Ways To Enhance Beauty

When I'm out and about, I always get compliments on my skin and my makeup. So, I've decided to share and review the products in my morning routine. I've quoted product descriptions from Sephora and Ole Henriksen, because they do such fabulous things for my skin I want you to know what the product does and you can come to your own conclusions. Here's the rundown of my must-have items.

Once I'm up and out the bed, I start my daily routine of cleaning

my face from the sweat and oil of the night before with Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser. I discovered this cleanser on my 37th birthday with a gift card from Sephora. It has great consistency and cleanses your face without it feeling dry and tight.

Next I use Ole Henriksen Truth Serum, while I'm not scared of getting older, I'm definitely not going to show my age. I'm quoting the Sephora product description, this product "supports natural collagen production, brighten, and minimize fine lines. This must-have serum defends from environmental aggressors and free radical damage, leaving skin healthy and protected"-for me, it does exactly what is described here. I allow it to absorb into my skin while I'm brushing my teeth and fixing my bed.

The second layer of my age defying routine is Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Moisturizer. This product, "helps fade discolorations; and instantly nourishes and retexturizes the skin." It, also, helps with mild adult acne. 

After cleansing, treating, and moisturizing my face, I use

Sephora Anti-Shine Foundation Primer to prime and mattify my face. This is part of my everyday routine, it provides me with a natural, dewy complexion when I'm without any makeup. I don't have oily skin, but I do get that shine around my forehead and tip of my nose, and this product prevents it from happening. I let this absorb as I'm pulling out something to wear for the day.

I get my brushes ready for application, I have Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for my foundation, Eco Tools Bamboo Flat Eyeliner Brush, Eco Tools Bamboo Bronzer Brush, and e.l.f. Eye Shadow Brow. I clean them after every use with Sonia Kashuk Brush and Sponge Cleaner.

For my au naturel look, I use Urban Decay Naked Palette. This is my absolute favorite eyeshadow, with shades ranging from a day to night look. It does come with an Eyeshadow Primer (I've already primed my lids and face so I don't use this).

For eyeliner and a dramatic look, I use Urban Decay Smoked Eyeshadow Palette. The colors are fabulous for evening smoky eye, but I mainly use this palette for eyeliner during the day.

I've recently let go the extra steps of foundation of any sort because I don't need heavy coverage. So I've turned to Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Dark. It's creamy and hides those slight imperfections I'm trying to cover.

I use Bite Beauty Line & Define Lip Primer before putting on my favorite shade of lip stain or lipstick. It holds my color for a few hours, through biting my lip and eating and drinking.

I use Clinique's Blended Face Powder in Transparency 5, to set everything. It finishes light and holds it all in place.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara is my absolute favorite. I haven't worn mascara in a long time and this was a pleasant surprise. I live in the south where heat and humidity is the constant and I have had mascara melt and stick my lashes together. This mascara has held up and it does not flake or get sticky, and as a woman with long lashes that hits my glasses this is exactly what I need.

To top it all off, I add on Bite Beauty High Pigment Matte Lip Pencil. I'm a naturalist I don't stray far from my natural lip color, so this lipstick has become the highest on my favorite list. It does last quite awhile, especially when worn with the primer. I love it's almost nude pink color (the intensity will vary on skin tone and natural lip color) and the way it's not gummy or sticky on my lips.