Makeup for Mom's
Hey Mom! I see you there. You're tired - no exhausted. At this stage in life, although it can be so rewarding, it can be draining - emotionally, physically and mentally. Your hormones are out of whack, your body has changed and chances are your skin has changed. Time is limited and any time for ourselves dissolves away. I get it. I have been there. I've been there 3 times and I am still there now. We all know that when we look good we feel good. What if I told you that you could take 5-10 minutes and 6 products or less to put on a bit of makeup to lift your spirits? Cosmetic companies would like you to think that you need numerous products but for an every day fresh look you really only need 3-6 products depending on what you are hoping to achieve.
Here are my top product recommendations for busy Mom's. Even if you aren't a Mom this post is full of tricks and tips for women of all stages of life for a speedy application. I've tried include products from low to high price ranges for each one but keep in mind that if you are going to be using something everyday it may be worth investing in a higher end, quality product. Or if you aren't going to be using every day consider buying a "travel" size of a more premium product. All products have a limited shelf life regardless of size or price so considering how often you will be using your product can help determine weather to splurge or save. A lot of times you do get what you pay for. Please note that skin care/prep ins't included in the steps as this is something that you should be doing everyday regardless of weather you are wearing makeup or not. Let's get started!
Step #1 - Concealer (90 seconds)
Every tired Mom needs this in their cosmetic bag. Nothing is going to brighten you up more than a light-weight brightening concealer. My all time favourite concealer for under eyes has to be Veil Cosmetics Complexion Fix. It brightens the under eye and corrects dark tones without being heavy or caking. Another thing that I love about this is that it blends seamlessly into the rest of your skin. I love this brand! It's Canadian and the founding artist Sebastien Tardif hates caked on, heavy makeup. This was formulated to look like skin and it does. It retails for $42 and you can find it here If you are on a bit of a budget try picking up a travel size of the NARS radiant creamy concealer $16 here Travel sizes are a great if you want to try something without committing to a full size item or if you aren't going to be using it often. Another budget friendly option is the NYX HD Studio Concealer $8 which you can find here
Side Notes/Application Tips:
Apply under eyes in a triangular shape and to any blemishes or undesired pigmentation. Blend out with a stiff brush or by dabbing lightly with your finger.
My concealer is creasing" You must set lightly with a translucent powder and use sparingly. Try doing your concealer and then blending out any creasing at the end of your routine before you set with powder.
"It's adding too much texture to my skin" I can't stress enough how important it is to have a proper skin care routine in place and to keep hydrated. Dry textured skin+makeup=dry, even more textured skin. Imagine trying to smooth out tree bark only using paint. Proper skin prep and priming will correct this issue. Skincare will be another blog post for another time.
Step #2 - Blush or Bronzer (30 seconds)
I could give literally 100 recommendations for blushes and bronzers. When you are tired and washed out it instantly brings you back to life. Personally - if I am not wearing another other face makeup (foundation, highlighter, contour, etc.,) I like to use something with a bit of shimmer to it to make my skin appear healthy and glowing. My favourite shimmer blushes are Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Rose Gold $46 here , or something more bronze I reach for MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow $38 here , I love Hourglass Ambient lighting powders, blushes and bronzers starting at $45 here NARS Blush in Orgasm and Bronzer in Laguna are amazing and conveniently come in a duo $54 here . A great cream option is Charolette Tilbury Beach Stick in Moon Beach $48 here This is a beautiful rose gold shade and gets bonus points since you can use it on lips as well. If you are wanting more of a matte finish I absolutely love the tarte blushes $35 here and benefit cosmetics Hula Bronzer $36 here but also has a travel size option available at $20. Some more budget friendly options that are Milani Baked blush which us around $8 here NYX Cosmetics High Definition blush also around $8 here Colour Pop blushes and bronzers are also an excellent option at $8 (US) here
Side Notes/Application Tips:
Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards following your cheek bones. This will allow for a sculpted look without using multiple products
Always blend out your edges with your fingers or a brush
Step #3 - Brow Pencils/Gel (60 seconds)
Brows are so important to frame your eyes and face. Too dark and you look like a Disney villain. Too light and they disappear into your face making you look sickly (something I know all about). This is another category that surprisingly, the budget brand has won. My absolute favourite brow pencil is from Colour Pop and can be found here Fill in your brows with the pencil and always comb through for a more natural, softer look. If you have good shape and want to add volume check out Benefit Cosmetics Give me brow $30 here and if you have very dark brows that you want to appear lighter, or very light brows that you want to appear darker try MAC Cosmetics Pro Long Wear Brow Set. Its waterproof and wears incredibly well. $21 here