This was a requested post from one of my readers. I'm deeply sorry to that reader because this post has been delayed for TOO LONG. Laziness took over, but something snapped inside me and I decided to be a better beauty blogger!
Foundation routine is a must for anyone who has blemishes or acne scars (MEMEME!), but just relying on a good foundation routine will not give you a natural finish. Sometimes, you look too cakey or too made up. Some people may suggest using a foundation that gives you a dewy finish! Yes, I agree it looks good when you apply it, but after a period of time (especially if you have combination to oily skin), you will look like you just dipped your face on a plate full of oil. NOT GLAM.
For those with dry skin, it's good news because a dewy-finish foundation will last longer on you. So for those with combination-oily skin, what do you do? Especially in a country like Singapore that has such blasted weather?
My suggestion is to scrimp on your foundation routine. Notice I said scrimp, and not scrap. What I do is that instead of a liquid foundation, I use a tinted moisturiser. Then I apply concealer on needed areas. Lastly, instead of using a sponge to apply powder, I use a big fluffy brush. This way, you will not look cakey, but you will still have the matte look!
Then the question becomes how do you not look DEATHLY? This post will explain to you how you can fake radiance (and not look like a ghost. yikes.).
First, here are the products that I'm going to use:
- benefit SUGARlicious set (I will be using bene tint, high beam and sugarbomb blush)
- stila illuminating finishing powder in gold
- elf healthy glow bronzing powder in sun kissed
- elf blush brush
- elf complexion brush
Pardon my overused
elf bronzer. It's the best all-over bronzer that I have used so far, and it's so cheap!! Time for me to get my second piece!
So this is me with my "scrimped" foundation routine. I just look....pale. Not good. ALSO, pardon the bed hair! :D
First up!
benefit's bene tint!
Using the applicator, dab 3 dots on your cheek area (or wherever you normally put your blusher on). The trick with
bene tint is you CANNOT dab on both cheeks and then start to blend. This product dries quite quickly, so if you dab on both cheeks first before blending, the dots on the first cheek that you dab on will start to dry, and when you blend, you get ugly streaky red spots.
Hence, you should dab, dab, dab on one cheek, blend, dab some more if you want a redder tint, blend again, and then proceed to the other cheek and repeat.
To highlight, I'm using
benefit's high beam as a base.
I apply it on the upper cheek area, the nose bridge and the tip of the Cupid's bow area. I use the high beam first before a powder highlighter because I want my highlighting work to stay. If you solely use a powder highlighting, you will notice that what you apply will disappear very quickly, and you will need to touch up more often.
Blusher time -
benefit's sugarbomb!
Using my
elf blush brush, smile and brush it over the apples of your cheek. It sounds very cliche - "the apples of your cheek" - but it really makes sense!
Moving on to bronzing activity (sounds so mafia, haha), I'm using my
elf blush brush and
elf bronzing powder first.
Apply it to the same area as to where you applied the blusher. Yes it sounds very silly, why apply blusher then cover it with bronzer? But that's exactly what I'm doing! The thing is I'm not actually covering up the blusher. Instead, I'm adding bronze hues to the originally reddish and pinkish tint. The slight shimmer from the bronzer will also make my cheeks look more dewy (hence faking the dewy-finish foundation look).
Now, using my
elf complexion brush (or any bigger face brush) and the same bronzer ...
I'm going to apply it to the hollow areas under my cheekbone. Yes, you see my weird face muscles, that's how you find your hollow areas.
When applying bronzer here, you have to be really careful and have a light hand. What I normally do is, I load my brush with the bronzer, and then I tap it against my palm to get rid of excess product. Then I apply it gently and swiftly down the cheekbone line. The darkest part should be the area nearest to your ears, and the gradually lighter, creating a gradient effect down the line.
I forgot to take a photo of my next step, but usually I use whatever's left on the brush and apply it on my temple (side of the head, slightly above your eyes) area. People say it's slimming. I don't know if it even makes a difference, but it's my habit to do that. haha.
Back to the
elf blush brush, I'm now applying a powder highlighter (
stila illuminating finishing powder).
Apply it to the upper cheek area, just below your eyes.
And also on your nose bridge! If you want further contouring, you can use an eyeshadow smudge brush, dip it on some bronzer, and then apply it to the two areas next to the nose bridge. This way, you can create the illusion of a sharper nose without the plastic surgery. However, it's really a hassle and you have no time to do that in the morning, especially when you are in a rush!!
WE ARE DONE! :) The final product is you will look more radiant, without looking too made up and too fake!
Nah, give you all a comparison! :)
I know, I know. I need to do something about my eyebrows AGAIN. I will go trim it soon!
I hope this post has been useful! Now all of you can look radiant without spending too much time or without looking too made up! I think the above procedures took me less than 5 minutes. YAY! :)
