I often get questions about my current makeup routine, and now that spring has sprung, I thought this would be a good time to update and republish this post. I don’t use all of this every day, but most days I use one from each category. I always feel best with a full face of makeup.
While I don’t see any great sales on makeup at the moment, the Sephora Spring Savings Event and Bloomgindale’s Beauty Benefits both start on Friday the 14th, so keep those in mind if you’re looking to try something new or refresh any of your favorite makeup products.
Current Makeup Routine: Face
Tinted Sunscreen: I always start my makeup routine with this ISDIN mineral sunscreen; in fact, I wear that whether I wear makeup or not.
Foundation Primer: I don’t always use one, but when I do, I like the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer (also at Ulta). I’m more likely to use this under a mineral powder foundation than a liquid.
Foundation: I’ve experimented with quite a few over the last year or two, and I like several that I’ve tried, but none so much as the La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20. It’s ridiculously expensive, and I realize not everyone wants to spend three digits on foundation, but I’m often asked how I get such glowing skin, and this stuff really has a way of making your skin look luminous. (It also lasts a very long time, and a little goes a long way.) I use 200 DUNE in the winter and 310 BEIGE in the summer, and I’m currently mixing them to get something in between.
Other Foundation Options: If the La Mer price tag is totally out of range, I’m also a fan of MAC Studio Sculpt (currently on sale!) It’s a bit heavier than the LaMer, but it goes on easily and has a nice finish. Another one that is good for those with more oily skin is Estee Lauder Double Wear. I tried it and liked it okay, but it was too drying for me personally. A lot of women love it, though, especially in summertime.
The other one I’ve used and like quite a lot is the tarte babassu foundcealer skincare foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20. This is an all-in-1 medium coverage foundation, moisturizer, concealer, & SPF. Plus, all tarte products are vegan and free of parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, and gluten. For $40, this one gives you a good bang for the buck!
tarte babassu foundcealer skincare foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 in 27N
During the summer, when my melasma really ramps up, I’ve taken to using the tarte Shape Tape Cream Foundation on the areas where I have brown skin discoloration. I haven’t used it much lately, but when I start spending more time in the sun, I think I’m going to need it again.
Side note: I apply all my liquid and cream foundations with this BK Beauty brush.
When I want a more natural look and don’t feel like messing with liquid foundation, I will use Jane Iredale PurePressed Base. It’s buildable, and it lasts all day if you spray it with their Balance Hydration Spray.
Sometimes I even use the Jane Iredale PurePressed Base on top of my La Mer foundation for a little extra coverage.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer // Jane Iredale PurePressed Base // Jane Iredale Balance Hydration Spray // old powder brush
Concealer: My go-to is the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear in 215 BUFF N IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye in Light Natural.
I used to use my fingertips, but since discovering the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush, that’s how I apply my concealer these days. You use the flat end of the dual-ended brush to spot treat any areas where you want extra coverage, and then use the fluffy side to blend it out using circular motions.
Setting Powder: I love I.T. Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores for a setting powder. It smooths everything out and gives my skin an airbrushed finish. It’s especially nice for setting the under eye concealer.
Blush: I’ve tried a few different blushes with various beauty campaigns, and the one I’ve settled on is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores in Naturally Pretty. It goes on smoothly and blends well, and I really like this color. My backup is tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in Dazzled.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores in Naturally Pretty
Highlighter & Bronzer: Every once in a great while, when I want a little extra glow, I’ll apply the tarte cosmetics shimmering light with an old e.l.f. highlighter fan brush, but I’ve given up on bronzer. I don’t think it’s worth the trouble.
Current Makeup Routine: Eyes
tarte maneater liquid eyeliner
Eyelash Conditioner: This isn’t really makeup, but I wanted to include RevitaLash because it’s how I have such long, full lashes. I apply it every other night, now that I’m in maintenance.
Eye Shadow Primer: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer is the holy grail of eyeshadow primers. When I use this, my eyeshadow doesn’t crease and it stays strong all day.
Eye Shadow: I still love the tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette, and it’s the one I use most days. When I want a more dramatic look, I’ll use a few colors from the MAC Amber Times Nine eye shadow palette.
I wish I could just use this one because it’s so much smaller and easier to pack, but it doesn’t have a nice white for highlighting my brow bone. Otherwise, it would be my go-to.
