I get stuck in a rut when it comes to makeup. Apart from my eyeliner I have probably been applying and using many of the same products for 20 years. Much as I love clothes and trying new things I rarely do the same with make up – very boring.
My current make up routine begins with a drug store moisturizer with spf – either Boots No7, Oil of Olay or Nivea – I like a light non-greasy fluid. MM bought me a pot of La Mer for my 40th but to be honest I find it too thick for me – no bad thing at $100 a pot! That is then followed by foundation in the Fall/Winter – normally from Clinique, or Jergens natural glow in the Summer. I’ve always loved Clinique and use Aglow blusher everyday. I’ve been using Clinique since I first splurged on my Wedding makeup back in 1998. I’ve tried Estée Lauder a couple of times and their foundations are lovely – but the power of branding always brings me back to Clinique and I also use their pressed powder everyday. Eyes are always drug store brands – due to sheer laziness I never wear eye shadow unless we’re off out somewhere special – my every day wear is a line of L’Oreal Infallible pencil on my top lid and Maybelline Great Lash mascara in Very Black. This mascara is always a Beauty Editor’s favorite and I love it – it never clumps and is super easy to apply – I doubt I’ll every wander from this little gem. Lips are normally a quick swipe of gloss – I’ve tried them all L’Oreal, Clinique, Rimmel, but my favorite is Chanel – $29.50 – so expensive – but they last forever, are non sticky and have fabulous colors – well worth the splurge in my eyes. I also have an array of Revlon super lustrous lipsticks – they are lovely and creamy and there’s a great choice of colors. At the end of the day before bed I use my Clarisonic Mia and apply Bio Oil – the best night moisturizer I have found and I really believe my Clarisonic has reduced the number of break outs I get.
Given how rarely I switch up my make up I decided that this month it was time to adapt for my 41 year old skin. It definitely needs a bit more care. There are certain drug store purchases like my eye make up and moisturizer that I won’t change – I just don’t see the point in paying more. However, in addition to my moisturizer I am now trying Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus – let’s hope it does exactly what it says on the bottle. My skin has been ravaged my sun – and although I now wear spf daily – in my youth I fried it in the sun on the rare occasions we saw it back in the UK. At 17 I even gave myself sun stroke using a heat/sun lamp on my face – I shudder to think of it now! I nearly bought some Clinique Even Better but have decided to try Ambi Even&Clear instead for now as the price tag is considerably less.
As for foundation – I’ve decided I really just don’t like it. The thought of applying a goopy fluid on my clean skin just seems counter intuitive to me. Having said that I still need something to give me a bit of a glow and very light coverage. After trying a Bare Escentuals starter kit I’ve now invested in a pot of their Matte Foundation powder and a fabulous new applicator brush from Sephora. I love how silky and light it feels on my skin but it really does provide great coverage.
I also bought a new blusher brush as for the first time ever I have bought a Nars blusher – yes the one that is mentioned in nearly every magazine – Orgasm. It is a gorgeous peachy color and apparently should work well on my skin that has ‘yellowy undertones’. One of these blushers is sold almost every second according to the girl in Sephora.
I’m still as lazy as ever when it comes to lips but my current Chanel glosses are Twinkle and Seashell for the summer, so I bought a couple of darker ones for Fall – Myriade and Imaginaire – I can’t wait to wear them!
All in all quite a good haul that I am really happy with. It did make me question why I think $30 for an item of make up is too much – when I quite happily spend that on a t-shirt. After a fabulous haircut yesterday I am starting to think that you can have all the clothes in the world but nothing makes you feel as fabulous as great skin and great hair.
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Poppy's Style 
Bare essentials is fab, I use their fairly light shade in summer and then their fair shade through the winter also I use their mineral veil as a finishing powder and I love their blushers. Check out QVC for great deals on their kits, I now can’t go back to wearing a fluid foundation as it makes me want to itch. Have you bought much from the boden winter collection? I went on line yesterday and managed to get the crepe sole wedge boot in fig, and the classic boot in black, neither are part of the winter collection but they had been reduced and then I had a code for an extra 15% off which I used, so I think the crepe sole boots only cost about £60!!!! Bargain. Luckily Boden had e mailed me a code, I used to find them on their Facebook page, but they’ve banned people from code sharing now, which although I understand from their business position why, I’m still disappointed as its now harder to get discounts which just means I spend less with them (which I’m sure cant have been bodens intention) I remember a couple of years ago a certain code was for 20% of for every £30 you spent and the code code be used as many times as you wanted before it expired , I spent a small fortune! Anyway take care
Diane
Wow -had no idea they had banned code sharing! I shared mine yesterday! That was always a great benefit of being on FB! I ordered the collared tunic in green – I can’t wait! Great bargain on the shoes – they don’t normally apply a code to a sale item!
Jx
You inspired me to try out the blush and lip gloss today. I went with Nakkor in the gloss. I can’t wait to try them.
How lovely – I love the blusher – I tried it yesterday – it’s such a nice color – you will love the gloss! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment – I love hearing from you all! x