Vanity + Wearables

My daily face.

It’s been a while since I wrote about my daily cosmetics routine, and now that I have my skin under control (or at least as much as it’s ever going to be), I feel like it’s much less of a struggle to figure out what products I like and what I don’t. I doubt I’ll ever be the kind of person who goes out bare-faced (I don’t even stay in bare-faced), but I also don’t like to look really made-up…at least not when it comes to my skin. I save the color/drama for my eyes and lips, and I’ll get into those products in another post. This is really just about what works to make my overall complexion look a little brighter and fresher.

daily face

Presented in order of application…

1. Too Faced / Tinted Beauty Balm (Vanilla Glow)
Judging by the reviews I’ve read, this is one of those products that people either love or hate, and I think it all comes down to expectation. Here’s what it’s not: A true beauty balm or a foundation. Here’s what it is: A very sheer tinted moisturizer containing broad-spectrum SPF and miniscule light-reflecting particles. If you want a full-coverage foundation, this is not the product for you. I used Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer for years, and while I still think it’s a great product, I found myself wanting something even lighter weight. This Too Faced cream is perfect. It evens out my complexion while still letting my skin show, and the color it provides is very forgiving. My skin tone is very difficult to match, but this goes on imperceptibly. I apply it with my fingers.

2. Make Up For Ever / Lift Concealer (Pink Beige 1)
I recently ran out of my holy grail undereye concealer, Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit (which I previously reviewed at length), and since I’ve been making an effort to use up leftover products I already own before buying anything new, I pulled out this tube of MUFE concealer to give it a go. I can’t remember why I’d rejected it initially, but now I love it. The key is to pat it on under your eyes very lightly with your ring finger — I find that works much better than using a brush, which tends to move the product around too much. I also use it to cover up any minor blemishes and dark areas around my nose.

3. Urban Decay / Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original)
Yeah, everyone uses this stuff, including me. It’s great. I’ve always had a problem with eyeshadow sliding around and creasing in the past, and this primer does an excellent job of keeping lid oils at bay and helping my eye makeup stay put all day long. I can’t put it under my lower lash line so I still get some little smudges there from my mascara, but that’s really not a huge deal. I highly recommend this stuff if you have problems with your eye makeup wearing off or looking cruddy after a few hours!

4. the Balm Stainiac / Tinted Gel Blush (Prom Queen)
I bought this with the intention of using it as a lip stain, but the color didn’t work well for me. Rather than toss it I tried dabbing a bit on the apples of my cheeks. Perfect! It doesn’t give a deep stain or anything, just a little bit of a flush. I like to layer a light stain under my powder blush — that helps the pinkyness last all day.

5. Too Faced / Primed & Poreless Powder (Translucent)
This is the best face powder I’ve ever tried! I has NO color whatsoever and provides no coverage, but it does an amaaaaaaazing job of keeping other makeup in place and of stopping any oiliness without drying out my skin or accentuating tiny flakes. I use a small brush to apply it in under my eyes (no creasing or crepe-y skin!) and around my nose, and a big fluffy brush to dust it lightly all over my face. The package says you can also use it under your makeup as a primer, but I’ve never tried that. I find that a very light layer on top of everything is enough, and I don’t have to touch it up unless I’m going out at night. The finish is silky-smooth and very, very natural-looking.

6. NARS / Blush (Deep Throat)
Oh, NARS and your stupid color names…sigh. I used Orgasm for years, but switched to Deep Throat on a whim last time I needed a refill. It’s very similar, but with less sparkle and a tone that leans just slightly more pink than coral. NARS blushes are all very highly-pigmented and long-lasting, so you do need to use a light hand. I lightly swipe my blush brush in the pan, tap off the excess on my back of my hand, and ever so gently stipple it onto my cheeks. Very natural, very pretty.

Does that sound like a lot of stuff? I guess it does, but it doesn’t seem like it when I’m putting it all on! After all of this comes eye makeup and lips, so there’s still more to come. Stay tuned!

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22 Comments

  • Reply Samantha April 5, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    Am I alone in being interested in makeup packaging? I wear makeup rarely, but I think the range of package styles is pretty cool.

    • Chelsea T April 5, 2013 at 6:32 pm

      Heck no. I love cosmetics packaging! I don’t do a lot of it as a designer in wine country, but it just so preeeeety.

  • Reply Cristina April 5, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Ooh, thanks for sharing! I love posts like these. I sampled Staniac through Birchbox and I really loved it. I actually do like it on my lips, with a little touch of clear lip gloss. I never wear eye makeup (unless I’m really dressed up for a night out) because I tend to rub my eyes a lot. I’m always jealous of people who manage to keep their look up for more than two hours. Six things? Not too much stuff!

