Makeup Beauty Breakdown
Ever since I started the Cafe Binge Instagram, people have asked for my daily makeup routine. So I gave little hints, tips and tricks here and there. And while I would love to do an entire video tutorial for you all— today is not that day (Sorry! It’s coming soon though!). But I will give you a product breakdown! All my favorites. My tried and true. They’re so good they do the work for you.
My routine is easy. Like stupid easy. And no matter how many hundreds of products I purchase (I have literal boxes of excess goods), I use the same things over and over and over. I’ll be straight up with you, my makeup routine is BORING. I know what I like, I know what works for me and the only time I stray from the routine is when I have a special event or a weekend date night. I feel like I’m the Jennifer Aniston of hair and makeup— No, no no, I’m definitely NOT even comparing myself to Jen in THAT way. But have you noticed she always does the same thing? At any given red carpet event, I can almost guarantee she’ll show up in a black dress (sometimes off-white) with her hair down, slight beachy waves and wear makeup thats never over the top, just glowy and bronzed. It’s the same over and over. Never wears a red lip. No colorful eyelids. Never strays too far out of the box. Predictably boring? Maybe. But does she know what works for her? Totally!
That’s me. I like what I like. Which is, glowy, bronzed, neutrals. I like dewy skin, since my face type is bone-dry. And I really like a fresh face. Nothing too heavy!
Here we go. Here are my glow-getters. My face:
Primer: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
I never understood primers, until I got this one. They were either too silicone-based, or just felt like a sheer lotion and did nothing. This one hydrates and seals, so no dry patches or textured-looking skin shows up. So so good.
Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear shade 5.5 in the winter.)
This foundation is worth every penny. It gives you with the perfect amount of coverage that feels weightless and fresh— plus it absolutely GLOWS. This is important it. Remember this one.
Concealer: Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector (shade “Light Peach”) & Tarte Shape Tape (shade “Light Medium”)
The most extra part of my makeup routine is that I don’t like to mix concealers. Meaning, I like a different one for under eyes than I do on blemishes. Here’s why, the under eye area is so dry and delicate, I like a formula thats creamy, hydrating and has an apricot undertone to it, for hiding dark circles. I love Bobbi Brown’s concealer for this exact reason. Its especially formulated for that specific area. I love Tarte’s Shape Tape for anything thats not in the under eye region. It does a KILLER job at camouflaging things you want to keep unseen.
Liquid Highlighter: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter (shade “Champagne Pop”)
Highlighters are tricky. I love the look of a glow, I just often think they’re a little too glowy. Like someone got hit with a brick of shimmer. Too pretend. Too glittery. So I always opt for a liquid or cream-based highlighter, which looks so much more natural and luminous! Becca makes a Holy Grail-worthy liquid highlighter that’s universally flattering. I’ll put it on under foundation somedays, or on top other days. There’s no wrong way to use it! Which is just my kind of thing.
Bronzer: Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel
Invest in a good bronzer and it invests right back in you. Get a good bronzer, girls! It’s the key to a faux healthy glow. This one is the best I’ve encountered and worth the cost + more. It lasts for a long time, because good quality product goes a long way— one container will last me over a year. It’s a cream bronzer and melts perfectly into your contour zone. I use this brush to apply.
Blush: Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek (shade Swish) & Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush (shade Ecstasy)
Blush is such a good thing. It = eternal youth. Never underestimate the power of a really good blush. Also, never use too much of a good thing. A swish and blend over the apples of my cheek is the perfect amount for me. I adore any cream-based product (they’re so much for fresh and youthful!) and Milk Makeup makes such an insane blend. It’s a lip + cheek combo and it’s so dewy and glow-worthy. If I’m in the mood for a powder blush, I always turn to my girl Charlotte Tilbury. She whips up a MEAN blush that’s so insanely beautiful.
Setting Powder: Bare Minerals Hydrating Mineral Veil
A setting powder is what ensures your face stays put. But they also make me feel so dry! My thirsty skin hates them. Enter: Mineral Veil Hydrating. Sets everything, while looking iridescently glowy. Win, win.
