You probably can't tell from this picture, but I
got about 5 hours of sleep last night.
I've been watching a lot of Zoella's videos on YouTube and it's led
to an increased appreciation for makeup! People like to criticize
girls (and boys) who wear it, saying that they shouldn't have to put
on a mask every day. While this is true in theory, that's not
necessarily what makeup is. It's a really cool tool that allows us to
express who we are outwardly. So anyway, I figured I'd do something
a little different and show you how to get a really easy, simple
natural look that is perfect for everyday and makes you look
awake even when you're exhausted!
Phase 1: Face Prep
Since this look is really natural, you need to start with a smooth base. Make sure you've washed
your face (you never know what can build up on it).
Start with a thin layer of moisturizer to make your face soft and smooth. I use Eucerin Daily Protection- it's lightweight, fragrance free, and has sunscreen in it as well (not that it matters much right now, sadly).
Next, just because this look is dependent on clear, even skin, use a light layer of foundation to even out any unevenly colored spots and smooth over imperfections. Again, this should be light- a little foundation goes a long way. I use Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse in Medium Sandy Beige. What makes the biggest difference for me, though, is not the foundation itself but my blending tool. I got mine at Ulta a couple of years ago and it's never failed me! The tip allows you to get into important creases like the sides of your nose. Make sure you blend your foundation really well, even going down under your chin to make sure you don't have a very obvious line of separation!
The next step is to use concealer to cover up any remaining imperfections and blemishes. It's especially important to use concealer under your eyes, as part of this look is how refreshed and awake you'll look with it on. I use Boing from Benefit in 01, and I absolutely love it. It's a bit more expensive than drugstore concealer, but I definitely think it's worth it.
The last step of this phase is to dab a little bit of powder over your face to set your makeup and reduce oily shine. Concentrate on whatever areas you find most oily (they tend to be your T-zone and forehead!), but don't go too crazy- you don't want to look ghostly! I use Covergirl truBlend in translucent fair.
Phase 2 : Blush/Bronzer
You could honestly group this in with Phase 1 if you wanted to, but I've decided to make this step its own phase. I strongly recommend this blush/bronzer combination for people who always find themselves rushing in the mornings. One swipe of the brush will get you both the pink tones of blush and the tanner tones of bronzer. It even acts as a bit of a highlighter with more translucent shades as well. Don't go too crazy with this; since this is a natural look, you mainly just want to highlight the existing tones and contours of your face. So give the mirror a grin and lightly shade the apples of your cheeks, making sure to blend into your hairline near your cheekbones so you don't just look like you have two polka dots on your cheeks! I use Maybelline Master Hi-Light highlighting bronzer in Deep Bronze!
Phase 3: Eyes
The main focus of this phase is to make your eyes look lifted and awake, regardless of how tired you are! No matter what look I'm going for, I always use my Urban Decay Naked 1 palette for eyeshadow and Benefit's They're Real! mascara for my lashes.
In general, this eyeshadow look is light with a little but of sparkle. You want to illuminate your eyes so that you look refreshed and awake (even if you stayed up until 3 am last night). I like to use Virgin on my brow bones (right under your eyebrows), using the fluffier side of the brush (I'm just using the one that comes with the Naked palette) to apply it. Then, with the same side of the brush, I use Sidecar all over my lids. This shadow is very densely pigmented, so a little goes a long way. Next, using the thinner side of the brush, I use Hustle in my creases, being careful to blend the shadow all around to avoid looking striped. The last shade I use is probably the most important, because it adds a lot of light to your eyes. Using the thin side of the brush again, I put Half Baked in my inner creases, then I line my bottom lash line with it. This step really makes all the difference, especially the second half of it- the gold on your bottom lash line really lifts your whole eye up and makes you look more perky and awake.
Phase 4: Lips
The last step is really small, but also really important. Shiny lips make this look a little more glowy, and though I really love bold lipsticks and glosses, they don't belong in this natural look. Lush's Whip Stick Lip Balm is absolutely perfect. It's shiny, hydrating, and enhances the lip color you already have! It's also vegetarian, so it's natural, organic, and cruelty-free.
So there you go! A quick and easy makeup tutorial that enhances your natural beauty and makes you look awake and refreshed. I know this might be a little unexpected, since this isn't the sort of thing I normally write, but I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful! Let me know if you try out any of my recommendations, and whether or not I should do more things like this in the future! :)
Soundtrack: Vampire Weekend- Contra
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