My Quick Daily “No Makeup” Makeup Routine

Sunscreen:

Grace got me hooked on Supergoop Glow Screen  sunscreen two years ago and I have been a convert ever since! I love the glowy look it gives you–goes on smoothly (no white cast) and looks great alone or under makeup! If you’re looking for a 100% mineral sunscreen (with no glowiness) I highly recommend Farmacy’s Green Defense sunscreen. It’s fantastic, rubs in easily and unlike other zinc-based sunscreens doesn’t leave a chalky white residue!

Foundation/concealer: 

My latest “face makeup” purchase. For more background–I have really whittled down my products lately (I no longer use foundation regularly, and instead just apply concealer–when I do use it though,  I love this foundation) I have been a HUGE fan of Beautycounter’s Skin Twin concealer but they pulled it to address some faulty packaging issues, and thus, I needed to find an alternative. I was served up a targeted ad on Instagram for this brand, Merit, which I hadn’t heard of before but fell in love with the clean, minimalist concept–they make a small selection of products, all very clean, and the prices are really affordable! I was most intrigued by this face stick which promises to replace both your foundation and concealer and after several weeks of use, I agree that it has! I wrote a whole post on it. If you’re a makeup minimalist like me, I think you’ll love it. I blend it with a foundation brush (mine is old so I can’t link and I haven’t been able to find another that is similar to link, so sorry!) But you could also use a sponge/beauty blender!

Bronzer: 

Another newer-to-me product is this Saie cream bronzer– (I have shade ‘light bronze’) I purchased this about six months ago and still love it! It’s a great natural bronzer–not super pigmented–and I love that it’s a cream product, so it doesn’t get all over your makeup bag like all bronzers inevitably do! I apply it using this chunky bronzer brush which I LOVE.

If you’re looking for a mineral/powder bronzer or a more dramatic bronze, my favorite is Alima Pure’s (I have shade Mauna Loa), which I would categorize as a richer, deeper brown payoff.

Blush: 

I don’t always apply blush for everyday, but my newest favorite (as I’ve been hooked by all their other products I’ve tried) is Merit’s cream blush! (I have the soft peach hue!) So quick and easy to apply, I love the natural color and dewy cream finish! I just blend with my fingers.

If you prefer a powder blush, I’ve loved Beautycounter’s for years and years. Their “Nectar” shade is a dead ringer dupe for the famed Nars ‘Orgasm’ and is one of my favorite shades of all time.

Brow gel: 

Beautycounter’s brow gel is my favorite of all that I’ve tried (Thrive and Glossier’s are good too, but BC’s remains my favorite and most natural looking IMO!) I wear “medium” and I love that it’s quick and easy to apply and makes such a difference filling in brows while still looking like you aren’t wearing anything on them at all! I never leave the house without this on.

First I curl my lashes with an ancient eyelash curler I’ve had forever but is no longer in stock. (This one is similar with great reviews though!) I have very straight lashes so this step is a must for me! Then I apply one of the many mascaras I’m always testing out.

Mascara: 

WHEW how much time do you have? I’ve been testing out a LOT of mascaras lately (you could call it my personal hobby) I have been on the hunt for a good clean dramatic mascara (have been a longtime lover of Dior’s Iconic Overcurl–I don’t think anything beats it–but it’s been a fun mission to try and find a clean version as I’m often asked for that, and I always like to go with cleaner choices if possible!) Here are my favorites as of late:

Caliray “Come Hell or High Water” Mascara: 

This is my latest mascara I just started testing out a couple weeks ago, and I really like it! I tend to flip flop depending on the day which I like better–this one or Thrive–they’re neck and neck–though this formula might be a TINY bit thicker and I do think it’s more water-resistant/flake proof. Another perk to this one is that it’s sold at Sephora which is one of my favorite places to shop!

Thrive Mascara: 

This was my first introduction to tubular mascara, which basically means it’s more buildable, literally EXTENDS your lashes, and disintegrates with water–making it SO easy to remove with just splashing water on your face. (No more scrubbing with makeup remover!) However, heads up: If you sweat a lot and wear this while working out, readers have told me this will make it disintegrate all over your face!  (Just a word of warning!) I haven’t worked out to the point of sweating in about 3 years so that’s not an issue for me. BUT I do wish they sold it at Sephora, which would make it much easier to stock up! (But I’m just being lazy).

Lawless “One and Done” mascara: Like I mentioned above, I’ve discovered that I prefer a tubular formula because it’s much easier to take off at the end of the day, but if you don’t want a tubular formula, I like the Lawless version! This is a really dramatic one, but not globby–I would say it’s a pretty thick/wetter formula. You may want a lash brush though in between coats to keep it from clumping but the results are great!

*These have beat out both Ilia mascaras, both Beautycounter’s mascara’s, and Saie Beauty’s, IMO. 

Lip color: 

Favorite lip gloss/liquid color: Merit shade slick (wearing Marrakech here, also love Cara Cara). This formula feels like a gloss. I also love Ilia’s lip oil (I have the orangey-rust color called Saint and it’s so pretty!) This formula has more of the punchy color of a lipstick with more of a liquid feel, without drying out your lips!

Favorite lipstick: I need color that stays put well and doesn’t dry my lips out! I love both Beautycounter’s Color Intense lipstick in Girls NIght (punchy red) and 9-5 (a darker, neutral mauve) and Ilia’s Color Block lipstick in Cinnabar