Despite the fact I’ve been living in sweats for most of the season, I’ve found taking the time to complete my morning makeup routine helps me start the day the right way. We all need some normalcy, right?
Ever since I got my first makeover with my mom at the Lancome counter in 5th grade, I’ve loved trying new products and experimenting with different techniques. There are so many amazing beauty brands and products on the market, but today I’m excited to share the products I use daily and trust! My makeup bag is always a mix of department store brands and drug store brands, and I firmly believe you don’t always have to spend a lot to find great products.
Keep reading to learn more about my daily beauty routine, the products I always trust, and my everyday tips and techniques!
Click the products in the image to shop my makeup favorites or scroll below:
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PRIMER:
After completing my morning skincare routine, the first step for my makeup routine is primer. Not only does primer help my foundation go on smoothly, it helps my foundation last all day. I’ve been using this Charlotte Tilbury primer for a couple years now, and I love the way it has a glowy hue that helps brighten my complexion! If you’re looking for more affordable option, this Smashbox primer is another favorite.
Following this, I apply my Dr. Brandt No More Baggage cream under my eyes. It completely eliminates under eye bags, and it’s amazing! I’ve tried a lot of under eye products, but this is hands down my favorite. I use it daily, but it’s especially helpful on the days I’m lacking sleep or waking up from a big night out with friends. I swear by this product! (plus it’s currently 50% off here)
FOUNDATION:
I like to switch up my foundation from time to time, but the one product I always come back to is this Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. It lasts ALL day, and the coverage is amazing!! It is a heavy coverage, but it feels lighter than others I’ve tried – so it’s my everyday favorite! My mom gave me a bottle of it in college, and it has remained my favorite ever since. I wear the shade “Buff” and always keep a stock of extras in my cabinet. I like to apply it with this brush for a smooth application.
I started using an under eye brightening concealer a few years ago, and it has become my favorite product in my makeup bag! Unless I’m seriously lacking sleep, I don’t have to worry about dark circles under my eyes. However, I love the way under eye concealers brighten my eyes and complexion! My original favorite was a brightening product by Bobbi Brown, but unfortunately it was discontinued (so bummed!). I switched to the Tarte Shape Tape concealer, and I’ve been loving it!
Whether I need a quick refresh OR want to take a day off of foundation, I use this Estee Lauder powder and it has great coverage. It doesn’t last all day like the foundation, but it’s great to keep in my purse if I want a quick makeover – and I always keep one in my carry-on after flights.
CONTOUR:
Not going to lie, the first time I tried to contour years ago and copied the YouTube tutorials I saw online, my face felt like cake and completely weighed down from the amount of product I applied – remember, less is more. However, this Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit is my favorite beauty product I own. I use this brush from Sephora and apply a thin line of the darker shade (bottom right shade) from my cheeks towards my ears, along my jawline, and a bit along my hairline and blend it in with a beauty blender. I LOVE how it subtly shapes my face and defines my features. Plus, it works like a bronzer and lasts longer than a powder. Since I use the Tarte concealer under my eyes, I typically skip the lighter shades, but this is hands down the best contour kit on the market!
BRONZER & HIGHLIGHTER
Since I love a good tan (hello vacay!), bronzer is my favorite. I’m usually not too picky with bronzers, but I’ve been using this Benefit bronzer for a while now and love it. It’s compact and comes with a brush, so I can easily toss it in my bag for date night touch-ups.
If you’re not using a highlighter, you should start! It’s such a simple way to give yourself that extra pop, and I love how it makes my face feel “alive”. I apply a little to the tops of my cheekbones, under my brows, a dot on the tip of my nose, and a little above my cupid’s bow. You want to apply it to the high parts of your face where the sun naturally hits to give youself the perfect glow. I always make sure to keep highlighter to a minimum (no one wants to look like a reflective disco ball), but a little really makes a big impact!
EYES & BROWS
I used to spend so much time on eyeshadow for a night out, then it seemed it would all fall off half way through the evening. I started using this eyeshadow primer, and it was a game changer. Not only did it keep my makeup in place and prevent fallout, but it made the shades much more vibrant and easier to apply! This Urban Decay primer is my favorite, and I love how light and silky (yet oddly powder-y) it feels when I apply it. It doesn’t feel sticky like others I’ve tried, you don’t have to wait to apply eyeshadow after, and the applicator brush is the best. If you’re looking for a primer, I definitely recommend this one!
