I love doing my makeup every single day. But many people shy away from wearing makeup everyday because they may not want to wear a full face. Having a polished makeup look doesn’t mean you have to wear a dozen products, or spend a long time in front of the mirror. A basic makeup routine can be as effortless or polished as you want it to be. In today’s post, I am going to share a basic makeup routine that that feels natural, flattering, and easy to personalize with your preferences.
For more posts about makeup techniques and recommendations, here are some recent posts to check out:
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What Is A Basic Makeup Routine
A basic makeup routine typically includes a few key products to help enhance your natural features. That usually consists of a complexion product to even out the skin tone. Mascara to help define the lashes. A cheek color or bronzer to add some color to the face. Finally, a lip color of your choice to complete the look and balance out the face. The exact routine can vary based on skin type, skin tone, desired coverage, and personal preference.
How To Start A Basic Makeup Routine
Find images of inspiration
Whether on Pinterest or social media, try to find makeup looks that you love. This will give you an idea of your own personal makeup preference and style.
Visit a makeup counter or makeup store
While so much is available online, there is nothing like a good ol’ fashioned makeup consultation or a basic makeup lesson. It is how I learned and how I was able to get more knowledge of makeup techniques. You can visit a department store, Sephora or even a local salon for help on understanding your skin tone, the order of makeup application and how to achieve the looks you want.
Start small
You do not have to revamp or identify your everyday makeup look all at once. I like to recommend a product for each portion of the face so the finish look is balanced. One product for the eyes (mascara, eyeshadow, liner, etc), one product for the cheeks (blush, bronzer, etc) and one product for the lips (lip gloss, lipstick, etc).
Research different brands
Is there something specific that you want out of a brand? Are you wanting cruelty free products? Vegan products? Make a list of the brands that fit your own criteria and then look at the products that they offer.
Stick with neutrals
For a basic makeup routine, it’s best to choose makeup products in neutral tones.
Basic Makeup Routine Steps
Prep Your Skin
This may seem like an inconsequential part of your makeup steps, but ensuring your skin is nicely prepped before makeup is key to longevity and having your makeup look more natural overall. I will do my entire morning skincare routine first thing but I like to make sure my skin is well hydrated immediately before I apply any foundation, concealer or any complexion product. Often my SPF can prep my skin nicely for foundation. But if I don’t apply my foundation right after my SPF then I will use something to add a bit more moisture to my skin like this glazing milk.
Apply Your Complexion Product
This step is one of the most important steps of a basic makeup routine because it will create a blank canvas for the face. That complexion product could be a foundation, skin tint, tinted spf, etc. It’s best to go with a formula you will feel comfortable wearing every day. My biggest tip in applying foundation is to start with a small amount and build up as you need it. Especially if you are using a foundation that offers medium coverage or full coverage, it’s best to start with a sheer layer and build up. Some people only apply foundation where they feel they need it. And others (like myself) apply foundation over the entire face.
I like to apply my foundation to the four main parts of my face and blend it out from there. I will put a bit on each cheek, my forehead and then on my chin. You can use either a makeup brush or sponge depending on your preference. Then begin the blending process in the center of the face and work your way out.
Here are a few of my favorite foundation formulas:
This gives light coverage that can be built up, blends in seamlessly and makes your skin look like it’s just had a facial. It’s fresh and dewy without ever being too glowy. It is truly the perfect embodiment of a skin-like complexion product that manages to look better as the day goes on!
The Merit Minimalist Complexion Stick gives a creamy satin finish to the skin, sheer to light coverage and easy application with the stick format.
If you want a true foundation for special occasions, this is fantastic. The key for me is using the tiniest amount of product and applying it with a damp makeup sponge. It’s one of the longest lasting formulas I’ve tried while still keeping a hydrated and blurred finish throughout the day.
Add Concealer
Not necessary for a basic makeup routine, but applying concealer can be an added step to help cover a dark under eye area or areas of your face that foundation did not. My foundation usually will cover everything I need. If it doesn’t, I will use concealer under my eyes to brighten my dark circles or on any dark spots or blemishes I may have.
These are two of my current favorite concealers:
An absolute dream for mature skin! This concealer truly blurs in the most amazing way. It has a satin finish that gives a soft focus luminosity to the skin. In addition to the incredible blurring properties, it stays put all day long.
The Face Flex Concealer and Complexion Enhancer is designed to be a multi-purpose complexion product that moves with your face throughout the day without creasing or fading for up to 12 hours. It conceals, corrects and adds just enough coverage.
Apply Eyeshadow
You don’t have to wear eyeshadow everyday but if you want to, this is the step to apply it. Either use your finger or a makeup brush to apply. Choose something neutral in tone and subtle to simply enhance your natural features.
