My Everyday Make-Up Favorites + How I do my Everyday Make-Up

I've made it no secret on here that I'm a bit of a make-up junkie (see this post and this post for evidence). Some people are into shoes, others dresses, others accessories. My "vice" is definitely make-up. Sephora is my kryptonite. I'm constantly changing up my routine, trying new products, and developing new favorites. Recently I've fallen into a bit of an everyday routine using a couple of old favorites and a couple of new finds (half of which are thanks to my fellow make-up addict friend Amy, girl needs to start a blog). With that being said, I thought it would be fun to share the products I've been reaching for everyday, whether to help you find some new items to try or to inspire a gift idea for the beauty junkie on your list. Also, if you have any suggestions on products you love that you think I should try let me know! I'd like to eventually start doing some more beauty reviews and tutorials on here and I'm always looking for new things to try!

Foundation:

I start with about 3 drops of my Cover FX drops and mix them into my Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation on the back of my hand. Once they are combined I use my Beauty Blender to apply the foundation all over my face. I make sure I include my neck and forehead to ensure everything is even. I really like this foundation method because it evens out my skin tone and isn't too heavy or "made-up" looking. If I am going out I will add an extra drop of the Cover FX drops for additional coverage, and if I'm having a low-key day I will usually only add one or two drops to my facial moisturizer and skip the primer all together. I use the solid cleanser to clean the Beauty Blender after each use, this keeps it like new much longer. My blender is over a year old and still works just as good as the day I got it. 

Once I have the base applied I use the Bare Minerals 'Stroke of Light' product and blend a swipe under each eye to combat my natural dark circles (which appear no matter how much sleep I've gotten).  After this is done I move on to my face and cheeks. 

Face/Cheeks:

First I take my Ambient Lighting powder in 'Dim Light' and apply lightly all over my face using a large face brush. This sets my foundation and adds a slight 'blur' effect to my skin, giving it a perfected glowing look, I've actually gotten so many compliments on my skin since I started using this product rather than a traditional setting powder. 

After that I take my favorite bronzer, Hoola by Benefit (I love it because it builds easily if needed and it's matte so it doesn't look too shimmery or glittery). I use a big bronzer brush, take a little of the product and tap the brush to get any excess off, I don't want to over-bronze or look streaky! Then I brush bronzer over the bottom and apples of each of my cheeks, the sides of my nose, my chin line, and my temples. I add and tap off additional bronzer as necessary when applying. Once I have bronzer on each area I want I will blend the bronzer in by swiping the brush repeatedly over the areas I applied the bronzer, without adding any additional product to the brush. I think this part is key because otherwise the bronzer does not look natural. 

Next I take an angled blush brush and apply whichever blush I'm loving at the moment to the apples of my cheeks and swipe slightly upwards. Right now I'm loving 'Mood Exposure' by Hourglass, but I also love Becca's mineral blushes and NARS blushes. 

Lastly, I take a fan brush and apply a highlighter to the tops of my cheek bones, tops of my temples, the top of my nose, and my cupid's bow above my lips. I'm loving the Laura Mercier Baked Matte Radiance Highligher, it is subtle and makes your skin look glow-y without going overboard. I also really like Becca's Highligher in 'Moonstone' but this is a little stronger and I normally use this product for a more made-up look if I'm going out. 

Eyes:

I have a couple of palettes and favorite eye shadows, however lately all I've been reaching for is my Viseart palette in 'Sultry Muse'. It's a pricey palette, but so high-quality and the the amount you get of shadow is much more than most palettes, which makes the price a little easier to swallow. 

I start by first applying an eye shadow primer on each of my eyelids, I found that this helps keep everything in place all day, even when I was working until 11pm my eye shadow would be looking the same as it did at 7am when I applied it! 

After the primer I take a medium light color from the palette and apply it liberally all over my eyelid. Then I take my accent color and apply it to the crease. After initially applying the color I will blend it into the crease by using my favorite 'Smokey Crease' brush and rubbing it back and forth over the crease without applying any additional shadow. After I get that blended I take the darkest color of the look I'm using and use a thin angled brush (like this) and apply a little to the outer corner of my eye. I then use the brush to blend it into the other shadow and down into the lash line. Lastly, I apply a highlighting color to the top of my brow bone and inner corner of my eye. 

After applying the shadows I then take my eyeliner (either liquid or kohl depending on the day) and line my upper eyelid. If I'm doing a more dramatic look I will use the small angled brush and smudge the eyeliner to smoke-out my eyes a little. Then I line my waterline with a kohl eyeliner. 

Lastly, I apply about two coats per eye of mascara, my current favorite (it's the best I've ever tried) is Chanel Le Volume de Chanel. I know it's pricey, but I have thin, blonde eyelashes and this plumps them up and does not look clumpy, because who wants to look like they have 4 long eyelashes. 

Lips

For lips I do a couple of different things. First, I like to use this Sugar Lip Scrub a couple of times a week to keep my lips "lipstick ready", because there's nothing worse than applying lipstick over dry, flakey lips, ew. Then I either will apply the lipstick I'm going to wear that day or lipgloss. I've been either reaching for a red lip (I love Bobbi Brown's Red) or a classic lip gloss (I just bought Chelsea Girls by NARS, love it...fun fact, it's Kim Kardashian's lip color). Some days I just apply Rosebud Salve to my lips, it's my preferred chapstick, I love it in the winter and usually just wear this a few times a week in lieu of lip color. 

Finishing Touches

Once everything is done I will use a spot concealer if I need to, to cover-up a bad break out. Then I will spray Urban Decay Finishing Spray over my face to set everything and make it long-lasting. I was skeptical but it works, my make-up lasts all day, no matter what the weather is like outside.

Lastly I put a spritz or two of perfume on, my absolute favorite is Chanel's "Eau Fraiche", I've been wearing it for years and I just love the smell. I usually have a couple of perfumes on hand, but this is the one scent I have to keep around at all times. 

Ok, so I know that sounds like a lot, but honestly I have this routine down and can do everything in 5-7 minutes. I also love playing with make-up and products so doing this is fun for me. I like this routine because it makes my skin look even and glowing and defines my eyes, but doesn't look too heavy (as long as you remember the key is don't overuse products and BLEND). 

What're some of your go-to make-up items? Any of these items in your routine? 

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