My Current Makeup Base Routine

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been posting in a while - I've had exams and have been super busy.
A while back I posted about my daytime base makeup routine, but since then it's changed and I also would like to tell you guys a bit about my night time base routine also (which includes contouring and highlighting).

To start off, I'm still using (and forever will be) La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo + as a moisturiser and also foundation base. However, if I don't use this as a base like if I'm getting ready in the evening, I will still use MAC Prep & Prime Natural Radiance Primer in Radiant Pink or Smashbox Photo Finish primer which gives such a matte finish it's to-die-for.

At the moment, my daytime foundation has changed and I am now using L'oréal True Match in the shade W4, instead of MAC Studio Fix Fluid which is what I used to wear. I find this foundation to be seriously good quality for the price it's at, it's long lasting and gives plenty of coverage and doesn't make my face seem cakey. It's only €14.99 (steal) whereas my old foundation used to be around €31. Also, the MAC was a little bit heavy for daytime wear. For night time, I use the fabulous Inglot HD Foundation in shade 71 - definitely the best foundation I own. It's so light and yet it covers everything up perfectly, it also smells AMAZING. I absolutely love it! I apply these foundations using an AYU Duo Fibre Foundation brush (heavenly).

Daytime:

Night time:

Then, I will conceal under my eyes, the top of my nose, the middle (fan) of my forehead and above my eyebrows, along with my chin. I use a much paler concealer than my foundation to highlight these areas. The concealer I used to use was MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but now I've switched to MAC Studio Finish Concealer in the shade NC15. This gives just as much coverage as the Pro Longwear but I feel I don't need as much of it to conceal any dark circles or blemishes. I apply this using a Real Techniques Setting Brush.

Now depending on whether it's daytime or night, my contouring method changes. For daytime contouring, I still use Harmony Blush my MAC. I apply this along my cheekbones, in the corners of my forehead and also underneath my jaw bone to give more definition to my face. This or Baby Don't Go by MAC are equally good for this job, I love them both. I apply these using an angled brush - so either the MAC 168 brush or the AYU Angled Brush.

For a night time contour, I use the AYU Concealer Palette for my contouring and highlighting. This palette is so fabulous because not only does it contour your face, but it also gives great coverage. It's also a steal at €15.00 at www.ayumakeup.ie! For my foundation shade which is number 71, I use the dark brown colour on the far right of the palette (the middle shade), which I apply just under my cheek bones and to the corners of my forehead with either my finger or the Real Techniques setting brush and then buff out with my absolute favourite brush right now - the AYU Buffer Brush. Make sure to blend this well into your foundation so it doesn't look too harsh - you want to look natural, not with big brown lines down the sides of your face. I find this concealer blends very well though, so it shouldn't be a problem.

For highlighting, you can use whichever light concealer in this palette that suits your skin tone, I use any the second concealer in from the left on the top row. This is similar to MAC Studio Finish concealer NC15 so they both work for this job.

To powder my face, I use any fluffy powder brush (MAC, AYU, Real Techniques etc) and just apply Rimmel Translucent Stay Matte setting powder all over my face (not too much though, to avoid cakey look) and then I take MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, and using a Callanberry Medium No.18 Fluff Powder Brush, I sweep this across my cheekbones and forehead to give a stronger highlight. I also apply a tiny bit of this to my nose.

If I am wearing blush, my go-to blushers are MAC Peaches blush and Benefit's Coralista or Sugarbomb. I apply the Benefit blushers with the brushes they come with, and I apply the MAC blush using the AYU Angled Brush.