Hello again everyone! This post is going to be a bit different than anything I’ve posted on my blog before. Remember how I said I had recently come across a few ideas to “spice up,” my blog? This post is one way that I plan on starting to do that, and there will be more content like this coming soon. Feel free after you read to give me any feedback, positive or negative, on whether you like this kind of content or not!
I decided to write this post because I often get compliments about my makeup from friends and family, and because my beauty routine is something that I know A LOT about (imagine that!). And, at this point, it is no secret to many of you that I thoroughly enjoy the process of doing my makeup, as it is extremely calming for me. I haven’t always been great about doing my hair, but I DO have a few products for my hair that I can’t live without. I’m also going to throw in a few bath time products near the end of this post that I use religiously to keep myself smelling the absolute best that I can!
Fair warning: If you are one of my guy readers, you may want to skip this one, as it may sound like a bunch of gibberish to you. However, if you’d like to stay and read on, PLEASE DO, I would love to educate/inform you on my hair and makeup process. So, with the warning out of the way, and without further ado, here are my hair, makeup, and bathtime favorites… Enjoy!
Estee Lauder Water Cream moisturizer (day). You guys… this stuff is EXPENSIVE, but I absolutely HAVE TO HAVE IT. Good skincare is somewhat hard to come by, so I kind of “take this one for the team” on price. I find that when I use the Water Cream moisturizer before I put on my makeup, it makes my foundation go on more smoothly and evenly, and as I wear the foundation throughout the day, it makes me feel like I don’t have ANYTHING “caked” on my face. Definitely a win.
Maybelline Fit Me, Matte+Porelessliquid foundation (shade 115). The Fit Me pressed powder used to be my go-to, but the liquid quickly took over when I started watching beauty channels on YouTube. They also have TWO DIFFERENT KINDS of the liquid foundation, which I didn’t know until recently. One is the “Matte+Poreless,” (my preferred kind) and the other is the “Dewy+Smooth.” I went to the store a few months ago, and I ACCIDENTALLY picked up the “Dewy+Smooth,” kind, tried it out and ABSOLUTELY HATED the way that it felt on my skin. …Any time I do my makeup, I ALWAYS lay my base down with this foundation. The application is always so flawless, and I have never had any issues with unevenness or streakiness that you may sometimes find with other cheap(er) liquid foundations. So, long story short… This foundation is pretty cheap, and it performs REALLY well!
Benefit Porefessional Primer (travel size, 0.25oz). I put this third on my list, because I don’t ALWAYS use primer. *GASP!* *Heehee!* However, when I DO use primer, THIS is the one I use, and I LOVE the way that it feels on my skin. I only apply it to the apples of my cheeks, my forehead, and my chin, as those are the places where my pores seem to be more visible. It is soft to the touch, and it does wonders to fill and disguise my oversized pores.
Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten (Berry Trifle). Oh. my. GOSH, you guys… This blush is the perfect berry color to compliment my skin tone. It’s kind of like a deep raspberry color, AND, it has highlighter in it, which I LOVE! I believe I got this blush from my aunt for Christmas a few years ago. Now, I know what y’all are thinking… “Kristin! You shouldn’t be using expired makeup!” BUT, hear me out… This is the blush that I have PRIMARILY USED for a few years now, and when it comes to this step in my makeup routine, I NEVER reach for anything else. Blush is also my absolute favorite step in my beauty routine, so I tend to get a little heavy-handed with it, but usually, I’ll just throw a little neutral powder over it, and that helps calm the color down like a charm! Plus, the fact that this blush has highlighter already in it makes this my ULTIMATE top pick as far as blushes are concerned, because it gives my skin a nice, bright, sun-kissed look!
