Ever since I can remember, I’ve been OBSESSED with makeup. I’ve watched thousands of Youtube videos, read countless blog posts, and tried SO many products. I’m constantly recommending tried and true products and techniques to anyone who will listen, because I believe everyone deserves a good makeup day everyday! I’m linking each product that I use on a daily basis, MOST of which are affordable. Drugstore makeup brands have really stepped up their game and are just as good, and sometimes better, than high end. I’ve taken the guess work out of it and shared the products I can’t put down, as well as the corresponding techniques. Glow baby glow!!
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Here we go!! Everyday affordable makeup routine with my holy grail products below.
- Primer Step – start by misting the Smashbox Primer water to your entire face and neck. It’s SO refreshing and hydrating, obsessed! You can also set your face at the end of your routine. Come on multipurpose!! Finish priming your T-zone with the NYX Angel Veil to create a smooth and matte canvas for your foundation and concealer!
- Technique (recommended) – use your fingers to pat in the spray and then lightly blend the Angel Veil into your T-zone.
- Pre-Highlight Step – yes, you read that right. I do double highlight, because my goal in life is to be glowy and fresh. Layer the Glowtion and Jelly Highlighter linked above to create a ‘lit from within’ look underneath your foundation. This isn’t necessary for the non-obsessed makeup wearer, but it does make a difference if you’re looking to go the extra mile.
- Technique (recommended) – again, finger are the best applicators, so take what the good Lord gave you and pat both products into your highlight zones. That would be your cheekbones, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and anywhere else you’d like.
- Foundation/CC Cream Step – chose either the it Cosmetics CC Cream or the Pro Matte Foundation to create a uniform base that lightly covers discoloration and blemishes. Both of these bases are medium coverage that last. If you’re oily, I would recommend the Pro Matte. If you’re combination or dry, try the CC Cream. Both are cult favorites. I mix them together to get the dewy glow of the CC cream, but the lasting and demi-matte finish of the Pro Matte. That was a lot. You still with me?
- Technique (recommended) – bounce either product into the skin with a damp makeup sponge. I like the Real Techniques sponge!
- Concealer Step – I want my concealers to cover up a lot. My ex boyfriends, failed tests, and student loans. I’m linking my three all time favorites and they are ALL affordable. Woohoo! Fit Me concealer is creamy and easily blendable – reco for any skin type looking for a light to medium natural looking coverage. LA Girl concealer is thicker and high coverage, perfect for those looking to cover dark circles or blemishes. Makeup Revolution concealer is the best of both worlds – easily blends, packs a punch coverage wise, and sets down matte.
- Technique (recommended) – use the pointed end of your damp beauty sponge and bounce the product under the eyes, on the lids, around any hyper-pigmentation spots, and on any blemishes.
- Setting Powder Step – now it’s time to set your base with a loose powder to make sure all your hard work lasts through the day/night. The Fit Me loose powder and pressed powder are incredible! They have a great shade range, and focus on setting the face without strong talcs or alcohols.
- Technique (recommended) – set your concealer by dipping your same damp sponge into the loose powder and lightly patting onto the concealed area. Lightly dust the rest of your face with a fluffy brush covered in the loose powder. If you want extra coverage, use a denser brush to pack on some pressed powder.
- Bronzer, Highlight, & Blush Step – time for cheeks! Bring your base back to life with a little bronze, shimmer, and glow. Starting with the Physicians Formula bronzer. This powder is my holy grail, I can’t do my makeup without it. It’s creamy, has a natural finish, and blends like a dream. Not to mention it smells like a pina colada. My second fave bronzer to warm up my completion is my Marc Jacobs bronzer. This one is more pigmented and matte compared to the first bronzer mentioned, but just as good. It’s warmer and super flattering on most skin tones. Between bronzer and blush, I apply highlight for the most natural blend. My Essence Nude Highlighter gives the most beautiful lit from within glow at under $5. I layer this with my Becca highlight for a more blinding glow. Becca’s powder formula is the best in the biz and adds a pop to your cheeks without being glittery. And finally, my two favorite blushes – ABH Blush Trio (Peachy Love) and Burt’s Bees (Toasted Cinnamon). I’ve found that peachy and nude toned blushes flatter my coloring. It’s all personal preference, but if you’re looking for a new blush either drug store or high end, I’ve got you. Both of these blushes are blendable and last forever on the cheeks.
- Technique (Recommended) – Sweep bronzer to your cheeks, chin, temples, and nose with a natural haired bronzer brush. Take a small brush and apply your highlight to the top your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, cupids bow, etc. Blend everything together with your blush application. Extra points for going back in with your bronzer brush to get the most natural blend. You’re glowing!
- Brows Step – to me, brows are what brings it all together. I used to never leave the house within running a brow pencil through them, just because I love the look. The ABH Brow Definer, Brow Powder, and NYX Brow Gel are the trifecta of brow products. Highly recommend each if you like a natural brow. One to fill in the gaps of my eyebrows, one to set the pencil, and one to set everything.
- Technique (Recommended) – Fill in the arch and gaps of your brows to your desired shape with your favorite ABH pencil. Then be sure to set your work with an angle brush and some brow powder. Brush your brow hairs up and out with a clear brow gel and allow to dry.
- Eyeshadow Step – this step and every other step is entirely up to personal preference. On a daily basis, I tend to take it easy on the shadow, mostly because I’m not great at it. I love the Morphe palette linked above because it has anything I’d ever need. Neutral colors for the crease, shimmer shade for the lid, and pops of color if I’m feeling adventurous.
- Technique (Recommended) – First have an arsenal of natural haired smaller brushes to blend your crease and lower lash line out. Apply a lighter brow to the crease first to create a seamless blend later on. Use windshield wiper motions! Then deepen the crease with a darker shade designed to give your eyes dimension, especially if you have hooded eyes, like me. Blend a medium shadow underneath your lower lash line to balance things out. Finally apply a shimmer shadow to your lid with your finger and then finish with smudging a little eyeliner and dark shadow on the outside of your top lash line.
- Mascara Step – long story short this Lash Paradise Waterproof mascara is, in my opinion, the best mascara on the market. Over all high end mascaras I’ve tried, this one is better. And it’s drug store, yay!
- Technique (Recommended) – At this point we all know how it’s done.
- Lips Step – I’m linking my top favorite lip combos, both low and high end. I’m really into glossy nude lips, so if you’re looking for a good lip liner and gloss combo these four products will get you there!
- Technique (Recommended) – Line your lips to give them shape and color, then apply chosen gloss on top.
