Yesterday afternoon, I spontaneously made the decision I was going to go get my hair cut and colored despite the promise I made to myself to not color my hair again because of the recent mishaps I've had with my former stylist. But I did it! And boy was it time..my roots were even beginning to scare me! My new stylist took off about an inch of dead ends and made me a few shades darker and I love it! While I was sitting in the chair waiting for my color to set, I was looking at all the products sitting on the counter and was inspired to write a post about my daily morning routine and all of my favorite products. So here goes!
First thing I do when getting ready in the morning is apply my primer. For about a year or so I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish face primer ( $36 ) until I ran out one day and needed primer quick and didn't have time to go all the way to Sephora. I went to Walmart and grabbed the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer ($8) and I was so surprised. The Hard Candy primer works just as well, if not better than the Smashbox primer and only for a fraction of the cost!! I am no doubt never going back to Smashbox! For my eyes, I use Prestige Primed & Ready Eye Primer ($10 -Ulta.)
First thing I do when getting ready in the morning is apply my primer. For about a year or so I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish face primer ( $36 ) until I ran out one day and needed primer quick and didn't have time to go all the way to Sephora. I went to Walmart and grabbed the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer ($8) and I was so surprised. The Hard Candy primer works just as well, if not better than the Smashbox primer and only for a fraction of the cost!! I am no doubt never going back to Smashbox! For my eyes, I use Prestige Primed & Ready Eye Primer ($10 -Ulta.)
For my eyeshadow, I use Too Faced Natural Eyes Neutral Eye Shadow Collection ($36- Sephora.) I love that it has nine different shadow as apposed to the traditional three because it gives you more options to choose from. I typically only use the first and second rows but the second one is my favorite and what I'm wearing in the photo at the top!
Ah, face makeup, the most important of them all. Face makeup will make or break you. I figured this out the hard way in middle school, nobody likes caked on orange face makeup. I was saved freshman year when I started using Bobbi Brown for the first time and I don't think I will ever use anything else now. I love it! The workers know how to match you to your exact shade and show you how to apply it to yourself so I never have to worry about looking like my middle school self again. To start with, I use Long Wear Even Finish Foundation($48.) I let that dry for a moment and then I sweep on the Sheer Finish Pressed Powder( $38.) I use pressed powder because with loose powder, its easier to apply too much, causing yourself to look cake. It is also easy to waste when using loose powder and when using makeup this expensive I can't afford to waste! Next I apply Bobbi Brown's Shimmer blush ( $27) on the balls of my cheeks and then add the finishing touch by brushing the Natural Bronzing Powder ($40) over my cheekbones and on the temples of my forehead.
To finish up the eyes, I first use Almay Black Liquid Liner ($5.99) to run a thin line across the bottom of my eyelid. I let that dry, curl my lashes, and then apply Maybelline Falsies Volume Express Hydrofuge Flared ($6.39) mascara.
Now for hair... to be honest - during the week days, my hair is a mess. I never straighten or curl my hair during the week and you'd be lucky if I even ran I brush through it in the morning. I shower at night, sleep on my wet hair and then wake up to natural waves that I either leave down, throw up in a pony tail, or braid if I'm feeling spontaneous. When I actually do style my hair I only use two products. I use Paul Mitchell Hot Off The Press ($22) before putting any heat on my hair to try to protect it as much as I can. Once I straighten or curl or whatever I'm doing to my hair, I run Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum ($21) through my hair from my ears down to reduce any flyaway, make my hair smooth, and get a silky shine.
So there you have it! My morning routine and favorite products!
xoxo, Em
xoxo, Em