One simple change which made a huge difference to my makeup, was using a good foundation brush instead of being Fingers McGee every morning. My Nyx brush cost about 10 bucks in the drugstore, and combining that with Missha BB cream makes me feel great in the morning in just a couple of minutes. TRY IT, she said bossily. Stipple it on, then buff it in.

I also use eyebrow mascara (Nyx again) every day to contain my enthusiastic brows.

I think for any makeup or skincare routine to be successful, it helps to look at it as an art form and a skill set - meaning, the more you practice it and play with it, the more comfortable you will get with it - and more creative, as well.

My girlfriend works for Trisha McEvoy, and she turned me on to the Instant Eye Lift. It brightens the undereye area, and it smells like roses, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s changed my life. I also got this Trish McEvoy planner as a birthday gift to myself and I love love love it. It was spendy, but the colors are so good, and it’s easy-peasy to use.

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/tr.....;color=900

I found this drugstore makeup tutorial video by Elanna Perchele several months ago, and it’s been my makeup starting point ever since. I bought most of the products in the video and was very happy with her recommendations...

https://youtu.be/-S7-rc0A08A

The Budget Dermatologist had some amazing recs for drugstore skincare, and for setting up a routine. https://youtu.be/sjpybsp0Vrg
I use the Australian Gold tinted SPF 50 as my ‘everyday’ foundation, and I love it.

I love Tarte eyeliners and Benefit’s Better Than Sex mascara, for non-irritating eye options,

Mary Beth, think for any makeup or skincare routine to be successful, it helps to look at it as an art form and a skill set
so if I’m completely honest, I love fashion, and love playing around with fashion, I’ve got limited interest in makeup/skincare, it’s just never been my thing… so I know that I should/could use it better, but it’s hard for me to get excited about it…I can/will read tons of blogs, watch YouTube after YouTube on fashion, but makeup and 2 minutes in my mind has wandered and I’m barely paying attention. But I am committed to making some changes in 2022

In addition to silly hats and the like, Zoom allows you a choice of eyebrows and lip colors. I have also tried a variety of facial hair.

kkards I am the same in that I can't even manage to watch an entire eyeshadow tutorial. I wear only BB or CC type tinted sunscreen (my choices keep getting discontinued so no recommendations there), light mascara and lately, darken my brows just a bit with Revlon Brow Fantasy in a light colour. I'm not aiming for a very defined brow nor to extend/draw a new shape, just add slight emphasis to what is already there. I find it easy to apply at my skill level. https://www.revlon.com/eyes/ey.....ark-blonde

Your brows appear fairly nicely defined naturally, though.

I am also a Trinny London fan and use BFF and have just tried BFF eye. The BFF serum is great too and I like the eye products. I don't bother with the lip ones as I prefer the convenience of a stick.

I am lazy and my routine is BFF, concealer or serum, blusher, mascara and eye brow definition. Lipstick or balm.

Interesting call outs re Trinny, I’m the last couple of months I’ve become a huge fan of her closet confessions videos, so I’m aware that she has a skincare/makeup line, but I’ve never investigated it…will add this brand to my list of brands to try

Your question about cream blush had me diving into my makeup drawer. I lovelovelove Mac's cream blush, which they sadly discontinued quite a while ago. It had everything I look for in a cream blush, perfect consistency for blending—I use my fingers, not a sponge—it didn't deposit lots of color then disappear during application; and beautiful colors.

I can't tell you what to buy, but I can tell you what I have tried and why they haven't worked. You may have to kiss a few frogs at various makeup counters to find what works for you.

Here's my experience. My least successful was Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks. Stiff, stiff, stiff! Hard to blend. Ugh. Her newest line, Jones Road, which lisap mentioned, looks much to be better, but I haven't tried that. I recently bought a roll-on blush in a little pot from Merit, that can be used for cheeks and lips. Underwhelming. It's one of those that deposits a lot of color then disappears. I have Glossier's Cloud Paint and was disappointed by it. Glossier calls it a gel-cream—I found it more gel than cream, and not as easy to use as a pure cream blush, particularly because it deposits a lot of pigment, that I then have to fiddle around with. I did say in my earlier reply that I am not at all adept with makeup, so there is that. I'm also impatient, and need something that doesn't tax my limited makeup skills! My makeup routines needs to take 5 minutes, max.

After whingeing a lot about Mac's discontinued cream blush, I finally broke down and tried their mineral blush, which the sales rep said is a cross between a cream and powder. Hmm. I don't think so. But it IS prettier than a pure powder, in that it doesn't lay on top of my skin but seems to sink into it a bit, so there is that. I still mourn the old Mac cream blush. Of which I still have quite a stash and use it. And will until it turns on me.

Bestie I can’t see the pic bc I’m not at active member level, but what I do when I feel I need makeup but refuse to put effort in is a take a big brush and some face powder (you know like that general stuff that can work as a concealer/foundation/general skin tone evener) and brush it all over my face, some highlight/contour if I want to, and then setting spray. I generally consider primer necessary but I keep loosing mine anyways and I’ve found that if in a rush it really doesn’t make *that* much of a difference. So that’s 2-4 steps and takes me less than 10min.

I like using mineral powder makeup. I think it's quicker and easier to use than liquids. Just dust it on with a big fluffy brush!