My seven step morning make-up routine ...

So I have seen a few of these done on v-logs and decided I would share with you all my morning make up routine.  This is just my every day work wear make up.

My essentials in my new makeup bag.

STEP ONE: Clean and Moisturise

I start  by giving my face a once over with a damp flannel, partly to wake me up and partly to remove any build up of oils. (Especially if its been a  very warm night or I just feel icky)

After a quick wash I apply my moisturiser, at the minute I am using Clean and Clear Dual Action. Its an oil free moisturiser which I like as it doesn't feel to heavy and has a slight tingle after you apply it.

I also have the Clean and Clear Blackhead Control Toner which I use before moisturising a few times a week, I would do it every day but doing a full cleanse and tone routine on a morning is a bit time consuming.

Love the light feel and tingle.

STEP TWO: Primer and base

After my moisturiser has soaked in its time to apply primer. I just use a thin layer all over my face with my foundation brush. I've got Witch Anti-Blemish primer at the minute, its good again not too heavy and doesn't make my skin feel tight. The pump action on this is really handy as it stops me squeezing too much out at once. I got this at Superdrug for about £6 so it doesn't break the bank. I apply this will a brush as I try to touch my face as little as possible to try and prevent breakouts. 

After my primer is all dry its time to apply base. Now as this is my everyday routine that I use for work here I apply Witch Tinted Moisturiser in Medium. I use this because I find foundation too heavy for work, I sit at a desk all day and our dress policy is smart casual (leaning more too casual) don't want to look too made up. 

This is also really light and not too heavy, can you see a theme going on I like good coverage but light weight. This gives both, it evens out my skin tone but doesn't look too flat, made up or feel like I'm caked in foundation. 

If I was going out I would use normal foundation here to give a bit heaver coverage to last a bit longer. 

 

This is my foundation brush, just a cheap one from Primark but it does the job. As you can tell this has just been freshly washed, you need to wash your brushes minimum once a month best every few weeks, I can be a bit lax with this but I'm getting better. You need to wash your brush for the same reason you should avoid applying make up with fingers or minimum wash your hands first ... bacteria! If you suffer from breakouts like me its important to try and minimise the extra bacteria you introduce onto your skin so using a brush and cleaning it regularly will help with this. You can use a sponge if you want but I've never found one that gives a nice coverage and they are a pain to wash. 

To wash my brush I use warm water and fairy liquid, water alone wont remove the foundation build up. My sister suggested I start using baby shampoo so I'm going to pick some up and try that. 

Start by squirting a dollop of foundation on the back of your non brush hand then dab in it little by little, too much at once and you will get un even thick coverage. When I go to apply my base I start by giving the brush head a a good wiggle keep all the bristles loose or it applies too pasty and not even. 

Try to use long strokes to apply the foundation then quick little ones to blend it, making sure to start in the centre of your face and work out to avoid tide lines. Also make sure that you blend right up to your ears and just under your jaw, this is not the nineties tide lines are well and truly out make up should enhance not plaster. A tip I use for my jaw is to go round side to side then with a practically dry brush do little quick strokes down about an inch just to make sure its blended. 

STEP THREE: Conceal and set 

Now its time to cover up and problem areas. Again I apply this with a brush to avoid touching and to get a nice blend. I'm using  Miss Sporty So Clear Anti-Blemish coverstick, the tip is shaped like a lipstick with is good for using with my brush. 

This is another Primark brush, double ended, I like the slight curve to the tip as it helps with application. To get a good application I tend to use one side for the right eye and the other for my left. To get an even coverage of concealer start under the eye and blend out, dont just apply a chunk under the eye or it will stand out against your foundation. Some people suggest applying your concealer before base but I find that mine blends in better when I apply it on top. 

The picture below indicates the area I apply concealer, I start right on my lash line and in the corner of my eye then use downward strokes towards my cheeks to blend out. This way its not too thick and clumpy, and it evens in with your base instead of making your under eyes look too light. I also sometimes take the brush up over my lid to prime them for shadow. 

After I have done under my eyes I use the tip of the brush to apply a little concealer either side of my nostrils and blend it out as this area is a bit red for me. Then its time to tackle any break outs, I take a dap of concealer brush it on the mark then use quick strokes to blend it in. 

This next one I learnt online from a girl who had really bad ache but her makeup covered it completely without looking heavy or thick. To make sure that your foundation is completely even and blended take your powder brush (a big fluffy brush) and brush your face using circles, don't apply too much pressure or you will just wipe off your base.

 After a blending its time to set your base. I only recently started using doing this and have found that it works wonders, my make up looks more natural and even. I use the Natural Collection, loose poder in Neutral Translucent from Boots. I love this brand as its cheap but works really well. Its also great for your everyday makeup when your on a budget as most of their stuff is around £1.99. 

I use neutral translucent powder as other colours tend to give you too much colour or look either powdery or shiny. This gives a natural look whilst still setting your base. I apply mine using a my big fluffy brush and go in circles like when I was brushing my base.

Cheap, cheerful and effective. 

STEP FOUR: Blush 

After my base is all set, its time to add the accents. First up blush, at the minute I am using a mega cheap blush but I love it, Primark's Great Balls of Desire. I first got this in a little travel box which was solid blocks of half blush half bronze. I was using a No17 version before but found it a bit heavy and flat I prefer the shimmer in this. As you can see I have lost quite a few of the balls but I have a spare pot in the drawer. 

I like that this is a really light pink and has a nice shimmer to it without being overly sparkly, I do not want to look like a Twilight vampire in the daylight.  So to apply my brush I use a medium round head blusher brush, I start by doing a big cheesy grin to find the apples of my cheeks, then apply the blush in almost circles on the apple and blend back towards the top of my ears. The highlighted area on the pic below shows where in general I apply mine, the trick is to blend back gently so it doesn't end up looking like the highlighted picture, this is blush not war paint. 

STEP FIVE: Eyes 

The last part of my make up routine is my eyes, for day to day wear I keep it light with just a shimmer shadow and some brown mascara. The shadow is a mineral based on I got from boots ages ago I dont think they even do the brand anymore which is a real shame as I love it. It gives a nice shimmer and brightness to the eye area without being overly sparkly or white. 

To apply this I use the other end of the purple concealer brush, this end is flat with a even rounded tip just bigger then a thumb nail. I apply the shadow all over my eyelid right up to the brow line and out to the tips of my brow. 

 

STEP SIX: Brows 

Now I have always shaped my brows but that was about it, I tried using a brow pencil when I was younger but it looked daft, scouse brow style. Then recently all these brow kits started coming out after people decided they wanted fuller brows like Kate Middleton or Cara Delevingne. Instead of wasting loads of money on one of these kits with brow filler I bought a light brown shadow and used a small brush I already had. 

The shadow I bought was Natural Collection Crushed Walnut, you can see its quite light I wanted some fill but didn't want scouse brow my brows are very dark so you would want to choose a colour that suited your own colourings. 

To apply I use this fine brush, take a gentle dab of the shadow and start at my nose gently filling in the thick section then work to the tip turning the brush sideways as my brow narrows. 

STEP SEVEN: Mascara 

For day time I wear Natural Collection brown mascara as my lashes are quite dark to start with. Upper lashes I just do normal upward long strokes but for the bottom I place the brush across the lashes and gently move side to side towards the tips. You have to be careful not to touch under your eyes or everything gets to be quite messy and you end up needing to apply more concealer where you wipe the mascara off. 

So that is my make up routine, it might seem long on paper but usually only takes me about 10 minutes start to finish then its of to work. 

If you have any other tips or tricks you learned doing your own make up leave me a comment. 

xXx