Your 10 Step Beauty Routine!

  Everyone needs a routine. Routines help everyday tasks go by smoother and faster. Your makeup routine should be no different. I’m a busy mom to a 15 month old, a wife, a student and a business owner. I NEED a system that works for my schedule without compromising  quality. There is a 10 step beauty routine I implement not only in my personal life but also into my work.

   It’s a routine I also teach to many of my clients who are looking to simplify what they do.

Steps:

1. Skincare- Whether you are getting ready in the morning or any other time in the day, you should always start with a fresh canvas. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize. Use an oil- free primer after moisturizing. It will assist in the duration of your makeup while also enhancing a smooth texture for your skin.

2. Correct/Conceal- Correct dark circles with a corrector. Pink-tones neutralize pinky/blue darkness while peach- tones neutralize purple/brown darkness. Use green based corrector to neutralize and red spot on your face.

Conceal to brighten and to hide any blemishes. Use a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. Don’t forget to conceal your lips too. It’ll neutralize any tones on your lips that can alter your lipstick shade and it will also prolong your lipstick wear.

3. Foundation- Use a foundation brush of choice (I prefer a stippling brush) to apply and blend product on your skin. Don’t forget to use any residual product on brush to blend onto your neck area. We’re not looking for a full coverage of the neck, but it will help cut any differentiation of the shade of your face and neck. (Neck can look lighter than your face).

4. Powder/Bronzer- To seal in your foundation, take a powder brush to your loose or pressed powder and pat powder onto your skin. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, swiping can risk wiping off your freshly applied foundation.

With bronzer, try to stay away from shades too dark or that contains shimmer. Shimmer can be fun sometimes, but for every day wear you want something more natural. If your pick something too dark, you run the risk of looking too fake. Place bronzer over cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin(where the sun naturally hits) Use a powder brush as well for this step, however if you don’t have a separate brush for bronzer, lightly clean any blush residue with Kleenex or even a brush cleaning wipe (you can find these at any beauty supply store).
5. Blush- It’s blush time! Take your favorite blush and apply to the apples of your cheeks and swipe upward towards your temples. Don’t smile like thought before. Smiling can give a false sense of where your apples and can make you apply the  blush too low.

6. Brows- Groom, and fill in your brows. Whether you are using an angled brush with a shadow (close to your hair color, but never black) or using a pencil, use small natural strokes. You don’t to look like you painted an entire new brow. Even if you did fill in quite a bit, you can still make it look natural. If hair is unruly or just a lil’ curly, use clear mascara to set in place. It’ll act as gel for your brows.

7. Eye Shadow- Always prime lid with an eye shadow primer of choice. Then apply your fav shade in the design you want. Smokey, natural, elaborate or just simple, GO FOR IT HONEY! Eye shadow is one of the easiest and fun ways to express your individuality, mood, and style.

8. Eye Liner- Whether it’s barely there, thick line, or a wing, this is another way to express yourself and to compliment the work you’ve just created with your shadows. If you choose to line your bottom line, make sure to meet the bottom line with the top. Any gaps between the two can distract from your look.

9. Lashes-  When working with your lashes you want to curl them with a lash curler. This may not be necessary if you already have curly lashes. Next you want to apply mascara. I always start with the top of my lashes. Do this to prevent any multi coloring action going on when you blink with the mascara shade and your natural lash shade. After coating top of lash you can coat the bottom of your lashes. I do 2-3 coats depending on formula. Some can have a wet consistency, with those use 1-2 coats. Anymore can be asking for some major clumping. If you are going to apply falsies you can now. Once on and dry add a light coat of mascara to blend your natural lashes to the fakes. Now apply 1 coat to your bottom lashes, making sure to not get any on your skin. If you do get any on your skin or lid, you can just take a clean shadow brush a gently wipe away.

10. Lipstick and Gloss- Choose your fav lip color and complimenting lip gloss. This will be the icing on the cake that is your fabulous complete face.

Like with anything this will take practice. But when you do practice and implement these steps in order, it will make your routine go much easier and faster.

Hope this helps. Tell me what works for you. I love to hear comments and advice <3

Stay Fabulous and Fierce ~~~ XoXo MiMi