Since high school, I have had a knack for makeup and all things beauty. You could find me helping my friends do their makeup/hair or helping them find that perfect eye shadow that made their eyes “pop!” I still love “playing” in new makeup and trying all different types of looks. If I could, I would spend a lot of time just perusing the aisles at the local beauty counter and sample the new and trending colors… but let’s be real, who has time for that anymore?!
As a new mom, I have had to nail down my makeup routine to be fast and efficient but also still feel put together. I have discovered what I rely on daily, the things that keep me looking fresh, bright eyed, and incredibly hydrated. Each of these products have a special place in my heart and a permanent spot in my makeup bag or cabinet.
I recommend doing a “spring cleaning” of your make-up bag and take it back to the basics. It’s better to nail down your staples, before trends come in and get you all confused on what you really need. I want to share with you my tried-and-true essentials for creating a quick and polished look.
My Top 10 Makeup Must Haves
Step 1// CC Cream
Okay… Where has this been all my life? This CC cream is a GAME CHANGER. It It truly is “color correcting” (hence the name), adds the perfect glow and medium coverage to my face without feeling heavy and stays all day. I use a layer of this as my foundation. It also has SPF 50 and is a hydrating and anti-again serum! My skin is normal to dry, so my skin drinks the hydration right up! There is a matte version which you can find here, 
Step 2// Foundation
Sometimes I will actually combine the CC cream and my favorite foundation if I am wanting a little more coverage. This foundation is creamy, helps minimize pores, and gives a nice dewey look.
3// Concealer
Say bye bye to those dark under eye circles or blemishes! This concealer is without question the best one I have tried. It lays smoothly under the eyes, does not settle into fine lines, and has great coverage! I go in under my eyes with my concealer in a triangle shape and any where else that needs highlighting or concealing. This will help you look “bright eyed” and well-rested even if you are not! 🙂 We all need that from time to time!
4// Bronzer & Highlighter
This is by far my favorite pick for a bronzer and its super cheap! You can use this to achieve a healthy looking, bronzy youthful glow. I also love this palette if am feeling fancy and want to do some contouring. I use the bronzer to contour (on temples, under cheekbones, and beneath jaw line) and use the highlighter right above my cheek bones, directly under brow bone and on the bridge of nose. It blends in very easily and you don’t have to use much product, so it lasts a long time! The full size compact mirror is a plus, too.
5// Blush
Most days I find myself reaching for this double duty palette from Tarte called called “Happy Girls Shine Brighter.” It has a gorgeous and natural looking peachy pink blush and 6 beautiful eye shadow colors. My other go to blush for a softer, natural look and slight shimmer is this one in the color Rockateur. I put this right on the apples of my cheeks and up towards the cheekbone. I use this angled brush to apply and blend.
6// Eye Shadow
I either use the double duty eye shadow palette that I mentioned above or my other favorite palette by Urban Decay. They nailed it with this palette by having the perfect mix of matte and shimmer shades, beautiful neutrals, browns, plums and a few bold colors. You can do all matte for daytime and more shimmers in the evening, or a mix of both!
7// Eyeliner
This liquid eyeliner is by far my best pick for winged eyeliner. It is waterproof, doesn’t run down the face and never budges- even when I’m teaching dance and sweating during fitness classes! It has a precise tip, stays put and achieve the perfect line.
8// Mascara
This mascara is a drug store gem! No telling how many tubes of this mascara I have been through since high school. I keep coming back to it, so that says a lot! It’s just a great mascara!
9// Eye Brow Pencil
This eye brow pencil is my jam. I like natural looking, filled in eye brows that are not too thin but not too bold. This one has a thin tip applicator, eye brow brush on the end and a great color selection. I use the color “caramel.”
10// Lips
If you are a lip liner girl, I would recommend this beautiful, creamy nude lip liner by Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat – Lip Liner – Pillow Talk. For lipstick I have been gravitating towards this beautiful & hydrating natural pink called in “Spice Spice Baby” by Too Faced. I love the way it makes my lips look and feel and its the perfect shade for everyday wear. If you want an inexpensive everyday gloss, I would recommend these butter glosses… I love the color Angel Food Cake and Creme Brûlée. They really do feel so smooth (hence the name!) and keep my lips feeling hydrated.
So there you have it, folks! My everyday essentials and favorites in my makeup bag. I would love to know what is in your bag! Let me know some of your essentials and must have products! Leave a comment below!
You can shop my top here! *I ordered a large because I like my tops flowy! I noticed its out of stock in some sizes, so here are some other options!
XOXO, Dorothy
I need two things: 1 your help in using the CC foundation that’s been sitting in my makeup bag for several months and 2 I need to know where your darling shirt came from. I need some fashion updating.
I hope to do a quick getting ready tutorial and it will definitely help you apply the CC cream. Really, you just need one pump of it and I usually take a damp beauty blender and gently pat it into my skin. I will add a link to the shirt!
I just ordered it! Thank you! I’m so bad at applying cream foundation.