I've never had a minimal effort makeup routine, but it looks minimal effort! lol If you were looking for a 5 step makeup routine, this isn't it. lol  I don't think the average person really understands how much makeup and layering us makeup addicts are really using. This is what makes your makeup lasts all night and look like celebrity makeup in photos. I've been watching makeup tutorials on youtube for over a decade yet when I look at my pictures from 10 years ago I think where is my blush, why don't I see it? I know I was wearing it! lol If you're doing one wash of makeup and wondering why it's not looking like a celebrity makeup artists makeup, its because you're not layering. The one layer, light handed, is not going to cut it. I'm going to spill all my secrets below. 

After I wrote this post I realized all these products are expensive, but I have to tell you I've tried and tested out so many makeup products, these just happen to be the ones that performed well that I ended up liking. I really do save my makeup purchases for the Sephora sale in spring and fall, and then all the beauty brands have their annual sale in July. There's no reason to pay full price for makeup, I don't. 

The most important part about makeup is having a proper blend so makeup artists are always recommending to put liquid products on the back of your hand then transferring it to your face. That way, only a little is being applied at a time, because you can always add more, but it's hard to take away if you applied too much. That way you can buff it into the skin first while it's still wet, not getting too much product on your skin; this is important for foundation, undereye concealer and contour. Too many people put too much undereye concealer on and that's why it creases. Blending out your makeup is the most important application step. 

taken outside with natural lighting and no filter

"My brand makes women happy and gives confidence. Anything that gives you more confidence, you're going to go more further, you will be able to ambulate in a different way, so to me makeup is not futile, it is something that is absolutely part of the wellbeing of a women. " - Laura Mercier

Skin Prep

taken indoors with no filter

Eyebrows 

Skin Tint

 Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

It's a dewy skin tint that looks really radiant on the skin. It gives your skin such a healthy luminosity since it has squalene and shea butter as ingredients. It holds up very well throughout the day but I still use a setting powder for my t-zone. It's worth the price point because you're getting impressive skin care ingredients including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.  You get the look of your skin but better without the look of makeup on but you get an even looking skin tone. It looks natural, your skin looks healthy and feels weightless on the skin. I'm wearing this in both pictures.

Shake the bottle well before opening. Never apply it straight to the face from the bottle. I apply it to the back of my hand, then add to my face with my fingertips, you don't need a brush but you can stamp it in with a beauty blender. I wear shade 11 and this provides medium coverage. It has SPF40 but I wouldn't rely on this for your SPF so I still wear sunblock underneath it.  It comes in 30 different shades. I wear shade 11 when I'm not tan and shade 12.75 when I'm tan. 

A woman stopped me at the grocery store and asked me what I had on because my skin looked amazing! I posted about this on Instagram and several of my friends said they wear this too and swear by it. Elf has somewhat of a dupe  but it's a thicker formula, shimmery and with a lot less shade choices.

Contour

Bronzer

Chanel Bronzing Cream

Chanel released a new version of their bronzing cream this year with different ingredients. I bought the new version in shade 392. Both versions are still available for sale. 

Bronzing is my favorite step when it comes to my face routine, I think it just adds so much life to your skin and makes it look like you were just on vacation. It really takes your makeup to the next level. Bronzing warms up the skin and mimics the sun. It does not go as low on the cheek as the contour and  but goes where the sun naturally hits your face. I will sometimes powder on top with Radiance Baked Powder which is so soft and a stunning formula. It gives a beautiful finish and worth the splurge! If you're using a powder, it will set some of that cream contour. I bronze under my jawline for definition, around my forehead and up my cheekbone.  You shouldn't use your bronzer to contour and create shadows because a shadows are a cool tone and bronzers are a warm tone. 

Blush

Blush makes a huge difference to give you that sunkiss burnt vibes that makes you look very alive, youthful and healthy. I also brush it on the bridge of my nose to look sun tan. I love blush so much! I don't however like a lot of bright pink on my cheeks, I like muted colors which are really hard to find. These are my three favorite blush colors, and I own more than a dozen blushes. I press it onto the apple of my cheek very lightly, soft and natural.  Laura Mercier blush in the shade Fresco is a brown nude with a shimmer finish. I also have her Ginger shade which is a matte.

To prevent your bronzer and blush from looking muddy together, it's all about how you layer it on. Tap the blush on, don't buff it back and forth. Or use a light brush.

Concealer

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Concealer

This gives light to medium coverage, see it is extremely skin like, you can hardly tell I have any makeup on, it looks so natural. You could use a color corrector underneath so you don't overapply which will cause creasing. The product is so hydrating and great for everyday makeup wearers who want a natural look. Its a ridiculous price but it performs beautifully. I use my finger to apply because of the warmth of your finger it blends in better. It has a radiant finish that blends in seamlessly and is so easy to use because its so creamy and emollient. I do powder it but its so skin-like that you can't tell I'm wearing concealer.

If you are using a liquid concealer, try blending your concealer with a brush. To apply, put a tiny bit of product on the back of your hand, then put it on your under eye, wait 30 seconds for it to dry down a bit then buff it out. You need a lot less product then you think you need. You can always do a second thin layer if you need it. Then finish pressing it in with a wet sponge.

Highlighter

I go very light with my highlighter as I don't want to have high shine beams on my face. The color I use is more of a bronzed shade so it's not like back in the day when highlighters only came in one shade - bright white. Fenty Highlighter in Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny, one shade is more shimmery for night and one is more subtle for day. 

I also have Hourglass Ambient Lighting Finishing Powder in Radiant Light which is an all over face powder which you don't see when you put on, put other people will see on you. Infused with the innovative Photoluminescent Technology, it diffuses and softens the look of the skin. The micron-size, color-correcting particles refract light and create transparent coverage, filtering out harsh light and refining the appearance of the skin. It comes in 7 shades, mini sizes and in multi-color in palettes. I think since this is an old school brand they don't use influencer marketing so people don't understand how to use their products, but this is an amazing product! It gives a subtle glow and is a finishing powder so you can wear this when you don't want to wear a highlighter and your skin will look healthy. 

Danessa Myricks Dew Wet Hydrating and Highlighting Balm in shade Hot Water which is a bronze shimmer. I will tap this balm on my cheeks for an instant glass-skin effect that makes your skin look extra dewy and hydrated. The subtle glow can be worn with or without makeup. 

Eye Liner

Mascara

Eye Shadow

Setting Powder

Setting Mist

Lips

She's wearing Sweet Cheeks

"Being beautiful to people has very little to do with how you look, but everything to do with how you make people feel."