My 5 Minute Everyday Fresh Face Look

Hey everyone,

So I did this look yesterday that took 5 minutes tops and it’s a look I go to often for an everyday, fresh-looking face. Great skin is your best accessory.  In addition to taking good care of your skin and working toward clearing it up naturally, (see this previous post of mine for more on that), foundation and concealer can be all you really need to brighten up your face. Whether it’s an everyday look or a 5 minute face, even, clean-looking skin is always beautiful and can have more of an impact than a dramatic eye or lip.   Lucky for us, it only takes a couple minutes to achieve!

FACE:

First I primed my face with Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream, (as always!) Then I applied Revlon’s Photo Ready Airbrush Effect liquid foundation (I use number 004 Nude) with my fingers, and then blended it in with my damp beauty blender.  I really like this foundation. It gives a medium coverage, not too heavy at all, and last the whole day.

I discovered it while hunting down a good drugstore liquid foundation, and noticed that it was one of the only liquid foundations on the shelves that didn’t contain harmful ingredients– big bonus!!

I had read some positive reviews online about Maybelline’s Fit Me Foundation, but upon reading the ingredients, noticed that there are multiple parabens in the formula.  I will be doing a post later on about ingredients to avoid in skin and hair care products, but for now: parabens are used as preservatives in makeup and are known to interfere with hormones in the body when absorbed through the skin. Actually there are tons of products around now that make a point of saying right on the front label that there are no parabens in the formula, so it’s a pretty important (and easy) thing to avoid. So… I nixed the Maybelline Fit Me and found this lovely product instead!

Next I applied a little of my Mac Studio Finish Concealer (I use NC35) linked HERE over a couple blemishes.  I have been using this exact product for at least 10 years and will never change it. It is a little life saver for covering blemishes completely. It’s little compact size allows me to have it with me in my purse wherever I go, and it’s creamy formula helps it last forever- (though it needs to be replace before “forever,” as everything expires).  If I had to take like two products with me on a deserted island- this would be one.

Next, since I wanted a “fresh” looking face, I wanted to use a bit of under eye concealer to brighten things up.  I don’t do this everyday, but it takes a second to add and can really brighten up your eyes.  I used Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (I use Custard) linked HERE. This is a great creamy, moisturizing concealer that provides excellent coverage and definitely hides dark circles if you have them.  I blended this in with the unused side of my damp beauty blender.

Also, this concealer does not have any parabens, harsh sulfates, phthalates, alcohol, or fragrance, which is wonderful!!

Next up is the Kiko Bronzer Powder (I use 104) linked HERE. I don’t ever highlight under my eyes without contouring a bit to compliment it, so I just used my Kabuki brush with this bronzer to lightly contour my cheeks, along my jaw line, the sides of my forehead, and along my hairline.  I only have a couple products from Kiko.  They are inexpensive, but not the best quality. I would get eye shadows or other powder products such as this, but not liquid foundation or concealers. I prefer those to be of a higher quality.

Lastly, I swiped on a bit of my all-time fa.vor.ite. blush, the Nars Blush in Orgasm linked HERE.  I think it is THE perfect blush, particularly for more olive skin tones.  It instantly livens up your face with just a tiny bit on the apples of the cheeks and has just the right amount of shimmer in it.

EYES:

I did a really simple and quick eye. I recently bought the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel palette linked HERE, and it is my new obsession.  It has really great, pigmented neutral shades of eye shadows and highlighters in pinks, mauves, and coppers.  It is perfect for people-like myself- who tend to always use browns and bronzey colors, and are looking to try something a little different while still keeping with neutral tones.  I just applied the first color in the second row of the palette all over my lid.  It is a pinky/peachy shimmery color that is beautiful for a subtle yet bright eye.

For mascara I just swiped on Loreal Telescopic mascara.  This is a great drugstore mascara that has a unique comb-like brush, which I like for getting into all the little places and covering the whole lash from start to finish.

LIPS:

I lined and filled in my lips with Mac’s Oak Lip Liner linked HERE.  I use Oak all the time.  Even when I don’t want to put really anything on my lips, I’ll put some chapstick and just lightly line them with Oak.  It gives the perfect, natural definition.  Then, when you want that nice, cool, light beige-brown tone all over your lips, just fill them in with the pencil. I like to apply chapstick first when I fill my lips in with the pencil, because it can be a little drying. It takes 10 seconds to do, if that, and is a great, everyday color.

HAIR:

If you liked my hair in this look, it took me another 5 minutes and stayed in place the whole day.  I just made a side part and did a dutch braid down the side of my head, making sure to gather pieces smoothly as I went from the opposite side of my head.  When I finished the braid , I secured it with a tiny black elastic, and brushed over the non-braided portions of my hair lightly with a boar-bristled brush to smooth down flyaways and give an even look all over.  Then I just gently pulled out strands of the braid to make the braid fluffier and fuller. 🙂

Here’s the result!

Hope you guys got some good ideas! Let me know what you think!

Ciao loves,

xoxo Amanda