getting my face ready is not my priority every morning. in fact, it is sleep... and more sleep! when it comes to an everyday look (and pretty much all things in life) less is always more. always. take the minimal approach in getting ready for school or work because you my dear, are beautiful and do not need all that makeup! so let's narrow it down to three items or less, shall we?
Hourglass ambient lighting blush in luminous flush.
Tom Ford cheek color in wicked.
01. blush (your best friend)
the number one thing to reach for is BLUSH. blush can do so much for you in terms of waking up your face! especially when you are tired, blush will be your BFF. trust me on this one, the instant flush/pop of color on the cheekbones make a world of difference. in my opinion, blush makes you look happy, friendly, and more approachable! (and who doesn't want that?!). my two beloved blushes are 1) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in luminous flush (a champagne rose); and 2) Tom Ford Cheek Color in wicked (slightly brighter and a frosty finish). i have owned both blushes for well over a year, and there is hardly a dent in either. that tells you how pigmented they are--a little goes a long way. both are great blushes in terms of texture and color pay-off. for a more budget friendly option, i recommend MAC Powder Blush in blushbaby. i apply my blush using HAKUHODO's S103 and S110. these brushes are quite the investment and honestly, they are worth every penny.
02. mascara
the second item is mascara. i typically don't use mascara everyday, simply because i am really lazy and only curl them with my trusty shu uemura curler (best eyelash curler on the planet). but my all time favorite, holy-grail, can-never-live-without mascara is the Maybelline Full n Soft (waterproof). there is NOTHING like it. it is the most natural looking mascara that holds curl like no other. i always tend to go with drugstore brands because mascara is something that you should replace often. i do try new mascaras from time to time, but i always come crawling back to this one. it's that good.
03. lip balm
the final item is lip balm. my choice is the Kiehl's Lip Balm #1. this is a color-less lip balm that is moisturizing and leaves a slight gleam on my lips. another color-less balm is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. i love having this as an option because it has SPF25 and SPF is very important on the lips. i have been so blessed with semi-pigmented lips so these color-less lip balms work for me. however, another great option i sometimes use is the Dior Lip Glow/Reviver, this has a slight tinge of color available in pink and coral.
don't waste the pretty,
JD