Get ready for a Zoom call with me! 💻

I think I did 😳 Hear me out, I love the VDL - Lumilayer Primer Fresh but, it’s esspensive! I love the finish it leaves on the skin, it’s a beautiful hydrating primer that looks gorgeous on many different skin tones but can definitely look too shimmery if you accidentally apply too much. I recently found the essence - Fresh & Fit Awake Primer and it is AMAZING. It’s definitely a little bit thicker than the VDL primer, but it’s more luminous rather than shimmery and just as the VDL can be worn with or without makeup. As you can see in the last slide they look pretty similar when swatched side to side! The VDL primer is $32 for 1.01 oz and the Essence primer is $5.99, so price wise I think we have a clear winner. Have you tried either of these primers? :)

Listen, this primer is GOOD. It reminds me of the VDL fresh lumilayer primer, but at a much more cost effective price tag ✨ It adds so much luminosity to my skin, blurs ‘imperfections’ and is just fabulous overall, definitely one of the best primers I’ve tried including drugstore, high end, everything! I don’t notice a change in the longevity or wear of my makeup but it definitely preps the skin by adding so much glow and radiance, if you’re into that you’ll definitely like this primer. I included a photo of it swatched on my hand, the left side is just my bare skin, right is my skin with the primer. Last slide is how my makeup looks after a few hours of prepping my skin with this product 💗 essence - Fresh & Fit Awake Primer

I’ve been obsessed with skincare and makeup since I was a little girl. I made my own masks, I religiously cleansed my face day and night once I started wearing makeup and I used treatment products and moisturizers long before I needed them - that is key! Start a skincare routine as early as you can. If you think your skin is perfect and doesn’t need anything, think about the decades coming! Start now! Here’s the thing- skincare (and makeup) don’t have to be complicated or expensive. I regularly blend drugstore products with high end products. Honestly, many of the drugstore products turn out to be my favorites. Full disclosure, I use a crap ton of skincare products and I change up my routine as needed. I rarely put on a full face of makeup but I do wear some makeup 5-6 days of the week because it makes me feel pulled together and I like how it looks. No apologies necessary for daily make up wearers- do what makes you feel good! No shame in self care, ever! Today felt like a full-face-of-makeup day for some reason, so I had some fun and put it all on. Here are some of my fave products and what I used today: 1. Day old hair with Toni & Guy matte hair powder. 2. Cleanse face with CLARISMA - Malibu Blush Exfoliating Scrub - the enzymes in this cleanser keep my face smooth and glowing. Follow with some quick swipes of pixi - Glow Tonic allow to dry then mix one dropThe Ordinary - Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% The Ordinary - Matrixyl* 10% + HA , half pumpCLARISMA - Cali Dreaming Cream Daily Moisturizer massage in and appy a dab of Roots Sensitive Eye Cream to eyes. When my face is dry I apply a layer of DRUNK ELEPHANT - Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 . 3. Prime my oily skin with smashbox - Photo Finish Foundation Primer Super Light , one little drop each LANCÔME - Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation and SHISEIDO - Perfect Refining Foundation SPF 15 MAYBELLINE - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer for under eyes, e.l.f. - Hydrating Camo Concealer (just discovered this!), UNDONE BEAUTY - LIP TO CHEEK 3-IN-1 CREAM PALETTE , tiny bit of bareMinerals - Mineral Veil Setting Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 25 on t-zone, SHISEIDO - Shiseido Eyelash Curler COVERGIRL - Total Tease Waterproof Mascara NYX - Eyebrow Cake Powder , Rimmel grey eyeliner, a few pats bh - Illuminating in Ireland 6 Color Highlight Palette Sephora chunky crayon brow enhancer, florence by mills - Limited Edition Get Glossed Lip Gloss Duo . Last, I like to spray a couple spritzes of HERBIVORE - Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Mist to get a satin look. This seems like a lot, but it takes maybe 6-8 minutes. I apply my foundation, concealer, cream blush and eye shadow by hand. Always have, always will. My skin isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good and I owe it to taking care of my skin for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, I grew up in an era we didn’t talk about sunscreen and sun damage. I baked in the sun and eeeeek, tanning beds. Surprisingly, my skin isn’t horrible but I definitely see the damage. I’m currently working on undoing some of that damage. Morale of the story, take care of your skin and enjoy the process. I do!

