The Beauty Routine

While I can’t stress enough how very little I know about makeup or hair styling, I have gotten so many requests about what products I use that I thought I’d finally share my spartan makeup set with you.  Again, my techniques are essentially non-existent and/or questionable, but when you guys ask, I deliver.  Without further ado, here’s a little run-down on what I typically do to get ready!

During the winter, I’ll use MAC coverup and Lancome foundation, but when the sun finally bestows a little sunkissed “glow” upon me I very happily switch over to tinted moisturizer.  I like Clinique’s Moisture Surge tinted moisturizer – I use it just where I need it and find that it gives good coverage without ever looking unnatural.

I’ve tried so many bronzers and find nothing works for me as well as Rimmel’s incredibly affordable Natural Mineral bronzer.  I use bronzer as a contouring tool more than I use it for colour, so this relatively matte powder formula works perfectly for me.  I use a fluffy brush and apply it under my cheekbones, along my hairline, across my nose, and along my jawline.  If I’m wearing something strapless, I’ll brush it over my collarbone and shoulders too.

I’ve been using Nars’ Cactus Flower cream blush for years and love it.  Aside from my lips, my blush is the one thing I almost always have on.  I’m not fond of powder formulas – you just don’t get the same dewiness and pop of colour that you do with cream formulas.  Since you only need a tiny amount to achieve the colour you want, these cream formulas last forever too – I’ve had the one pictured for well over a year now and still have plently left.

Now when it comes to eyes, I literally know nothing.  I can do a little cat-eye with my Bobbi Brown gel eye liner, but when it comes to contouring and all that I don’t even bother.  I’ll inevitably just get makeup in my eye and cry or end up freaking out.  When I go out, I do use my CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast cream eyeshadow duo and eyeliner in their purple shades to bring out my green eyes (thank you by the way CoverGirl for making a product that even a makeup-moron like me can understand), but other than that I just use my Dior Show mascara and Benefit High Beam highlighter for my brow bone.  I find that since I have such light features but dark hair, I don’t really look good with very much eye makeup.  Because of this, I’ll usually just do mascara for everyday and only add more if I’m going out.

While I can very happily go without eye makeup, lips are a must for me.  I feel very naked without something on my lips.  On the far left is Chanel’s Rouge Allure liptsick in Flamboyante, my go-to colour in the winter months.  During the colder seasons, I tend to gravitate to lots of true reds or dark pinks.  In the summer, I like something lighter and more fun – MAC’s Vegas Volt lipstick, a tangerine-pink shade, is my current favourite.  I also love MAC’s Lustre, a light berry pink shade, in the summer too.  I don’t really wear lipgloss on its own, but I like to layer CoverGirl’s Shine Blast lipgloss over my lipsticks for nights out.

My true staple though is Nivea’s Lip Shine in Cherry.  On a good day, I just wear this.  It gives good moisture, natural colour, and is easy and comfortable to wear.  Plus, it costs $2.99.  You can’t go wrong with that.

As anyone who knows me can attest to, I’m petrified of wrinkles or developing bad skin as I age.  I invest in products and am very strict with myself about my skin care routines.  In the morning, I wash with Cetaphil (the only cleanser that’s gentle enough to not irritate my sensitive skin) and while my skin’s still damp I apply Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer.  To depuff after an inadequate sleep, I roll Garnier’s Skin Renew eye roller under my eyes.

At the end of my day, I wash with Cetaphil again (always for 45 seconds – I learned this trick from a dermatologist and it’s made a world of difference for my skin), finish with a cold rinse, and apply Ole Henriksen’s Invigorating Night Gel.  As some of you may remember, I have a couple scars on my face from a dog bite earlier this year, so I alternate between La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Epidermal Recovery Accelerator and Chanel’s Dark Spot Corrector Roll On.  The scars have seriously faded a lot and used to look horrible, so the duo must be working!

I load on Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 at night…since my lips are usually my makeup focus, I’m pretty obsessed with keeping them moisturized.

If you thought my knowledge about makeup was laughable, then just wait for my hair-styling techniques!  Here you go:

1. If I want my hair to be straight with a bit of wave, I wash my hair and then…I let it dry!

2. If I want my hair to be straight, I let it dry then…I blow dry it for fifteen seconds!

3.  If I want my hair to be slightly curly (it can never be very curly, it’s too fine for that), I let it air dry and then…I put it in a bun with Goody’s twirl pins for a couple hours!

….that’s it.  That’s all that I know how to do.  Probably explains why my hair always looks….”natural”.

