I wear this look myself most days just because it's really easy to do, doesn't take too long and it suits most skin tones, especially mine.
I will break the look down into step-by-step so you can have a go at it yourself, and let me know how you like it :)
1. Prime your face.
(You don't have to include this step but I find that it not only smooths out your skin for an even foundation application but it also makes your foundation last a lot longer without wearing off during the day or night.)
For this look I used Elizabeth Arden Good Morning Skin Serum and applied it all over my face with an Elizabeth Arden foundation brush. One pump will do the job.
2. Foundation.
I used MAC Select SPF 15 in NW20 and applied it with a Jemma Kidd Pro Pointed Cream Blush/Foundation #10 Brush.
3. Concealer.
Cover any blemishes or redness you might have and also around the nostril area and under the eyes, not necessarily because you have dark under-eyes but it also brightens the area, making you look more fresh and flawless.
I used MAC Select Cache Cover-up in NW20 and applied it with a MAC #224 brush, blending in a circular motion to give a natural finish yet flawless coverage. (A cheaper option for the brush is the Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush, in my opinion it is just as effective however the Sigma brush tends to shed a lot more bristles, even after washing multiple times, so I prefer to use my MAC 224 brush, especially if I'm in a hurry.)
4. Powder.
Applied all over the entire face, this step is to set the foundation, making it last even longer. You can use a small amount of powder just to set the foundation, or if you prefer a matte finish to your skin like I do, you can apply more powder.
I used MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Light/Medium (Choose the closest matching colour to your foundation/skin tone) and applied it with a MAC #168 Angled contour face brush. I used this brush for steps 4-7.
5. Contouring/Bronzer
To contour, sweep slightly darker powder or bronzer underneath your cheekbones, blending upwards towards the temples and surrounding the frame of your face, down the sides of your nose (not too much or it will look dirty).
I used MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium/Dark. (Choose a colour darker than your own, but not too dark and preferably still relatively natural looking, as this is an every day look).
6. Blush.
Apply to the apples of your cheeks, smile so they pop out and sweep the colour in a circular motion, blending upwards and outwards towards the cheekbones. Don't go further inwards that the inner corner of your eyes, and don't go further downwards than the apples of your cheeks or it won't have the same bright, fresh effect.
I used Elizabeth Arden Blush in Sunblush, this is a really pretty peachy bronzey colour with a slight shimmer to it, and it suits most lighter skin tones.
7. Highlight.
Sweep a small amount of highlight across the tops of your cheekbones, blending into the brow bone.
I used MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle, which isn't too intense, so makes this a subtle day time look. If you want to convert this to a night time look, you can use something with a bit more shimmer if you like.
8. Brows.
You can skip this step if you were blessed with the gift of perfect eyebrows, however I wasn't, so I always fill in my brows. Fill in any gaps in your brows with a powder or pencil, (I prefer a powder because it has a softer, more natural look to it, some pencils applied to heavily can make you look a bit like a drag queen!) and stick to the natural shape and colour of your brows, so you don't look excessively made up, just naturally flawless.
I used Elizabeth Arden Dual Perfection Brow Shaper and Eyeliner in Sable, and applied it with an Elizabeth Arden Angled Brush, definitely my favourite brush for brows as it is too thick for eyeliner, and gives a really nice finish to all brows.
9. Eyes.
(i) Apply MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study blending all over the lid using your ring finger.
(ii) Using a MAC #217 Blending Brush (a.k.a. the best brush ever! IMO), apply MAC Patina Eyeshadow all over the lid, blending into the crease. Patina is a beautifully soft, muted gold colour and is perfect for this look.
(iii) Using the same brush, apply a small amount of MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow in the outer corners of the eyes, blending into the sockets. Be sure not to go too far beyond the outer corners of the eye, as this is not a winged out look, it is more of a rounded eye look. Blend this colour in with the Patina. Blend blend blend!!!
iv) Using a Jemma Kidd Pro Brush #01 Liner, apply MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack along the upper lashline in small strokes, smoothing the line out as you go. This look has a relatively thick line in the middle of the lashline, and it thins out towards the outer edge and has a slight flick. You really can do your liner however you want, this is just how it suits my particular eye shape for a more natural look.
(v) Curl your lashes and apply 2 coats MAC Plushlash Mascara in Plushblack, be careful as this has a HUGE wand, and can get very messy! If you want a less dramatic look, you can use Elizabeth Arden Ceramide or Double Density mascaras, both are fantastic although I prefer the Double Density.
10. Lips.
Because this is an every day look, I wanted something neutral for the lips. So I used my Urban Decay Cooling & Plumping Lipgloss in the colour Naked, which came with my NAKED 2 Palette.
As I mentioned above, this is a very straightforward, simple every day look but looks absolutely gorgeous on most skin tones, and if you wanted you could very easily switch it to a night time look by adding a darker colour in the outer corners of the eyes (such as Carbon eyeshadow by MAC, or any dark eyeshadow as long as you blend it out) and adding thicker eyeliner and more mascara. Easy!
I hope you guys enjoyed this and let me know what you think, try it out for yourselves and don't be afraid to ask me any questions or show me photos of your own looks!
Here's the finished look:
Elle xx