UNDONE BEAUTY - LIP TO CHEEK 3-IN-1 CREAM PALETTE This lip to cheek palette is very pretty on the skin, but can be time consuming to blend out. I do like the color a lot! In the compact, there is a sheer shade, a medium shade, and a full coverage shade (from top to bottom). UNDONE BEAUTY - CONCEAL TO REVEAL 3-IN-1 COVERAGE PALETTE This concealer is amazing! It blends well with my skin tone, and it is easy to blend. There is coconut extract in it, so I feel like it is healthier for the skin compared to other concealers out there. It is moisturizing so it does not look dry over blemishes. This palette is like the lip to cheek palette, so there is 3 different levels of coverage in the compact. I like to use the sheer (top) concealer under my eyes, and I like to use the full (bottom) concealer on acne/eczema spots. I sometimes get eczema on my cheeks, and this concealer is great at concealing/moisturizing eczema spots as well. 👉🏻Cons about both palettes: I prefer to use brushes for my makeup, and these palettes make it hard to use brushes. If you use brushes to apply these products, it will make the different coverages mix. I use my finger to apply the product to my face, so I can keep the different coverages separate.

I recently picked up two products from my local Target a couple days ago: e.l.f. - Wow Brow Gel in neutral brown & wet n wild - Mega Length Mascara in very black The first picture is my before - as you can see, my eyebrows are naturally lighter than my hair, and my eyelashes don't particularly stand out. The next photo is me at work in the morning (my uni's music library!) with my eyebrows and mascara done, and the final photo is how it held up into the evening! Throughout the day, I itched my eyes and brows multiple times, and no budge!! Also, I've found that this mascara is easy to use due to its wand, and it doesn't make my eyelashes feel dried out or heavy! Already, I can tell that both of these items are going to be staples in my go-to natural daily look! *DISCLAIMER: Alongside the mascara, I used my regular e.l.f. - Clear Brow & Lash Mascara to prime my eyelashes (I did not use it on my eyebrows, though), and I used e.l.f. - Dewy Coconut Setting Mist to set the entire eye look.

I will admit that I immediately fell in love with the effortless application of Glossier. - Lash Slick Mascara and its amazing "my lashes but better" look. However, I have one major issue with this beautiful mascara.... it constantly flakes throughout the day. This is a huge let down considering it is on the pricier side. so instead of shedding some tears over my let down, I decided to put a supposed dupe to the test. The wet n wild - Mega Length Mascara costs significantly less and overall gives the EXACT same look as Lash Slick and the wand applicator looks pretty much identical. Better yet, I have no flaking! The only difference I can tell is the actual formula itself. I personally like the feel and application of Lash Slick better than the Mega Length Mascara. It glides on easier and feels smoother. But, I dislike flaking and that is a hard pass for me. The winner in my book is Mega Length!

A friend gave me a NYX - Ultimate Shadow Palette in the array of colors named Phoenix for Christmas. The colors really surprised me and got me quite intrigued. They blend really nicely and give you a lot of opportunities to do so many looks so I do recommend it tourlou 🪐 also worn Glossier. - Perfecting Skin Tint Glossier. - Stretch Concealer SOL BODY - Face & Body Bronzing Balm Glossier. - Cloud Paint Seamless Cheek Color Glossier. - Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder COLOURPOP - Lip Tint Kit

I remember doing this makeup in September for an event where I read some of my poetry for the first time . I am still getting used to my really short hair and to feel as feminine and as confident. This day will forever stay in my heart and I am so grateful for that (also it was my dad's birthday and taylor Swift anouced that she is releasing evermore like ,how iconic ?!!!!) tourlou 🪐 worn smashbox - Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Matte Primer PÜR - 4-In-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation & Concealer e.l.f. - 16HR Camo Concealer Glossier. - Cloud Paint Seamless Cheek Color FENTY BEAUTY - Match Stix Matte Skinstick Glossier. - Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder LUNAR BEAUTY - Moon Prism Blush Palette BECCA - Sunlit Bronzer essence - Pure Nude Highlighter MAYBELLINE - Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder benefit - Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer URBAN DECAY - Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion COLOURPOP - Stone Cold Fox Shadow Palette PAT McGRATH LABS - Mega Mothership: Celestial Divinity Eyeshadow Palette Too Faced - Damn Girl! 24-Hour Mascara MAYBELLINE - Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Spiced Edition FENTY BEAUTY - Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer