Get Ready With Me

Good morning everyone! For today's post I'm going to talk a little bit about which products I use to get ready in the morning. Hope you find it useful!

#1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15. I cannot say enough good things about this moisturizer. I apply it every morning on my face and neck. I use the oil-free moisturizer to help prevent breakouts, and I like that it has SPF 15 in it because I don't have to apply a separate daily sunscreen (unless I'm going to the beach.) I have combination skin, which means it is both oily and dry. Before I knew how to take care of my skin, I would get breakouts in some places and dry/red patches in others. Combination skin can be difficult because you need to moisturize your skin without causing build up. Finding the right moisturizer really helped me. I recommend trying a few different brands until you find one that works for you. If you're having trouble finding the right moisturizer, I definitely recommend trying this one!

#2. Nars Oil-Free Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer

This primer is amazing. I swear by it. It smooths everything out and helps my makeup look fresh and even all day long. Something about it makes my foundation apply so smoothly. I notice a big difference when I apply my foundation directly onto my moisturizer as opposed to using the primer first. (Using the primer first looks 10x better!) You only need about a dime sized amount to make a huge difference.

#3. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Compact in Beige

This is my all time favorite foundation. I have tried many different foundations from liquid to powder to countless different brands. None of them worked the way this one does. It's creamy yet light. It offers full coverage without looking cake-y. It evens out my skin tone (I tend to be red in some places) and it feels like I'm not wearing anything. I never leave the house without it! I can also wear it all year round- it doesn't matter if it's summer or winter, it still looks fabulous. (This foundation definitely works best for me in combination with the products above: Neutrogena Moisturizer applied first, Nars Primer second, and foundation last.)

 #4. Mac Brush #187

I only apply my Bobbi Brown Foundation with this brush. It is the best brush out there, in my opinion. It allows the makeup to be applied smoothly and evenly all over the face and jawline. My foundation looks much better applied with a brush than with a sponge.

#5. Bobbi Brown Blush in Nectar

I had a Bobbi Brown salesperson at Nordstrom help me pick out the right blush for my skin tone. It's not too pink but makes my cheeks look flushed in the right places. If you're not sure what color works for your skin try asking a salesperson or a knowledgeable friend.

#6. MAC Eyeshadow (I think it's in Cork but I'm not 100% positive- the sticker fell off)

#7. MAC Brush #266

I use this MAC eyeshadow to fill in my eyebrows. This is a trick I learned from a MAC makeup artist at Nordstrom. Lightly filling in my eyebrows makes a significant difference in how put together my look is. It might sound small, but good eye brow grooming and/or eyebrow makeup tricks can change your face. Having lightly colored in eyebrows helps mine look fuller, bringing out my natural features in a complimentary way. Experiment with this technique- it may take time to master. I take a little bit of the eyeshadow, tap my brush to get excess powder off, and start in the middle where I need the most coloring in. Be careful not to apply too much- it will look like you painted on your eyebrows if you do. Light strokes and blending is key if you're going for a natural look.

#8. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

#9. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Black Brown 

#10. Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Glam Black

I love this eyeshadow stick because I am pretty lazy in the morning when it comes to getting ready... I like to be ready in under 15 minutes. All this takes is a couple swipes across the eyelid, a pat to blend and I'm good to go. I apply eyeliner very infrequently, but I recently discovered this Revlon liquid liner and it is changing my makeup world. I didn't know what a big difference eyeliner could make. I like it because I can paint it along my lash line and it dries quickly. I have been using Maybelline mascara for many years now - I don't see a reason to pay any more for mascara when I'm perfectly happy with this one.

#11 Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar

#12 Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Smitten

I have been wearing Rose Sugar for years, it's my go to lip gloss no matter what time of year or where I am going. Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain I discovered more recently, and I love it! I can't wait to buy more! They are like giant crayons for adults... So much fun to put on, it literally feels like you are coloring on your face. Recently I've been loving putting chapstick on, then the balm stain, and lastly the lipgloss on top.

All in all it takes me about 15-20 minutes to do my makeup in the morning depending on how meticulous I'm being. I know this was a long post... but I hope you found it useful! I'd love to know, what are your every day go-to beauty products? What is your makeup routine?