A Lazy Girl’s Guide to a Fresh Face
I will never claim to be some beauty guru. In fact, you’re probably better off taking make-up tips from some teenager on TikTok. But alas, here we are.
No single beauty product will have you looking or feeling like a million bucks. Many of us are aware of this reality, yet even the wisest woman falls victim to the mirage of the beauty world from time to time. Selling ‘holy grail’ products continues to bolster sales, contributing to the billion-dollar beauty industry. And I too have fallen victim to the false hopes created by effective marketing campaigns.
It sounds cliché, I know, but beauty actually comes from inside. It’s about how we feel, what we do, and how we treat ourselves and others, rather than the products we put on our faces. I know I certainly look my best when I’m feeling well and taking care of myself.
But even those who radiate beyond skin-deep beauty need a helping hand from time to time. Many factors take a toll on how we look and ultimately on how we feel - sleepless nights, stress, and environmental factors, to name a few. And to be honest, I just feel better and more confident in my own skin with the help of a few simple products.
I like to keep my beauty routine simple because I’m honestly too lazy (and too poor) to invest in a bunch of tools and products. Personally, I don’t enjoy spending more than a few minutes in front of the mirror working on my appearance. I’d rather use that time to get some extra rest or sip a cup of tea in the morning. This is not to say there isn’t a time and place for more elaborate beauty routines, and if you’re the type of person who feels best with a full face of make-up, then by all means you do you boo. I certainly spent my fair share of time going down a YouTube rabbit hole of make-up tutorials during that first 2-week lockdown of the pandemic. I get the appeal and I do marvel at the transformative powers of make-up… but again, I’m just too lazy to do that on the daily.
Thankfully, through years of trial and error, I’ve found a handful of products that help me look and feel my best. Below is a list of products and the routine that works best for my skin.
Skincare:
First things first, if you want to create a beautiful masterpiece you have to start with a fresh canvas - in this case, a clean face.
Keeping with my theme of less is more, my typical skincare routine is a simple cleanser, followed by a Vitamin C serum, and top it all off with copious amounts of sunscreen. I did enough sun-worshiping in my 20s to last me a lifetime of skin damage. Now that I’m older and wiser, I wear sunscreen every day. If there’s only one thing you take away from this routine, let it be that- sunscreen. every. single. day. Also, you don’t have to break the bank when investing in products, especially ones you use daily.
Make-up:
First, I prep my undereye area and any little dry patches I may have with this silky primer from Tatcha. I love the smell and I like how it sets to a powder finish, so it doesn’t make me feel or look oily and helps my make-up look smooth on my skin. Then I use my finger to dab a bit of full-coverage concealer under my eyes and use a brush to smooth it out. I’m one of those poor unfortunate souls who have dark under-eye circles, regardless of how many hours I sleep. Next, I put this concealer in a few dots around my face and use the same brush to blend. I like how it has a more liquid and less creamy texture, so it spreads easily for less coverage. I hate the feeling of foundation, it’s too tacky on my skin, and find that the dot and blend of concealer feels lighter and helps my skin look even and smooth. A quick swipe of this highlighter over my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose adds some dimension, and again I use the same brush to blend. I’m just a one brush to do it all kind of gal. I like to buy my highlighter and blush in the mini size, because I don’t go through them quickly enough to justify the price tag of a full-size one, and cream products tend to have a shorter shelf-life than powders. I dab the blush along my cheekbones and use my fingers to blend. I finish with a quick curling of my lashes and a few swipes of Ilia mascara.
My make-up products are more of an investment than my skincare products, which is why I veer toward the mini size when available. Since I don’t wear make-up every day they tend to last me at least 6 months, some up to 12 months, with the exception of mascara.
When dolling myself up for a special occasion I’ll add a bit of eyeliner and call it a day. I love the idea of a crisp red lip, but usually don’t find the time to execute it well, so I skip it altogether. Oh, and pose next to an incredibly cute dog, that always helps!