I've never really written a Beauty post before, which is surprising considering how much of my loan I spend on products I primp my face with, so on that note, here is a little post on my daily essentials.
My beauty regime has drastically changed over the three years that I've been in uni, partially thanks to some self-actualisation and a bit of major introspective reflection. Gone are the glittery days of my teenage years, way back when I could get away with silver glitter at 11am ready for Friday Mass at my Catholic Alma Mater. Right now, after years of trying to achieve my golden mean, I have finally managed to get the basics down and just keep to the bare minimum (but not so minimal it's pale and sickly!). Over the past couple of years, I realised that there was no way that I would get any employment post-University if I came out into the world looking like a gender-confused fashionista ingenue. Granted that I would love to look like that till I see the waning of my twenties, I decided to look at things from that perspective. My golden mean was a look that says 'grown-up and polished, but still with a bit of pizzazz', but every now and again I would let my inner Anna Piaggi out and throw caution in the air. Whenever that happens I just rationalise and say, "You're still a student! Make this year count and get it all out of your system!", so out comes the occasional smoky eye, or wine dark lips. And why not? Live a little! If there is a single artistic stroke in my body, I would confidently say that it would be the perfect, graphic MAC fluidline liner that I draw on my eyelids every morning.
So here's my list of daily beauty essentials. Have a look and know that these come highly recommended!
1. Neutrogena Multi Defence Daily Moisturiser- You can't really start the day, let alone put your make-up on, without prepping your skin! After exfoliating and toning (and every couple of days, shaving!), I always massage my face with this fabulous moisturiser. I have combination skin so it was difficult finding a moisturiser that is balanced; not too oil-based and not too matte. Neutrogena is perfect and this one has an added SPF15, perfect for every day use.
2. MAC Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum- After moisturising, applying a good primer creates a perfect base for your make-up. Also, it helps in ensuring that make-up stays in place and lasts for the whole day. MAC's Prep + Prime range maybe a bit on the pricy side, but you don't need a lot and it really does the job. You get your money's worth. I like the feeling of tight, smooth and even skin that you get after priming with this bad boy! Plus the foundation just blends like a dream.
3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Medium Dark 3 'Cadiz'- For years I have weathered through counter after counter looking for my perfect shade. Trust me, I have done the leg work. I have pictures of me looking too dark and (eek!) too pale. Gasp! Luckily, the kind ladies at NARS threw me a bone and showed me the light. Enter Sheer Glow. It provides sheer to medium coverage and leaves a dewy finish. Perfect for the biting cold Northern winters. Perhaps a bit on the pricy side too at £29.50 per fl.oz, but I often mix it with my moisturiser, which is easier to apply on a rushed morning and also, economical. Perfect for Filipino skintones under caramel hues, Hispanic tans and perhaps very bronzed Essex ladies.
4. MAC Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder- Always set your face. Or at least the T-Zone area. I hate having a shiny nose! There is such a thing as too dewy and I am not a fan. This powder is light and colourless so it sets and blots without adding heaviness or tint. There are some good alternatives out there. I occassionally use a setting powder from Mehron (a professional stage make-up company) that I bought for my make-up class a while ago. They are pretty similar so if you can get the latter, it's cheaper too.
5. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Medium Deep- A pretty good alternative to matte, TOWIE bronzers. This powder has a flecks of golden shimmer but not too much. A perfect bronzer/highliter combo on its own, a definite must have!
6. Estée Lauder Powder Blush in Peach Nuance- For Southeast Asian/Hispanic caramel skin tones, peach is the perfectly shade of blush. It gives the perfect 'pinched'/flushed look without the dangers of looking like a clown. This particular blush is one that is actually quite universal, especially for day wear. It's glowy.
7. MAC Fluidline Gel Eyeliner in Black- I was never into kohl pencils and I only tend to line my top lids anyway, so with Fluidline, I do so with precision and it stays forever.
8. Clinique Cream Shaper for Eyes in Chocolate Lustre- Clinique's cream liner is a great alternative to what can be a very stark black during the day, and this shade is a nice dreamy chocolate hue. You can achieve that effortless smokey touch without looking too fierce. Perfect for those make-up virgins and prudes. Not that there's anything wrong with either one.
9. Bourjois Delice Poudre Highlighter- Totally optional, but whenever I feel like my skin need a lift, I just brush this lightly on the high points of my cheeks and face so the lights hits it. Voila! Suddenly I look like I've just had the best sex of my life with such a glow! And it smells like white chocolate. Yum yum!
10. MaxFactor Lash Extension Mascara- Great stuff. Non-clumpy and its gradual in building up those fluttery, feline lashes. I haven't looked any any other mascaras in years.
11. Estée Lauder Pure Color Longlasting Lipstick in Café Chic- Again, for people who have the same skintone as I do, or at least similarly, this is THE perfect shade of nude. It's browny with a touch of dusky rose, and velvety to the touch. People have different perceptions of nude, and the usual problem for me is that most nudes out there come out as too pink on my skin. Sure, we all want to rock Chanel's Boy Rouge Coco a la Vanessa Paradis, but sometimes we are just too much of an Eva Longoria. And why not enhance that? Café Chic is a total must have. If you want to spend good money on a good lippie, get this one.
12. Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm in Rose- Normally the final touch of the morning before stepping out of the house, this lip balm is nothing short of sensational. On top of bare lips it creates that covetable 'pucker'. On top of any lipcolour it provides that lusciousness. Absolutely brilliant! On a really cold day, I tend to use this as a moisturising, cream blush as well for that subtle hint of colour. I have a tin in every one of my bags so I would never be without it, and why not? It's cheap!
It's a regime a follow religiously. Except for when I'm ill and cannot be bothered, then I reduce this list even further down to just a couple. I know it must seem like I take a looong time putting my face on in the morning but quite the contrary, it takes not time at all. Maybe that's down to practice?
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| Virginie and Myself, rocking Day and Night looks! |
One TOP tip that I will leave you though, is to give your skin a good day or two each week to breathe. That means no make-up whatsoever, just to really cleanse and detox your skin to have a much better complexion and overall texture. Drink lots of water too and make sure to bank a considerable amount of hours in slumber. We don't want dark under-eye circles and baggies do we?
Come to think of it, I didn't list any concealers at all. I don't really use it during the day, mainly because I prefer my concealer to provide medium coverage and during the day it feels a bit heavy. I dont really feel the need for it everyday. I use an under eye brightening concealer like YSL's Touche Eclat (in No.3) if I were to create an evening look, but I'll save that for another post.
Hope you enjoyed this one! (...and maybe found this useful too?)
xoxo
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