as someone who has never really felt comfortable with makeup (those cosmetic counter ladies scare me!), i've been trying to figure out a minimalist-ish set of essentials in the last year or so for work or events when i need to look appropriately put-together.
neat discovery: i recently decided to try out Clinique's bb cream, and love it. i wear it every day now. it's basically the ideal all-in-one product for those of us who don't like layering on multiple products, or the heaviness of foundation. a small pea-size amount, applied with your fingers, offers a little more coverage than tinted moisturizer while still being light and very natural. there's spf 30 protection, which is fantastic. i've found that i can skip the concealer when i've got on the bb cream. it also seems to have a bit of a mattifying effect for me, which is great as it cuts out the need for primer and i can just put on mineral pressed powder to set it for a more 'finished' look.
Laura Mercier's mineral foundation powder is another new favorite. it's light enough to function as a relatively sheer setting powder, but tinted so that you can still build on coverage in gradual layers if necessary. the texture is also fine and silky, so it blends easily into your skin. i also really like that it comes in a nice slim compact – instantly portable and travel-friendly, and not nearly as messy as those loose powder jars.
finally, a mini review for the Too Faced kabuki brush: i use it to apply the mineral pressed powder, and it's great. (as someone with sensitive and somewhat acne-prone skin, i never use the sponges that come with powder compacts – they cake on too much product, and you can never clean them properly...) the texture of the brush feels great on the skin, and it picks up just enough product from my powder compact without wasting a bunch. because it's made from synthetic fibers, it's more resistant to bacteria than brushes made from animal furs. (as with any makeup brush, make sure you get a brush cleaning spray/solution to clean it between uses.) highly recommend this as a great face brush, especially if you like to use mineral makeup.
the rest here are the finishing touches that work with my everyday routine, or as part of a minimalist set. two other items that are great multitaskers:
one or two bright lipsticks:
i like a little bit of bright lipstick, and i find that Nars makes the best ones that glide on and aren't too thick. after about a few hours, the color fades a little and ends up looking like a nice lipstain, which i really love.
liquid eyeliner:
after many attempts to make mascara work for me, i've realized that i hate the way it feels on and the annoyance of taking it off, so now i just use a good liquid eyeliner and call it a day. maybe put on some eyeshadow/shimmery something if i'm feeling inspired.
what about you? have you discovered some great new products lately? are you a minimalist or maximalist when it comes to makeup?
Is that the Heatwave color on the right? My two Nars lipsticks are the only makeup I wear most of the time, in Shanghai Express and Fire Down Below, but I'm thinking about adding Heatwave to the mix :) The other essential is Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion...the blackest black and stays put all day/night.
ReplyDeleteit's Manhunt :) - i had Heatwave but didn't like how it looked on my skin tone.
Deleteand in spite of the name, it's still a pretty sheer red, not TOO red if you know what i mean!
DeleteOn a very minimalist day, tinted moisturizer, eyeliner, and mascara, because I like to highlight my eyes, which are my favorite feature. I'm from the South, where the women tend to like our eyelashes long and thick, so mascara is the one thing I won't do without. I've tried many brands and types over the years and know exactly what works for me.
ReplyDeleteIf I want a little more polish, I'll add concealer, as well as a little color on my cheeks.
If I'm going out, I'll up the eye make up -- more/darker liner, more mascara, and I'll add eye shadow. Depending on the colors I'm using, I might or might not add lipstick. More importantly, my husband doesn't like lipstick and won't kiss me if I'm wearing it, so I tend to stick with tinted lip balms when I'm on a date with him. :-)
I heart my Nars lipstick in Vesuvio. And I just stocked up on some Bobbi Brown goodies for my upcoming elopement. Keeping it very natural and low-key with my look; think autumnal wood nymph.
ReplyDeletecongrats on your (un)wedding! :D i like very much the inspiration of autumnal wood nymph...
DeleteI am definitely a minimalist when it comes to make-up. I know what I like (simple and clean) and try to stick to it. But there are times when I buy a product that I saw online that looked good on someone else that did not work on me. It's a working progress but I'm slowly learning to stick by what I know.
