I want to get to a point where I don’t need to wear makeup all the time to look presentable. But since I’m not quite there yet and am still working on my skin, I like to wear some makeup any time I leave my house. This is not for anyone else, but for my own preference. I have a certain standard I like to uphold for myself and how I want to be presented. And the most basic part of this is my everyday makeup. A little makeup can go a long way! It can instantly make you look more awake and refreshed while adding a little oomph to your look. Especially when I’ve been working from home full-time since March 2020, putting on makeup is one of the fun parts of my day. But for the times I don’t need to do a full makeup look with false lashes, the following makeup products are what I use for my go-to everyday makeup look:
Concealer
If I don’t wear any other makeup, I’ll always need concealer! It instantly covers my dark circles and brightens up my entire face. Plus it covers up any blemishes I have. The concealer I’m currently using is the old version of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer and Kylie Cosmetics Skin Concealer. Since Kylie Cosmetics is doing a re-brand and re-launch of their products, the Skin Concealer is currently not on the website, but I’m sure it’ll come back! Something similar to the old version of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer is also another one of my favorites, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer. Another go-to concealer of mine is the award-winning Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Concealer.
Foundation Or Tinted Moisturizer (Optional)
If my skin is doing well with breakouts and my concealer can cover what I need, I sometimes skip putting on foundation. Occasionally, I even prefer it as I don’t always want to cover my entire face with makeup. And I don’t like the fact that I technically can’t touch anything since my foundation is transferable a majority of the time, even with a setting powder or spray. You know I wear makeup for myself and no one else when my face mask is imprinted with my foundation and lipstick!
But when I do wear foundation or tinted moisturizer for my everyday makeup look, I prefer using one that isn’t too heavy. I like to opt for the Tarte Cosmetics Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer or the KVD Beauty True Portrait Medium Coverage Shake Foundation (which I heard is being discontinued). They both have excellent coverage, but also feels light enough for an everyday look. It’s also super easy and smooth to apply which makes it a plus.
Liquid Eyeliner (Optional)
I absolutely love doing a classic cat eye with my liquid eyeliner. It just brings some intensity to the eyes and makes them look larger. But sometimes I skip this step when I don’t want to put on too much makeup that day and when I know my mascara can do a good job of opening up my eyes.
Most of the times, I have to use a waterproof liquid eyeliner because my eyes sometimes touches the top and my eyeliner transfers to my lid. Also, having oilier eyelids means that my eyeliner will smudge or transfer much quicker than I’d like. I’ve been using the KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner for years. In the past year or so, Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner has also become a favorite of mine. Recently, I’ve tried the NYX Epic Ink Liner and it is almost the same as the KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner at a much cheaper price point.
Mascara
I can go without eyeliner, but mascara is a must. Long, dark lashes just makes your eyes pop and look bigger. I’ve tried a ton of different mascara brands and wands over the past 15+ years as I’m always on the search for the best mascara. I know that silicone wands do not work for me so that is something I usually stay away from. I always hope that it will work and will eventually give it a try again when there’s a good one, but I prefer the fiber wands.
So when I finally found my favorite mascara of all time last year, Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Mascara, I find out that the whole beauty brand is being discontinued in 2021. No other mascara has compared so far – it was very pigmented and dark, and gave me so much volume and length. Other mascaras I like and have rotation include Lancôme Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara, Uoma Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Nourishing Mascara, and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. But I will still be searching for a mascara that’s as similar to Velvet Noir as possible. I read somewhere that some of the most popular items may be repackaged into Smashbox, but I’m not sure how accurate this will be. I will keep an eye out though!
Bronzer
I find that having bronzer as a part of my everyday makeup really brings dimension and shape to the face. It also helps me blend in my foundation better when parts of my face is darker from the sun. I apply bronzer near my hairline and drag it down to blend with the rest of my face as well as give myself some more defined cheekbones.
A few of the bronzers I always go back to are the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer, and Nars Laguna Bronzer.
Highlighter (Optional)
To contrast with the bronzer and bring more light to my face and to add a little pop, I like to use a highlighter. I feel that highlighter gives me that extra something as well as a more luxurious feel. My preferred shades are more goldy peach colors. But when I’m in a rush or just don’t want to put that much makeup on that day, I don’t mind skipping this step occasionally.
My favorite highlighter of all time is Becca Cosmetics Champagne Pop highlighter which was created by Jaclyn Hill. Unfortunately, Becca Cosmetics is also supposed to be shutting down in September 2021 due to the effects of the pandemic. I also currently using the Kylie Cosmetics Loose Powder Highlighter (which is also discontinued). I see a pattern here – do you also find that some of your favorite products keep getting discontinued or is it just me?! However, I do have a few other brands in my highlighter backstock and am super excited to try the new Jaclyn Cosmetics highlighters. She is definitely the queen of glow.
Lipstick
To complete my everyday makeup look, I always need a good lipstick. Currently, my go-to lipsticks are from Kylie Cosmetics. I am fully stocked up on lipsticks and want to use up a majority of them before I stock up on others that I have my eye on. To see the matte liquid lipsticks I use, I wrote a full review on the Kylie Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks.
Now that you know the essentials for an everyday makeup look, see what’s in my everyday makeup bag!