This relatively simple look is perfect for a brunch date, running errands or for a day at work where you want your make up to look polished yet  understated. I'm also mindful that some of you might find makeup a bit daunting (what? why do you need 13 eye shadow palettes - am I right?) and so this post has a bit more detail than just a product list.

PRIMER




Some products cling to dry patches of skin so don't forget to moisterise. I picked up the Embroyolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate which is also known as the '24hr miracle cream' in France during a City Pharma craze and it has been my dry skin savior. I now wake up to plump and glowing skin!

There is also a wise saying that goes something along the lines of  "not prime to prime is a crime." Primer prepares your skin for makeup and allows your makeup to last much much muchhh longer than it would sans primer.

I've been loving Too Faced's Hangover Replenishing Face Primer which I bought on a whim after my face suffered from the European sun and the aftermath of flying for 30 hours. Blegh jet lag and cabin air. With a slight coconut scent and moisturizing formula, it acts as a great base for those with dry skin and flaky patches. For skin more oilier than a fresh cronut, opt for the Smashbox photo finish oil-free primer which allows me to tackle an 8-hour work day with out turning into a grease ball.

FOUNDATION

I dot the foundation directly onto my face  and use the damp sponge in a bouncing motion until its blended into my skin. A damp Beauty Blender is more forgiving on days where 4 minutes of blending with a brush requires too much patience. IT IS NOT JUST AN ORDINARY SPONGE. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. It has been life changing.



For a sheer and more natural coverage: MAC Face and Body
For medium to full coverage: Make Up Forever HD Foundation & Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum




CONCEALER

To counteract blue-hued circles and any darkness under the eyes from lack of sleep, the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach works wonders.

To brighten and highlight I've been loving the Nars Creamy Concealer - Custard. A great drug store (and much cheaper) alternative is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer which I would photograph if it wasn't so disgusting (a sign that it is well loved).


Also blend with the damp beauty blender.

I set my under eye area with the banana powder from Anastasia Beverly Hill's Contour palette and the rest of my face with Dim Light from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette.


CONTOUR, HIGHLIGHT & BLUSH





This contour palette has everything in the one place which relieves me from rummaging through my make up for 10 palettes in the mornings.

For blush I apply a peachy shade to the apples of my cheeks using an angled blush brush and it instantly takes me from walking dead status to something closer to humankind. I've been gravitating towards Nars Blush in Torrid.



BROWS

Eyebrows have been all the craze lately and so it should be! It's crazy how a patch of hair on top of your eyes can cause such a fuss. On days where I'm at work or in a rush the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown is the only thing I use on my eyebrows. The thin pencil makes filling in eyebrows a breeze and gives me two extra minutes of shut eye.


Or if pencils require too much precision for your sleepy self, Benefit's Gimme Brow in medium/deep has a tiny brush which allows you to brush on tiny hairs and is fool proof.



For evenings (and eyebrows a la Cara Delevigne) I usually opt for the Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow pomade in dark brown but I'll save instagram brows #fleek for another post.
EYES





For work or when I'm running errands I would pop open my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette habitually. The beautiful rose toned shades are friendly to work with, even one shade across the entire lid looks great. I apply Limit over the entire lid followed by Nooner on the outer third, through the crease and lower lash line.

I wear winged liner daily and if I don't, I feel naked for the day.
I have hooded lids which makes eyeliner quite tricky - open your eyes and your hard work disappears under the fold of skin ARGH. NikkiTutorials is the reason I bought the NYC liquid eyeliner in 877 Black and it is extremely black, matte and long wearing.


1. Draw a line from the outer corner of the eye towards the tail of your brow. Extend the line to your liking.
2. Open your eyes and place a small dot where your lid creases
3. Connect the end of the line to the dot and continue to pull the line towards your lash line.
4. Draw a thing line from the inner eye to connect to the line you have just created

Then I curl my eyelashes with the Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler and apply two coats of the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.


VOILA!

LIPS


In all my years of hoarding lip products, this one is hands down my favourite of all time.
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita glides on beautifully and gives your lips a natural flush of colour. It instantly adds life to my face without being high maintenance throughout the day. The ONLY thing in my collection that has achieved 'Holy Grail' status.


Douse your entire face in MAC Fix + for that glow, girl.


The finished look:


I'm still figuring out this lighting and photography business so please be patient hehe. Provide me with feedback and what you would like to see. Would you rather a photo with a list of products? Let me know!

Let me know what you use on the daily