ReplyDeleteI change up my makeup routine depending on the season. Warmer weather is all about tinted moisturizer and concealer, that's it. I can't imagine how my face would look and feel by the end of the day with the heat and all. The cooler season is when I wear foundation or go more full out (which is not even, it's bare minimal at best).
I really like LM products too. That powder was my favorite, I need to replace my old one. And they had this great stick foundation that they discontinued. I also really like MUFE concealer, it does such a great job.
Great post! However, I wouldn't rely on a pea sized amount of BB cream for sun coverage. You need approx. 1/4 teaspoon for the sun protection to be effective.
ReplyDeleteMy daily routine is pretty much a little sweep of MAC concealer, followed by a red lipstick (either MAC chilli or ruby woo or Bobbi Brown red) and MAC mascara and YSL liner on the inside of my eyes. If I don't feel like red lipstick, then i use either a MAC tinted lip balm or MAC so sheer lipstick, and a liquid MAC liner on my eye lids and Indian kajal (very saturated waxy liner) on the inside of my eyes. And concealer.
ReplyDeleteI do have a couple of lovely Bobbi Brown blushes but I hardly use them in India, I think they look better when I am not as tanned, i.e. living somewhere with no sun!
Ammu - i love that you have such a concise set of colors and products that you love! i'm very intrigued by kajal eyeliner now that you've mentioned it! why do you prefer it over the regular stuff?
DeleteYou can find kajal at most Indian shops - here, the body shop does a nice kajal that I use. I mostly like to use it when I want a smudged look, since the waxy consistency means it smudges very easily. I also enjoy using my guerlain powder kohl from time to time, love the shiny minerals glinting along the inner line of the eye.
DeleteI like keeping it concise in most areas of my life. Simplicity really speaks to me at the moment. I have a feeling it speaks to you too ;)
I am by no means a makeup minimalist. I have a small makeup bag where I keep my daily essentials - foundation, concealer, powder, brow powder, brow set, eyelash curlers, mascara, shimmer eye shadow, blush AND shimmer blush - ha! Oh and don't forget the kohl liner. Very important ;)
ReplyDeleteIn addition there is the part of my book shelf where I keep all the other stuff - different color or texture versions that I rotate in and out of my "daily" makeup bag, cheaper products that I bought to try something new (I never experiment with expensive brands, those are for when I've found a "daily" product) and a few "special occasion" eye shadow palettes.
It must sound like I really cake stuff on, but I really don't. We're talking a pinch of this and a smidge of that. It might not even look "polished". I love "smudgy". I do love the ritual of makeup though, and the creativity of it. I love long mornings - where other people might spend an extra five minutes with a cup of coffee or the morning news, I spend a few extra minutes on my makeup. It is my morning me-time.
Wow, this turned into a really long comment, huh! Despite of my slight makeup-hoarding leanings, I love your minimalist makeup bag. It signals a certain confidence, that you've found your style and that you know what suits your life :)
Maja - i love hearing about what other people stash in their makeup bag! mostly because i'm such a makeup novice. i can totally see how it's a great part of your creative routine in the AM. due to my love of, err, expensive shoes and bags, i try to keep pricey makeup at a minimum.
DeleteSo I have seen BB Cream everywhere, but I just don't know what it is and what it does. I'd be interested in checking it out. I currently use Giorgio Armani Face Fabric. The tube goes along way (it's been over 2 years for me), but I cannot find it in SE Asia.
ReplyDeleteAs for lips, I am loyal to Heatwave and Jungle Red. I don't layer them on too thick, though - just a few dabs on my lips for day.
I really like mascara, but I've become lazy. I swear by Giorgio Armani mascara and Dior.
Does your liner stay put in this humid climate?
bb cream is basically in between tinted moisturizer and foundation in terms of functional coverage, but it's also got spf and antioxidants to improve skin, so it's also better than 'just makeup'.
Deletei think the key is liquid eyeliner that's also waterproof - it does stay put once it dries.