Until recently, I was totally bare-faced if out and about running errands. But, it turns out that being 38 and sleep deprived with a teething toddler doesn’t agree with my skin so much. Shocking. I’m still parading around like I’m 23 with a natural, southern California sun-kissed glow from riding around in my convertible, yet I’m a decade and a half older, driving a very practical SUV, and only occasionally seeing the sun if my son and I have a play date in the park. Times have changed. AND the amount of time I even have available to me to do something as luxurious as put on makeup has changed.
So, I’ve realized that if I just take 3 ½ minutes (seriously, I timed it) to at least do the BARE MINIMUM of face maintenance, I’m not horrified when I run into an ex-boyfriend or that perfectly put together mom who had her child enrolled in pre-school before he was out of the womb. I build on this base when I have, say, even 5 minutes. Maybe I’ll dazzle with some eyeliner or real eye shadow or use an eyelash curler. But this is my go-to, day-to-day routine. And it doesn’t require a single brush, which is awesome, because I can keep a little backup kit in my car if the only time I can find that 3 ½ minutes is when Ford is asleep in the car seat. I just wipe the Cheerio dust from my hands and do some fingerpainting.
Here’s how to copy my every day beauty routine, in seven easy steps:
Step 1: Apply IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream. Awesome, super light but full coverage. I use the shade Medium. It honestly just looks like your natural skin is glowing. And it has an SPF 50 as an added bonus.
Step 2: Next comes Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials. I like the shades Bare (little more full coverage) and Demure (shimmering nude). It keeps eye shadow from smudging if I use any, but it acts as it’s own creamy eye shadow if I use it alone.
Step 3: Use a little Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer. This stuff is pricey, but dang y’all, it works. I use it under my eyes and anywhere there’s discoloration or a blemish.
Step 4: Fill in brows with Damone Roberts Eyebrow Pencil. My shade is Beverly Hills Blonde. I graduated from high school when Linda Evangelista and her teeny tiny eyebrows were all the rage. Ugh. I’ll never forgive her. Too plucked brows from my teenage years = my never ending battle to beef them up.
Step 5: Smooth on some Trish McEvoy Liquid Face Color. I use it on the apples of my cheeks, and I put a tiny dab on my eyelids as well.
Step 6: Add a bit of Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara. Gives me big ole lashes even when I’m wearing basically no makeup. And the wand is awesome. Gets in the hard to reach places, so my white blonde lashes have a fighting chance of being seen.
Step 7: Slick on some Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm in Pink Blossom. It’s basically a tinted chapstick. Love the stuff. I bought a pack of three and keep them in different purses, so I always have one.
Photo: Virginia Williams/Instagram
