No filters/editing, fully made up for a wedding using the products below!
For someone who doesn't wear a ton of makeup, I have definitely tried a lot over the years. It's my job to try and share, and I also love doing it. 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 shared my routine with you all about a year ago, and honestly, not a ton has changed, but I have added a few products and swapped out a few shades of the ones I was already using.
If you only take two recommendations from this post, let it be the Foundation and the Blush + Bronzer/Contour Stick.
Foundation in shade light medium; my code is SYDNEY15
This is the best foundation I have ever used. I've tried many. Prior to this, I loved the Westman Atelier foundation sticks. This product is similar but better. The number one reason I think this beats out all other foundations for me is that it color-corrects instead of overly covering. It neutralizes red around the nose, purplish under-eye circles, and more. Plus, this melts into my face more than the Westman Atelier and looks more skin-like. The difference between the two products is subtle, but enough for me to choose this over WA every time. It also costs less than WA, so I consider that a win! The shade finder is spot-on. From this list, I think this has been the single most transformative product for me. A little goes a long way. A palette lasts me over a year, though I don't wear makeup daily. I do think the brush is worth getting. It buffs the foundation into the skin so well. Plus, it's pretty small, so it takes up minimal space in a cosmetic bag.
Concealer in light neutral 13
This is a new-to-me concealer as of a few months ago. For years, I stuck with Natasha Denona, which was so good. I have dark under-eye circles, and always have, so I'm always looking for a natural-looking concealer with substantial, buildable coverage. This creamy, medium-to-full coverage concealer feels lightweight and looks natural. It blends beautifully without looking heavy or cakey and works especially well to brighten under the eyes. The formula has a hydrating finish, so it's dewy but not shiny. Compared to the Natasha Denona, this has a more natural/skin-like finish but with similar coverage.
Brow Pencil in shade medium brown// Brow Gel (use code SUMMERWIND)
Brow Pencil// My go-to, inexpensive brow pencil that is exactly like Anastasia. I am not a big drugstore makeup person, but there's truly no reason to spend more on Anastasia or any other higher-priced product.
Brow Gel// I am not fully committed to any one brow gel, but this is really great, so much so that I bought it a second time. It’s tinted and holds my brows in place well, even plumping them a bit. My code SUMMERWIND may work on this.
Blush + Bronzer/Contour Stick in Moondust (use code SYDNEY)
This is a contour and blush duostick. In winter, I wear the shade Starlit, but Moondust has been a great shade for my tanner skin in the summertime. I do love the Westman Atelier contour stick; this is very similar. The product is slightly softer, so it glides smoothly. With the warmth of the skin, the color melts and blends so beautifully. If you like a sharp contour, this isn't 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. It really just adds a radiant glow. If you are heavy-handed, this is for you because you can use a lot without looking like a clown. I think this has been another big game-changer in my makeup routine. The product looks so dewy and natural. Overall, I love the DIBS makeup brand. I haven't tried a product I don't love.
Powder Blush in VIP Pink (use code SYDNEY)
This blush looks vibrant, and just by looking at it, it's understandable that most may shy away from it... I mean, purple?! Somehow, it's gorgeous. A little goes a long way, and it applies as a lovely, flushed pink that looks much more natural than you would expect. The color really stands out against my tanned summer skin, but it works well year-round for me, too.
From L to R:
I'm very much a blush gal, so while the DIBS blushes are my most-worn, I mix and match with these three from time to time. They're all in the same rosy+peachy pink family. I really love a warm pink shade on my skin tone. But if weight or space were limited, I would cut these three from my makeup bag and just use the DIBS, but I like to have options day to day.
The Liquid Blush is the most peachy/coraly of the bunch, but subtly so. Years ago, I went on a photoshoot trip with Draper James, and one of the makeup artists said my skin works really well with peachy/coral tones, and that has stuck with me ever since. This is so easy to blend, and unlike many liquid blushes, it won't ruin your makeup if you are a bit heavy-handed.
A while ago, CR gifted me many products, and honestly, not many really stood out. None were bad; they were all nice, but I just didn't think any of them were any better than what I was already using... except for this Cream Blush. It's also a coral-pink, but this is a warmer, more naturally flushed look. If you want to skip bronzer and just use a blush, this is the one I'd reach for.
This Blush Stick is the dewiest and coolest-toned of the three. True to its name, it gives you that shiny, glass-skin look. The shade is very pretty and a true rosy pink flush. My skin gets so dry in the winter, so this stick will be a must-have on rotation because it is so hydrating.
Powder Bronzer in Caramel Cappuccino (use code SYDNEY)
This is the best bronzer I've ever used. The color has absolutely no orange to 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! This works so well with the cream products I use and never pills.
Cream and Powder Brush (use code SYDNEY)
This duo brush features a powder side and a contour side. I use this with any powder and cream products. The brush is incredible. I would highly recommend it, especially if you are already using DIBS products!
Setting Powder in H 03
I've used many different brands over the years, and while there are plenty of good ones out there, this is the best I've tried. It blends seamlessly into my skin without ever looking like I've added powder. Rather than totally mattifying, it blurs and smooths everything while taking away just a touch of shine. It's also not drying at all. Don't let the 'color' fool you! It really is translucent on the skin. I especially love using the bottom-right peach shade under my eyes when I feel like I need a little extra help, since it helps cancel out purple and blue tones.
