Under 5 minutes Makeup Essentials
On some days, I like going all out with my makeup - prep my skin with a primer, correct and even out my skin tone, go full coverage with the foundation, conceal every tiny imperfection, contour for a chiseled face. By some days, I mean those when I am getting pictures clicked for the blog, attending a wedding or heading for a night-out [wonder when the next one will ever be;-)] . Even then, I would skip many of these steps just based on my mood that particular day. If one day it’s the sun kissed look from a bronzer that I’m after, it may be fresh cheeks from a pale pink blush on another. That to me is the real beauty of makeup. It helps you bring forward the person you want to be on a specific day. But most of the days, I just want to be me, not hiding behind an entire Sephora counter on my face. And that brings me to let you in on my everyday makeup essentials.
Daily makeup to me has to be a quick routine with minimal products, skin still feeling breathable and the final look being just an enhanced version of my real self. It took me a while to narrow down on the five products that is now part of this routine. This is something which was in place even prior to me becoming a mother, a set of products that I would use when I step out to run errands, visit friends or to look a little more alive when we have guests coming over. The products that I use are tailored to my need, some to fix a few imperfections, others to highlight features.
To start with, I use a tinted moisturizer on my face. I prefer it to a foundation for daily use as what I’m looking for is hydration than coverage. Bobbi Brown has been a favorite for a while now. Others that I recommend are from NARS and Laura Mercier. If you have a fairly even complexion sans acne and scarring, a tinted moisturiser is a better pick over a foundation for regular use. If you are looking for more coverage, you could start with more fluid foundations with light to medium coverage. NARS, Armani, Bobbi Brown are good options. Look for words in the description like fluid, skin, natural etc.
The second product that is an absolute must use for me is a concealer. It is a miracle worker in instantly fixing my dark circles and correcting and smoothening out the mild discoloration around my mouth and on my forehead. It helps a great deal in achieving a flawless and smooth complexion. My current pick is the Naked Skin Complete Coverage concealer in Med-Dark Warm from Urban Decay. This shade works as a corrector concealer for me with its peachy/yellow undertones in fixing mild pigmentation. And I just love the coverage and ease of blending with this formula. Concealers from NARS and Laura Mercier are others that I recommend.
I have had a constant struggle with my eyebrows. Thanks to Bobbi Brown for her amazing eyebrow kit which has made life easier with one less struggle :-)You can see how much I love this product as I’m hitting pan with this one. Sadle and Mahogany shades work well to give a natural fill to sparse brows like mine. You could even use an eyebrow pencil if its makes the application easier. Benefit makes some amazing eyebrow products which are great alternatives.
I wouldn’t say I am particularly lacking in the eyelash department but I particularly like how my eyes look more awake with a few swipes of mascara. No eye shadow, no eyeliner, a few strokes of my current favorite Bad Gal Bang from Benefit to give my eyes an easy and natural lift.
And a dash of color on the lips to complete the look! This is where I get to play with colors that complement or contrast the outfit or wear MLBB(my lips but better) nudes and of course play with textures. Check out this post for my lipstick preferences although the shades in the kit seems to be increasing and evolving. Nude, Brownie Pink, Roseberry from Bobbi Brown are a few classic favorites whereas Amazing Grace from Charlotte Tilbury is a fairly recent purchase that I am absolutely in love with.
Now that you know what goes into my daily makeup, let me share a few tips on how to put together a daily essentials kit for yourself. When you think about picking out a set of products that would form a part of your daily makeup routine, a few important questions to ask yourself are ‘Do I really need this? Do I see myself using this daily? Does the use of this product make a noticeable difference to my look? Then you go through a process of selection/elimination and conclude on a set of products that you consider quintessential, those that make their way into your daily makeup pouch. If you are naturally blessed with good brows, skip the brow grooming step. If you need more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, opt for a foundation with buildable coverage. If a pop of color on the cheeks and some lip balm on your lips is your thing, do that. You get the drift. Put together something which is easy, minimal, helps your unique features shine through and reflect the real you :)
P.S. All you young mamas out there who ask me how I manage to do what I do with Little - take a peek into what happens behind the scenes. The Little bear woke up whilst we were taking pictures and decided to be a part of the shoot. Motherhood makes you a pro at multitasking, I reckon :)
