My client and friend Amy Spalding recently shared her daily makeup routine in her newsletter (go subscribe, you’ll love it! I’ll wait), and I commented:
I have so much makeup and stuff that I could use, but I default to the same one or two things. I want Zendaya’s makeup artist (or really, anyone who knows what they’re doing) to come to my bathroom and tell me how to use the stuff that I ALREADY HAVE, instead of just advising me to buy more stuff I clearly don’t know how to apply. Can you make that happen for me, Amy?
Amy said no, alas. Although she did suggest searching Instagram for products I have, or following some makeup artists and paying attention to how they use things. Which I may still do, although, alas for my algorithm which has up til now been friends, books, horses, cosplay, and photography! Anyway, in an attempt to be more transparent about my current struggles and issues (and so I don’t bore my family to tears), here’s what we’re talking about!
This is my current lineup of products:
- Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation
- Drmtlgy Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
- Drmtlgy Luminous Eye Corrector SPF 41
- Il Makiage F*ck I’m Flawless Multi-Use Perfecting Concealer
- bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydration Gel Cream
- Maybelline dream BB Fresh 8-in-1 skin protector
- Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Highlighting Stick
- Revlon Photoready Concealer
I don’t put any of these on my face on a daily basis, but on the occasions when I do want to get made up, I pick and choose from within these. I’ll usually go with the Revlon Photoready Concealer on my eyelids first, then dab some concealer under my eyes — either the Drmtlgy Luminous Eye Concealer or the Il Makiage F*ck I’m Flawless. Then I sort of blend or top everything off with either the Il Makiage Woke Up Like This, Drmtlgy Universal Tinted Moisturizer, the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue or the Maybelline dream BB Fresh. I rarely if ever use the Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Highlighter Stick.
So, first question — am I doing this all in the wrong order? Should I start with the foundation (duh?) or the moisturizer? Should I be using foundation AND the moisturizer or gel cream or 8-in-1 lotion? And that’s not even getting into the application process — I default to using my fingers for initial application, and then maybe blending it all into my face with a sponge, like this. Do I need to up my brush game?
I think I may need to try to mess around with all of this in public (or at least on Instagram, which is as close as I get to IRL friends right now), just to show off different looks and processes. If I do that, will people give me advice and real opinions? Please?
I’m also tempted to check out this set from Jones Road Beauty, because I have a cultural connection to Bobbi Brown — I feel like when I was first paying attention to makeup growing up, she was the It makeup artist, and now I feel like she’s speaking directly to my GenX middle-aged but don’t want to look like it heart. But $150 CAD seems like a lot to pay when I already have a bunch of makeup I’m not sure how to use correctly. Do I need to invest in even MORE? I think I may do it, partly because she offers step-by-step instructions and videos on how to apply it all, as below:
Then again, how much truth is there to the idea that we should be tossing our makeup products more often, or paying attention to expiration dates, as opposed to just keeping them around until they dry up or are used up?
Stick around and find out!
