My new face essentials

I think I've come a long way in terms of my makeup journey: in high school, I'd use Benetint and Clinique moisturizer every day. During my first year in college, I'd just wear concealer. Then I discovered foundation and piled that on every day (it was disgusting, heavy, liquid foundation!!! EEW). Come junior and senior year, I got introduced to the whole lineup: eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush. And I piled it all on! Everyday! To school!

And the worst thing is that I made time to put all this gunk on my face but skipped the SPF. Talk about skin suicide. Towards the end of senior year, though, I realized that the overly made up look was really gross (especially for school! What was I thinking!?) and stuck with just mascara, eyebrow pencil, and nothing else. And when I started working (in June), I became REALLY lazy with makeup and went to work with nothing. I think this must have had my late grandmother (she was all about grooming) absolutely rolling in her grave. But now I think I have a face routine that she'd be proud of and commend for being age appropriate! :)

Here are my new obsessions (L-R, top to bottom): 

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Peachykeen

The Body Shop Lightening Touch stick

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30

Youngblood Brow Artiste in Dark

I'm really crazy about this moisturiser right now because:

a. It's WONDERFULLY light (I just HATE heavy, gunky moisturisers that feel gross) and so is absorbed by my skin REALLY fast. I remember that while I was visiting her in Australia, Chloe would apply Egoderm moisturiser with sunscreen everyday. She was so darn religious about it and I'd feel guilty, so I'd force myself to put on my super gross Clinique Dermawhite SPF 50 sunblock that felt soooo sticky and make me feel disgusting after. NASTY. That tube of Clinique sunblock really set my mind that the TOP characteristic I need for any daily sunscreen product I use is lightness and unstickiness.

b. It has Vitamin C which I think really wakes up my skin and makes me look more ALIVE, even if I was up all night

c. It has SPF 30, which, according to my lovely love Maxine Marcelino is absolutely essential. She has really been a HUGE force in my subscribing to a sunscreen habit. You can read her entry on sunscreen here. 

Then I use my brightening stick. It's totally a ripoff of YSL's Touche Eclat (which they no longer sell here, thank God! If they did, I would be soooo tempted to buy it, even if we all know I should be budgeting and spending my money wisely and not getting into debt.... urkkk) but I think it works perfectly fine and the same! :) I got it on sale (buy1take1!!! I really love my sales) and totally don't regret it. I dot it on my forehead, below my eyes, down my nose, on top of my upper lip, and on my chin. Then I use my MAC stippling brush and blend! So easy and it makes me look even more awake. It's also very light and nonsticky or greasy, and looks soooo natural.

Then I do my eyebrows really quickly. I used to just use an eyebrow pencil but sometimes I'd see photos of myself and go GAAAAAAAAAAH I totally went overboard right there, so embarrassing! This brow kit from Youngblood is totally easy to use and prevents me from going crazy on my brows. I also go to Browhaus to get my brows shaped, and I swear, YOU have to go there and try them. Your brows will never, ever, ever, ever be the same. They thread just enough and don't leave you bald. I really hate overplucked brows; nothing makes anyone look older, sicker, and cheaper (humble personal opinion only).

And then the blush just takes two seconds to apply, swipe swipe! I love this hue because it's soooo fresh and peachy and has tiny hints of shimmer in it. It's supposed to be MAC's take on Nars' Orgasm and I was with Nicole in Rustan's, debating on which to get. Since this was cheaper (and I am cheap!), I went home with this and have never looked back! Right now I'm looking for a blush with no shimmer in it, so if you have any to recommend, please do! :)

I also curl my lashes, apply mascara, and use MAC Bare Again lipcolor (so light, I love it, it looks like almost nothing) and pop out the door. Of course, this whole routine only happens during mornings when I don't wake up late.... Otherwise I'm in the office looking like something the cat dragged in. Urk!

xxxx

Daryl

PS I know it's weird that there's a makeup post in a food blog but we're trying to shift this blog from being a food blog into being a personal blog. So we'll be writing about not just what we're eating but also about what we're reading (reading this sad kiddie book called the Boy in the Striped Pajamas), listening to (Maroon 5's Beautiful Goodbye, so obsessed), looking forward to.... All that! :)