product recommendations

When I was in high school, I barely wore make-up. I’d be the girl in cat sweaters, thick-rimmed glasses and overalls. I dressed like a hipster without realizing what a hipster was, simply by shopping at Goodwill and being too much of a literary geek to care about clothes.

Now, I’m 25 years old and I work in public relations, so I feel obligated to wear make-up nearly every day I go to work.  Part of this is because I got into the habit in college, being in a major with a high percentage of sorority girls. It’s also partly due to the simple fact that I have a total baby-face.

When I don’t wear make-up, I look ten years younger. Since I’m already the youngest person on multiple teams, wearing make-up helps make it look like I’m not some sullen teenager sneaking over from some “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” event.

But because I like to stay up late and go out and do things, I am not really a morning person. I wanted my workday make-up routine to be as streamlined and simple as possible.

Here are my go-to products for quickly putting on my face and facing the fucking day.

Moisturizer and Primer

I always use moisturizer with some SPF. You should too. It’s a good idea. Right now I’m using Kroger’s version of the Oil of Olay Oil of Beauty moisturizer. I do not use make-up primer every day. I save that for going out or days when I think if I don’t use it, my minimal make-up will end up melting off my face. (So, the summer, maybe.)

Foundation

I live in Los Angeles, so I don’t usually like to wear liquid foundation. It feels too heavy and hot. I’m also dark-skinned so it’s usually a pain in the neck trying to find the appropriate shade. What I do instead is dust some Physician’s Formula matte bronzer on my face in lieu of powder foundation. I don’t know at what point I discovered that their matte bronzers were the perfect shade for my skin, but it’s true. They also manage to brighten your skin as well.

I’m currently infatuated with their “mood-boosting” line, with the cute hearts and the wacky violet smell. The smell fades after a while, unfortunately.

Physician’s Formula Mood Boosting Pressed Powder

Blush

As much as I claim to wear make-up so I don’t look 15, I still kind of have a 15-year-old’s budget. That’s why drugstore brand Wet N Wild is one of the staples of my make-up routine. It helps that their make-up is pretty awesome for the price-point. They also recently redid their line so the packaging is very cute and minimalist.

I usually use their blush in Heather Silk.

Wet N Wild Color Icon Blush

Eyes

I use more Wet N Wild products here. I’m partial to their eye pencil in Bronzed. That’s actually an understatement. If they stopped making that, I’d probably kill myself. It’s one of those eye pencil shades that works for all skin tones, I think. It’s also only 99 cents, and if you have a Walgreens nearby, on sale for 69 cents. I definitely recommend this product.

I am also extremely fond of Wet N Wild Mega Plump mascara. It’s the one in the red tube. They are all really good mascaras but this happens to be the one I like.

I do not use eye shadow, typically, if it’s just an everyday workday.

Wet N Wild Eyeliner in Bronzed

Wet N Wild MegaPlump Waterproof Mascara

Lips

Depending on how I’m feeling, I will either rock Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (this is truly the holy grail of lipsticks, everyone loves it), a CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain or just plain old Chapstick. I’m partial to the Burt’s Bee’s chapsticks, since they have a nice scent.

I don’t wear lipstick, generally. It also feels like a bit too much make-up.

Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

So now you have my beauty routine, which, honestly, takes all of 5-10 minutes depending on how hungover I might be. So what’s your workday beauty routine?