Every time I use Instagram Stories to talk to the lovely people in my phone, I find myself answering a flurry of questions about my makeup. No one is more surprised by this than me!
The beauty obsession that once spawned this very blog diminished long ago. I still love lipstick, but I rarely purchase new products. Along with my hair colour {which is now well and truly blonde}, my taste in makeup has changed quite dramatically over the last few years and I hardly ever deviate from what seems to have become my signature look.
It’s not particularly groundbreaking or exciting and I use the same colours and textures every day. All I’m ever aiming for is a face that looks well-rested and groomed, but given the apparent interest, maybe that’s all anybody wants?
Here’s a quick breakdown of my everyday makeup essentials….
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Face
I’ve been loyal to Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation for quite a while now. The packaging irritates me, but it makes my face look amazing. Providing good buildable coverage, it suits my dehydrated skin perfectly, magically creating the natural glow I long for. For reference, I use my fingers to apply shade 103 Ivory and buff it into my skin with a Real Techniques Stippling Brush.
I don’t use concealer very often, but when I do I reach for Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face and Body. It’s pretty heavy-duty and a little goes a really long way. Bobbi Brown’s Corrector is my go-to for disguising tired eyes, especially paired with Collection Cosmetics Illuminating Touch Concealer.
For definition, I use a touch of Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light. It’s completely matte and perfect for pale skin like mine. On my cheeks, I alternate between MAC’s Powder Blush in Dame and NARS Deep Throat.
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Eyes
I reach for the same four MAC eye shadow shades over and over again. Tempting, Satin Taupe and Quarry are readily available, but Shore Leave, a gorgeous shimmery neutral, was limited edition. Phloof would be a good substitute.
In my 20s, I wore kitten flick eye-liner almost every day, but I now create a much softer look using MAC’s Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline. Max Factor Masterpiece Max has been my mascara of choice for over a decade.
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Brows
My brow routine hasn’t changed much since I blogged about growing my eyebrows back in 2011. I’m between brow pencils at the moment, but I rely on Bobbi Brown’s Eye Shadow in Mahogany to keep things looking neat and defined.
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Lips
I still love red lipstick, but if I’m being honest, I rarely reach for it these days. Instead, I have three MAC shades on heavy rotation. Mehr {a matte dirty blue pink}, Brave {a pinky-beige shade with a satin finish} and my favourite, Kinda Sexy {a matte neutral pinky-rose}.
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Details
These days, regular gel manicures are my biggest beauty indulgence. It might sound silly, but I feel like I can handle anything when my nails look pretty! I favour OPI GelColor and visit a small, local salon every 2-3 weeks.
Tom Ford Black Orchid was my wedding fragrance and I still love it five years later. As we head into spring, I’ll switch to wearing Elie Saab L’Eau Couture. Jo Malone’s Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne is top of my current perfume wish list.
My jewellery collection is even more minimal than my makeup stash. I have a couple of pieces from Oh My Clumsy Heart and I love the simplicity of Sophie’s designs.
- Do you have a signature makeup look? Which products do you reach for every day?
Love Audrey xxx
Oh I love this post! I’m another one of your instastories makeup admirers (also, how does your hair always look so perfect! Total hair goals!) and I love a good beauty routine!
I’m terrible at experimenting with my makeup – I just about stretch to wearing a different eyeshadow every day (quite rightly, given the number of palettes I own…). But my go-to look for wanting to feel polished and a bit more confident has largely been the same for the last couple of years. A nice glowy yet long-lasting foundation (using YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat at the moment), business brows with MAC Charcoal Brown, Bobbi Brown corrector and Bourjois concealer to hide my dark circles, a bit of Bourjois Java Rice powder to set and add some more glow (I am in need of all the glow!).
A sweep of eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, a ton of mascara and some Nars blush in Dolce Vita, which is beautifully rosy, then if I need MORE glow I use MAC Soft & Gentle! And MAC Mehr (aka my wedding lip) is my favourite lipstick, although I’m quite partial to Velvet Teddy right now!
Perfume-wise I love the Elie Saab one too, it’s on my birthday list because it’s so gorgeous for spring! My go-to is usually Chloé, although I will often use Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess when I need to feel summery!
After going off makeup for a little while I feel like I might be getting back into it, I’m dreaming of adding some Charlotte Tilbury to my collection. Not that I’ll have much time to wear it all when baby arrives, but I figure I’ll still be partial to a beauty treat or two! xxx
Oooh I’m loving all the recs in your comment Dani, thank you! I’ve got my eye on Velvet Teddy and I LOVE Bronze Goddess, although I’ve always bought it for other people and never myself. I’m keen to try some Charlotte Tilbury too. New {and old} mums definitely need beauty treats!
xxx
I love seeing what products other people use. I have often wondered how you always manage to look so glowy and ‘done’ (but not ‘over done’) and your brows are amazing!
I too am a Bobbi fan, I think the corrector is the only thing that can tackle dark circles. I’m not a loyal to a foundation and am yet to find one that I really love and that has staying power – I think my dehydrated skin sucks it all up. I don’t wear foundation every day, but as I get older it’s becoming most days. I tend to rotate depending on how much coverage I want, the weather, where i’m gong etc (currently between Laura Mercier candle glow, nars sheer glow, clinique even better and chanel vitalumiere aqua).
I use the bare minerals serum concealer (need such a tiny amount it has lasted ages), Charlotte Tilbury bronze and glow and the CT beach stick in formentera. I definitely prefer a cream blush this days. yesterday i picked up the new BB Pretty Powerful cream blush (full rrp – vat goes to the Smart Works charity) so hopefully thats a winner.
On eyes I use CT eyes to mesmerise in jean and marie antoinette…its a gorgeous moussey texture and easy to do a quick slick. Or the CT golden goddess with classic pencil in audrey. i’m increasingly using the Feline Flick liner, but I haven’t mastered application. I’ve got the BB brow pencil, which is ok, but that’s prob more because my brows are a bit rubbish – I have a chicken pox scar.
Anything goes on lips! I adore wearing bold lips, it makes me feel like ive had time for myself – even if the reality is a swift slither before heading out the door. my absolute favourite of all time is Charlotte tilbury 1975 red. But other favourites are; BB Cosmic raspberry and plum brandy, CT Coachella coral, secret selma and nude kate, Mac Morange and chanel passion. The season/weather and what i’m wearing mostly determine what shade I go…and whether i’m with my husband…he prefers nudes.
wow – writing this has confirmed i’m a make-up junkie! and I haven’t even mentioned skincare!
Oh Leeanne, I love this, thanks for sharing all your favourites. Lusting after Charlotte Tilbury even more now.
xxx