This is a blog post that i have been wanting to put up for a while, but i just haven't had the guts to as it requires me to plaster pictures of myself without makeup on, on the internet; and having suffered with acne, the thought of doing that scares me a bit, but here i am. This is basically just going to be a step by step look at how i do my makeup everyday. This look is what i wear to go to class, shopping, lunch with friends etc. Its incredible simple and natural, which i personally think is what an everyday should be. *Be warned, this will be a picture heavy post*
Here is are the before and after pictures. As you can see in the top picture my acne scaring is quite prominent and i look like i haven't slept in days and in the botom picture, i like to think that you would agree with me in saying that there is a vast improvement. Keep reading to find out how i achieved the end result.
After moisturising using the CVS moisturising lotion for all skin types i apply my Bare Minerals Foundation (Full Bare Minerals makeup review here) I apply this using the Bare Minerals Full Flawless brush, in the buffing action that they tell you to use. I apply this until i have a medium coverage. My acne scaring is never fully covered, but i feel that if i put anymore on i would just look like a cakey mess.
Once i've applied my foundation i move onto my eyes. I always without fail curl my eyelashes, it helps to open up your eyes and make you look more awake, and if you've had a late night, you're going to need all the help you can get; the curlers i use are by tweezerman. I then apply two coats of mascara; i personally like using two different mascaras to get my desired result. I use the YSL Shocking mascara first, which adds volume like no other, and then i use the Clinique High Length mascara, to lengthen and separate my lashes.
Now its time for the eyebrows. I naturally have quite thick and dark eyebrows, but i like to use i bit of eyeshadow to help in the areas where my eyebrows are slightly more sparse (I tried to find out the name of the eyeshadow i use, but was unable to, i can however tell you it is a MAC eyeshadow that's a kind of coffee colour... not that thats much help). I apply the eyeshadow using the Real Techniques brow brush and comb it through using a spooly from MAC.
Next up is what i consider to be the most important step in my routine after applying my foundation... under eye concealer! I use Benefit's Erase Paste in number 3. A little goes a long way with this product, i think i've have mine for something like a year and a half and its still going strong. My first impression with this product was not a good one; when i first started using it, it would look really cakey and crease like nobody's business but having watched many YouTube videos in which this product was i used i realised that i was just putting way too much on. This concealer can help you hide a multitude of sins, no one will ever tell that you had a late night once you put a bit of this on!
Next up is what i consider to be the most important step in my routine after applying my foundation... under eye concealer! I use Benefit's Erase Paste in number 3. A little goes a long way with this product, i think i've have mine for something like a year and a half and its still going strong. My first impression with this product was not a good one; when i first started using it, it would look really cakey and crease like nobody's business but having watched many YouTube videos in which this product was i used i realised that i was just putting way too much on. This concealer can help you hide a multitude of sins, no one will ever tell that you had a late night once you put a bit of this on!
Unlike a lot of people, now is the point where i apply my translucent powder, don't ask me why, because, well, i don't have an answer for you, this is just what makes sense to me, but you can apply it at the very end if you wish, i honestly don't think it makes a difference. I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder with my Topshop Powder brush. Being translucent it doesn't add any colour or take away colour to/from my face, it simply helps my makeup last longer and stops me from getting shiny; and since im living in Spain, this will be my best friend in a few weeks as the weather will start to warm up.
Bronzer time! This is a step that i will miss out once i get a tan, but in the winter months i like to put a light dust of NARS Laguna bronzer on my cheeks, neck and then blend a bit into my hair line. I don't put a lot on because i'm not really a fan of the tangoed look; sometimes you can't tell that i've even put any on. I apply the bronzer with the Bare Minerals Flawless Face brush.
Now its time to put some colour back into my cheeks. I've been using MAC PeachyKeen since i started wearing makeup, and i haven't really tried anything else. Its the perfect colour for both summer and winter; in summer it enhances my tan, and in winter i just put a little dusk of this on and it just brightens my face up. Now this is a shimmery blush, so if you go crazy with it, you won't look to great, however it does mean just you can get away with not putting a highlighter on.
After i've done all this, i will then go ahead a choose my lip colour for the day, it will normally be a natural lipgloss or lip balm. Below are side profile pictures of me with and without makeup, as you are able to see how the acne scarring on my cheeks is covered up.
I hope this was interesting and helpful to some of you. My next post will most likely be a review, so keep your eyes peeled for that
Lara x