My Everyday Make-Up Routine

My everyday makeup.

The key to a good, every day makeup comes in two parts. One, a solid skincare routine, because if you aren't maintaining your skin, your makeup isn't going to look good. The second, finding products that work for you, making the process easy and most importantly, delivering the perfect result every time.

Personally, I prefer the less is more approach when it comes to my every day make up. My goal is to keep it simple and seamless, and finished in around ten minutes. If that sounds like something you want to try, or are working towards, then keep reading.

The Base

I rarely use foundation. I find most to be too heavy or drying for my skin, and it can take a lot of effort to get it right, which is not something I have time for usually in the mornings. So instead, I use skin tints or skin blurs. Let me say, I by no means have perfect skin. I have hyperpigmentation, old acne scars and indented scarring. However, now I'm maintaining the health and hydration of my skin, I find using something lighter, that blurs my pores and gives me a more even and natural complexion – think sun kissed - actually emphasises the good parts of my face, instead of highlighting the bad.

My all time favourite base product is the Kiko: Skin Trainer CC Blur, which I use in the shade dark. I have nothing but praise for this stuff. It has light coverage, which evens out my skin tone, blurs my pores and feels like velvet on the skin. Come rain or shine, this will stay on your face, even if you don't use a powder. If you do feel like you could do with a touch up, its easy to apply with your fingers, on the go. This skin blur provides the perfect blend of coverage and natural finish for me, that is great for my day to day.

However, when I want a little more glow or pop to my skin, I use the Nyx: Pore Filler primer – which is an affordable gem for my girlies with large pores, and I apply the Summer Fridays: Sheer Skin Tint on top. Whilst the primer guarantees blur and a matt base, the Summer Fridays skin tint gives a subtle glow with very light coverage. I find the Summer Friday's tint to be my go to product for the 'clean girl' look. This combination is brilliant if you prefer the dewy/glowy look, for minimal effort.

If you are someone with oily skin, or just don't feel right not setting everything with a powder, then my current go to is the Huda Beauty: Cherry Blossom Easy Bake. Technically, it's for baking, but you don't have to use it as such. Just apply it as you would any powder and ta-da, perfection. It's easily one of the best powders I've personally used, especially if you find your makeup can end up looking cakey or emphasising your fine lines, especially under the eyes. A little goes a long way, and it comes in a variety of shades to suit your needs. It really is a fantastic powder for those looking to just set and go, no extra maintenance required.

The Eyes

Mascara is a must for me. I have quite short lashes and larger eyes, so I use the Maybelline: Sky High Primer to give my lashes a boost before applying a mascara. The Maybelline primer was actually an accidental purchase for me originally. However, once I tried it, I fell in love. If you have short lashes, and lash strips or extensions aren't for you or within your budget, I highly suggest using a primer. This particular one not only gives incredible length, but it doesn't clump, allowing for a fuller lash appearance.

For mascara, I've been using the Benefit: Bad Gal Bang mascara for years now, it's just that good. Again, it's a fantastic product for short lashes, providing both noticeable volume and length. The brush is nice and narrow, which makes it easier to apply then some mascaras, and you can use multiple layers if you really want to get that full lash effect. These two products paired together last all day, and do so much for my eyes, that I don't need anything else.

The Brows

I'll admit, I never used to be a brow girl. Oh, how foolish I was. Having good looking brows really does elevate a look. I am a 'boy brow' enjoyer, meaning I prefer the messy look, nothing too shaped or refined. I do have quite sparse, uneven brows, so I shape them at home with a facial razor about once every two weeks. This makes the application of my brow products easier, allowing me to get the same results every time.

The first product I use is the Refy: Clear Brow Sculpt, brushing them in an upward motion and leaving them to dry for a few minutes so they are set in place. Then, I go in with my beloved Kosas: Air Brow, in the shade black. If you have sparse brows like me, this girl will get you right. The brush is pretty small, so I find it easy to get those small, precise strokes, and it lasts all day. Honestly, since I bought this I haven't used anything else, it's just so good at what it does.

If you find there are still gaps you'd like to fill or just want your brows to look shaped and defined, then I suggest the Refy: Brow Pencil. It's very easy to use and doesn't smudge.

The Lips

For my lips, I keep it simple with a good lip balm and oil. I've been using the Summer Fridays: Lip Butter Balm with the Gisou: Honey Infused Lip Oil for a while now, and the combination keeps my lips soft and smooth throughout the day, with a healthy glossy glow. I just pop the combination in my bag and reapply as needed. Any lip balm + lip oil combo works, but I do prefer lip butters for hydration and thickness.

The last product I will use, is the Mac: Lip Liner in Cork, if I want a more definition to my lips. I love this lip liner, as it goes on smoothly and it lasts even through eating. Its the perfect liner for an everyday nude lip.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas to try or products to look for, and please do bookmark my blog for future content.