My "No Makeup" Makeup Routine
Almost every tutorial of mine starts out the same, right?! “Eyeshadow is my favorite,” “Eyeshadow is so much fun,” “I love eyeshadow.” And that’s totally true! It is my favorite, it is fun, and I do love it. So while it might be repetitive, it’s the absolute truth. What isn’t the truth is that I do those looks every single day. Since I started working from home, I might only even get ready a few times a week. Blogging is more than a full-time job, believe me! So I figured why not just take it back to the basics and share what I actually do during the week.
This isn’t necessarily a full-blown tutorial, I’m just sharing what would be considered my “no-makeup” makeup routine when I need to run a few errands. I skip many steps in this routine and only do the bare minimum. Obviously, there are different versions of this but when I only have a few minutes and I won’t be out for long, this is what I do!
For the eyes, I keep it as simple as possible. Because I don’t need it to last all day, I skip eyeshadow primer and just use my concealer to hold the eyeshadow in place. This was pretty much the OG eyeshadow primer method and if you don’t have oily eyelids, this is still a good alternative to using an actual primer.
Next I use Wet n Wild’s Brulee single eyeshadow and pack that all over my eyelid with my finger. If any of the concealer has creased, make sure to blend it out before applying anything on top. Once I cover my entire eyelid, I use a big shader brush to apply some in the crease to make sure everything is seamless. I also use the brush to put that shade right under my lower lashes to hid any discoloration that may still be showing through.
This eyeshadow is such a classic and should be a staple in everyone’s collection. The quality and pigmentation is amazing. And for 99 cents, it cannot be beat! The purpose of this step is to provide a little extra coverage for the veins on my eyelids. This shadow is just slightly brighter than my skin tone, so it will help to brighten the eyes while being completely undetectable because of its matte finish.
Keeping with that same shader brush, I switch to Ulta’s Naked single eyeshadow and use that as my browbone highlight. I also apply it to the very inner corner of my eye to add a little extra dimension and brighten the eyes even more. This is more of a brighter pearl shade that also has a matte finish. It will contrast with Brulee just enough without being too noticeable.
One of my favorite techniques is applying a dark brown eyeshadow right at the lashline with an angled eyeliner brush. I have a complete separate post about this where I explain exactly how it works. In case you missed it, you can catch up here. Any dark brown eyeshadow will do. I’m using the one in Wet n Wild’s Naked Truth palette because it’s one of my favorites, and the most pigmented. Most of the time I always take the extra few seconds to do this step, but it’s also one that I can skip if absolutely needed.
Then I curl my lashes as usual and add a few coats of mascara. Currently, I’ve been reaching for Neutrogena’s Healthy Lengths mascara. It adds enough length and volume to the lashes without being too dramatic for such a simple eye look.
For the rest of the face, I use a combination of my two favorite bronzers - Makeup Geek’s Love Triangle and Bad Habit. They both have a warm undertone, but Love Triangle is just a little bit lighter. Between the two of these, I always have my perfect bronzer/contour shade that I can customize for however tan I am. I’ve already had to replace Bad Habit before and I have a backup of Love Triangle waiting for when this one runs out soon.
The shade of blush I choose can vary, depending on the season. But one that has stayed consistent this entire year is Makeup Geek’s Heart Throb. It is so flattering and incredibly pigmented. I don’t have to work hard at getting the color applied to my cheeks and the formula of the Makeup Geek products stays on my face all day long.
Aside from the quality, the main reason I only use Makeup Geek face products is because they aren’t made with talc. Talc breaks me out like you wouldn’t believe. So I feel comfortable wearing these products without worrying about what they’re doing to my skin.
Most of the time, highlighter is a skip step for me. With my oily skin, I don’t really need it. But I’ve really been loving the one in The Needs palette from The Emily Edit collection with Makeup Revolution. If I have a little bit more time, I’ll add that as a last step on top of my finishing powder.
As far as the rest of the face, I apply whatever primer my skin needs at the time. I always skip foundation in this routine and use a combination of concealers only in my problem areas instead. L’oreal’s True Match Color Correcting Crayon in Peach, Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles in Fair, and Elf’s High Definition Undereye Setting Powder cover all the dark circles.
Maybelline’s Fit Me concealer (I switch between Light and Sand) goes in the center of the face around my nose and mouth to cover any discoloration or hyperpigmentation. Lip colors always change and I’m not loyal to one face powder over another in this particular routine.
This typically takes me about 15 minutes from start to finish. Add another 5 to get dressed and I’m out the door! What I love about this routine is that it pretty much looks like I’m not wearing makeup. It’s only slightly noticeable, but not obvious enough to tell what I did or didn’t do. Glasses also help a lot. Adding that distraction on my face (rather than wearing my contacts), I can get away with almost zero eye makeup and without contouring my nose.
If I want to look like I tried a little harder than I did, I’ll switch up the Brulee shade on the lids for something shimmery. It’s the same amount of work, but makes it look a little more fancy. To make this last all day, just make sure to use a long-wear primer and a setting spray.
If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it using one of the buttons below. If you have any questions, leave them for me in the comments! Do you have a “no-makeup” makeup routine? What is the one beauty step you have to do before leaving the house?
XO ♥ Christina ♥
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