As some of you know, I’m a huge makeup junkie. I can’t get enough of the stuff.
Recently, I’ve decided to stop trying out new products and stick to what works for me.
This can be challenging at times, especially when there’s a new product on the market that seems like it would be perfect for me, but on a positive note, I am saving a lot of money.
I also think that as you get older, you know how to accentuate your facial features, so you may end up needing less makeup. In this post, I’m going to talk you through what’s in my makeup bag. My makeup routine is a little high maintenance (I’ll be honest). When you have oily/combination skin, priming and setting is a huge part of makeup application. If you don’t prime your skin before applying makeup, you’ll feel its heaviness and your skin won’t be protected which leads to so many other issues. Here’s what’s in my makeup bag:
Primer – I couldn’t possibly put on makeup without a primer. It’s taken a while for me to find a good one, but I have been able to commit to NARS Cosmetics’ Pore and Shine Control Primer for a few years now. I believe I mentioned this primer in the Skincare Saviours post. The trick is to warm it up with your finger(s) first before patting it onto the areas where you tend to get shiny.
Leave it for a few minutes and then apply your makeup. You can also apply it throughout the day to keep your makeup looking fresh. Because it’s white, I wouldn’t recommend it in case it leaves a bit of a cast. I just use it once a day and it does keep my skin looking reasonably matte.
Setting spray – Another product I have been committed to for years is Urban Decay’s All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. This setting spray is one of the best in the market for a reason. It keeps my makeup in place for the whole day. Something you need to know about this setting spray is that it’s not just suitable for applying when you’ve finished putting on makeup, you can use it at various stages in the application process. Last year, UD had an event in collaboration with Brown Beauty Talk (a publication I contribute to) and the makeup artist shared a really good tip: you can put some setting spray on your brushes before you add any product to them. It does actually keep everything in place. Also, if I’m wearing makeup and a mask, I’ll put some setting spray on before I apply my makeup for a stronger hold.
Concealer – I’m currently alternating between two concealers: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and NYX’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer. The Pro Longwear Concealer has fuller coverage, so I use it to conceal my dark spots. Recently, I decided to invest in a concealer from a high street brand. I’d heard good things about Can’t Stop Won’t Stop. I use it under the eye area, my nose and the area in between my brows. To blend this concealer, you need to use a damp beauty blender. You won’t be able to blend it in if you don’t. On a positive note, its staying power is awesome. I bought one in a shade closer to my skin tone and another in a shade that’s a little lighter. I use the lighter one on most days and it lasts for hours!
Foundation – My go-to foundation is Estee Lauder’s Double Wear. In recent years, I have really struggled to find a foundation that matches my skin tone. I have a yellow undertone and a lot of foundations on the market are either too yellow or too red. A few years ago, I came across Double Wear and I haven’t looked back. My shade is 6N2, which is a neutral shade. It isn’t an 100% match but it is pretty close to my skintone. To even it out, I use a drop of NARS Glow Booster. I like to get through the foundation stage pretty quickly, so I use a brush to apply it instead of a beauty blender. Also, I tend to use more foundation in the areas where I need it most. I’m not a fan of the cakey look. Less is always more.
Eyeshadow – I love eyeshadow palettes. At the moment, I’m using Urban Decay’s Born To Run Eyeshadow Palette. The colours are really pigmented. When it comes to eyeshadow, I tend to learn towards earthier tones. It’s been ages since I’ve worn a really bold colour on my eyes. To prep my eyes for eyeshadow, I use a bit of concealer and setting powder to avoid any creases. Then, I apply the eyeshadow. Like foundation, I don’t really spend too much time putting on eyeshadow. I apply, blend for a bit and that’s it.
Bronzer – This is the first bronzer I have ever used consistently. I always shied away from using a bronzer because I was worried it would draw attention to my oily/combination skin. A few months ago, I read an article about bronzers for dark skin and the writer mentioned MakeUp Revolution’s Glow Splendour Bronzer. I decided to buy it in the shade ‘Dark’. I love it because it’s matte and a little bit goes a very long way. All you need is one or two dabs with a bronzing brush and you’re set. Bronzers also add a lovely warmth to your face, so if you want to fake a glow they are definitely the way forward (as are highlighters but I find them a little O.T.T).
Brows – Like most women, I have a love/hate relationship with my brows. They take up most of my time whenever I’m putting on makeup. Thankfully, I’ve stopped investing in overpriced products that don’t really compliment my brow shape. I was a Dipbrow-devotee in my early twenties and was doing myself a huge disservice because I have very sparse brows, so pencils give me a much better finish. On a positive note, I’ve been able to save a lot of money because I use a pencil that’s only £2! Beauty Forever True Kohl in Dark Brown has come to my rescue. It’s very pigmented, lasts for ages and allows me to follow the shape of my natural brows very easily.
Eyeliner – I wear eyeliner every day, which isn’t ideal, but I do like to accentuate the shape of my eyes. It’s just something I’ve always done. I don’t use a lot of eyeliner, I just apply a little bit to my waterline and the lash area. At the moment, I’m using an eyeliner from MAC which I think may have been discontinued because I can’t find it on their website. MAC’s eyeliners are very pigmented and they last for ages. I’d definitely recommend investing in one!
Mascara – I discovered NARS Cosmetics Climax Mascara a year ago and I’ve never looked back. They make my lashes look so voluminous. You’d think I was wearing falsies! Also, it doesn’t clump the lashes, which is important. Another bonus is that my lashes don’t feel heavy when I have the mascara on. Like the brow pencil, a little bit does go a long way. If you like your lashes to look really full, just build the intensity when you apply it.
Lips – When it comes to lippies, I keep it simple. I only go for reds or pinks on occasion. I wear a brown matte lipstick on most days. At the moment, I’m loving NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shades Berlin and Rome.
Brushes – The majority of my makeup brushes are from Real Techniques. I’ve had them for years. I came across the brand back in 2013 and I remember buying a selection of brushes from Boots in High Street Kensington until I had all of the ones that I needed for my makeup routine. All of my beauty blenders are also from Real Techniques.
(Some of the products I’ve mentioned are in the picture above. Below is a picture of me with a full face of makeup on).
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Please note that it does contains affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you buy any product I’ve mentioned in this post.
What are some of your makeup must haves? Let me know in the comments xo
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