  • Reply Jenn STaz April 5, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    I adore the Too Faced BB cream– It’s something I’ve stuck with for several months now. I’m interested to try the Too Faced powder– I’m currently using Tarte’s microfine translucent powder and like it, and have an e.l.f. high def translucent finishing powder next up to use (which is like $5, seriously can’t beat it).

  • Reply Lily April 6, 2013 at 12:50 am

    I just saw this post and read back to your skin regime…immediately ordered a shiny new Clarisonic! It sounds like we just might have the same adult skin so I’ll definitely be trying out some of these makeup products as well. Thanks so much for sharing, you don’t even know…well, actually you do!

    • kelly w April 6, 2013 at 2:50 am

      I bought a Clarisonic two weeks ago. It’s a powerful tool. Be advised: for some people, even once a day on the face is too much– my face erupted like never before (but then, I’ve never, ever had a facial, so this was all very new to my skin). I’m trying gentler cleansers while I verrrrrrry gradually try using it again.
      In the meantime, the body brush attachment is rocking my world. Love!

    • Anna @ D16 April 8, 2013 at 1:07 pm

      Kelly, try the brush attachment specifically labeled for “delicate” skin. It’s MUCH softer. It took me a while to get the hang of using mine the right way (let the brush do the work, not your hand!) and to figure out what cleanser worked best with it for my skin. Hang in there — once you get it right, it’s a great tool. I can’t imagine being without mine.

    • chris April 6, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      good to know, kelly–thanks

  • Reply M.K. April 6, 2013 at 4:26 am

    Yessss, love these posts. :•)

    I use a combination of mineral make up brands (AlimaPure and EDM), but I’ve been wanting to try a tinted moisturizer for spring. Thanks for the tip!

  • Reply Jo April 6, 2013 at 10:50 am

    I love my Clarisonic, as long as I use the heads for delicate skin. I bought ’em by mistake and discovered that I can now use the brush as much as I like. Before, as Kelly pointed out, even once a day was too much–and I was using the sensitive heads, I think.

  • Reply Chris April 6, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    I love these posts, too!

    I recently started using Maybelline’s FIT foundation and powder (I invested in a pro powder brush). Super surprised. Considering I haven’t used foundation or powder since 1989 (for real)–wow. Makeup has come a LONG WAY! I have been interested in BB creams…didn’t know what the heck they were all about. Now I do, thanks to this post!

    • V. Cutino April 8, 2013 at 4:49 pm

      Loreal BB cream is really good, I would say it’s medium coverage, it evens skin tone, hides redness, and hides blemishes without that heavy makeup look. I love that it looks natural and not all cakey.

  • Reply Jules April 6, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    I laughed at your comment about Nars product names. There have been times where I’ve refused to buy something just because the name was so impossibly stupid.

  • Reply Alexis April 7, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Thanks for the cosmetic recommendations! I really value your opinions because my skin care routine has been absolutely IDENTICAL (creepy!) to yours for the past couple years now, which has finally gotten my acne under control for the first time in my life. I love makeup but my budget doesn’t really allow me to splurge on lots of different products at the moment, so to know what works for someone with a similar skin type and coloring to my own is very helpful in weeding through all the junk out there to find a quality product. Thanks again!

  • Reply Valentina April 7, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    Nice !
    Valentina

  • Reply kay* April 8, 2013 at 10:49 am

    I too love these posts (along with all of your other posts!) – i love taking a look into other people’s makeup bag! i recently, thanks to another blogger, discovere Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizers and it might just be my new favourite thing!

  • Reply jbhat April 8, 2013 at 11:56 am

    Fun! And what lovely products. I’ll have to sample Deep Throat. My favorite blush shade, Hint, by Stila, has been discontinued.

    jbhat

  • Reply Michelle April 8, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Not an unreasonable routine! I do the same. I may add a primer if it’s warm out. 🙂

  • Reply Alline April 9, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    I love the UD eye primer but I’ve noticed that it can be very drying on my lids. Sometimes it crusts up and cakes off. Doe this ever happen to you?

    • Anna @ D16 April 9, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      No, that hasn’t happened! Maybe because my eyelids tend to be pretty oily?

  • Reply Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker April 15, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    I use those Too Faced products, too. My favorite brand, indeed! And my skin tone is weird and difficult, too — and the color is great.

  • Reply Anne April 23, 2013 at 7:32 am

    I love Nars Orgasm but they are very pigmented indeed. Thanks to your blush brush way to apply it I finally found a way to make it look more natural. Thank you very much 🙂

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