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara. No makeup look is ever complete without mascara! I’ve used several different mascaras over the years, but I think I’ve finally found my tried and true. The brush provided with this mascara is curved with different lengths of bristles, which I’ve come to really love. To begin application, I use the convex side of the brush, which has the longest bristles, to lift and separate my lashes. Using this side of the brush, I get one good coat going on from base to tip. Then, I use the concave side, which has the shortest bristles, to add another coat and further separate and define my lashes. Finally, I go back in on the outer edges of my eyes (you know, where the pesky smaller eyelashes are), and use the very end of the convex side again to make my outer lashes match the center of my lashes. In the past, I’ve experienced a lot of clumpy lashes with other mascara brands, but with the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara, this has hardly ever been an issue, which I am SO thankful for, because anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am VERY PARTICULAR when it comes to my lashes! *Talking to you, mom! Heehee!*
Coty Airspun Translucent Setting Powder (loose). This was a recommendation that I took from one of my favorite Beauty Influencers, Tati Westbrook. I always use this powder to set and lock my liquid foundation into place. I typically apply this powder all over my face to “matteify” (matte-ih-fie) my base makeup. Let’s put it this way: If I DON’T use this powder, my face looks wet and shiny all day, and nobody likes a wet, shiny looking face! This product smells like baby powder, but it definitely works like a charm.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme (Bombshell Red). If you LOVED my lipstick in my Easter photos on Facebook (photo can also be found on my “About Me,” page), this product is EXACTLY what I was wearing! A week or two before I bought this lipstick, I bought a Milani one, and found it to be SUPER drying on my lips, which I did NOT like at all. So, when I went back to Ulta a few weeks later, I bought a few different kinds of lipsticks to test them out, and this was one of the ones I bought. True story: I actually tried this lipstick out for the first time ON EASTER! This lipstick applies super smoothly, and DOES NOT DRY OUT MY LIPS at all! When I wear this lipstick, I honestly feel as if I’m not wearing anything on my lips… So, if I ever feel like a pop of color, I definitely reach for this lipstick! #sogood
ELF Eyeshadow Palette Rose Gold – Nude. Okay, guys… this is another product that I am going to absolutely GUSH about. I don’t always do eyeshadow in my makeup routine, partially because I’m still learning and playing with eyeshadow myself. However, when I do have the time to play with my eyeshadow, this is the main palette I reach for. It’s got a few neutral-toned mattes, as well as some REALLY PRETTY sparkly colors that match my skin tone very well. And, did I mention…? The formula of ALL of these shadows is SO SOFT and buttery, they feel AMAZING on the skin, and wear so well throughout the day/night. Definitely a win in my book!
Milani Highlighters (Afterglow and Sunglow). So, even though my blush has highlighter in it, sometimes, I just feel the need to be a little extra glowy… Enter Milani Highlighters! I typically try to match whichever color highlighter I use with what I am wearing that day. To give you an idea, Afterglow is more of a silver-pinky highlight, and Sunglow is more of a true gold highlight. Regardless, these highlighters are so super smooth, apply to the skin very well, and last well throughout the day or night. I typically apply this highlighter on the highest point of my cheeks, the apples of my cheeks, the outer edges of my forehead, my nose, and my chin (sometimes). They definitely give a nice pop to my face when I’m feeling a little glittery… which is usually always!
Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. This was another recommendation that I took from Beauty Influencer Tati Westbrook. I’m not going to lie, guys, I use this product to contour my face a lot of the time. Thankfully, the color that I bought is soft enough that it matches really well with my skin tone, AND, it is EXTREMELY blendable, which I absolutely love (hello, no harsh lines!). Also, this product SMELLS SO GOOD… every time I use it, I get taken away (mentally) to a tropical island with crystal clear water and a nice sea breeze! It smells like coconut mixed with tropical flowers, and it is a bit strong smelling; it hits you right when you open the container. However, I absolutely LOVE to smell this product when I use it! I typically apply this below my blush, on the outer edges of my forehead, and on the sides of my nose. It gives my face a bit of dimension without the harshness of a full-blown contour, because ya girl has not learned how to properly contour her face. Also, the concept of contouring kind of scares me, because I WOULD find a way to mess it up completely, so this bronzer is definitely extremely helpful for me!
Estee Lauder Eye Makeup Remover. Alright, so I’ve taken you through most of my beauty routine, but what about taking it all off at the end of the day or night? Truth be told, taking off my eye makeup is probably my LEAST FAVORITE step of my makeup removal routine, but the Estee Lauder eye makeup remover does such a great job helping get the job done. Yes, this is another one of the products on the list that is on the more “expensive,” side, but, again, we all have to have our splurge products, right?! What I love about Estee’s eye makeup remover is that it does not leave the skin around my eyes feeling super oily like some other eye makeup removers have in the past. It’s also not drying to my eyes, which, again, some other eye makeup removers have done to me in the past. To use this product, I dab a bit of the makeup remover on a cotton round, close my eye, and use my middle finger to massage the makeup remover around my eyes. I make sure to start with the base of the lash and just continue massaging until I feel that most of my mascara is off. I then will go in with either the back of the same cotton round or another one completely with more eye makeup remover and continue to massage the mascara off of my lashes. It usually takes 2-3 cotton rounds to get all of the mascara off my lashes, but this eye makeup remover is so smooth and does the job extremely well. And, like I said, it leaves the skin around my eyes soft and smooth as well!
Philosophy Purity Makeup Remover Wipes. Y’all. I used to think I was crazy when EVERY makeup wipe brand that I had ever used before slightly burned the skin around my mouth. However, I have finally found a brand that does not burn the area around my mouth, and I am TOTALLY in love! These smell pretty good, and they work pretty well, too. Sometimes, if I have CAKED my makeup on, it takes two of these makeup wipes to get all of the makeup off of my face… but that’s kind of true with every brand of makeup wipe that I’ve used before. I know they say not to use makeup wipes around your eyes (duh, because your eye area is more sensitive, and makeup wipes will burn you there, too), but sometimes, after I’ve used my Estee Lauder eye makeup remover wipes (see above), I’ll go back over my eye area with one of these makeup wipes to get any last mascara smudges from above or below my eyes. Whereas other makeup wipes have majorly burned my eye area, the Philosophy ones do burn, but on a far less scale than any other makeup wipe I have ever used… so, needless to say, I think I have found my new preferred brand of makeup wipes!