Unless I’m dressing up for a night out, I keep my eye shadow very simple during the day. I love the Naked Palettes, because they have pretty much every neutral color you could need. I use the lightest shade all over my eyelids, then swipe a light metallic brown across the bottom part of my lids after. 10 seconds, done.
You know those girls with the perfectly arched eyebrows? Or the ones who spend forever shaping them out and filling them in meticulously? Yeah, I’m not one of them. My eyebrows are naturally “straight” (as I learned from a brow consultant), so there’s not much room for shaping – and they are naturally really full. In the times of full brows, my brows are low maintenance – but they were a nightmare during the skinny brows of the 2000s! I don’t spend a lot of time on them, but I love using this Benefit eyebrow gel to help tame them a little, darken them a bit, and fill in the scar I got when I ran into a dining table as a kid (fail). What I love about this product is it’s super easy to use, fail-proof, and gives just enough of an impact to enhance your natural brows! You simply brush the wand across your brows, and no shaping or coloring involved!
The one product I CANNOT live without is black eyeliner. I’ve been wearing black eyeliner daily since middle school, and frankly I don’t feel like myself without it. I’ve tried countless brands and varieties, but the Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner is the best – and the fact that it’s less than $10 is an added bonus! It’s retractable so you don’t need a sharper, it lasts all day and never fades, and it glides on easily and smoothly. It is my all-time favorite eyeliner!
For mascara, I really believe you don’t need to spend a lot on finding a great product. I used the Dior mascara for a while and loved it, but it dried out so quickly that it wasn’t worth it. I switched to L’Oreal Voluminous mascara and it works just as well! It makes my lashes so much fuller and longer, and I love how long the product lasts. I recently started using the L’Oreal Voluminous lash primer, and it’s crazy how much longer it makes my lashes! I’ve tried primers in the past and didn’t see much of a difference, but I was so surprised how well this one worked! I don’t use it everyday – but I definitely recommend trying the primer to give your lashes an extra boost. Also, make sure you’re root stamping your lashes by pressing the wand against the root of your lashes before swiping up to make your lashes fuller!
LIPS
The one product I don’t think you can ever have too much of is lipstick. It’s such a fun way to spice up your look, so I have too many favorites to narrow it down. However, I love using this Dior Lip Pencil in Greige followed by this Dior Lipstick in Premiere for a subtle natural look. The colors compliment each other perfectly, and the lip liner is light enough that it blends with my skin but has enough color to make my lips appear extra full! I am personally not a fan of lip fillers (they look great on others, just not interested in trying it), so a natural lip liner is my favorite way to plump my pout! My MAC lipsticks tend to have a longer lasting and bolder color, but I love how light and silky the Dior lipsticks feel.
For an all-day color, I am obsessed with the Makeup Forever Liquid Lipsticks. I’ve tried a lot of lip stains, but these win by a long-shot for lasting color! I can apply it before heading out for date night, and it’s still on by the time I get home. I have so many shades of this, gave my sisters and my mom a few for Christmas, and I made sure I packed it for my wedding weekend. These lip stains are the best!
FALSE LASHES
Needless to say, I’m skipping this step since we’re at home these days – but Ardell lashes are my favorite! They’re so easy to apply, inexpensive, and last all day. I love the Ardell Demi Wispies for a natural look, and I’ll switch them up for a more dramatic pair if I’m going out on a weekend. To make them last all-day and look more natural, I trim the inner corners a bit so they don’t go all the way across my eye and then I use this Duo glue to make them last all day. I’ve even fallen asleep in them, and they’re still in place the next morning. The glue is essential, and it doesn’t pull your lashes out when you remove the strips. I highly recommend trying these at home to make your eyes pop! (Also, I’ve tried lash extensions twice and I prefer the way these look over professional lashes!
To finish up my makeup routine, I spray a spritz of this Urban Decay setting spray. It helps your makeup stay on longer, plus it feels so refreshing and extra :)
Even though I switch up my beauty routine occasionally, these products are always my favorite! I hope you love these products as much as I do!
For more beauty recommendations, read 10 Amazon Prime Skincare Favorites I Can’t Live Without