a makeup artist but thought it would be good to share the steps I take when I do my face along with a few tips. These are small hacks that I find helpful with my application and maybe you will too.

Skin Care and Prep

Anyone will tell you that he first step to flawless makeup is clean and prepped skin. If your skin isn’t healthy your makeup will not look its best. I always make sure to apply makeup to a cleansed face. My routine is pretty simple which I could probably stand to add a few things as the big 30 creeps up on me. I use Cetephil products for my cleanser and lotion. I recently have tried the cleanser for oily skin, but my go to is the original. After cleansing I go in with a toner which is an extra cleanse for your skin is supposed to help with the minimization of pores. I am not picky with this but currently use the Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner with Cucumber. I have recently been using a Vitamin C serum which claims to help with dark marks and the overall brightness of the skin. I finish with my Cetaphil lotion that has sunscreen (protect the skin ladies!) And don’t forget to give your lips some attention with a lip scrub.

Not So Pro Tip: I keep my toner in the refrigerator for a refreshing mist after every wash.

Brows and Eyeshadow

I go nowhere for the most part without filling my eyebrows in. If I don’t have on any other makeup I will still take the time to quickly fill in my brows. For me I feel most comfortable this way as I have very thin, sparse brows. The product that I use is the N.Y.X. Micro Brow Pencil in Expresso. This pencil is the perfect dupe for a much more expensive pencil I’ve used in the past by Anastasia Beverly Hills. To set I use a dark brow powder. I freestyle my brows because I have done it for so long that it comes naturally to me, although some days are still a struggle. There are tools such as stencils that can be used if you are new to filling in your brows. Eyeshadow is one element that I am still trying to master. Blending is the major key. I will test out different looks when I have the time, but my fool proof eyeshadow look is anything that involves warm neutral colors like this palette by Morphe.

Primer and Color Corrector

The function of primer for me is to have a barrier between my skin and the products that I layer on top of it. I also like to use something that will leave my skin matte. I have very oily skin in the T – zone especially and I also sweat a lot. This can be detrimental to your makeup application if you don’t take certain steps. I have found the ultimate primer that truly works to keep the oils away for long but I do like Milani Prime Shield. Color corrector is a step is not always necessary for me but I like to do it just to prevent any pigmentation from peaking through my foundation. I have some marks on my face and tend to be a little darker around my lips. I use a peach color corrector like M.A.C’s Peach luster to help cancel out the darkness.

Foundation and Concealer

I don’t have much to cover on my skin but when I am wearing a full face of makeup I like to go in with a medium coverage foundation that is buildable. I will also use a concealer under my eyes and down the bridge of my nose to bring brightness to those areas.

Not So Pro Tip: If you find that when you use color corrector and it tends to blend in with your foundation try setting it with a translucent setting powder before applying your foundation. This way it will be dried down and won’t mix.

Contour, Blush, and Highlighter

To be honest I have no clue how to contour properly but I pretend to. I know the concept behind it but I never really seem to get it right. I do however use the contour powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion contour pallete and will bronze in the place of contouring to give my face some dimension. Blush brings the life back into your skin, with my favorite hues being pink and peach. Highlighter can go bad very quickly so you want to make sure you aren’t adding an obsessive amount and that it is blended well to prevent harsh lines.

Not So Pro Tip: If you aren’t getting the beaming highlight that you want try putting it on after spraying your face with setting spray. The moisture will help amplify the color.

Mascara and Setting Spray

The last final touches. My false lash application is hit or miss for me. If I don’t have the time to dedicate to that I put on a few coats of mascara and be done with it. I set my face with a spray to help it last longer. I always make sure to spray my face before adding my mascara because it can make the product run.

Not So Pro Tip: having a hard time getting the effect that you need out of your mascara? Try running it under warm/hot water. This will loosen up the product making it easier to apply and give you longer fuller lashes.

This isn’t a face that I do every day but I do like to do this for special occasions, for work (on the rare morning I wake up early) or just in my free time on the weekends. I plan on posting more makeup related content in the near future and have something pretty exciting planned coming next month so stay tuned. Makeup is so much fun and there are no rules except the ones you make for yourself. It can be an accessory just like jewelry or a handbag. It can also be as time consuming or as easy as you need or want it to be. What makes up your makeup routine? Anything new that you may try out? What is your Pro (or Not So Pro) tip you can share with me? Comment below!