I highly doubt that I imparted any invaluable application techniques with any of you, but I do love all these products and if you have colouring that is at all similar to mine, you will love them too.  I’ve been asked a few times about what I do exercise-wise, but that’s a whole post unto itself.  Exercise is a huge part of my life and I have always felt weird about not making it a more present topic on this blog, so at some point or another I will definitely do a post on what a typical week of exercise looks like for me!  Maybe I’ll even include some pictures of me sweating and grunting it out doing pushups and rows.  Just for you guys.

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17 Comments

  1. 6.9.11
    NRC♥ said:

    love that nivea lip balm!! i think I'll try the dior mascara

  2. 6.10.11

    Dior Mascara is my favourite and I am definitely a fan of MAC lusture brands. I want to try the Vegas Volt colour for sure!

    I so appreciated your comment on my blog as well. Taking everything in stride! 🙂

  3. 6.10.11
    Cee said:

    I'm no authority on either of these subjects, either. My beauty routine has been unchanged for years, and could probably use some improvement. Of course, I think we all feel a little bit like that. But you should know that you did share something of real value in this post. I had never heard of twirl pins, but they sound brilliant. Are they easy to find? I get most of my hair accessories, if you could even call them that, at Shopper's Drug Mart 🙂

    Hope you're having a lovely evening, doll!
    xox,
    Cee

  4. 6.10.11
    Madeline said:

    I love lip balms from Nivea. But all of your products look good. I love when people share their routines, cause I like seeing what everyone's using and how.
    And I'm looking forward to your exercise post 🙂

  5. 6.10.11
    Marcella said:

    I love sneak peaks into people routines like this!

    I love that your blend high end with drugstore products to get such a stunning result 🙂

    And I agree, exercise is a really important part of looking and feeling good!

  6. 6.10.11
    Sophie said:

    I've really gone of clinique the last year of so. It's the end of an era as it was the first brand I really ever used.

    adelaidelaundry.com

  7. 6.10.11

    Alexandra! This is such a long-awaited post for me! I've always loved reading what other girls use for their skin and yours always look glowing and perfect! I'm very low-key with my makeup, I prefer not wearing anything at all except sunscreen during the day. And at night, I usually just clean my face, put on a night cream and that's about it. But now, I need to take good care of my face since I'm getting older and all :-). I've been using powder blush but I think I'm going to try the cream blush like you said. They sound much better! Thank you for sharing and I can't wait to see your exercise post! xxooxxoo

  8. 6.11.11
    J. said:

    You use great brands, that's for sure. And I love the mix of brands as well, some upscale and some very affordable. I do that too, and that way you always have a look no-one else has, which I love 🙂 (most people go only high end or budget, so the ability to mix the two is something I always admire)

  9. 6.11.11
    Ellie said:

    I love posts like this! It's so great to see different products, but I always leave the page with 5 more things added to my list of things to buy!
    Have a great day 🙂
    -Ellie

  10. 6.11.11

    I always love snooping through other girls' beauty routines, it's so interesting! And you did share some good tips! I'll have to try that Nivea lip chap, I'm a low maintenance beauty person so something that is simple but looks like I tried, is perfect!
    And how amazingly awesome are those spin pins!? I'm so glad they're finally available in Canada, they really do make the best waves without damaging your hair!
    Have a lovely weekend! xx

  11. 6.11.11
    Henar said:

    Aww, this is lovely,
    I love it!

    Henar ♥
    … OH MY VOGUE !

  12. 6.11.11

    Haha you are so funny lol, I know exactly how you feel. My knowledge on the whole beauty/hair industry is incredibly, and sadly, limited. I do things the way I want, whether it's the correct way or not. The way I see it, if it works for me then why change it.

    I want to try those goody twirly things, I love naturally wavy hair and I'm willing to try anything to get it!

    Bonnie

  13. 6.11.11

    i've been make-up obsessed since i was like 5! omg Alex, before i was allowed to wear lipstick i used to take vibrant colored fruits and rub them on my lips i wanted that pink pout so bad. baha! love you selection of go-tos, especially high-beam, it's a winner.

    you know after seeing your bronzer it reminded me of a lesson learned from one of my gf's who's a makeup artist and she's worked on some pretty high profile peeps. i was surprised when she pulled out Maybelline and the like, i thought for sure she'd have all the real hoity toity brands but she said they are almost even better.
    cheap and cheerful is what!

    thanks for sharing lades, you ALWAYS look so seriously stunning, makeuped or not. it's cool to see your faves though. ♥

  14. 6.12.11
    Steffen said:

    hey love this post and your blog! 🙂

    http://www.clothesmaiden.blogspot.com

  15. 6.13.11

    I think it's great you're strict about your skincare routine! So am I. Like you I'm not afraid to invest in high quality products. Thanks for sharing your beauty routine!

  16. 6.14.11

    Just found your blog and after seeing your latest post, I was about to say I love your make up..then I scrolled down to see this. Love your natural look 🙂

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