Don't Make Me Over...

Earlier this week, I asked on social media if any of you would be interested in tutorials etc.  You seemed pretty keen, and I posted a little Instagram story of how I do my every day make up.  A lot of you watched (thank you!), so I thought I would post it here so you can look at it properly without the clock ticking!  

I will try to put together a timelapse style video of this also to post in the near future so you can see exactly how I apply everything.

​I start with a cleansed and moisturised face (I am in the process of putting together a post about the products I use, so stay tuned for that!), and once I've done my hair ready for the day, I start my make up.  Don't ask me why I do it like this, I just do...

The first step for me is always to prime.  Even if I'm not going to wear any kind of foundation/tinted moisturiser, I like to use a primer just to smooth everything out.  I have quite pronounced pores on my nose and cheeks, so I like to fill them in and create the illusion of flawless skin.


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I discovered this Make Up Academy primer a little while ago, and fell a little bit in love with it!  This is my second pot, and I love it not only because it gives me the desired effect of smooth skin, but because a little goes a long way.  It lasts for ages!  Plus, it's super reasonable in the price department and cruelty-free, which is a massive plus for me.  I won't use any cosmetics or products that are tested on animals if I can help it.

Next step is base (and no, not the buttery biscuit kind sadly).  My everyday base is a BB cream which I love as it gives a nice level of coverage, provides SPF protection and is nice and light so I don't feel that I'm clogging up my pores (which as someone who suffered from severe adult acne and still gets breakouts is definitely important).  So, this Superdrug BB cream is my go to.

Up next is concealer.  Not always needed, but when it is needed, it's REALLY needed!  While the one I use is mainly for under-eye, I do use it as well for covering up spots.  I also use a little dab on my nose as I find it quite good for bringing down the redness I have there.  It has a really lovely creamy texture and blends perfectly.  Like the primer, a little goes a very long way!  Sadly, I've just discovered this product has been discontinued, so I'm going to have to find something else to replace it! D'oh.

Up next is blush.  It's funny, that I spend time and effort covering up redness on my face only to add it back, but I love blush.  That slightly rosy-cheeked look is so flattering and also very vintage (which, if you didn't already realise, is the look I aim for!)  I love this MUA cream blush.

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Now the 'face' is done, I can move on to the eyes, so next up is brows.  If you all thought I was naturally ginger, you would sadly be mistaken.  I, therefore, need to create the illusion that my hair and eyebrows are actually the same colour...  Enter, Bleach London Louder Powder.  I'd been looking for the perfect shade of orange to use on my brows forever and then happened upon this on a lunchtime wander around Superdrug.  It was like choirs of angels were singing and all was suddenly right with the world.  It is very highly pigmented, so, like everything else, a little goes a long way.  I apply it using a small angled brush.  It's joyous.

Once my brows are on, I apply my eyeliner.  Eyeliner is the one thing I cannot and mean CANNOT live without.  If I had to go without all other makeup (and I would struggle to go without red lipstick as I basically run on caffeine and red lipstick) I could not give up my eyeliner.  This is the thing that makes me feel like me and gives me the 1950s look I aim for every single day.  Annoyingly, the eyeliner I've been using for the last I don't know how many years has been discontinued, and while I have found one which is almost identical (and well priced and cruelty-free), I'm absolutely gutted that I will have to say farewell to this Seventeen beauty staple.

The next step is the mascara.  Another MUA special!  I'm fully obsessed with this brand!

The penultimate step is loose powder highlighter.  This is sometimes a step I forgo as it's not really essential, but I do love the effect it gives.  And, surprise, surprise, it's MUA again!

The final step is lips.  I've worn red lipstick pretty much every day for the last 12 years and I have to say that Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is the best I have ever used.  Not cheap, but lasts an age.  It goes on smoothly, then dries so it is kiss-proof, drink-proof and eat-proof.  I can put it on in the morning and not have to touch up again for the rest of the day.  It's the best, and the packaging is stunning.

Once my lips are on, I feel completely put together (or as put together as one can) and can go to work feeling like I have one less thing to worry about!
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So there we have it, my every day make up.  It takes about 10-15 minutes to do it all (depending on how distracted I am in the morning either by social media, Duolingo [I'm using it to learn French at the moment] or the dog!) so all pretty straightforward.  I hope this was enjoyable and informative, and if anyone gets the band reference from the title, you get a gold star!

Stay Hep, Cats