For someone who doesn't apply a ton of makeup, I have surely tried a lot over the years. It's my job to try and share, and also something I love to do. I've had many routines over the years, but I think this is my best makeup routine yet. It's streamlined, reliable, and makes me feel like the best version of myself. Each product in this lineup earns its place by delivering noticeable results with minimal effort. You all know I’m not into heavy coverage or overly complicated techniques, so everything I use is quick, effective, and enhances rather than covers. I’ve finally landed on a handful of products I can count on, whether I’m heading to the grocery store or out for a date night. This routine also wears beautifully throughout the day without requiring constant touch-ups, which is key for me. If you want to look put-together without spending 45 minutes in front of a mirror, these recs are likely for you.
If you only take two recommendations from this post, let it be the Foundation and the Mascara, which you will read more about below!
We are starting off strong with this dual-sided mascara. It’s a new product from DIBS and one of the best mascaras I have ever used! One side of the mascara is a primer. What makes it unique is that it is brown. Most primers are white. The brush is different, too. It’s a silicone brush with separated bristles, so it acts almost as a comb separating the lashes. This is a tubing mascara, so removing it is sooo easy. No smudging onto my eyelid. Since it is brown, you can wear it on its own. I particularly like to use this on my bottom lashes for a clean, natural look. The right side of the wand is the black mascara. It has a fuller brush with many more bristles. This is a thicker formula that plumps and lengthens the lashes. It doesn’t clump and works beautifully! I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Eyeshadow Quad// I rotate through a few eyeshadows, and right now this is what I am using (in disco). I’ve had it for well over a year. The colors are lovely and work with my complexion, and despite being a powder shadow, the color lasts all day. I love the dark shade on the bottom right, as I use it as a liner with an angled brush. A little goes a long way- they are all very pigmented.
Brushes// I love this brush set. Every brush is dual-sided, so you save space in your makeup bag. They’re all high quality, but I particularly think the brushes for the eyes are the best!
Brow Gel// I am not fully committed to any one brow gel, but this is really great. It’s tinted and holds my brows in place well, even plumping them a bit. My code SUMMERWIND may work on this.
Eyeliner// I'm not a big eyeliner gal and usually, if I use any at all, I go for a powder for a very natural look. However, this is a brown eyeliner that is easy to apply and gives me that extra 'something' when I'm doing a full face of makeup! I have tried many brown eyeliners. I most recently bought the Victoria Beckham liner because I was seeing it everywhere. While I love the deep brown color, the product is almost too smooth. If you have ever used oil pastels in art class as a child, the liner glides just like that, but deposits too much on the eye. I used a brush, which yields better results, but it's still a bit messy. I think someone more skilled would be better with the VB. It is just too fussy for me.
Brow Pencil// My go-to, inexpensive brow pencil that is exactly like Anastasia. I am not a big drugstore makeup person, but there truly is no difference and no reason to spend more on the Anastasia or any other higher-priced product.
Highlighter// I think this highlighter will outlive me. It's SO pigmented but stunning. It's a powder and melts into the skin. I love it down the center of my nose and on my brow bone and the inner corner of my eyes. This is such a natural highlighter; it almost looks like you have nothing on, instead, just a dewy glow. I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Foundation// This is the best foundation I have ever used. I've tried many. I love the Westman Atelier foundation sticks. This product is similar but better. This melts into my face more than the Westman Atelier and looks more skin-like than the Westman Atelier. The difference between the two products is subtle, but enough for me to choose this over WA every time. The shade finder is spot-on. Apparently, Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan (Duchess, Markle?) love this. I don't pay attention to celebrities, and if they like something, it doesn't sway me or impress me. However, I know many follow that kind of thing, so I thought it was worth mentioning. The shade finder is spot-on. My code is SYDNEY15 for 15% off.
Concealer// I prefer light coverage, but my concealer is where I opt for medium to fuller coverage. I've been using this for a year and a half and haven't finished my first tube. A little goes a long way! It has medium coverage to start, but you can build it up to full coverage. It doesn't sit in my fine lines, and you don't need to set it with powder. Even though it has a heavier coverage, it doesn't feel heavy on my face or look like heavy makeup. Blending is a dream- it is luxuriously creamy. This doesn't melt into my skin as well as the foundation or some of the other products I use; that's the only con. I just started trying out this Sarah Creal brand and am loving it. It's too soon for me to give a full review or to ditch this concealer, but it could take its place... we shall see! Use the shade finder because it is spot-on!
