Monday, August 18, 2014

BOGL's Current No/Low Makeup Routine


"No Makeup Makeup" is a popular breed: makeup so sheer, so seamlessly blended, and so perfectly close to your skintone, nobody realizes you're even wearing makeup. They just think you're practically perfect in every way. After years of testing and trying, I've finally figured out how to achieve this look on my face.

However, I don't really care to look like I'm not wearing ANYTHING if I've taken the time to paint my face. And anybody with decent eye sight and some knowledge of cosmetics is going to look at the above picture and say, "Yeah, she penciled her eyebrows, and there's something on her mouth." That's fine by me...as long as my skin looks completely bare to the naked eye. ;)

I prefer to call this routine "Low Makeup Makeup." Again, I like to pencil my brows, and I like to put something (either a very rich balm or a bright lipstick) on my lips with this routine, and people are going to notice that. But the average person has a hard time spotting any other products on my face, and I kinda dig that. Here's my current routine:

1. Dot NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly where needed, and in very small amounts. Today, that meant a few dots under my eyes, on some forehead and chin blemishes, over my lip scar, and on the tip of my nose. Pat in with fingers.

2. Gently blend a dime-sized amount of Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint in Shade 1 all over face, ears, and neck, skipping only my eyebrows and lips. Doing foundation after concealer is usually a no-no because you may overdo it and apply too much product, and you can rub off your concealer; I find that the NARS concealer stays pretty well put, however, and applying this tinted moisturizer second seems to blend it all together.

3. Pat some MAC Strobe Cream on to the high points of the face. For me, that means under my brows and on the tops of my cheekbones.

4. Apply a very small amount of Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon to the apples of the cheeks. Add more as is necessary; for example, I usually like to blend tiny amounts backwards from my cheekbone towards my temples.

6. Apply a coat of mascara to the top lashes. I usually go for CoverGirl Clump Crusher, and I just use the lightest pressure possible to avoid "overdoing" it.

7. Pencil in brows with Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Seal Brown. Soften and smooth the pencil with a brow spoolie or fingers. If my brows are being uber-wonky and won't stay in place, I'll glue them down with Anastasia Clear Brow Gel.

8. Dust a small amount of Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte powder foundation through the t-zone. I skip this step when my skin is at its driest.

9. For a super-lazy look, I apply a glossy balm like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream or pure lanolin. If I want to look like I put in a bit more effort--or if I'm just in the mood for a bolder look--I slap on a bright, matte lipstick.

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