I've gotten several emails and comments lately asking about my hair and makeup, which is ironic since I definitely don't consider myself any sort of beauty guru! Both my routines are incredibly simple, so I've got them down pat. I'm absolutely no pro, so take my tips with a grain of salt, but here's what works for me.
Hair
As a teenager, I was somewhat of a beauty product junkie, but in the past few years I've realized that I always come back to the old favorites and that trying new bottles on a whim is often a waste of money. I've been using Pantene "Frizzy to Smooth" (formerly "Sleek and Shine") shampoo and conditioner for three or four years now, and while it's not a professional product, my hairdresser is always impressed by the health of my hair.
After washing my hair, I usually let it air-dry. It's better for my hair, and honestly, most of the time I'm too lazy to put that much time into it! When I do blow-dry, however, I use a Hot Tools hairdryer, and if I'm straightening my hair I use a CHI flat-iron. My hair is naturally slightly wavy and frizz-prone, so I straighten when I want it to look more polished.
As for styling products, I really only use two: Kenra Platinum silkening gloss and Oscar Blandi dry shampoo, both of which are available at Sephora or Ulta.
The silkening gloss helps to make my hair shiny and manage frizz on days when I don't use heat styling, and the dry shampoo is probably my favorite beauty product ever. It's pricey at $19 a bottle, but the amount of time it saves me on washing my hair is definitely worth it. I've tried several dry shampoos, and this is definitely my favorite- it's light, smells clean, and doesn't make your hair feel gross, like many brands do.
Makeup
As with hair products, when it comes to makeup I've learned the importance of quality over quantity. I'm not a big cosmetics wearer in general, and on most days I just wear under-eye concealer, powder and mascara. I do have some favorite products for when I'm looking to kick it up a notch, though!
Many of the product I use are on the more expensive side, but since I only use a handful of them and I know they all work well, I don't mind shelling out a bit more. I by dotting on the under-eye concealer I swear by, YSL touche eclat, then use Clinique stay matte sheer pressed powder on my T-zone. The color I use is "invisible matte," so supposedly it works on all skin tones...it doesn't add any coverage, just helps with shine.
If I have any blemishes, I use a concealer brush to dab bareMinerals powder foundation on the spot. I've never been a fan of foundation, but there are definitely days where my skin isn't looking its best on its own! Then, I use bareMinerals "warmth" bronzer to add some color to my cheekbones.
When it comes to eyes, on most days I just opt for DiorShow mascara in brownish black, but if I'm getting dressed up, I use a Stila smoky eye palette to apply a base, lid shade, crease color and eyeliner. I've used this palette for years, and I just love how well the colors accentuate my eyes without looking overdone.
If I'm dressing up, I also use Sephora eyeliner to really make my eyes pop. And when it comes to lips, I'm an uber simple girl- just whatever lip balm is lying around! I only own a few glosses and lipsticks, but I honestly can't even remember the last time I used them. Chapstick is all I need- preferably of the Disney princess variety ;)
And that's it! Writing this actually makes me feel incredibly high maintenance, but I swear that my makeup never takes me more than ten minutes, and on most days it's less than two. Sometimes I wish I was incredible at doing unique looks, but I just don't have the patience or artistic talent ;)
What are your favorite hair and makeup products? How long do you take to get ready for a typical day?