Duo Stick (blush and contour in starlit)
Blush// This blush (in shade pillow talk) is ideal for quick, minimal makeup because the color is a rosy bronze. It acts as a blush and bronzer all in one. It warms up my complexion and gives me a subtle rosiness to my cheeks. The middle looks shimmery, but it's really not, and it's darker than it appears. I love using the middle portion on my eyelids for a quick dose of natural, warm color!
Blush// This blush (in shade VIP PINK) looks vibrant, and just by looking at it, it's understandable that most would shy away from it.... I mean, purple?! Somehow, it's gorgeous. A little goes a long way, but it applies as a lovely flushed pink color that looks much more natural than one would expect. The color really stands out against my tanned summer skin! I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Bronzer// This is the best bronzer I've ever used. The color (caramel cappuccino) has absolutely no orange in it. It's a powder but melts into my skin and never leaves my complexion looking muddy. It just warms up my face and makes it look like I was out in the sun for a bit. This product has been a game-changer in my makeup routine. Even though I have paler skin, with makeup, sometimes things just don't show up on my skin, or if they do, they don't last, particularly bronzer. This lasts all day because it really just melts right in! I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Duo Stick// This is a contour and blush in one in the shade Starlit. I do love the Westman Atelier contour stick; this is very similar. The product is slightly softer, allowing it to glide smoothly. With the warmth of the skin, the color melts and blends so beautifully. If you like a sharp contour, this would not be for you. This is more about adding natural warmth, rather than chiseling the face. I think the WA contour stick is easier to get more precision because the product melts a bit less. The blush is stunning. This duo is in the shade Starlit, but there are many color options to choose from. The blush is a subtle color, more of a glow, and if you are heavy-handed, this is for you because you can use a lot without looking like a clown. I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Powder + Contour Brush// This is a duo brush featuring a powder side and a contour side. This is what I use for my face. The brush is incredible and I would highly recommend it, especially if you are already using DIBS products! I don't think my discount code still works, but plugging in SYDNEY is worth a try, why not!
Foundation Brush// This is the brush recommended for the cream foundation, and if you get the foundation, I would get the brush, too. I have several foundation brushes that I have liked over the years, but this brush works best for the foundation, which makes sense! You can use code SYDNEY15 for 15% off
Eyelash Curler// I've shared this eyelash curler a lot over the years. It's one of the few products I haven't changed. It has a cult following for good reason. The price is well worth it. It works far better than a drugstore curler.
Lipgloss// I love to collect lip products, but at the end of the day, this is the one product I use the most often. You've also seen me share this over and over again; you're probably all rolling your eyes. It's the best! It's a lipstick, gloss, balm hybrid. You get the shine of a gloss, the softness and hydration of a lip balm, and the color (in some cases) of a lipstick. My favorite color is Poppy. It's the perfect coral pink shade. I have also been loving lotus, which is a rosier pink hue. I just recently got Honeysuckle. It looks SO dark in the tube, which is why I held off from trying it. The joke is on me because it's a beautiful, subtle red wine hue. It reminds me a lot of Clinique's Black Honey. The only downside to this product is the coconut scent. It's not terrible and very tolerable, but I would jump for joy if they made this product unscented. Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but there's no reason for adult makeup to be scented. My code SUMMERWIND should work on this.
Lip Liner// I don't like lip liner when you can tell that I'm wearing it. I like lip liner to define the outer edge of my lips, which makes them look slightly plumper. If you are the same, this is the lip liner for you. The shade 'Beverly Hills' is the exact shade of my natural lips, so I can line them and then add any color on top. You'd never know I was wearing liner, and my lips look fuller. It's a win-win! The product is softer than any other lip liner I have used, so it glides effortlessly. It's not as soft as the Victoria Beckham eyeliner I mentioned earlier in this post, so you can still be precise. I also have and like the color coupé, which is a touch deeper than Beverly Hills. This works when I wear a more saturated lip color on top.
Last, but certainly not least, this setting spray! It's a 'clean' product with a fine mist and does a great job at setting my makeup, hydrating my skin, and giving me a slightly dewy glow. It's never sticky or tacky, and after a few seconds of drying, you'd never even know it was on your skin! My code SUMMERWIND should work on this!
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