This blog post is oh-so-overdue! I’ve been meaning to share my every day makeup and morning skin care routine with you all for … ages now. I’ve come a long way since “college Alice” – a gal who never heard of moisturizer and only washed her face with a Neutrogena wipe. Back then, I used maybe 3 different beauty products a day – & that was it. These days, moisturizers, primers, foamy face washes, and evening oils & mists are part of my daily morning skin care routine. And that’s just when it comes to skincare.
Speaking of skincare, today I’m sharing my morning skincare & everyday makeup routine with y’all! I’ve been sticking to all of the products I’m sharing below for a good while now – many of them being my go-to’s for years. When it comes to beauty products, I hang onto something for the long haul once I fall in love. The morning skin care routine I’m sharing is a great one for the gal who loves to have a minimal, fresh-faced glowy everyday look that doesn’t look like she “tried too hard.” I don’t contour or use too many creams so it never feels heavy. It takes me less than 10 minutes to freshen up my face and with a bit of setting spray it lasts throughout the day. Head on down below for more!
My Makeup and Morning Skin Care Routine
Probably the most important step of my day is cleansing my face. I use TULA’s Purifying Facial Cleanser at the start and end of the day. I’ve tried many different cleansers before, most of which give my face an over-dried feeling afterward. TULA’s gel cleanser uses probiotics & superfood to remove impurities from my pores & keeps my face feeling refreshed. I also keep my Mother Dirt Foam Cleanser in the shower. Another one that doesn’t dry out my face – this cleanser also uses a probiotic formula to clean without removing the “good bacteria” from your face in an effort to boost your microbiome.
Next up is toner. A few years ago, I didn’t even know what toner was. Now it is an essential part of my routine. Toner is used to soften the skin and remove any excess dirt your cleanser didn’t catch. It also diminishes the appearance of pores. I have been loving TULA’s Pro-Glycolic 10% Resurfacing Toner. It’s nice to go straight from my TULA cleanser to another product by the same brand. The aromas are similar and it’s designed to work together.
Speaking of working together, next up on my face is TULA’s 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream. I mean, there really is a reason you see so many bloggers talking about TULA. It’s great stuff y’all!! This moisturizer is packed with probiotics & superfoods to keep your skin hydrating while reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I use this immediately after toning to bring moisture back into my skin and start prepping for makeup.
The next step is SPF. Even if I don’t intend to spend any time in the sun, I still plan to protect my face daily. I love Alchemie Forever’s Protective Day Cream SPF 23. Their blend of moisturizing SPF uses blueberries, edelweiss & vitamins to neutralize free radicals, promote skin elasticity, and brighten the complexion. I often opt for this over my TULA moisturizer in the mornings if I don’t intend to put on a full face of makeup that day.
After my face is fully moisturized, I like to brighten my eyes with TULA’s Rose Glow Brightening Eye Balm. Just one swipe is like a little caffeine boost for puffy tired eyes. Rosehip oil & hydrating rosewater help to wake up tired eyes while simultaneously giving me a twinge of energy – which this mama needs allllll she can get at 22 weeks pregnant!
My Base Layers
Primer Gel is actually a new phenomenon for me. Most of the time, I’d skip primer and head straight to foundation but decided to try Smoothing Primer Gel from TULA a try after everyone I seem to follow on IG raved about it as well. Primer’s purpose is to “prime” the face for your make up. This blend grips your makeup without clogging your pores & also refreshes your skin at the same time. Primer is something I use when I know I’m going to be leaving the house – seeing people or taking any sort of pictures. It gives my skin even more of a glow & helps my makeup standout just a bit more too.
The day I turned 30 I treated myself to a makeover at Sephora and all-new makeup to kickstart a curated “grown-up” routine. A year and a half later I am still using and absolutely loving almost every single product that sweet stylist at Sephora introduced me to – most of which was from beauty brand NARS. I’ve tried many different types of foundation both DrugStore and higher-end (I even splurged on Chanel for a while in my 20s!) but NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has fallen into the category of being my absolute favorite. It covers anything and everything I’d need it to, blends oh-so-well and I can barely feel it on my face after I apply it. Its lightweight feel is my favorite quality because I can’t stand anything that feels heavy or cakey on my face. Oh! & The shade I use is Mont Blanc.
Motherhood definitely gives me dark circles under my eyes and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer helps me to pretend like they don’t exist! (I’m just tired underneath it all haha) This concealer stays put for up to 16-hours and also hydrates the skin while “optically correcting” any imperfections. I use the shade Vanilla.
