Makeup and what I say I wear

Many moons ago, Andie published a list of her daily makeup routine. She's gorgeous and I read through her list, rather shocked that there's no overlap in our products! Here I've been thinking that I use rather normal products, but it turns out I might need to do some experimenting. So here's my daily routine for those of you playing along at home. (Note: I'm obssessed with Benefit cosmetics.)

1) Moisturizer with SPF right out of the shower for my face AND an eye cream for controlling the uncontrollable fine lines. I haven't really settled on a favorite moisturizer yet, although I was a big fan of this Roc Age Diminishing Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 until the day I went to Walgreen's and couldn't find it anymore. I have since moved on to some Loreal product that smells bad. Smack some Neutrogena Dry Touch Ultra Sunblock on over that and wait a few minutes and my moisturizing/sunblock duties are finished.

2) Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer goes on next before anything else. Essentially this stuff fills in the fine lines and wrinkles that are ever present and makes your face super smooth for the rest of your makeup. Mine has SPF 15, but since I have the Neutrogena stuff on, it's probably overkill. This stuff is spendy, but it lasts forever (a tiny dab is all you need for your whole face) and is worth it. Next time I think I'm going to get the color correcting version of the primer so I might not have to actually use so much foundation.


3) I use Benefit's Some Kind of Gorgeous as a foundation and then, if I need it, and I usually do, a little bit of an Aveda pressed powder color 01 Cream. I actually am still using the same sample they gave me of the pressed powder at our wedding over a year ago, so you can tell I don't use a lot of it. The Some Kind of Gorgous gets replaced every three or four months.

4) Next is my secret weapon. It is Benefit's Glamazon. It's a lip and cheek stain. I was terrified of stains until the Benefit counter lady at Macy's told me it was the perfect shade for me. I gotta say, it's not as perfect for me as it is for my blonde friends, but it is delightful. A few drops right along the cheekline, rubbed in with a latex sponge and it's the PERFECT blush. I've recently started using it as a stain under a lip gloss and it stays for a long time. Way more time than a traditional lip stick. It's great!


5) Another secret weapon is also from Benefit (I love Benefit; I have an addiction) and it is F. Y. . . E! This stuff is a primer FOR YOUR EYELIDS. I've had this same little bottle for longer than I care to admit. It's getting near to replacement time for it, but I swear I've had the same bottle for over two years. I use a QTip to rub it on my eyelids. This is brilliant because then I can use really cheap eyeshadow and it never flakes, cakes, or goes anywhere. And my eyelids are. . . oily. So this is saying something. Spend money on the primer and then you can get cheap eyeshadow.

6) Then I put on cheap eyeshadow. Obviously the color depends on what I'm wearing, but I usually stick with browns, greys, and greens.

7) Then I put on cheap mascara. You have to replace mascara every three months and I can't justify spending more than a few dollars on a tube.

8) If I'm feeling really frisky, I'll put on Benefit's Brow Zings. This is just a little color to darken the brows and make them stand out a little bit and frame the eyes better. I guess I don't use this every day, but if I'm making even the tiniest bit of effort, I do use it. Again, this stuff lasts forever and it comes with little mini tweezers, so what could be wrong with that?!



9) Lip gloss or, for those of you who know me better, Blistex Medicated Lip Balm in the blue tub. I act like I use lip gloss, but I almost exclusively use Blistex.

That's it! I'm finished. I'm beautiful. It's more steps than I thought when I first started doing this. I think Andie's routine is much more simplified. Maybe I need to consider what is necessary makeup!!