Everyday Makeup Routine

Makeup-free face! 

So now that the weather is getting cooler here in Ottawa, I've been having to switch things up a bit when it comes to my makeup routine. In the warmer months, when it gets very hot and humid, I tend to go fairly light on my makeup, focusing primarily on skincare and sun protection. Now that the humidity has all but disappeared, I'm finding that I'm having to be a lot more generous with my moisturizers! I've even been going out without any of my face powder lately because I've found it a bit too drying. 

I only have one makeup bag, although sometimes I wish I had two, so that I could do touch-ups throughout the day. Since my job is pretty busy and I'm constantly on my feet, I can't imagine that I would have much time to do that kind of thing though! In any case, the makeup I apply in the morning is all that I rely on to last me through the day, so I certainly demand a lot from it in terms of performance.

Diorskin BB Creme

After I've exfoliated, cleansed, toned, and moisturized, the next thing I put on my face is my Dior Diorskin Nude BB Creme. I like that it gives me a very natural amount of coverage, and it blends really well. I am lucky enough to have decent skin, so I don't need anything too heavy when it comes to foundation. 

Next up, I tackle my brows. I am pretty happy with my eyebrows for the most part, although they are a bit too sparse in my opinion, so I use a pencil most days to fill them in a bit. The one I use is by NYX, in light brown. I don't pluck or wax, so they are just naturally thin unfortunately!

Best overall mascara on the market
in my opinion!

I can get ghostly pale in the winter, so I find blush and bronzer VERY helpful when I'm trying to not look like a corpse! The blush I've been using nearly everyday is by Tarte, in the shade Glisten, which is a warm shimmering peach color. 

I don't like to wear too much eye makeup on a daily basis, so I try and keep it simple with a sweep of nude shadow over my lids, followed by a thin layer of liquid liner before I put on my mascara. The shadows I use are from Coastal Scents. I tend to use Chamois Nude on my lids, followed by Sand Storm on the outer corners. In my opinion, mascara is the most important part. If I had to, I would skip every other step...but not mascara! I have to say, there are a number of fancy mascaras out there that have enticed me before, but I always come back to my L'Oreal Voluminous mascara. It's just such an excellent product...and the price is amazing! 

End result: casual, everyday makeup look!

Finally, I put a bit of Vaseline on my lips, and I'm good to go! I haven't been wearing any lipstick or gloss lately, but I'm thinking that will be changing soon now that I've been needing more color on my face! Lipstick is a tough one if you don't have the opportunity to reapply throughout the day. Instead, I find I tend to use tinted lip balms and stains for a more subtle, low maintenance look! 

Makeup Brushes Every Woman Should Own

Good morning! I hope everyone is having a nice week so far? 

In a follow-up post to How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes, I've decided to put together a basic list of Makeup Brushes Every Woman Should Own. The list is a meant to function as a guideline, and does not represent an entirely comprehensive list of every single kind of makeup brush available on the market. If you're interested in purchasing any of the brushes mentioned in this article, they are all available online from Coastal Scents.

Left - Right: Tapered Liquid Foundation
 - Classic Kabuki

1. Foundation Brushes

After cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, the first step in any makeup routine is foundation. If you use a liquid foundation, you have the option of applying it with either a brush, or your fingers (for a more natural look). The Tapered Liquid Foundation brush is perfect for evenly applying liquid foundation. One of the most versatile brushes is the Classic Kabuki brush, which can be used to apply an even dusting of powder to set your foundation.


2. Blush and Bronzer Brushes 

Left - Right: Large Tapered Powder -
Large Angled Blush

Personally, I would suggest using a separate brush for your blush and bronzer application. The Large Tapered Powder brush is ideal for sweeping bronzer across the high points of your face (cheekbones, forehead, nose), while the Large Angled Blush brush is designed to gently apply a dusting of blush on your cheeks.


3. Eye shadow Brushes 

Clockwise from top left: Medium Shader -
Large Shadow - Classic Pointed Blender
- Classic Crease Brush

Whether you like to wear a lot, or a little, there are a few eye shadow brushes that should definitely be included in your arsenal. The Medium Shader brush is a basic necessity for all-over shadow application. The Large Shadow brush is perfect for highlighting the brow-bone or blending multiple eye shadows. The Classic Pointed Blender brush is designed for contouring and shading, while the Classic Crease brush is ideal for blending shadow along the crease line to create depth.



4. Liner and Brow Brushes

Left - Right: Classic Angled Liner -
Classic Brow/Lash Comb

Finally, I would highly recommend investing in a Classic Angled Liner brush, and Classic Brow/Lash Comb. The angled liner brush is perfect for precision application, which is ideal for creating a masterful eye shadow look. The brow and lash comb is a useful tool for lifting and separating your lashes, as well as defining your brows.

Of course, if you're looking for the most fool-proof way of building a makeup brush collection, there are many wonderful kits out there. However, the main reason I tend to prefer the method of picking and choosing individual brushes is because I have found in the past that many kits tend to include either too many or too few of the brushes I personally like to use. Everyone is different, and for people who like to wear a lot of makeup or experiment with different looks, the large kits can be wonderful!