When I want a more natural look, I just use the Perricone MD No Makeup Eyeshadow and nothing else (aside from mascara). I love how it gives my eyelids a soft, natural look and covers up any discoloration.
Eye Liner: I almost always use the MAC Technakohl Eyeliner in Graphblack to line my top lid, and for tight-lining on the inside of the top lid. I do not put this on the bottom, though. If I do anything on the bottom, I take some eyeshadow and lightly apply with the Laura Mercier smudge brush. When I want a more dramatic look, I use the tarte maneater liquid eyeliner.
Mascara: I currently use the MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara or the tarte tartelette tubing mascara. The tarte is a little better at volumizing, but it can get clumpy. The MAC does an amazing job separating and lengthening, and I find the skinny wand easier to use, but my lashes don’t look as thick as they do when I use the tarte. I often use a combination of both. I’m also still a fan of tarte lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara.
Eyebrow Pencil: I cannot live without my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Mechanical Brow Pencil in Ebony. Even though I’ve had microblading, I still need to touch up my eyebrows sometimes, and this brow pencil is very precise and natural looking. I buy these two at a time because they run out without warning, and I can’t be without it.
Current Makeup Routine: Lips
Lip Liner: I always line my lips and fill them in lightly with liner to help my lipstick last longer. For the longest time, I used the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk, but lately I’ve been using the tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner in Dusty Rose.
Lipstick: The Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo Lip Crayon in Activist is my current go-to. I wear it almost every day, but on those occasions when I want a darker lip, I use my Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Cream Lipstick in Exotic Orchid.
Lipgloss: I use the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream Gloss in Dolly on top of every lip color I wear. Sometimes, I will use MAC Lipglass in Love Child. I keep that one in my purse. Both add a nice sheen to the lips, and they’re moisturizing without being sticky. The Buxom does tingle a bit, but I can’t say I notice it plumping my lips. If the tingly feeling bothers you, go for the MAC Lipglass instead!
Shop My Current Makeup Routine
This post got really long, so here’s an easy shopping widget with everything I’ve listed here… at least, I think I got it all! I also linked each product at several different retailers, in case you’re loyal to one or another.
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Love this post!! Now that spring has officially arrived here, I feel the need for a makeup refresh. You’ve given me so many options! My lifestyle is pretty laid back, and since the pandemic, I’ve switched to just using face powder, blush, and some type of lip balm or lipstick. But now I’m getting the urge to ramp things up a bit! Now I’ve got a starting point for lip and eye options! Have a great day!
This is a very helpful and informative post that can be a great resource and inspiration for us. Thank You!
Hi there! Basic question-how do you figure out which shade to use the first time you’re trying a product? Do you go into the store each timr you’re looking to try something new?
I’m pretty good at guessing, but going into the store is always ideal.
Great post! Thank you!
Can you tell me what shade you wear in the Mac Studio Sculpt? Our hair and skin coloring are similar, I currently use just mineral powder and maybe touch up areas with Bobbie Brown foundation stick in Cool Sand 2.25.
Thanks a bunch!
I looked back at old orders, and it looks like I went back and forth between NW20 and NW25.
my thoughts exactly when looking at Mac color charts, thanks!
I still love the Tarte Sea Hydroflex you recommended last year. Perfect for my redness and helps me be camera ready for work zoom calls.
Curious if you have considered eyelash extensions and why you passed.
That’s a nice one, too. I’m not a big fan of most eyelash extensions I see, and my lashes are naturally pretty long. I just need a little help as I age, and the serum works great.
I’m with you on the La Mer foundation, in fact you turned me on to it a couple of years ago! Maybe even longer than that… I’ve never looked back, nothing else compares. When I can catch it on sale, I try to stock up. It is pricey, but like you said, it lasts a long time.
Does RevitaLash contain Isopropyl Cloprostenote? I had to stop using a lash serum UK Lash. It worked great on my lashes but my eye were all dry and red and had drainage in the morning. I saw a YouTube video of an eye doctor warning women about lash serums that contain this chemical. It can cause worse symptoms than I was experiencing. I had to give up my darker and longer lashes. My eyes are back to normal along with my short eyelashes. I’m trying to find more natural alternatives.
Hi! How do you clean your concealer brush? Do you wash it after every use, apply a spray, how? I want to try the brush technique instead of my fingers
I only wash it every month or two. You can re-use it without washing. I use Dawn dishwashing soap .