It’s a weird time to love beauty. We’re all at home, all of the time—so applying a full face of makeup seems like a terrible waste of time. But there’s something to be said for sprucing yourself up just for you, and not for the general public. By spending some time on grooming, you’ll feel a lot more like life is normal and fine, and not the massive garbage fire it actually is right now. Plus, looking a bit cuter never hurt anybody, right? So, without further ado, here’s my favorite makeup routine for staying home.
As always, you want to start with a clean face. The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is perfect for cleaning and refreshing any stressed out or sensitive complexions, and is also a total bargain. If you really want to treat yourself, though, a mask is always a pleasure. The Gallinee La Culture Face Mask & Scrub is my current top choice. It deeply cleanses and purifies but never feels harsh or stripping. It also has some beads which can help buff away any uneven texture to give you the most naturally perfected base.
If you’re struggling with more pernicious skin issues (clogged pores, acne, discoloration, you get the picture) a quick swipe of the Glossier Solution works wonders. If you’re sensitive, it may work best as a weekly treatment, but I find I can use it almost daily and get one step closer to glass skin.
In my new life as a hermit, I’ve recently become more diligent than ever before with my serums. Vitamin C is that one thing I’ve always known I should use, but never quite got into a routine with—until now. I’m in a committed relationship with the Drunk Elephant C Firma Day Serum. I put it on every morning, and yes, it smells a bit weird and feels a bit sticky, but the results are well worth it. Promise.
The stickiness can be immediately mitigated with a moisturizer, too. The Glossier Priming Moisturizer is a good one, offering hydration, plumpness, smoothness, and dewiness with no extra frills.
For the true Glossier-girl look, though, you’ll also want to add a layer of the Glossier Futuredew. This stuff is crazy good if you want to fake perfect skin in seconds. It cheats the look of freshly applied skincare, plus makes any makeup you put over top look incredibly natural.
For the base, I’ve been favoring something like the Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint. There’s much to love about this—the easy rollerball application, the natural but buildable coverage it delivers, that sweet, citrus-y scent… But the main pull is the 30 SPF. Sure, you’re (mostly) indoors, but staying protected is always important—particularly if you’re using active ingredients like acids on your skin.
The Sunshine Skin Tint offers quite a surprising amount of coverage considering how light it feels, but for an extra boost, the RMS Un-Cover Up is excellent. It feels a little bit waxy to the touch, but it blends and melts into the skin nicely. Once blended it sets and stays put, while still looking bouncy, natural, and never, ever cakey.
The Glossier look is all about natural, fluffy brows—but psst, I think the ELF Wow Brow actually delivers a better finish than the Boy Brow. Wow Brow is drier and more fibrous-feeling, meaning you get to bulk up individual hairs for a bushier finish. It’s also about a third of the price, which is a nice win. If you do want to add in some individual hairs, though, the Glossier Brow Flick is a truly excellent brow pen option.
Add some color back to the cheeks with a creamy blush. I love the Make Beauty Universal Stick, which looks terrifyingly lilac in the tube but changes color on contact to give you a warm terracotta shade. Apply sparingly, though, because it gets more intense as you blend. To get the shiniest cheekbones the world has ever seen, a small dab of the Ciate Dewy Stix in “Glow” gives a ton of reflect without any glittery pigment. Essentially, you look like your skin is just naturally that juicy.
Lids are where you can have a little more fun. I’ve been loving a small dab of the Tarte Rainforest Of The Sea Seaglass Eyeshadow in “Night Dive,” blended out with a finger. It offers a really fun (but surprisingly natural) holographic teal reflect—like you’re a dewy, sparkly alien. For a more natural look, go for a shimmery white shade like the Glossier Lidstar in “Moon.”
Lips should be juicy and glossy—but if you’re staying home, this can be achieved with a balm instead of a gloss. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask gives a beautifully shiny finish while offering tons of nourishment to parched lips. Another favorite is the Tarte Jellyglaze Anytime Lip Mask in “Toasted Coconut,” which might have the best scent of any lip product, ever.
I disapprove of powder, but if you rely on it, for this look it has to be the Glossier Wowder. If you overdo it (or simply want to add more dew to your complexion) the Caudalie Beauty Elixir not only looks gorgeous on the skin, but has a superiorly calming scent.
Speaking of scents, I think perfumes are one of the most important beauty products in a crisis. Liberally apply your fragrance of choice—but for a Glossier-inspired look, Glossier You seems highly fitting.
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