Until recently, I have never found makeup I truly loved. Everything was mediocre, and I tried so many drugstore and high-end brands until I finally found what works best for me. Now, in the summer my makeup routine is slightly different. My pale Norwegian/German skin tends to change shades throughout the summer, so I need something that I can wear no matter my skin color. My whole routine only takes about five minutes and I actually really love the end product, finally!


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1. Low-end eyeshadows work well for me – it’s a spot where I can save money, but I’ve actually been really happy with Elf and Maybelline. Although I’ve had a Naked palette on my wishlist for awhile, I can’t beat the low price of Elf eyeshadows when they work great for me.

2. I finish off my face with a bronzer. I have tried multiple drugstore brands, but my favorite has been one I just bought: Too Faced Endless Summer. It isn’t glittery like some, so it’s still professional while lending some color.

3. Eye primer: If I don’t wear an eye lid primer, my eyeshadow and eyeliner will crease and not last the whole day. So while I do go some days without it, I don’t expect my eye makeup to stay as long if I skip this.

4. Mascara: This is another area that I buy a less expensive product, and have had good results!

5. Eyeliner: I like to do a small little crease on top and bottom lid. I’d tried many eyeliners and have a few favorites. Urban Decay and Smashbox liquid are my favorite, but I have liked L’oreal Paris H.I.P. as a drugstore option.

6. BB cream: In the summer I don’t wear foundation. This BB cream is self-adjusting to skin tone, so I can wear it even if my face changes multiple shades in the summer. It gives me a really great coverage though, and once I tried it, I decided I like it better than my foundation.I was wearing a drugstore brand but didn’t like the lack of coverage, so for this product I did pay more than I normally would and I’m glad I did because I like it a lot better.

7. Lips: Okay, I love chapstick. I really do. It’s the foundation of my lips. But when I do feel like adding some color, I love the Mirenesse lip color. My lips tend to be on the dry-side so I have tended to avoid lip color but have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of this brand.

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As for the actual routine – I always wash my face first. I learned a few tips from the lovely ladies at Sephora recently, and one has been to squirt a tiny amount of the BB cream into a dish and use a foundation brush to apply it to my face. It decreases bacteria contact from fingers and gives better coverage. I have to say, I noticed a difference when I tried it this way! It provides better coverage and seems to blend more flawlessly. Next I do a light all over brush of bronzer, but focus mostly on the natural contour lines of my cheek and jaw bones. One of the experts at Sephora told me to think of it as a three-shape motion along each side of the face. Onto the eyes, I curl my lashes and apply the eyelid primer and let it dry fully before applying eyeshadow with an eye brush, a small swoop of eyeliner and finally some mascara. I cannot stand sticky or clumped eyelashes, so I always take a piece of toilet paper and gently blink against it to remove clumps and give my eyelashes a more natural look.

Lastly, I apply some of my awesome chapstick and a smidge of lip color. A little makeup always helps give me an extra boost of confidence and makes me feel good. While I hardly ever splurge on makeup, buying a piece here or there that makes me feel good about myself is worth it to me.

What are you go-to makeup products?