Batiste Dry Shampoo (any scent). This stuff TRULY saved my life when I was a teacher. At any given moment, you can probably find 3 cans of it in my bathroom, including right this second. If I know I’m not going to shower, I usually try to spray this into my hair the night before I’m going somewhere, so that all of the excess powder can work itself into my hair follicles as I am sleeping. However, I have used this product plenty of times the morning of, and it still works like a charm. Who wants to shower every day of the week?! NOT ME, and this brand of Dry Shampoo REALLY hits the mark for me when I am feeling a little lazy. Heehee!
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Blow Dryer. I received this as a gift for my birthday from my dad and stepmom a year or two ago, and I absolutely am in love with it. If I decide to take a shower the morning of an event, I will definitely use this to dry my hair, because it is a dryer and hair straightener all in one! I normally put my hair into a towel after a shower, and, if I am using this blowdryer, I will let my hair sit in my towel for about 10 minutes before I go in to start drying with this product. It may TAKE a little bit longer to dry with this tool, but it is definitely worth it to not have to use BOTH a hair dryer AND a straightener! Plus, it makes my hair so soft and smooth, which is also a bonus!
Go Styling Iron by FHI HEAT Hair Straightener. I got this hair straightener as a gift from my aunt a LONG time ago, when I used to go to her chosen hair salon to get my hair done. Funny story: I went to Spain in January of my freshman year at Appalachian State, and, though I did have a converter to plug things into, I still wound up COMPLETELY frying my CHI hair straightener, which was SUPER unfortunate, because, as some of you may know, CHI’s are pretty expensive. When I got back from Spain, I guess I just went without a hair straightener until my aunt bought me this one… which is kind of crazy, because EVERY girl needs a good hair straightener, ALWAYS. And, though I would LOVE to have a CHI straightener again, the Go Styling Iron definitely does the job just as well. There is a heat setting dial next to the on/off switch, and the temperature goes up to 410 degrees, which is what I always keep it on. Like I said, it’s NOT a CHI, but it gets the job done well enough for me to put it on the list of beauty favorites.
REF Weightless Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. I originally started using this shampoo and conditioner because this is what was sold primarily at the time at the salon I went to back in North Carolina. What’s sad is, I haven’t been able to use these products in over a year, because you can’t just get them at any old store. I’d have to specially order both the shampoo and conditioner online and have them shipped to me, because they are made in Sweden! …The reason I put these on the list though, is because whenever I used to use them, they would make my hair SO soft and voluminous, and I’ve not been able to find ANY shampoo or conditioner that do what these do since I stopped using them a little over a year ago, because I ran out. My hair DEFINITELY has not been the same since, and I’m pretty sure my hair officially hates me because I’ve stopped using this shampoo and conditioner!
Bath and Body Works Shower Gels (any scent). I’m going to preface this section by saying… I am a Bath and Body Works addict, OKAY?! I just cannot stay out of the new scents that they come out with almost every season. I HAVE slowed down on my obsession a little bit though, because I currently have enough shower gels and body sprays to last me a LONG TIME. I’ll talk about the body sprays in a moment. ANYWAYS, I am currently using the B&BW Shower Gel in the scent “Magic in the Air.” It’s like a warm vanilla with a touch of sweetness to it. And, can I be honest for a second? Every time I see the label, I sing Bruno Mars “24-Karat Magic,” in my head. *Heehee!* Anyways, I have always loved using B&BW shower gels because they lather up so nicely, and they just always smell so good. I shave my legs with the B&BW shower gels as well, and it works like a charm!
Bath and Body Works Body Sprays (perfume – any scent). Again, I am obsessed. I often rotate between scents. Right now, I am using “Gingham,” and previously to Gingham, I was using “Pretty as a Peach.” Gingham is a sweet-tarty kind of scent, but it’s not overly heavy on tartness… I’d say it’s a 50-50 combo of sweet and tarty, and I love it. So, if ever you SMELL my perfume, 10 times out of 10, it’s GOING to be Bath and Body Works!
So… there you have it, ladies and gents! Thank you for sticking around for my favorite beauty products. I realize that this was a long post, but again, I often get compliments on my makeup, so I thought it would be beneficial to let you all in on my “beauty secrets!” …Who knew it took this many steps to look fierce?! Again, thank you all for joining me today, and feel free to leave me some feedback on whether you like this kind of content or not! Until next time… Ciao for now!
}-}—> Kristin <—{-{
Adventures of a 20-something 