Adding a Pop of Color
Finishing Powder is another great way I cover up anything I wish to hide & create an even fresh face. I love Bare Minerals bareSkin Perfecting Veil Finishing Powder. I use the shade light/medium shade and can instantly see a difference in my skin after powdering it on. This is another product I typically only use this if I really want my makeup to go above & beyond or if I know I’ll be snapping any photos / seeing new people. It’s not part of my daily routine but I do use it quite often.
So I don’t look like a ghost (which I 100% do at this point in my makeup routine) I swipe on a bit of NARS Bronzer Powder. I use the Laguna shade and it gives my skin a very natural sun-kissed glow.
My absolute favorite shade of blush is Orgasm, also by NARS. There’s a reason why this shimmery coral blush has five stars and 17,000 reviews on Sephora – it’s because it is THAT good!! I’m pretty pale and this shade works wonders. It boosts my complexion and looks very natural at the same time.
My go-to brushes are all by It Cosmetics. I’ve had them for years and regularly clean them with a simple Brush Cleanser. It Cosmetics brushes are incredibly soft, hold powder well, and are durable – for regular use both at home and while traveling.
Everyday Eye Makeup
When it comes to eyeshadow, I firmly believe you can’t go wrong with any of Urban Decay’s NAKED palettes. Urban Decay’s eyeshadow goes on with just a quick swipe and stays put. The Honey Palette is my latest favorite. These warm neutral shades are perfect for the everyday look I like to achieve. I typically stick to some of the lighter nude tones and add in some shimmer if I’m feeling festive.
After applying eyeshadow, I swipe a quick line of liquid eyeliner along my top lashes. Urban Decay is my favorite when it comes to the eyes and their waterproof liquid eyeliner brush is so easy to use.
I like to rotate between mascara brands. With mascara, it is easy to tell when it’s time to toss out one tube in favor of a fresh replacement. NARS Climax Mascara is perhaps my favorite mascara of all. It’s not pictured because I’m in between tubes and need to place an order for one. My lashes look as if I’ve just left an appointment for eyelash extensions after just a few swipes of NARS’ mascara. It hardly ever clumps or smudges too. For a less bold look (but still full and voluminous) I like Ever’s Whiplash Mascara. And last but not least, I always keep an affordable drugstore brand on hand or in my purse for last-minute touch-ups. Wet n’ Wild Mega Length Mascara is under $3 (can you believe it!?) and while it’s not the most voluminous mascara I’ve ever tried, it gives a subtle natural boost to my lashes that I love on the days I’m not feeling like getting too “glam.”
Finish with the Lips
At this point, I should probably just order several tubes of Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick in shade 1993. This rich medium brown/maroon matte shade compliments my fair skin tone so well and I am constantly getting asked about it on IG stories. For a matte, it doesn’t dry my lips out and lasts a good long while too. I also love the similar shade “Spirit” by MAC in their Satin Lipstick. If I can’t find one I opt for the other. Who else seems to “misplace” their lipstick all the time? I need to invest in a “purse lipstick, a car lipstick, and a bathroom vanity lipstick so I can always find the one I’m looking for when I need it!
On fancier occasions, I like to line my lips in Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil, also in the shade 1993. NARS Powermantte Lip Pigment in Somebody to Love is my favorite for going out on the town and making a statement come evening. It is a bold liquid matte that feels weightless & lasts all night. This Lilac Matte Liquid Lipstick makes for a good simple lipstick & touch of color for a casual day at home. I prefer liquid matte to gloss as it doesn’t feel sticky nor does my hair get stuck in it. A sensation I experienced far too often in middle school!
I can’t forget the setting spray!! After applying all of my makeup and am ready to go, I spritz on Onomie’s Radical Setting Mist to finish things off. This spray not only extends the life of my makeup it also hydrates my face – which let’s be honest, is needed again after this point in the routine. I love that this setting spray feels refreshing to apply gives my look a dewy finish too!
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And there you have it, the long version of my morning skincare and makeup routine! Sure, I don’t do every step mentioned above every single day – but if I’m headed out or somewhere special, I definitely try to do so. Many of the products mentioned above are some that I’ve used – repurchasing multiple times for years now. I can’t say enough good things about each item in this roundup!
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What does you makeup and morning skin care routine look like? Do you have any go-to beauty products?! I’d love to hear your favorites too! I definitely like to stick to my holy grail but I’m never afraid to try something new too!
