Daily Makeup Routine

Hello lovelies!

I've noticed that lately I've been switching up my daily makeup routine, which is why I wanted to run through it with you guys in today's post. Now I must admit that on lazy days I'll just throw on concealer, which you know I can't live without, and some mascara; but most of the time I like to put in a little more effort. Yesterday, for instance, I had a full day out running errands and lunch with my best friend, but most importantly I needed to renew my license and that meant taking the most important picture you will ever take in your life ( so of course I wanted to look nice). At the end of the day I wasn't able to renew my license, which is great because I love going to the DMV (said no one ever). But OK, it's time for a little less conversation, a little more makeup please (10 friendship points if you got the song reference).

Summer in the tropics means that a face loaded with makeup is not the greatest idea, seeing that 1) it might literally melt off, and 2) it will definitely feel heavy, so for base I definitely recommend to use a tinted moisturizer and to make sure it lasts all day I also recommend using a primer before hand.
- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer in Light has been perfect for me because it is oil free, so it feels a lot lighter on my skin and helps my base last all day. The good thing about this line is that they have a primer for different skin needs: dryness, hyper pigmentation, dark spots, acne, etc. Also if you don't want to spend that much money, you can just opt for the travel size to test it out.
- NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (I wear 'St.Moritz') has been my perfect base choice because it is a 3 in 1. You get a moisturizer (of course), an SPF 30 (skin cancer? no thanks), and above all a really nice lightweight coverage. It isn't too pigmented, but it is very buildable. You can use a brush like the Sigma F80 or a beauty blender, but I find that using my fingers works just as good for a flawless finish (plus it's quicker).
- As for concealer, as I mentioned in my last post I've been very (very) impressed with the Revlon Targeted Dark Spot Concealer. It is seriously pigmented, works wonders for dark circles and hyper-pigmentation, doesn't budge, and has very minimal (if practically none) creasing.
- On to powder, the Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder has not left my side. I raved about it in my last post as well, so I won't go into much detail, but I really want to emphasize the beautiful finish it gives: the perfect blend of matte and dewey (at least for oilier gals).
- For blush I can look no further than the Maybelline Master Hi-Light in Nude 10. Just perfection! As you can see it gives a really nice pink, healthy glow and when your face catches the light, watch out world because you'll shine bright like a diamond! (in a good way). Needless to say I am very excited to try out the other shades from the range.
- On the brow front nothing much has changed seeing that I am still reaching for my dynamic duo: the Anastasia Brow Wiz for definition and the Benefit Gimme Brow Gel for fullness.
- Moving on to eyes, I've recently only had sights for one product: the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I've been playing around with all the shades, but for an everyday look I lean more towards 'Half Baked' (a shimmery gold) all over the lid to brighten, 'Naked' (a matte light brown) on the crease and outer corner to give my eyes a little bit of depth, and 'Virgin' (a shimmery very pale pink) on the inner corner to highlight and open up my eyes.

- Whenever I put on shadows, I must use a liner to give my eyes some definition. Now as you may know I am a big winged (or cat eye) fan. Lately though, instead of going for liquid liner, I've been using pencil liners like the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Damsel' (a dark brown). I find that brown pencil liners look a lot less harsh, and are far more forgiving than pitch black liquid liners. You can just run them really close to the lash line and then with an angled pencil brush (this is key--like the Lorac one shown on the right) you can smudge out the line and extend it to the corners to create a wing. Precision and perfection don't really matter because the point is to achieve a softer effect. Then whatever is left on the brush I run along my lower lash line, since I rarely ever use mascara on my bottom lashes.
- To finish off the eyes I throw on some mascara, which as of late has been the Volum' Express The Mega Plush, which is OK, but nothing out of this world (to me mascara rarely ever is).
- Nothing left now but lips, which I honestly switch up on a daily basis. In the picture, though, I am wearing one from the Maybelline Color Sensational  range, which is fantastic by the way, in the shade 'Bite of Berry' and on top I dabbed a little of the Buxom Full on Lip Polish in 'Sophia'

Well guys, those are all the products I've been wearing the last two weeks. It usually takes me about 10 maybe 15 minutes to do my makeup (depending on how much time I spend singing along to whatever Pandora station I chose that day), which I think is pretty good considering it lasts me all day. As usual I hope this post was helpful in some way, and please feel free to leave any comments or questions down below.

Thanks for Reading!