In this post I’m sharing my updated everyday makeup routine and favorite drugstore products for a quick and easy fresh face.
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Today I’m sharing an UPDATED (2022 version) of my simple, everyday, no-makeup makeup look… basically a “my face but slightly better” vibe. You may have seen this previous post about my 10 step process using 10 products… but I have made a few tweaks to the routine that I’m excited to share.
Most of the products and techniques are the same. However, I am finding the placement of each product is what’s changed the most. It could be that I’m quickly heading into my mid 30’s, or maybe the current trend is influencing me, by I find myself applying contour and blush much higher up on my cheeks. This creates a more lifted look to the face.
Another major update: the BROWS. I basically reshaped my brows by shortening the down turned tail ends a bit. I now tend to fill the brows in a more straight and less arched shape. The straighter brow tails also help give the illusion of a slightly lifted and youthful eye area.
Lastly, I am focusing a bit more on contouring my nose and lips. Enhancing these extra features really helps pull everything together and creates a more balanced look overall.
I find that this routine feels really light, is comfortable to wear for long periods of time, doesn’t look cake-y or overdone/too dramatic for day-to-day just living your life, AND it only takes me 10 minutes to complete from start to finish! BONUS: all products are from the drugstore!
THE TOOLS
- blush brush – angled flat top brush (similar one linked here!)
- face brush – Elf Bronzing Brush
- eyeshadow + contour blending brush – similar one linked here
- small angled eyeliner brush – Wet n Wild flat angled liner brush
- makeup sponge – Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
THE PRODUCTS
- moisturizer – Palmer’s Coconut Oil FAce Moisturizer
- concealer in your skin tone – L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Concealer in the shade “Creamy Natural”
- concealer in a darker shade – Maybelline FIT Me Concealer in the shade “Cafe”
- face powder in your skin tone – NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation in the shade “Warm Beige”
- face powder in a darker shade – L’Oreal True Match Powder in the shade “Cappuccino”
- contour stick – Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contour Stick in the shade “Where’s Walnut”
- eyebrow pencil – E.L.F. Instant Lift Brow Pencil in the shade “Neutral Brown”
- liquid eyeliner pen – NYX Epic Ink Liner in the shade “brown”
- eyebrow gel – NYX Tinted Brow Mascara in the shade “Brunette”
- brown soft eyeliner – NYX Retractable Eye Liner in the shade “Bronze”
- black gel eyeliner – Tarte Remix Double Take Eyeliner in the shade “Bronze/Black”
- mascara – Covergirl Lash Blast Volume in the shade “Very Black”
- cream blush – NYX Sweet Cheeks Blush in the shade “Coralicious”
- powder blush – NYX HD Blush in the shade “Summer”
- colored lip balm – Maybelline Baby Lips in the shade “Cherry Me”
- lip liner – NYX Slim Lip Pencil in the shade “Peekaboo Neutral”
- lipstick – NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade “Cannes”
THE PROCESS
- Prep the base. Start with moisturizer to prep the skin and act as a barrier for the makeup. I prefer one that leaves a slightly tacky feeling as it holds the rest of the products in place. Next, apply some tinted lip balm to hydrate and prep the lips for other products later on. TIP: wait a minute or two for the moisturizer to sink in before moving on to applying the makeup.
- Even skin tone. Apply concealer in your skin tone to problem areas of the face to even out your skin. I apply to acne scars, undereye area, and around the nose. Blend out using the makeup sponge. TIP: only apply to areas where you need it. For best results try to find the closest color match to your skin.
- Add more dimension. Apply darker shade concealer (or contour stick) on cheekbones, on forehead around hairline, and anywhere else you want to fake a “shadow.” Blend out well using the makeup sponge. The key is to place contour a bit higher up on the face than you’re used to. This creates a more lifted look overall. I also apply under the tip of my nose to shorten and sides of my nose to define further. Darker products make features appear smaller and more recessed. TIP: for hooded eyelids, apply contour above the crease line for more definition.
- Lock it all in. Set all of the cream products with powders in matching colors. Apply the powder in your skin tone wherever you applied the concealer in your skin tone, and apply the darker powder wherever you applied the darker concealer. TIP: use the same face brush for both powders to save time. You REALLY don’t need 2 different tools for this.
- Define the brows. This step is one of the most updated in my routine as of lately. I have been prefering a more straight/lifted brow with less of a defined arched. To achieve this faux “brow lift”, I use a 3 step method. Starting with a brown liquid eyeliner pen, use light pressure to create hair like strokes on the ends of your brows going in an upward and outward direction. Then use a soft brow pencil to fill in any sparse areas and create a more defined shape overall. Lastly, use a brow gel to lift the hairs up and lock them in place.
- Enhance your eyes. Take the same darker shade face powder and use the eyeshadow blending brush to apply it to the crease of your eyes in a windshield wiper motion. Focuse this shadow towards the outer corners and drag it out towards the end of your brow + temple. Then add brown eye liner to outer corners of the top lash line, extending it out with a slight wing. Use the small angled eyeliner brush to blend out the eyeliner and create a diffused winged liner effect. On days where I want more definition, I add a bit of black liner closer to the lash line and blend out into the brown for more depth. Finish the look by tightlining the outer corner of the upper lashline with a black eyeliner. TIP: For a lifted eye effect, avoid adding any product to the lower lash line.
- Lengthen your lashes. Add mascara to top lashes only. TIP: if you want to create a more sultry cat eye look, apply the mascara in a sweeping motion that forces the lashes to point out towards the outer corners of the eyes.
- Add a pop of color. At this point, you’ve got a ton of really natural/neutral shades all over the face. Add some cream blush to the apples of your cheeks to bring some life back into the face with a rose or peach toned flush. Apply with fingers or the other side of the makeup sponge. Follow up with a slightly shimmery powder blush on top. This will set the cream in place and double as a highlighter. Again, apply the blush much higher up on the cheekbones, focusing mostly on the outer edges of the face and less on the apples of the cheeks. This will also create a more lifted look. TIP: add some to the nose and above eyebrows for a more sunkissed glow.
- Lips, lips, lips. To be honest, I used to completely ignore my lips and simply add a tinted balm. But, lately I find that a more defined lip really completes the look and makes everything look so much more balanced. Using a neutral/mauve lipliner, slightly overline just above the cupids bow and under the middle of the bottom lip. Then fill in the lips with the same lipliner, and add a bit of tinted balm or a more full coverage lipstick if you want it to last longer.
- Melt it all together. Take the makeup sponge and just tap it all over the face, making sure each product is nicely blended together. Drag the remaining product that’s left on the sponge down the jawline and neck to avoid any harsh lines. This would also be the time to add a setting spray if that’s your thing.
And that’s it! That’s my updated everyday makeup routine! I hope you found a few tips and tricks or new product recommendations to try out.
Xx Laura
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