Eyeshadow in Disco Dust
I am not a big eyeshadow gal. I don't have much talent when it comes to applying it, and I definitely don't want to spend time every day doing some elaborate eyeshadow look. I used to never wear eyeshadow, but as I've gotten older, I've found that my eyes benefit from a little color to add dimension to my face.
I've tried so many neutral eyeshadow shades from different brands, and this eyeshadow, specifically the top right shade, is the best I've ever used. I can messily and quickly swipe it all over my eyelid, and somehow it just works. Makeup artists and beauty brands are always describing foundation as 'your skin but better' or a lip product as 'your lips but better,' and this is basically the eyeshadow equivalent: "your eyelids but better," ha!!
Unfortunately, this particular shade isn't sold individually. I do like the other colors in the quad and use them all when I'm getting fully made up for a special occasion, but for everyday makeup, the top right shade is a winner! The dark shade on the bottom right makes a really great natural-looking eyeliner, too.
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 think the eye brushes are the best!
This is a concealer brush. I prefer to apply my concealer with my fingers. I blend with my fingers, but at the end, I go in with the brush to smooth everything. I also like to smooth my foundation around my nose with this brush. Sometimes I even use it with a little setting powder and apply it to smaller areas of my face, like under my eyes, my chin, between my eyebrows, etc. It's a great size. Before this, I used one by Rare Beauty, which was nice, but I prefer the larger size of this one.
This eyelash curler is one of those cult-like products that lives up to the hype. It's just truly better than any drugstore version. It doesn't pinch or crimp the lashes, but instead provides the perfect curl every time. I never skip this and keep one in my makeup bag and one in my bathroom so that even when I am not wearing makeup, I curl my lashes!
Dual-Ended Mascara (use code SYDNEY)
One side of the mascara is a brown primer, and the other is classic black mascara. What makes the primer unique is that, unlike so many white mascara primers, this one is brown, so you can actually wear it on its own. The silicone brush has separated bristles that almost act like a comb, helping to define and separate each lash. I typically use both sides on my top lashes and just the brown primer on my bottom lashes.
It’s also a tubing mascara, which makes removal sooo easy, and I don’t get any smudging or transfer onto my eyelids. The black mascara side has a fuller brush with more bristles to build volume. The formula doesn’t clump, wears well all day, and gives you defined, separated lashes without feeling heavy.
I had seen so many rave reviews of this eyeliner that I finally bought it on a whim. I personally prefer a brown liner because I find it looks softer and more natural with my coloring.
Upon first application, I hated it. The formula is SO creamy and soft that I found it difficult to control how much product was going onto my eyelid. It ended up sitting in my drawer for a while, but I kept seeing people rave about it, so I pulled it back out and started experimenting.
The game changer was applying it with a brush. Using a brush gives me the most natural application. It defines my lash line while still looking soft, never harsh. I love it now, and when applied with a brush, this is the best eyeliner I’ve ever used... just be warned, there is a learning curve!
Top: Highlight Palette in Radiant Finish// Bottom: Eyeshadow in Glaze
This Highlight Palette has been around for many years. I used it a long time ago, then stopped using it in favor of other products. I used to use 'strong' highlighters with a lot of shimmer, and as I have gotten older, I've realized those really strong, sparkly/shiny highlighters aren't as flattering on some of my fine lines. I'm back to this because it's so subtle and really does give you that 'lit from within' look. It is not at all shiny or glittery; it's soft and luminescent. Besides using it as a true highlighter, I love it as an eyeshadow for a no-makeup look.
This Eyeshadow is glam! I absolutely love the shimmery, warm coppery-gold shade. The color itself is very neutral, but the shine of this is so fun for events, holidays, etc. I often apply just a touch to the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them. I typically use this for a night out!
These are both items that, if space and weight were limited, I'd ditch them, but they are still a big part of my routine otherwise.
L to R:
My lip products are an entire other blog post in and of themselves... stay tuned, I'm working on that one! I love lip products and have way too many. So I thought I would share my top 3 base lip products I typically use before I apply any other lip colors.
This Liner in Opal has such an interesting formula because it almost blurs into the lips rather than creating a sharp, obvious line... basically perfect for me. I never want to look like I'm wearing lip liner. I just want the definition/plump look you get from it, rather than an actual outline of my lips. The shade Opal is a pink, 'your lips but better' shade that gives the subtlest definition. The tip is dull, so when you first use it, it may not seem like it will work well. Because of the rounded tip, though, it gives you that diffused look rather than the look a sharper point offers.
Both of the stains you see are very similar, but very different in price. For a long time, I've been pretty loyal to this Stain in Sugey Girl. It's the exact shade of my lips, just a little more saturated. I line the outside and then fill the rest of my lips in. It's a very natural color. It has a matte finish. I like to top it with a balm or gloss. Well, I unfortunately discovered this pricier Stain in Slipper, and I regret to admit that I prefer it. Slipper is a slightly lighter, less mauvy shade, so it is truly my exact lip color. It also has a duo tip where one side of the marker is slightly plusher than the other, making it easy to line and then fill it in. I still use and love both, but I do tend to prefer the Stain in Slipper.
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