(posted on Instagram – before the blonde! wearing Smith & Cult polish)
- Why do you (or don’t you) wear makeup?
- When do you wear makeup? do you put it on everyday, no matter if you’re just going to be at home or going to the grocery store, just for yourself? Or do you save it for special occasions?
- What are your 2-3 can’t-do-without skincare/makeup items?
- How have you changed your routine over the years? or haven’t you?
- Do you do your own nails? Or have manicures? What products do you use if you do them at home?
My answers:
1. Why do you (or don’t you) wear makeup?
I don’t remember originally why/when I started wearing makeup, in high school probably, and maybe because I thought I was supposed to? I’ve always had a contentious relationship with makeup; it generally scares me. I dislike VERY MUCH looking like I’m “made” up in any way, so more often than not, I just avoid anything that’s not “neutral” on my face (like lip color…).
I’ve never really worn foundation or a lot of product on my face. And that’s not because I think I have beautiful skin and don’t “need” it: I have red cheeks and uneven skintone. I would just rather look uneven than look like I’m wearing makeup. And I’ve never found a product that make me feel or look like I wasn’t wearing makeup that also provided a more even, less red skintone. But also, honestly, I don’t care that much; I don’t think I have an obligation to look perfect, or pretty. I just want to look like me, whoever that happens to be at the moment.
What I do wear: Daily, I wear Josh Rosebrook’s tinted SPF, and sometimes that’s it. Lately, I’ve been adding more, just to go about my day, because I think it looks pretty, and I love to see my eyes more vibrant, behind my glasses: Kjaer Weis blush in “blossoming,” Kjaer Weis eyeshadow in Earthly Calm (I use it as eyeliner), Kjaer Weis black mascara, RMS Magic Luminizer (and if I don’t use eyeliner, I’ll use RMS master mixer on my eyelids).
I don’t wear lip color aside from gloss or balm. Not because I don’t have it (I have OLD lipsticks hanging around), but lip color is where I think the border is for me, between looking “natural” and looking “made up.” I love it, and the idea of it, but when I wear it, I often will look at myself in the mirror and think I look “made up,” or like I’m playing at being someone I’m not. I’d like to get over that though, because I could use a little color, I think, and I like the look, sometimes.
2. When do you wear makeup?
As I mentioned above, I don’t wear “makeup” every day, or hadn’t really. I would just use the tinted spf and call it a day under most circumstances (for working at home, running random errands around the suburbs, etc.) unless I was going to meet a friend, or “to town” LOL. I didn’t think it was worth it to “make myself up” just for myself, you know? But that disturbs me, and I am set on changing it. I have the same problem with fragrance; I don’t buy any because I spend most of my time working at home, so why use it just for myself? Why NOT?? I love the way my clothes smell when I use a fragrance, even the next day. And I love the way I look when I see myself in the mirror, with my eyelashes curled, and a little eyeliner or mascara. Why should I not enjoy looking at myself or smelling nice, just at home?
3. What are your 2-3 can’t-do-without skincare/makeup items?
Rosehip oil, rose balm, rose hand cream – notice a theme??
Since I started using rosehip oil a couple years ago (I use Aura Cacia’s organic rosehip oil that is less than $10 at WF or Amazon – until someone can convince me I should buy a more expensive rosehip oil, I’m sticking with this one….), instead of argan oil, I’ve noticed that my face is much brighter. I use it in conjunction with an Even Healy hydrosol spray, and I’ve been very very pleased with my overall skin health. Then if I need more moisture I’ll use Shiva Rose’s Glow balm (sadly sold out everywhere), which is like crack for your face, and you don’t need much. And for my hands, nothing is better than Osmia’s rose hand cream for moisture that sinks in, and doesn’t feel greasy at all. I HATE greasy hand cream.
4. How have you changed your routine over the years? or haven’t you?
I really haven’t…I did used to try new products way more often than I do now, but I’m really practicing being happy with what I have/use and not trying so much new stuff all the time. It was getting out of control!
