Caroline's Foundation Routine

Hey y'all!  Per Emily's request, I'm going to tell you about my foundation routine.  A lot of the steps are really optional, but I usually do them all, because I like "playing" in my makeup.  Honestly, I love putting makeup on more than the average person, so I understand if this is a bit extreme for you.

Here we go!

First things first, I put on sunscreen and let it sit for a while as I brush my teeth and do my hair.  Then, I put on my Smashbox foundation primer, which creates a smooth and workable surface.

 Then, I take my Sigma F80 Flat-Top Kabuki brush (which is amazing for foundation) and blend some Revlon ColorStay foundation onto my face.  I just put a nickel sized amount of foundation on the back of my hand, and then pick it up with the brush and apply, focusing on my forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks.  From there, I just blend that foundation outwards toward my jaw and hairline, making sure to avoid the dreaded makeup mask.

My favorite drugstore foundation

Next, I put Mac's Painterly Paint Pot on my eyelids, so that it can set.

I blend Eve Pearl's Salmon concealer and treatment under my eyes to cut the blue and purple circles.  It's not summer vacation anymore, and my under-eyes are making that perfectly clear.

Next, I take a fluffy face brush (this one is from Sephora) and lightly dust some ELF translucent powder over my t-zone, on my eyelids, and on my under-eye circles.  Don't use a heavy hand, or you'll look cakey.

I fill in my eyebrows next.  I use a small, angled, stiff brush and dip it into some Mary Kay eyeshadow.  As you can see, I've done this a lot.  I have pretty sparse eyebrows.  I just follow the shape of my brow to make them a tad bit fuller.

Highlighter time!  I put a very small amount of my ELF shimmering facial whip on my Sigma F60 foundation brush, and pat it onto the top of my cheekbones to give me a glow.

Now, I take a stiff-bristle, fluffy brush and apply my Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Gilded.  I blend it in an "E" shape, from my temples, down to my cheekbones, and then down to my jawline.  I also run it down my nose, because that's where the sun would naturally "kiss" my face.

Lastly, I dab a bit of my ELF blush in Pink Passion with a stippling brush onto the apples of my cheeks.

Now, I don't use concealer much, but if I have a blemish that I can't shake, I'll use my Maybelline SuperStay 24 hour concealer in Ivory and blend it in with a Mary Kay eyeshadow brush.  I would do this step right before I put on my powder.

That's it!  I'd then do my eyeshadow and my mascara, and maybe some lipstick.  This is the final result:

I'm extra freckle-y right now from the summer sun, but as soon as the cold weather really hits, my skin will get really pale and my freckles will fade out.  

I hope you enjoyed this, and remember, you don't have to do any of these steps.  Just pick and choose whatever works best for you and your skin.  There's no one golden way to do makeup that will work for everyone, so don't panic!  If you have any questions, comment below and I'll answer you as best as I can.

Love, Caroline