Eyeliner Next
A basic makeup routine doesn’t necessarily include eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara so do feel like you need to wear all three. Mascara is the one product that I feel makes the most difference but adding eyeliner or eyeshadow a great additional step to make the eyes pop.
Finish With Mascara
Mascara can really help to define the eyes even without any makeup on them. It’s the one product for the eyes that I recommend as a must have for a basic makeup routine.
This is my current holy grail mascara formula:
My favorite mascara that I constantly repurchase. No smudging or flaking.
Define the Brows
If you eventually want to update your basic makeup look, this is a great step to add into your routine. Adding a bit of definition to the brows either by using a brow pencil or brow gel can help to create a polished eye look.
Apply Bronzer
Bronzer is a great product that can sculpt your face and add warmth to the complexion. It’s important to add some color to the cheeks in the form of a bronzer or blush to keep the makeup look balanced. If you decide to use both bronzer and blush for your look, apply your bronzer first. Choose a shade that is similar to your skin tone without being too dark to give the face a sun kissed look.
Here are two of my favorite bronzer formulas:
This is a lightweight sheer cream bronzer that can be used on specific parts of the face or all over to give a subtle radiant glow. It’s a complexion balm that adds warmth to the complexion and can be used to even out the skin tone.
These bronzers were the launch of the season! I am a HUGE fan of the pocket blushes so I had high hopes for these new bronzers. Thankfully they live up to the hype for me especially the shade Pebble. Creamy, easy to blend and long wearing.
Apply Blush
Adding blush after your bronzer will help to add a bit of a natural flush to the cheeks. It’s not necessary for a basic makeup routine, but choosing some type of cheek color (blush or bronzer) is essential to creating a polished look. Deciding on a cream or powder option depends on your skin type and personal preference. Start with just a small dusting on the cheeks and see how that looks before applying more. It’s always easy to add more blush than to remove too much.
Here are two of my favorite blush formulas:
The Rhode Pocket Blush is a cream blush formula designed to give a diffused wash of color with a satin finish. They are a lightweight formula that melts into the skin easily without leaving a tacky or greasy feel. They leave my cheeks looking fresh without being too dewy or shiny.
If you don’t want something dewy or anything that leaves a glowy finish, this Sarah Creal cream-to-powder formula is a must try. It is one of the most beautifully blurring formulas I’ve ever tried while still leaving a soft focus powdery finish. As someone who is usually a glowy cheek fan, this has become one of my favorite blush formulas.
Set With Loose/Pressed Powder
Even a basic makeup routine could benefit from a setting powder. There are loose and pressed versions so it can take a bit of trial and error to decide on a texture that works best for your personal makeup needs. Most setting powders are best applied throughout the t-zone of the face which is where most people will get shiny or oily. I have dry, mature skin and still use a setting powder to help create a smooth finish to my makeup. It can also help extend the longevity of whatever complexion product you are wearing.
This is the pressed powder I wear every single day:
This pressed powder is blurring and helps to mattify slightly but still leaves a soft luminous finish to the skin.
Lip Liner
For a basic makeup routine, lip liner may feel like an unnecessary step. I do recommend it for those with mature lips because that added bit of definition can make a huge difference. You can either use lip liner just around the edge of your lips. Or if you want to help your lip color last longer, apply it all over the lips. Typically lip liner formulas are quite pigmented and long wearing. So even if your gloss or lipstick has worn off, your lip liner is still there.
When applying lip liner, use short feathery strokes rather than drawing it on like a pencil. This looks more natural and soft and requires less blending afterwards. Usually once I have applied my lip liner, I will smudge it out just a bit with my finger to soften the look even more. I try to follow the natural shape of my lips rather than lining too far outside the edge of my lip.
Here are my two most worn lip liner formulas:
With a thicker contour liner, you get a smudged soft look from the first application. No harsh lip liner lines with this.
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape liners are designed to be a soft-focus blurring formula that enhances the lip shape while also delivering skincare benefits. They are meant to give the lips definition and dimension without any harsh lines.
Lipstick
Whatever lip product you choose to wear will depend on your personal preference for texture, feel, longevity, etc. Most lipstick formulas will provide more coverage and possibly be more long wearing than a lip gloss or lip oil. If you want something that you don’t have to reapply as often, choose a medium to full coverage lipstick formula.
Finish With Gloss
If you prefer a more glossy/shiny finish to the lips with a bit less coverage, a lip gloss could be a better option to finish off your basic makeup routine.
This is one of the best lip gloss formulas I’ve tried:
The formula is creamy and intensely nourishing while the pigment is just opaque enough to give the perfect amount of color.
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