5. Do you do your own nails? Or have manicures?
When I worked in an office I used to get regular manicures, but haven’t done for about 15 years. I do them myself at home, pretty regularly, with a few days off in between “color” for just a treatment, or to leave them bare. I keep my nails VERY SHORT and use some sort of cuticle oil every day because they’re abnormally dry and peeling/cracked.
My favorite polish in the past has been Chanel, but lately, I use more Deborah Lippmann or Nails Inc. I tried Tenoverten because they’re 8-free and cruelty-free, but the polish doesn’t last very long, only around 2 days, and I’m not very hard on my nails.
Your turn!!!
Zoya is great on the less toxins nail polish while also having a wide variety of colors that are long lasting. I use their naked line most often on my hands-I wash them often at work and it seems to keep them healthy and looking clean and nice-like my own nails but a bit better.
I wear makeup to even out my skin, bring down some redness in blemishes, and to bring some warmth and color to my cheeks. I just like the look of clear, healthy skin, so some light BB cream mixed with my day moisturizer helps with that, and my medium-ish olive skin looks sallow without some peachy blush. I combine skincare and makeup routines since I personally think they go hand-in-hand and prefer for my skin to show and not be “layered” in makeup. My go to brands include Dr. Hauschka, Chidoriya (the price of your current rosehip oil can’t be beat, but I absolutely love Chidoriya’s rosehip oil), Tarte, and Glossier. I wear makeup for work and if I go “out” but my going out look isn’t much different than my day look besides a bright lip since I happily found out that a bright orangey red looks great with my skin tone. I used to wear more makeup when I was younger, but I came to the conclusion that I really don’t need it anyway and I enjoy a quicker routine now. I am jealous of your ability to give yourself such pretty manicures. I am terrible at doing my own nails even though I love the look. But, I refuse to go to those sketchy cheap nail salons anymore, and my Aveda salon is too pricey for regular trips.
1. I feel the same way about makeup! I don’t like looking “made up”, it makes me very uneasy. For me, that’s foundation. I can’t find one that doesn’t look orange on my skin. I’ve tried tons of stuff, and it always looks so fake. I’m very fair with more yellow undertones, but I also have rosacea, so I’d probably have to use two or three different shades/products to get an “even” look, and that’s just not worth it to me. So, I just don’t wear makeup 90% of the time, like anything at all. Sometimes I wear eyeliner, or a little bit of eyeliner +shadow, but most of the time, it’s 100% Natural Amy. I didn’t even wear makeup to a recent job interview (and I got the job!)
I also have extremely sensitive skin – rosacea and dryness. I can’t hardly put anything on my skin these days. Also, I have a moderate aloe vera allergy and aloe is in EVERYTHING, so that rules out most stuff. I have found over the years that the less I do to my skin, the healthier it is and the better it looks on its own, so I just stopped putting hardly anything on my face at all.
2. I only wear eye makeup when I’m feeling fancy (like date night or something), or I don’t want to look so tired – eyeliner makes a big difference there.
3. The two things I do use on my face are: Kiss My Face olive oil soap for washing once a day; Kosmatology lotion bar in Goody Grapefruit. I loooooove the Kosmatology bar, I just found them and they are amazing. They were made specifically for infant eczema, so it works great for my hypersensitive skin.
4. So I started wearing makeup in junior high – like full face, foundation + blush + eyes+ lips at the tender age of 13. My mom was always into Clinique and we loved getting the little gift bags, so she took me to get some. She and the makeup lady were convinced I needed the full package because my skin was “so bad.” And it was at the time – lots of acne and oil, but I learned later that that was 1) puberty 2) because I was putting so much crap on my face! Like I said above, it’s very dry and I have rosacea, but I didn’t realize that – we just thought it was terrible acne so I tried every topical treatment there was, which stripped my skin, and made it produce more oil to compensate, so then I got zits, so I’d put on more makeup, which would irritate it more…you see the vicious cycle. I wore this shit ton of makeup every day until my early 20s, when my wonderful husband finally convinced me to stop doing anything at all to my face, and after a tough several months of healing, my skin has never been better (and I have more money for other things, like hair dye…). I used it as a security blanket for a long time, but now that I’m more at peace with myself, I don’t feel like I need to wear it.
