Hello to you all, and welcome to a non-fashion based post! As promised last week, I am going to share my current skin care and make up routine. I love blogging about fashion more than anything, so I have never really felt the need to dive into the world of beauty before. BUT, I feel like I have recently struck gold with all the stuff I load onto my face on a daily basis, so I thought it best to share all of this with the world!
Lets start with my morning skincare routine, which is just the same as my evening one minus the make up removal and an acid toner. I start with my Liz Earl Cleanse and Polish, which really is as good as everyone says it is. It took me ages to try out it, but I am completely converted. My skin is normal to dry, and generally spot free. I have constant redness on and around my nose (like it needs any more attention drawing to it!), and I am yet to find anything to help with that. Other than that I think I have been very lucky with my skin so far (touch wood). I find that Liz Earle keeps things tickity-boo, it keeps my skin feeling clean and fresh, and doesn't cause me any breakouts. Aside from that my other favourite cleanser is Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser, but the price tag often puts me off it.
I recently was sent a lot of Vichy products which I have been trying out and really loving. They have replaced a couple of old favourites which I will also mention because I would 100% use those again too.
I follow up my cleanser with a serum or oil. The serum is the Vichy Idealia Radiance Boosting Serum, which really sinks into the skin nicely. If I use an oil, which would be the Zelens Absolute Face Oil, then the skincare routine ends there. However, with a serum it leaves the skin feeling a bit tight and in need of moisturiser. I had purged my routine of moisturiser in favour of oil a while ago, and my skin felt amazing for it. I have been reintroducing it again recently for two reasons; I like how it sits under make up more, and it works well with my Clarins oil. This incredible little oil gives you the most amazing glow. I drop in three drops every other night or morning, and it gives an amazing subtle tan that evens out the skin. If you don't tan the rest of your body too then you would have to use it less than that, as it will develop a little and you'll have a face darker than your neck if you're not careful. I was also using this with my Zelens oil, but they don't combine to create the nicest smell!
So the current moisturiser is the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light, which dries down a little tacky so makes a great primer for your make up too. It's nice and light weight and sinks into the skin really quickly.
Onto the war paint! I find myself getting more and more into minimal make up, and am always trying to pair it back more. My current favourite base is the Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint. I do think this is a little heavier than a tinted moisturiser, so it packs a bit more of coverage without feeling as heavy as a foundation. I take a small amount and first start on my nose and blend outwards. The edges of my face doesn't need any coverage really, so doing it this way means as much of my own skin is coming through where possible, and the problem red nose is covered up! I always want my skin to look like skin, and my freckles to show through a little.
The next step is my concealer, and on my laid back days I skip the base and just use this product. It's the Maybelline Eye Eraser. AKA the best concealer ever. It's light weight but covers dark circles and redness (not so good on spots though!), and blends incredibly. I pop it under my eyes, on my chin, around my nose and down the bridge of my nose. On my 'no make up days' I always just do this step, and it evens out my skin so well. I do wish they would bring out more shades though, the 'light' shade works for me when I have fake tan on, but it too dark when I don't!
Then to set my make up there is only one powder I like to use; the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light. As I said I like my skin to show through, and I find powdered products really ruin this!! This powder keeps your glow while setting your make up. It's bloody pricey (as you can see I have nearly run out too, boooo), but I always repurchase this.
Next up we have contour, blush and highlight. Now I think using the word 'contour' is bigging myself up a little here because I am not so good at it. I use Benefit Hoola Bronzer because it has a tone that isn't too bronze, making it look more like a shadow than an orange line. It's also shimmer free! I sweep a little of this on a very big and fluffy brush under my cheek bones, under my jawline and through the temples. After years of experimenting with cream contours, fancy brushes and shades about 5x too dark for my skin tone, this is the most fool proof method I have found.
The blush I am currently using Dolce Vita by Nars. Any blush is fine by me, I am always stumped by how anyone can have a clear favourite as they all seem pretty similar to me.
Any finally some highlight! I am 100% a cream highlight kinda girl as it looks wayyy more natural. I always want it to be more of a glow from within look than a mega light catching beam. I have three favourites; Winky Lux, Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate (the illuminate bit, the shade bit is a disaster on me), and Nars Copacabana. I swipe some on each cheekbone, then take any excess down my nose and on my cupids bow.
Then it's brow time! I use the Revlon Brow pencil and it's amazing. I have used the ever popular Anastasia Brow Wizz and in my opinion this one is just as good for a fraction of the price. The key part is the spoolie which I use to push the product through my brows and blend it into the hairs. It makes things way more natural and is super easy too. I finish off with the L'oreal Brow Artiste Plumper which really helps define the hairs.
I definitely consider my eye make up to be my weakest point. I always keep it simple because I don't know how to do much else, and I have finally found a make up look that is quick and simple for me to do. My favourite palette is the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics. They're all matte shades, and they all work together so you can't go too far wrong with whatever you choose to do. I always start with one of the lighter shades all over my lid as a base, then use a warm brown through the crease. A big fluffy brush is key because it blends effortlessly! Warm tones also help to bring out the green in my eyes, so I always find them more flattering than grey, smokier shades.
I am a big fan of winged liner, but recently I find a liquid or gel flick can look a little too heavy. I have switched to using the black shade in this palette on a small angled brush to create my wing, it's a little smudgier rather than graphic and heavy. Finally I curl my lashes and add on lots of the Lancome Doll Eyes mascara, just to the top lashes as it lifts my downturned eyes as much as possible.
Finally, lipstick! I am not very good a reapplying throughout the day so I always go for either a nude or a lip balm. My lip balm of choice is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream to begin the day, and the By Terry Baume de Rose in my handbag. I have a bad habit of biting my lips when I concentrate so they are always quite dry, so I steer very clear of any drying lipsticks too. My current two favourites are the Revlon Gel Lip Colour in HD Sand, and the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Intriguing. Both are flattering pinky nudes which don't dry out my lips.
And finito! Hope you guys liked this post, if I ever have any big changes to this routine I will be sure to update you all too.
