fresh year/ fresh face.

This month we are focusing on ideas for making January awesome instead of what it usually is, the most depressing month of the year…

I don’t know about you, but my skin looks like crap in January.  All the cold outside air beating on it, then the warm heater air drying it out, plus a lack of sunlight (therefore making me look like a jaundiced vampire- not the twilight kind) does not glowing skin make.

 I thought it would be fun to do a little post about my easy everyday face/skin makeup routine (foundation, contouring, blush– we’ll save eyes for another time), because a lot of you have asked, and because I’ve found some really great products in the last few years that have helped me a ton, and a few tricks for getting those products on my face in the right way…

Let me just preface this whole post by saying that I am no makeup artist.  Makeup application has never come super naturally to me, and I’m also not incredibly creative when it comes to makeup.  I pretty much do the same thing everyday.  I’m a busy mom, with not a ton of time,  but I still want my makeup to look natural and I want to make the most out of what God gave me and also find ways to minimize my round face/chubby cheeks, and try to make it look like I have a jaw line. (honesty here.)

Before we begin, here is my current favorite face scrub:

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. (c/o)

This stuff is amazing.  It’s pricey, but I’ve had this bottle for close to 6 months and it’s still not even close to half gone.  A little goes a long way and it makes my skin look and feel glowy and fresh no matter how little sleep I’ve gotten and even when I’ve committed the cardinal sin of falling asleep in my makeup.  I love that it’s natural and non-toxic, plus the bottle is just so pretty I love it.  I’ve also got their volumizing lip/cheek tint (which I love) and I really want to try this rejuvenating serum, and this eye cream because #blackcircles.

This facial scrub is super easy, you just apply it to your dry skin, scrub away for a few minutes then wash it off with warm water.  Voila, glowing skin.

And here’s my face makeup line-up:

Custom foundation: Lancome Le Teint Particulier (c/o)-only in store. similar here and here. Perfecting face brush. BareMinerals matte foundation. (I love the original as well). Full flawless face brush. BareMinerals mineral veil, All Over Warmth, MAC powder blush (harmony), MAC angled contour brush, BareMinerals blush (strawberry cream), feather brush.

I actually got to spend an afternoon with the amazing Lancome ladies at Nordstrom’s flagship store in downtown Seattle a few months ago, exploring their brand new custom made foundation, but I’ve waited till now to share because don’t like to recommend something to you guys unless I’ve used it for long enough to know if it’s good and unless I love it.

I’m a recovering grocery store foundation girl, so the idea of putting down a good bit of money for make-up, that I’m going to wash off in 12 hours has always been a hard pill to swallow.  Admittedly less hard the older I get and the darker those circles under my eyes grow…  I now know how important taking good care of my skin is.  I wish I was better at taking care of it, but I fall asleep with my makeup on way more often than I mean to or care to admit, I NEVER get enough sleep and I probably should drink a lot more water. ;-) Anyway.

Back to Lancome.  I was a little skeptical about the benefits of the whole “custom made makeup” thing, but holy cow.  Custom. Made. Makeup. You guys.  Perfect match, every time.  And just the make-up in general so good.  No primer needed, and it moisturizes as well.  Plus it feels so light on my face.

Here’s a few snaps of my day because the process of creating custom make-up that’s perfectly matched to your skin is actually quite cool.

They do a whole face scan and assessment, go over your individual skin needs and then mix up right there for you using this whole scientific computerized system and then it’s all presented in this pretty box with your name on it.  I’m a dork but I love stuff like that. (Plus I got to go behind the scenes at Nordstrom’s flagship store, hello dream come true.)  Right now I believe it’s only available at Nordstrom’s flagship store and one in Southern California but they should be adding more so check your local Nordstrom– or try these other great foundations from Lancome here and here.

Now let’s get to the application:

sweater. (also similar here and here.) top. necklace.

(I realize that the “after” pic looks a little like a glamour shot, but let’s just work with me and pretend it doesn’t for a minute m’kay?) Also, notice jaundiced vampire to the left?  Let’s fix that…

Foundation.  I’m using Lancome’s Le Teint Particulier, custom made for me and Bareminerals’ perfecting face brush to blend it in.

two small drops on the brush and them dab on and buff into the skin.

I like to buff with a light circular motion. Next, highlight. (i.e. get rid of those dark circles) using  MAC’s prep and prime highlighter in Light boost…

dab it under the eyes and then blend in a soft circular motion.

Powder foundation: using BareMinerals matt foundation, applied with the full flawless face brush.  (I use medium beige.) Shake a little powder into the lid, swirl and tap, tap.

Just a very light dusting will do the trick.  Nothing to heavy.  That’s the key to all of it, very lightweight layers.  Next up, all over warmth with the flawless face brush. (tiny bit goes a long way)

Gives the skin a sun-kissed glow,  same swirl and tap and very lightly apply everywhere the sun would touch.  Time to contour. (not an expert at this, definitely still learning.) I like to give my cheeks a little more definition.  I use MAC’s powder blush in “harmony,” and their angled contour brush. (you can get the travel version here.)

Just a tiny bit of powder goes a looooong way.  A little shading under my cheek bones.  Then buff and blend away with the full flawless face brush.

Finish off with BareMinerals mineral veil and a I use a mini brush, but you can use the full flawless brush as well.  Then add a light dusting of blush to my cheeks with BareMinerals blush in strawberry cream (with the soft focus face brush) for a little extra glow.

et, voila!

I hope I got everything here, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask away in the comments section!