Since I don’t wear anything anymore, my routine has been greatly simplified…whereas before I’d use things like multi-step Proactiv or other stuff, now I just wash once a day with olive oil soap, and then use the lotion bar. Not even every day…I typically wash my face in the shower, so if I don’t shower that day, I don’t wash it. I will wash extra if I get really sweaty, but then again, I’d be taking a shower if that happened.
5. Hardly do my nails anymore since having a baby, there’s no time! And the color gets dinged up really fast. Every summer I get a pedicure with my sister as part of our Treat Yo Self day, and sometimes I get shellacked nails done, but otherwise, I don’t do anything.
Great questions! I’m going to make this into my own blog post. Stay tuned!!
PS – For lip color that isn’t made up, look for a MLBB (My Lip But Better) type of color. I found a couple of good ones in the Revlon Balm Stain line. The colors are subtle and you can try one that it’s in your lip color family. Good luck!!
1-2. I wear makeup every day, to look more polished and less tired. : )
3. My “can’t live without” skincare product is Mario Badescu’s Complex Moisturizer SPF 30, and my Bobbi Brown corrector and concealer for my hereditary under eye circles.
4. I’m 48, and as I’ve aged my makeup routine includes less “color”–no eyeshadow, no blush, and lipsticks are on the subdued side.
5. I don’t do manicures unless it’s for a special occasion–I knit, sew, and ride a mountain bike, so my hands take a beating.
No manicures- I garden. And cook. And do dishes. If my nails are clean, I’m happy. I love burt’s bees lemon cuticle cream – have it on my desk at work and next to my chair at home. I do love to get a pedicure – living in the South, my toes are showing 3/4 of the year it seems. (it’s 72 today!) I don’t wear foundation, have worn daily sunscreen since I was in high school (I’ll be 44 this year). Sometimes I try using a tinted sunscreen or BB or CC cream, but I haven’t found one I feel is “light” enough to use regularly. I’m lucky to have pretty good skin. Daily, I wear eyeliner (purple or brown) a neutral powder eyeshadow, and light blush. All in, about 5 minutes application (A couple more minutes for the sunscreen and/or bb cream). Lip balm, maybe tinted if I’m feeling special. Always forget to reapply during the day, except lip balm. As I age, might have to explore eyelid primers to keep shadow from settling into creases….
Last winter I was REALLY dry & scaly (which was new!) This year, I dug out my humidifiers and found a Kiehls serum that I love, so my skin isn’t as dry and my lips haven’t cracked….
I have to say that your blog is one of the few I’ve found that still has a lot of nice comments and discussion!
1. I wear mascara every day. I feel like it makes me look more awake. Sometimes I will add a tinted moisturizer or BB cream.
2. I still would put it on if it were just me because I have to see myself and I like how it looks. None of my life is “fancy” though – I stay at home with my five kids (well three go to school). So I see them and other moms/parents daily. I wear more if I’m going out with my husband or to church.
3. Honest Beauty mascara, Olio E Osso lip balm #2, and
4. My routine has changed because I wear less now than I did when I was younger. I wore more when I worked and when I had more time. I love makeup though, love playing with it, love trying new things, so I still like to experiment and have fun with it.
5. Constantly washing hands or doing dishes etc so nail polish doesn’t last. I paint them once every few months but it is very rare. I love to get pedicures monthly in the summer.
