Typically, makeup lovers have 3 looks: a full capacity beat, a natural EVERYDAY beat and an “I need to look alive look”.  Most people who aren’t familiar with makeup and/or don’t have time (30+ minutes) for a what we call a full face can confuse a “natural look” with a “naked/neutral/I need to look alive look”.

The latter, to me, is barely any products to which I probably am only going to conceal my dark eyes….which will be a later post.  This look below is how I generally wear my makeup on most days.  And yes, my morning routine includes the time to put on my make up. I may switch up the products, but the look is the same: natural, glowing and soft.  Also, I mix both drugstore and luxury brands!

The Staples:

Foundation $38: Estee Lauder DOUBLE WEAR. I’ve been using this foundation for about 2 years.  I have super oily….Crisco…Lard skin. Most “matte” foundations aren’t so matte when they’re up in the kitchen.  My sure fire other favorite is the Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo foundation.  My drugstore/affordable matte option is L’Oreal Infallible Matte.

*drugstores tend to have more water and ‘generic’ based ingredients, while luxury brands use more pigment and higher quality ingredients.  Luxury brands typically have a wider shade range for BROWN/BLACK women.

Concealer, $25: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer.  This is the same as the Estee and Kat. It’s. Not. Moving.  I conceal my darkness with shade DEEP and i highlight with a shade or two lighter.

*tip: don’t add more foundation to cover redness or darkness. Foundation is the base layer, concealer is meant to…conceal.

Face Powder:  Because I’m so oily, I set my base with a powder, generally my Clinique powder foundation or Maybelline FIT ME powder.

Blush, $8 : I love blush tones that compliment my golden skin tone.  I tend to aim for peaches, soft browns and soft pinks. This Milani blush is pigmented AF and gives your skin a natural glow.

Brows, $7-10:  I used a pomade and a brow gel….a gel a necessity when you have thick brows!  This NYX is my favorite.

Mascara, $8: There are three mascara’s that literally thicken and lengthen my baby lashes: Maybelline Big Shot, Maybelline Great Lash and the Lancôme Grandiose.  The first 2 are drugstore and do the same as the Lancôme.

Highlight:  Faves coming soon, but this heat here….Estee Lauder Heatwave.  It was limited edition.  On a natural day, I barely touch the product, but I can easily get carried away.

Lips:  Favorite nudes coming soon 🙂 But I keep the lips fairly natural and opaque, unless I want some color!

 

Don’t let people makeup shame you! Make up is fun! If you need a little boost of confidence, I can promise you, makeup can do that until you feel pretty inwardly.

Be Phenomenl