Below are the make-up items i use when achieving a 'no make-up look' ideal for everyday. You are aiming to look 'like you but better' and really all you need are a good base, defined brows and lashes and bit of colour to the cheeks and lips.
The first item is the cosmopolitan perfect blend sponge, which is a more affordable alternative to the beauty blender. You run it under water and squeeze out the excess, then apply your bb cream or foundation using a dabbing motion. The wider side is perfect for cheeks and forehead whilst the pointed side gets in the nooks and crannys such as around the nose and inner corners of the eyes. I love this sponge as it gives a flawless finish and is perfect for dry skin girls in particular because the application method isnt as abrasive as rubbing with fingers or buffing in with a brush.
This bb cream by maybelline has to be the best one i've found, it matches my skintone perfectly, i'm the colour light, and it also has spf 30. The coverage is sheer but just blurs any imperfections and could either be used as a primer under foundation or on its own for daytime. I find the application to be very smooth and it melts into the skin very nicely, and although it is oil free and non-greasy it gives a lovely dewy finish.
I'll move onto the bronzer next which is quite a dark one to say I have fair skin but used sparingly it offers just the right amount of colour for contouring and warming up the face, I use this in the hollows of the cheeks, around the hairline on my forehead and down the sides of my nose. If you have a troublesome chin you can add some to the jawline to create shadow.
Add blush to the highest part of your cheekbones and upto the temples. Commonly we tend to smile and add colour to the apples of the cheeks but when we do this once you stop smiling the colour drops lower on the face which drags the face down and ages you too. Adding the blush to the cheekbone and temples keeps everything 'up' and is a much more youthfull finish. The one i'm using at the moment is No7 in soft apricot, which is actually a much more peachy/rose tone.
When defining my brows I prefer to fill in the gaps I have but still acheive a natural look so I stick to a pencil. The one I use is rimmel brow pencil in dark brown and I use my own eyebrow brush because the one attached to the lid is too hard and brushes the product away. I am planning to get the anastasia brow wiz though as i've heard good things about it.
A highlighter is a good way to add definition and could be used instead of a bronzer for contouring, defining the prominent parts of your face does the same job as adding shadow in the less prominent parts in theory but I like to do both! The one I like is high beam by benefit which is a pinky tone highligher and adds a lovely light catching, dewy effect. I add this to cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and my cupids bow to give an illusion of fuller lips.
My holy grail mascara is the max factor masterpiece in rich black, i've repurchased this over and over and I'm so reluctant to try any other. The formula is really nice, I don't find that it clumps or flakes and it does a great job of separating and lengthening the lashes.
My favourite lipgloss for a natural look is the loreal glam shine in rosewood blush, it has some shimmer in it without being too sparkly for daytime and feels nice on the lips not sticky at all.
Until next time my loves
Xx
