#KISS. keep it simple sweetheart.

this is my motto when it comes to makeup! LESS IS MORE. my everyday makeup consists of my three item rule: blush, mascara, and highlighter. however, when it comes to photography, you have to put more on. there is just no way out of it. the truth is, when you can actually see makeup on people in professional photos, they are wearing A LOT of it. so as with anything in life... go with moderation. not too much and not too little. genius, i know.

makeup products for photoshoots -- jannadoan.com

before diving in, this Dagne Dover makeup bag is PERFECT. i have a slight weakness for pebbled leather and the rose gold details! the bag is so luxe and is going to last forever. confession: this is my first real makeup bag, because the gift with purchase bags or (ahem) ziploc bags don't count. right?! what's so cool is it also has three loops that you can "fasten" your lipstick or lipgloss or mascara tubes!! i really love that feature. it is the little things you guys. the pouch also comes in four colors and two sizes -- large and small. pictured is the large. Dagne Dover also makes handbags and clutches etc... these are some of my favorites the petite tote, the elle clutch, the landon carry all, and the essentials clutch wallet.

pouch c/o | Dagne Dover lola large pouch in bone leather

01. eyeliner

it is amazing what a little black line can do to your eyes. while i was a fan of the gel eyeliner, the hassle of having to use an extra brush became too much. (i know it's a #fwp). i FINALLY found a liquid eyeliner pen where i can actually draw a decent line without it looking all jagged from my shaky grandma hands!! this pen is also dual ended for detail. HG status. i also started to lightly use eyeliner on my waterline and find it brings out the eyes a bit more!

eyeliner | Tom Ford eye defining liquid liner pen in deeper (upper lid) // CHANEL stylo yeux long lasting waterproof eyeliner in 921 pomme de pin (waterline)

02. brow

all brows are not created equal. usually you have one that arches more than the other or is more sparse, etc.. the list goes on. but with any type of photography, you will ALWAYS want to draw in the brows. especially if you're doing indoor photography as you have the tendency to become more washed out and brows are one of the first things that usually start washing out on the face. we don't want that #savethebrows. i love this even though i have to use a brush with it, it looks natural, stays all day, and it has a pomade consistency that helps with the tamin'. it's so pigmented that i actually have to waste product because a little goes a REALLY LONG WAY. i've had it for years.. and barely a dent.

brow | Anastasia dip brow in ebony

03. mascara

these stubby asian lashes need all the help they can get! true story, but back in the day asian parents use to cut our lashes so they would grow back longer and thicker? i digress. i am a HUGE fan of the drugstore mascara -- it's cheap and you can chunk it frequently without feeling bad (should be thrown away every three months). i try a ton of drugstore mascara... but i always always go back to my HG. i'm all about the natural lashes, so one coat and you are good to go.

mascara | Maybelline full 'n soft waterpoof mascara in very black // Maybelline the colossal volum express waterproof mascara in glam black // NYX doll eye waterproof mascara in extreme black

04. blush

this is one of the three makeup items i use everyday. i LOVE BLUSH (almost an understatement). it can do so much in terms of waking up the face and trust me, i need it! my favorite blushes are made by hourglass. i actually finished one whole blush in the span of almost three years... isn't it insane? i did a happy dance when i hit complete pan and can finally say i finished one WHOLE BLUSH #makeupgoals. for the spring/summer time i usually go with a pink and for the fall/winter a more muted dusty mauve.

blush | Hourglass ambient lighting blush in luminous flush (pink) or mood exposure (mauve) // Tom Ford cheek color in wicked

05. contour

my type of contouring is REALLY SIMPLE. i don't have time to be drawing all these lines on my face and forehead, cupids bow etc... so i just contour my cheeks with my HG contouring powder that seems to be a universal color on everyone. it's so easy to use just a few swipes on the lower part of the apples of your cheeks and blend blend blend. and the key is... don't. go. overboard.

contour | Kevyn Aucoin the sculpting power in medium

06. highlighter

use. sparingly. the only disco ball is the one on the dance floor! again, i keep it pretty simple. i put one swipe on the upper part of my cheeks below my #designerbags. people also put it on their forehead and jawline etc... but i don't have time for that.

highlighter | Kevyn Aucoin the celestial powder in candlelight

07. lipstick

as much as i love bright colored lipsticks... i always go back to my usual 'my lips but better' shade. i think i might actually use a whole tube of lipstick for once in my life. EEPPP!! almost 85% of the time you'll see me wearing the same shade #soboring on this blog. liquid lipsticks are really starting to appeal to me as well due to the non-smudging which is really nice when you factor in any kind of eating that needs to be done.

lips | Glossier the balm dotcom // MAC amplified creme lipstick in brick-o-la // Tom Ford lip color in casablanca // Sephora cream lip stain

08. powder

the only time i use any sort of foundation/powder is when i have an after work photoshoot and need something to pick up all the #daygrease. this one seems to work really well and is lightweight which i like!

powder | Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless finish skin perfecting micro-powder in 2 medium