I used to love experimenting with different colors and application techniques – everything from shadows to bronzers to lip color, etc. Now that I’m 40, though, I no longer have the budget to try a new eye shadow palette every other month, or to stock 10 different lipsticks. I spend too much on anti-aging moisturizers/serums/etc. (Though, admittedly I do feel like I have a good stable of regular products that actually keep my combination skin in check and at least create the appearance of more youthful, elastic skin). I wear minimal makeup, but I wear it every day, whether I’m going out or not. I think most people who interact with me would say that I either don’t wear makeup or “just some mascara and lip gloss.”
I get gel manicures every 10-14 days, which is a huge extravagance but I always feel put together with short nails and minimal regrowth. If I had to cut back anywhere to save for a big purchase, or just to be a less frivolous person, I could do my own nails. But I really love my nail tech and I want to keep giving her the business.
I love posts like this and all the great comments!
1. I feel my best wearing makeup. I also have scleroderma that affects my face, and even though I don’t truly camouflage it, I feel more confident wearing makeup.
2. I wear makeup every day; it’s part of my morning routine, even if I’m staying home all day.
3. A good moisturizer (Cetaphil Restoraderm for day and Rosemira Organics Unscented cream for night.) I recently ordered One Love Organic’s Skin Dew and am trying it out as a lighter moisturizer for warmer months. I also really like Glossier’s Skin Tint mixed with Gressa’s foundation. I like a minimal makeup look, but I have oily skin that seems to do better with a bit of foundation and powder on top. My HG powder is Jane Iredale’s PureMatte Finish Powder. Charlotte Tilbury’s Eyes to Mesmerize are the best cream eye shadows and I love that I can apply them with my finger. I also wear eyeliner and mascara, as well as a nude lip sheer or gloss. RMS makes beautiful blush and I apply a little on my cheeks.
4. I definitely did the full foundation face in high school and college. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started using less foundation. Now, it’s more about careful application and blending with a sponge and brush. I also only wear mascara on my top lashes now, since I think it opens up my eyes more.
5. I’m almost 39 and have never had a salon manicure or pedicure. I prefer not to paint my fingernails, but keep them trimmed fairly short and buff them. Since I’m in Texas, I almost always have an at-home pedicure because I’m either in sandals or barefoot at home. I have size 10 feet, so I feel like manicured toes just look better. I’ve been trying more nude shades of polish, and Chanel makes some gorgeous polish. I used to hate doing my own pedicures until I finally bought some mineral nail polish remover at Whole Foods. It’s so much easier and quicker to use, and is much gentler on my feet, too.
Any thoughts on the transition from argan to rose hip oil on your face? I’ve been using argan for years and love it, but for environmental reasons am thinking about making a switch. I’ve always been hesitant about rose hip because it seems…oily-er if that makes sense.
I used Argan oil forever but wasn’t happy with it lately – my skin just felt more dry – so I switched to rose hip. It definitely feels more oily but it sinks in quickly and is much more effective for brightness and moisture imo. I’ve used the rose hip oil for at least a year now and am ridiculously happy with the results!
1. I think I wear makeup because I used to be fascinated with my mom’s makeup when she’d put it on to go out at night. She was a real beauty (and still is!) who modeled and was mistaken for Miss America several times. I think I imagined that I’d hit upon the “right” makeup look and it would turn gawky me into a beautiful woman. Since I’ve gained confidence in myself, I use it because I LOVE IT! But even though I’ve worked as a professional makeup artist, I was always known as ” the one that wears the natural look”! I’m good with that. 🙂
2. I used to wear makeup everyday, but since I hit 50+, I only wear it when I’m working, going on errands around town or on a date with my hubby. But I love to purchase the newest products from companies I love, and I can’t resist a great lipcolor, even if I’m wearing nothing else on my face but moisturizer/sunscreen.
I’m another Foundation hater, but I find that if I use the “tricks of the trade” I can sheer down my perfect shade with moisturizer and then spot-cover my rosacea. I’ve switched to mostly natural products by Vapour, Kjaer Weiss, Bite Beauty, W3ll People, Kosas Lip color and RMS Beauty…but my Holy Gail Product is “Skin” stick Foundation by Bobbi Brown. Perfect match, every time! I’m loving W3ll People mascara and Kosas lip colors…dreamy, stay put color. Or Vapour’ s multiple stick in courtesan which I use on lips and cheeks for a perfect flush of color.
