Happy Fri-YAY! How are y’all liking these Friday posts? I’m kinda loving them! And I’m loving the exclusivity of the sales and features that are now in the Chic in Seconds newsletter. Don’t forget, you can get subbed up here. Anyway, today’s post is a part of the Blueprint Beauty series. I’m focusing on my girls who love simple beauty. I have a fairly large makeup collection, but it’s entirely because I just love changing it up. But I know many ladies who just want the basics and get overwhelmed by the massive amount of products on the market that claim to be absolutely necessary. The truth of the matter is what is strictly necessary for a full, complete, and long-lasting face isn’t even enough makeup to take up an entire drawer.
VICI COLLECTION TANK (SIMILAR) // STERLING FOREVER EAR CRAWLERS // VINTAGE NECKLACE (SIMILAR) {LAST SEEN}
FOR THE BASE
A few products will set the tone for the rest of your look, and these are the products you should really focus on getting right and investing in if need be. These products are primer, foundation, concealer, mascara, and an eyebrow product. If you use a light coverage foundation and only the rest of this list, you’ll have a beautiful simple make up look. If your foundation of choice is more full coverage or one you can build up, you’ll need to add some color (see below).
A primer is essential because it helps everything apply evenly and last all day. You can also find some that target specific skin concerns like oil, large pores, or dryness. Foundation and concealer are essential for evening out your skin and hiding any areas of issue. I don’t have a favorite foundation, but I love Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer. I use a few primers, but Benefit’s Porefessional and Laura Geller’s Spackle Treatment have been favorites lately. But you should look for one that tackles your specific skin issues.
Mascara and some kind of eyebrow product to fill in the sparse areas will complete a look using just these base products. I’ve lately been using the L’Oreal Carbon Black mascara. It goes on easy and builds up to a fuller lash if I want one. Brows have to be my least favorite, but the Benefit Gimme Brow has made them so much easier. It quickly and easily fills in the sparse areas and it lasts all day.
ADD SOME COLOR
Your base products will even your skin tone, but in the process, you could lose some color. So you should bring back some of that color with a few simple beauty products. The essentials are blush, bronzer, and a lip color. I love the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush because they last forever and build up so nicely. Whatever product you use, pick up one that goes on lightly and builds up so you can create a variety of looks with one product. Next, look for a warm-toned bronzer with little to no sparkle. And for lip color, if you can only have one, opt for a shade slightly darker than your natural lip color. It will always be flattering.
You might want to add an eyeshadow palette to your collection if you want more color than can be offered by blending your bronzer through your crease. If you do, look for something with a variety of mattes and one or two soft shimmers. You really can’t go wrong with any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes.
BONUS PIECES
So aside from the core products, there’s a few bonus pieces you should keep in your stash for spicing up your look. Anyone not family with the highlight craze is probably living under a rock. But if you’re into simple beauty, you don’t need to glow like Kim K. I love the Tarte highlight in Exposed to give my skin a subtle boost, without it looking too powerful. It can also be used to give your brow bone and the inner corner of your eyes a boost. Or, if you do decide to skip an eyeshadow palette, you can create a very soft look using bronzer in your crease and a little highlight pressed onto the lid.
Another product that isn’t essential for everyday, but is a necessary standby is a pretty matte eyeliner. I have yet to find the perfect one, but I’m currently using the Revlon liquid liner.
What do you consider essential in your beauty routine?
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