My new skincare and makeup routine.

Hello YLFers,

I'm embarking on a new phase of my style journey as I start a new job and get used to being a mom of two little ones. I'm taking stock of my entire look and am documenting my thoughts in my lookfab blog. I've always loved clothes and makeup but I would like to look more polished and put together. My style priorities in order of importance are:

1) Skincare
2) Makeup
3) Hair maintenance
4) Nails
5) Jewelry
6) Coat
7) Shoes
8) Clothes and everything else

This post is about the first two item- skincare and makeup.

Skincare: I have a friend and business school classmate who started a skincare line called Tatcha based on the beauty rituals of Geishas. She has been a great teacher and inspiration to me in terms of educating me on good skincare. Her approach is based on the Eastern beauty philosophy of taking care of one's skin and allowing natural skin to take center stage rather than covering flaws with makeup, which is the Western approach. This really speaks to me as I really dislike the feel of foundation on my skin.

I use the Tatcha 4-step ritual at night. It is pricey but my skin looks and feels great so I splurge in this area of my style. I also use Smashbox lip exfoliater at night to exfoliate and moisturize my lips so lipstick takes well the next day.

For day, I use Shishedo Benefience Softening Water to wipe my face in the morning. I don't wash again in the morning to prevent dryness. I then use Shishedo Benefience Moisturizer with SPF for sun protection.

I also keep Tatcha blotting papers and Dewy spray with me to use during the day. I blot if my skin looks oily (mostly a summer issue) and use the spray if my skin feels dry (usually only happens in the winter).

Makeup: I used to love makeup and would play with all kinds of colorful and dramatic looks. A few years ago, I toned it down as I felt like the look was too bold for my workplace and the crowd I now run with with. At this point, I have had the same makeup routine for a few years and am ready for an update.

For the spring and summer, I am going to do a winged eyeliner in a dark brown which will be a lighter look than the black I usually wear and will work nicely for summer. On the bottom, I am lining my eye in the waterline with a nude eyeliner with a slight bit of shimmer.

See some great videos which helped me:
http://www.makeupgeek.com/tuto.....ged-liner/

http://www.makeupgeek.com/make.....-eyes-pop/

I'm going to do a medium blush on my cheeks in a peachy, bronze color. The lips will be a MLBB (my lips but better) pinkish, brown which is a nude with a little oomph for me. For summer, I am going to finish the look with some gloss for a little shine. I also use a bit of concealer under the eyes to cover the dark circles from all the night time feedings For evenings out, I will just add eye shadow and do a smoky eye.

I am going to update my makeup routine every 3-6 months to incorporate seasonal looks and hope to avoid ruts in the future.

I hope to continue documenting my style journey through a series of blog posts. Thanks for listening and thoughts and feedback are always welcome.

11 years ago

cheryl

Veteran

It's great that you have found a system that works for you. I have also been focusing on better skincare and I love makeup. I will be looking forward to reading about the rest of your style journey.

Aida

Thanks for sharing this with us Suja, it always feels great when we find a good system for ourselves. I also prioritize skin/hair/nails health and take the Eastern approach rather than the Western approach. I wear less make up than you (mascara and lip color), and while I sometimes worry it's too minimal, it's also very freeing to be happy with the way I look au naturale. Prioritizing the skin health above make up does wonders for that. I'm always interested to hear when people don't re-wash their faces in the morning, my skin must just be too oily for that! I use Ponds at night to remove makeup, and a lavender-oatmeal light facial scrub in the mornings. I really like the idea of using a lip exfoliator at night, I need to try that. I used to use a brown-sugar lip scrub in the shower, but nighttime seems like a better place to do it. Your make up plan sounds lovely, a peachy natural vibe.

Gigi

Very interesting to read about your skincare routine! I'm still experimenting with mine. I too like to do everything I can for my natural skin so that makeup becomes less about hiding blemishes and more about simply accentuating what's already there, in a good way, and creating different "looks." I make a lot of my own beauty products from a book I bought with natural skincare recipes, so it is fun also!

I don't rewash in the morning either. I like to just wipe my face down with a moisturizing toner.

Suja

Cheryl, glad there is someone on YLF who loves makeup too!

Aida, at about 30 my oily skin started to feel dry every once in a while. I probably could wash twice a day but I prefer to do a quick wipe and then blot off the oil mid-day. Lip exfoliator is awesome! Mine leaves a vaseline-like layer even after you wash it off, so it is perfect for night. Make lipstick the next day less likely to feather. I agree, skin health is so important and adds so much to your style quotient. I am sometimes lazy about it but I have decided to recommit.

Gigi: You make your own beauty product? Impressive! I bought a set of essential oils once and sometimes mix something up and it has worked well. Maybe I'll try it again.

Hil

(website)

So cool when something works well for you! I discovered oil cleansing last year, via a post here and can't believe how well it works for me... I just want to go out and tell the world!

Hill: I totally agree. The shimmery, nude eyeliner is my shout-it-from-a-mountain product right now. The first day I wore it, my three year old said "Mommy, I like your eyes."

Oil cleansers are great. I discovered them about a year ago and haven't looked back.

Maybe I should be more careful about the term "beauty product." I mean more along the lines of skin-care product as opposed to makeup. I got a book by Stephanie Tourles, Organic Body Care Recipes. It has recipes for things like moisturizer, toner, exfoliators, etc. It's kind of fun to try new stuff that doesn't break the bank!

I use oil cleansing on my face too. My face used to be oily, but like yours, in my thirties it started getting drier.

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