Author: Samantha Smith

Grab a snack, you’re going to be here a while.

I don’t wear makeup because I feel like I need to. I don’t wear makeup to please anyone. I wear makeup simply because I enjoy it. It’s my creative outlet. I love to see my face transform from it’s normal self to something similar but slightly better. It’s just something that I really enjoy. When I get ready in the morning, that’s my “me time” and I cherish it. It doesn’t happen as often during summer, because sometimes I trade in that time for a few extra minutes in bed. But lately, I’ve been getting up before the boys, when my husband leaves for work and just getting ready for the day. I feel like getting myself ready and put together helps me with productivity. Maybe I’m imagining that, but let me keep thinking that way.

To some people this probably seems like a lot of products. And nobody said it wasn’t. It’s just what I like to wear.

I always do my eye makeup first. That way, if I decide I want to do a Smokey Eye or something a little bit heavier, I don’t ruin my foundation with any fall out.

After I’ve prepped my skin with moisturizers, I start by applying a Mac Paint Pot to my eyelids. I’ve used both Painterly and Soft Ochre and they’re both great. Painterly has a more pink undertone and Soft Ochre is more yellow. I prefer Painterly, just because it works well for me whether or not I’m self tanned. It literally cancels out everything on my lids, and creates a perfect canvas for eyeshadow. It also makes my eye makeup last ALL day long. A normal day consists of me wearing my makeup for around 12 hours, and it looks the same when I wash it off as it did when I started.

I have an insane amount of eyeshadow. Palettes, singles, quads, like I’m talking an unhealthy amount that I will never completely use up. So my eyeshadow varies, honestly weekly… but I’ve been using the Tartlette In Bloom a lot lately! It’s got a great mix of mattes and shimmers and a great shade range. It’s also one of my favorites, because my husband bought it for me as a gift.

Depending on the look I’m going for, and what I’m planning to wear, I take either Jetsetter, Smartypants, or Sweetheart, or a combo of them and blend it into my crease. Then, I take Funny Girl and Charmer and apply them to the inner part of my lid. Next, I add Rocker, Firecracker, and/or Rebel and blend it onto the outer part of my lid. If I want something a little bit darker, I’ll add Smokeshow, Activist, or Leader to my lash line and outer corner and blend them together. I take the darker colors along my lower lash line and buff them out once I’ve got my concealer applied and set. Lastly, I’ll take some of Charmer and lightly dust it under my brows. (I did my best to get the shade names to show up, but the lighting just didn’t want to cooperate. So I grabbed a photo where you can see the color names.)

Once my eyes are done, I generally apply my primer to my skin. I’ve been loving so many primers lately, but the combo that’s really my go-to is one pump of Two Faced HangoveRX and one pump of Bare Minerals Prime Time. (I know, it starting to sound like a complicated Starbucks order over here…) I have dry skin so even though I’ve already applied a significant amount of moisturizers it never hurts to add a bit more with a primer. The Prime Time gives my skin a super smooth texture and helps the foundation to lay nicely on the skin.

My go-to “foundation”, for years, has been the It Cosmetics CC Cream. I have gone through multiple tubes of this. In fact, it’s the only foundation I’ve ever purchased more than once. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage. It’s moisturizing, but doesn’t make my skin overly shiny. It has SPF 50! Which is a major bonus! And another important thing, it lasts all day! During the winter months, I prefer the illuminating version, and I wear the shade light. During the summer months I prefer the original version and wear the shade medium. I apply with a foundation brush or a BeautyBlender, both work great for me. It just depends on the day and how I’m feeling!

Once my foundation is on I apply the smallest, like seriously the smallest, amount of Tarte Shape Tape under my eyes, on the bridge of my nose, and a couple of dots above my brows and blend them in. This concealer literally covers every single imperfection. However, you CAN use too much. You do not need much of this at all! One tube will last you a while!

After I’ve applied my concealer I have to set it with something. I’ve got a few different products I like but for a quick and easy look I grab my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette. I mix the three light shades and just brush it wherever I put concealer. (Don’t judge me. This palette is beat up. But that’s proof that I really do use it a lot!)

I follow that with my setting powder. I do have dry skin, but I find that I need to set my makeup with powder no matter what. I’ve been using and loving the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores setting powder. I’ve got both the loose and the pressed and love them both! It sets the foundation beautifully and does not leave a white cast on my skin. (The silver lid is a slightly tinted version that my mom had given to me. I use that when I’m very tan. I haven’t been able to find it anywhere, so I’m thinking it was a limited edition.)

Once I’ve set everything I go in and finish my eye look (except mascara, that’s last) I just grab some of the darker colors and blend them on my lower lash line. I take the lightest color and tap it into my inner corner. If I’m feeling like I need a little bit more brightening, I’ll add some of my highlighter as well.

Next, I take my bronzer and apply like a 3 on my face. (Around the top of my forehead, in the contours of my cheeks, and around my jawline) No rhyme or reason, I just apply it and blend it until I’m happy with it.

After bronzer, I apply my highlight to the high points of my face. I lightly dust it on my cheekbones, nose, forehead, chin, and the top of my lip.

I follow my highlighter with my blush. I like to do highlighter first and then blush because I feel like the blush helps to blend in the highlighter and make it look a bit more natural and less flashy.

I’ve been using this Physicians Formula Palette, which unfortunately was limited edition. However, you can find most of the products, or very similar ones, sold individually. (I’m not showing a picture of the inside of this one, because one of the highlighters broke and it’s a disaster.) I’ll link the individual items below the photo.

If you haven’t already heard about this.. You’re probably not living in this century. This product is raved about over and over. Like to the point where you’re probably sick and tired of hearing people talk about it. But there’s a reason. It is so smooth and blends so beautifully on your skin. Not only is it beautiful, but it smells like Heaven. If Heaven has a scent… this is it. It makes me just want to sit on the sand and sip some kind of tropical drink. It smells amazing. This set actually came with a bottle of the fragrance. It lasted me like a month and was gone. I wish I could buy it by the gallon!

I don’t have any one specific brow product that I love more than the others. I’ve been using Wunderbrow and it’s great, but it’s not my favorite application method. (I’m lazy and this takes some work.) It really truly does last and is extremely waterproof. It just takes a little bit more time to apply. I generally find that pencils work really well for me. I knew when I was doing my makeup for this particular day that my brows needed to be waterproof and long lasting, so I went with the Wunderbrow.

Once my face is done I have to spray with some kind of setting spray. There are A TON of great ones out there but my go to is MAC Fix+. It helps to melt everything together and get rid of any powdery look I may have. I always do this before mascara because I literally drench my face in this stuff and if I’d already applied mascara it would just be a disaster.

This is also really great for a mid-day refresh too. I love how hydrating it is!

The last thing I do is apply my mascara. I actually recently got this sample of lash primer from Lancôme and guys… it’s amazing. It has changed my life. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go without it! I already swore by the It Cosmetics Superhero, but this just amps that up another 10 levels. I’ve already got a backup in my drawer, but I’m using every last drop of the sample first.

For lips, I literally just grab anything. In the picture above, I’m wearing NYX Thalia. It’s a super old lipstick and the only place I could find it was from the NYX website. HERE Honestly though, lips are such a personal preference. Lip colors also vary so much from person to person. What looks like one color on me will look completely different on others.

Like I said, this routine might not be for everyone. I don’t do this for anyone but myself. I always love to hear what other people are enjoying using, so I thought I’d share my current favorites.

There are SO many other products that I love and use. But these are just what I’m using the most regularly, at this time. As my routine changes, I’ll update you guys!

What are your favorite makeup products? I’d love to know!