Everyday Essentials Makeup Menu

Although I am no makeup artist (MUA), I love to put on makeup and I think I have become much better with my application techniques compared to a few years ago. Is it sad if I said putting on my makeup is one of the highlights of my morning? I just love it. I don't wear a lot of makeup to work but I try to look alive especially if I had a late night. I tend to stick to neutral colours during the first few days of the week (like Mondays and Tuesdays) but from Wednesdays to Friday, I tend to add a pop of colour. Don't even ask me why; I just do it maybe because I think the last three days of the week are closer to the weekend. Anyway, I thought I would show you a few of my favourite makeup combinations that I 've worn throughout this week (only Monday-Thursday). I didn't bother taking a picture of my face because it's not very bright when I am getting ready. If you are wondering about the bright pictures, I used a tiny LED lamp which looked gorgeous on the products but it made my face look very ghastly. I really want to start doing "Face of the Day" kind of posts but I guess I would have to save it for the weekends when I have proper sunlight.....

Monday- L'Oreal Paris Takeover

I decided to use my favourite makeup drug store brand-L'Oreal Paris. I just love most of their products because they just work really well for my skin. They are also one of the few drug store makeup brands that cater to a wide range of skin tones. I started out with my L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N6.5 which I absolutely love as it gives a medium coverage that can be built to full overage. I added some of the L'Oreal True Match Concealer on my dark blemishes to even them out. I mattified the look with the Collection Pressed Powder which I am no longer a huge fan of but it works well with the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I lightly contoured with my one and only Sleek Face Form but I didn't bother using the highlight. For my eyes, I used the L'Oreal La Palette Nude to create a simple neutral look. I finished off with my L'Oreal Super Slim Eyeliner (My holy grail and forever repurchased) and lifted/lengthened my lashes with the Bourjois Volume 1-Seconde Mascara*. For Lips, I chose the L'Oreal Privee Collection Lipstick in Julianne which is lovely nudey pink but appears as a light pink shade on my lips. I don't know why but I tend to add my blush last sometimes and I used my &Other Stories Blush in Caddage Pink which is a lovely dusty pink. My trusty Real Techniques Brushes were amazing as usual- Buffing Brush and Eyeshadow Shader Brush while my Nanshy Crease Brush* was outstanding as always. 

Tuesday- A high end kinda' day

Today, I just felt like using majority of my high end makeup prodcuts and that's exactly what I did. I started off with my brows and the Sleek Brow Kit was my weapon of choice. It always delivers excellent results and I find that my brows look perfect even till the end of the day. For foundation, I chose my new BFF-The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation which never fails to transform my skin and always gives it a nice glow. Then, I went in with my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer to sort out some pesky hyper pigmentation on my cheeks and jaw but I honestly did not need much because the foundation already did an awesome job. To set everything in place, I used an old favourite powder- The Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder which has been well loved with beautiful dent in the middle of the pan. For eyeshadow, I started with my Urban Decay Primer Potion to ensure my eyeshadows did not budge because I knew today will be a super long day filled with meetings. The Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold was the perfect base for the Estee Lauder Pure Colour Eyeshadow Palette (Mini). I like the packaging of this palette and the eyeshadows themselves but I don't think they last well if I don't use a primer; that's precisely why I prepped  the eyes well before application. For eyeliner, I used the Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner. The mini version was included in my disappointing products post but the full size appears to have redeemed itself. I added my favourite mascara-The YSL Baby Doll Mascara and finished off with my Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Autumn Glow which has a rose gold tint to it and it lasts all day on my cheeks. For Lips, I kept it simple, I used the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien and I was good to go. Helpful brushes for today included the Real Techniques Stippler Brush and Multi Task Brush while for eyeshadow brushes, I relied on my Lancome Eyeshadow Brush and the Nanshy Eyeshadow Blending Brush*.

Wednesday- A mixed bag of high end and drug store

I love using some colour on Wednesday as mentioned earlier; I think it's a little to do with celebrating that it's mid week and the weekend is nigh. I mixed up some drug store and high end beauty brands and I love days like this. I started off with my Collection Brow Kit which is really brilliant and it can also be used as an eyeshadow palette. It comes complete with a brow mascara/gel to set everything in place and I think it's a brilliant little set. My beloved Makeup Forever HD Foundation in N173 finally made an appearance and I love the coverage it gives my skin even though it feels super light. I decided to unearth my NYX Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer and I am beginning to fall in love with it again..hurray! (we fell out of love in December). To set everything in place,  I turned to my trusty MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (best powder ever) and it never disappoints me. For my eyeshadow, I opted for the Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze (my most used shade) as a base and built on it with the Collection All About the Eyes Eyeshadow Palette which is such a brilliant inexpensive neutral palette. I love this palette and it's so easy to use for everyday looks. I added a few coats of the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara because I did not use any eyeliner today. I added one of my favourite blushes- The Sleek Sahara Blush and finished off with the Illamasqua Lipstick in Blaze which is a warm toned coral colour which will be more suitable for Spring but who cares? #YOLO. Main brushes for today were my Sephora Multi Tasking Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush and Essential Crease Brush.

Thursday- It's a MAC Day

I decided it will be a MAC Day today and you all know I adore MAC Cosmetics. The funny thing is I don't own any MAC Foundations anymore because some of them make me break out and others just look and feel super heavy on my skin. I started off my with my MAC Brow Pencil in Stud which has been repurchased many times because it is brilliant (although it does not roll back down). For foundation, I opted for a light weight favourite-The Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation which I loved last summer and I still love it. I used the MAC Studio Finish Concealer to hide away the usual blemishes because the foundation is medium coverage (sometimes it even feels like light coverage). The MAC MSF was back again to set everything in place and I think it goes so well with the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundaton. For eyeshadow, I used my MAC Eyeshadow Quad and Duo I had put together and all the colours I chose work together really well. I used Cork in my crease and Cranberry on my lid. I outlined my outer V with Antiqued. I added a light sweep of Amber Light on the inner corner of my eyes (just over Cranberry) and used Rice Paper to highlight my brow bone. To finish off the eyes, I opted for the Model Co Fibre Lash Extend Mascara which lengthens my little lashes and lined my eyes with the Estee Lauder Kohl Eyeliner to add some depth/dimension. For Lips, I lined them with my MAC Lip Liner in Cork and used my favourite '90s Nude Lippie- MAC Velvet Teddy. To add some colour to my face, I opted for an old favourite blush from an unknown brand (Whisper Petal is the shade) and it is such a nice pink blush that has warm undertones. For brushes, I used my lovely Sephora Multi Task Brush and Pro Air Brush for the Face while my eyebrushes were Lancome Eyeshadow Brush and the Real Techniques Duo Fibre Crease Brush. That's it folks and I hope you have enjoyed this makeup menu for these few days. Fingers crossed that the next one will have pictures of the looks I create with the products. See you in my next post....xx

*PR Samples