Highlight & Contour: Sigma Sculpt Palette
I hate the highlight/contour thing. Is that weird? I hate it. I think your face has natural contour and depth to it, that you can play up, but don’t reshape it. Drawing a line down my nose, doesn’t hide anything, it just gives me a light line down my nose. But I LOVE this palette for the beautiful highlighters (especially the color “Poppin’” overtop my blush!) This palette has been a game changer for my face’s glow factor.
Setting Spray: Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray
Remember how I’ve said 5000 times that I have dry skin? My skin is dry. And this dewy setting spray is EVERYTHING GOOD. It sprays out the finest mist, that doesn’t scare you when you apply. (Anyone else jump at water spraying their face?) It’s the water can to my flower pot, and gives my face a drink of water that looks like a luminous, dewy veil. It keeps my makeup looking so so fresh. *Their Illuminating spray is also a straight 10 and I’ve heard wonderful things abut the Matte Spray, for my oily sisters.
Brows: Anastasia DIPBROW Pomade + Soapbrows
This combo, has resurrected my eyebrows. They’re fuller and bushy in the very best way. If you haven’t heard of Soapbrows, look up videos on the internet and prepare to be wowed. WOWED. It’s the absolute key for brushed-up brows. They’re changing the game. I apply Soapbrows with a spoolie and some setting spray, then go back in with Anastasia DIPBROW and this brush to fill in any holes. This is big, guys.
Lashes: Shu Umera Eyelash Curler + Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara + Benefit They’re Real! Mascara
Curl your lashes with this (I warm it up in my hand first!), then use Too Faced Better Than Sex if you want thick, fluffy and full lashes OR Benefit They’re Real! if you want the longest lashes you’ve ever seen. That’s it. Two choices. And you get the best lashes of your life. Easy.
Eyes: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (shade “Copper”) + Sigma Eye Shadow Base Primer (shade “Bubbly”) + Still Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner
Is it lame that I don’t wear traditional eyeshadow maybe ever? As in, I’ve worn it maybe 4 times this past year. If so, call me lame. Whatever. Because I’m easy! Usually I can get by on swiping whatever bronzer or blush I’m using over my lids + a liquid liner. And it works for me! But I love love love using a cream eye shadow stick because of its utility. Its so dang easy. Draw, swipe, blend with my finger. Easy. I pick the flavors (i.e. shades) that are the most luminous and light/neutral. No surprise there? The two I listed are absolutely beautiful and a grab n’ go item, that I can take in the car with me or throw into my purse easy application. For eyeliner, I always use liquid, because I resent any product that smudges and smears and leaves black flakes under my eye—or leaks a trail of black soot in the lines under my eyes. Not cool. Liquid liner is my thing. I go with BLACK, I usually focus on the outer 1/3 of my eye. And I usually do a mini cat-eye flick with the liner. Stila wins. I’ve tried so many. And Stila wins.
Lips: MAC Satin Lipstick (shade “Fleshpot”) + Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner (shade “Iconic Nude”) + Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil (shade “Naked 2”)
My lip routine is the most boring of all. I have plowed through dozens of tube of this exact lipstick. MAC Fleshpot. It’s my thing. She’s my girl. Been with me through it all. The perfect nude shade that is so customizable with different liners. I always wear a lip liner, one of the two listed. And will swipe a small amount go gloss overtop. I love big nude lips— boring, but whatever. And I think you all do, too! Because I get asked for the shade all the time. Try it out, sisses. You’ll love.
Lipgloss: Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker (shade “Nudestar) + Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb (shade “Fenty Glow”) + Dior Lip Glow (shade “Pink Glow” 001)
These glosses are both incredible. Insane. Glowy. Beautiful.
And PSA: EVERYONE NEEDS A DIOR LIP GLOW. Do it. Commit. Become a convert.
Brushes:
Beauty Blender: I use this tool on most of my face, since I love cream-based products. Remember to wash it well!
Tarte Airbrush Finish Foundation Brush: Airbrush finish is what it delivers.
NARS Yachiyo Brush #27: Blush bows down to this brush.
Morphe 439: My Bronzer brush. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel is this brush’s BFF.
Jane Iredale The Handi Brush: This brush has been my go-to for a decade. It buffs, it powders, it sculpts.
Kat Von D #70 Brow Pomade Brush: This + Anastasia DIPBROW is gold. Fine, fine lines.
Xoxo,
Amy
