EVERYDAY MAKEUP

Its been a while since I've really given time, thought and energy into my makeup routine, or makeup in general for that matter. This time a couple years back I was a girl OBSESSED, with all things makeup & cosmetics. After leaving my job at Mac in 2016, I've just seemed to have lost all passion and love for it. Which is a shame, because I do still believe I'm good at makeup artistry when I want to be, and I still have urges to do other peoples makeup/offer them advice etc, all the time. I've been wanting to do a little round up of all my daily essentials for a while now, I love reading these type of posts so thought I'd create my own!  

BASE:

I would be lying if I told you my base didn't change on a pretty regular basis. I don't know about you, but I'm never quite happy with the finish of foundations that I try. No matter if I spend under £10 or over £30 I still haven't quite mastered the perfect finish. However..

• After my SKINCARE ROUTINE, I will spot conceal, with the new Lasting Perfection GREEN, colour correcting concealer, to get rid of any stubborn redness. I find this can give a slightly ghostly/chalky effect when blended - which I suppose is because my true pale form is visible once the redness is gone!
• I will use a MAC 159 brush to apply my foundation. I'm currently using L'oreal Infallible, 'Stay Fresh Foundation' - which claims to provide '24 hour wear, SPF18, No transfer, No visible imperfections, No visible shine, No dry out, No mask effect.' The bits I've crossed through, I unfortunately have to say I don't agree with. I find this foundation quite thick and heavy on the skin, however I do love the coverage it provides. I love the fact it looks very radiant and the way it doesn't dry out, I just wish it wasn't so thick/doesn't stay put for very long.
• After foundation I will use my faveeee concealer, Lasting Perfection Concealer from Collection, in the shade Fair 1. I use a fair bit of this around my (unfortunately baggy) eyes, and to conceal any blemishes I got going on that day. 
• SET T-ZONE - I usually don't go too overkill with the powdering/setting step as I don't like the look of my skin when its too matte. My favourite powder to use at the minute is an old favourite, Rimmel London Stay Matte, in shade 001 Transparent.  
• Next I'll use the NARS Laguna Bronzer to warm up my face with a real techniques blush brush. This bronzer has been a holy grail of mine for actual years. I also swear to god one of these will last me around a year, maybe more. (is that gross? meh)
• Then I will contour with the Anastasia Beverly Hills powder contour kit, to give some depth to my face and make my cheek bones really pop. I love using the lightest, dark shade first, and then finish contouring by adding some of the darkest shade nearest my ears/outter.. face?
• Next I will highlight- my favourite highlighter at the minute is actually the Goddess of Love Triple Baked Highlighter from I heart Makeup, (not photographed as it didn't match my OCD flatlay standards, lawl). I find it matches up as such a good dupe for the Mac Mineralised highlight in Soft and Gentle. Made with a blend of beautiful golds, pearls, and pinks, it would be perfect for all skin tones. (*highlight chat drool*)(btw its only £4.99, wtf?)
• To finish my base, and depending on my mood, I'll add some blush. My two favourites to use are Mac Warm Soul and NARS Torrid. 

EYES:

My eye makeup usually stays pretty simple on a day to day basis. Its only on a day off or a night out that I'll really go to town with eyeshadow/eyeliner etc. Plus, considering the fact I wear glasses, I find a lot of eye makeup can look a bit strange/much when I'm sporting my somewhat, chunky frames. 

• I. fucking. hate. drawing. on. my. eyebrows. I am literally one of the laziest people ever. So the fact I HAVE to draw my eyebrows on everyday to look relatively normal/alive is a pain in the bum hole (not literally, that would be weird). I know I could get them tattooed or micro-bladed etc but lets just say, I'm still kind of building up the courage to get such permanent changes carried out. For my eyebrows I use the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow  Dipbrow Promade in the shade Auburn & Duo Brush (#7B). I'm only just on my second one of these after TWO YEARS and I use it every day. (again, is that gross? meh)
• Any cleaning up and extra brightening around my eye balls will take place next. Again, I will use the Lasting Perfection concealer to carve out my brows and the Prep & Prime highlighter in Light Boost on any dark circles. 
• Next I will highlight my brow bone/inner corners with Mac eyeshadow in Nylon. (AMAZING for highlighting these areas)
• 9/10 I will just be wearing mascarra on my eyelashes, so for this I use a mixture of L'oreal Paris Miss Manga Punk, Mega Volume macarra for the thickness & volume, and to seperate/get rid of any clumps I use an unamed Rimmel London mascarra (packaging has rubbed off!). If I want to be a little extra I might use a smidgen of Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork on my lids and under my lower lash line. 

LIPS & FINISH:

I used to be such a bright/dark lip kinda gal, there was not usually a day that went by where I wasn't wearing a dark berry tone or a bright purple lip. I almost feel its as though I have finally found the right nudes that suit me. Its super hard to find a nude that looks right when it comes to having pale skin and ginger hair. Anything slightly peached toned makes me look unwell, and anything too light makes me look even more unwell!   

LIPSTICK FAVES IN ORDER:

• #1 - MAC, Stone with MAC Stone lipliner. My one and only true love. I think this is my third bullet of Stone. I absolutely love everything about this lipstick. The tone seems to make my skin appear more flawless, my hair appear more vibrant, and my eyes more blue. Theres just something about it. 
• #2 - MUA, Velvet Matte Lipstick in #six with NYX Nude Truffle lipliner. A newly discovered combo. I feel like I have nothing like the colour of the new MUA lipstick. There range is absolutely banging in Superdrug, and they're only £3 a go! Highly recommend checking them out. Just make sure you've moisturised your lips before as they can be a tad dry. I might do a review post on them as I have recently purchased a few for myself, let me know if thats something you'd like to see.   
• #3 - NYX, Lip Lingerie in Corset with MAC Cork lipliner. Perfect for that fake lip filler illusion. I usually opt for this combo on a night out or if I need to distract attention from my eyes - aka I'm really hungover/tired. 

I'd love to know if you guys have any recommendations on any pale foundations! I'm looking for something with a satin finish, a good coverage and a nice pale/creamy colour. I find it really hard to not end up with something TOO pale/chalky or too pink toned. 

Thanks for reading, as always!

Madi x