3. It’s almost impossible for me to list 2-3 products I can’t live without! I love it all!!! But I’d say my prescription Retin A at night for wrinkle correction/ prevention, Good Genes serum by Sunday Riley, and Kiehls Multi-Active Correction cream day and night. I also use a variety of oils (Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Oil, Kate Somerville Dilo Oil, Sunday Riley, and Kiehls Midnight Recovery oil…depending upon how dry or oily my skin is (menopause…ugh). And I still break out, so I use Kate Somnerville Anti-Bac Tx for zits.
4. I TOTALLY used to use more makeup when I was selling it or doing freelance and it was a part of the job. Now, I find that “less is more” the older I get…but in the right places. For example, my brows are thinning, so I define them a bit with a brow gel by Benefit that has fibers in it. I even out my skin with Vapour’s primer and a touch of sheer foundation only as needed. I always wear cream blush..it’s a Bobbi thing, and it makes me look alive and younger. And then a tinted lip balm or a bright lip, depending on my mood. I know eyeliner would help me look more awake, but my lids are getting very overhanging, so the liner ends up on them. Yuck!!! I’m perfectly happy with using less makeup.
5. I treat myself to a monthly pedi all year round to take care of my feet. And a mani about once every week and a half with short nails. I’d do it myself, but I’m very shaky and it doesn’t turn out so well!
I’m pretty much a minimalist about skin care and makeup but I do wear makeup most every day. I wipe my face with diluted apple cider vinegar in the mornings and use an Argan oil blend as a moisturizer morning and night. I clean my face with a blend of castor and grape seed oil.
I use RMS uncover up and mascara. I just got a Stowaway eyeliner and lipstick because I wasn’t really happy with the RMS versions I had.
I almost never paint my fingernails because they always chip in about 2 hours! I paint my own toes but only in sandal weather. I’ve got one red polish by Butter.
I agree with what Grechen said. I used to use Aura Cacia argan oil and currently have a bottle of the Acure Moroccan Argan Oil Rose but much prefer rose hip oil. The rose hip may seem thicker and more oily, but it sinks into my skin so much better than the argan oil. Plus, I’ve noticed more brightening, a softer texture, and my skin just seems plumper. I’ve also noticed that my occasional breakouts heal much more quickly with rose hip than they ever did with salicylic acid. For reference, I have combination sensitive skin with occasional hormonal breakouts and some fine forehead lines :-). My rose hip oil of choice is from Chidoriya (http://www.chidoriyaworld.com/ceorroco2ex.html). I apply it both AM and PM right after my toner. Hope that helps!
Unsolicited nail polish rec: I love Pacifica polish (you can get them at a lot of Whole Foods/other natural grocery stores)! It’s cleaner than most, it really lasts (I’m rough on my hands and the polish usually still barely chips within a week), you only need a couple coats for vibrant color, and the applicator brushes work well. Have also heard Zoya is great!
1. I feel more polished when I wear makeup, though I also really hate the over done look, so I keep it very minimal.
2. For work, my usual routine is Dr. Haushka’s Tinted Day Cream and RMS Lip to Cheek creme blush. If I have a great work outfit and feel like glamming it up, I’ll add ILIA’s Illuminator in Sway, or rarely, Pacifica mascara. I really like Gabriel Cosmetics lip gloss, but I carry it in my purse instead of leaving it on my makeup table, so I often forget to put it on, or reapply it. Lol.
For evening events, I do the above, plus maybe add Tarte’s CC primer and eyeliner and eyeshadow, but by the time I’ve done all that, I often feel way overdone. I often want to wash it all off, start again but stopping this time with the highlighter. Usually, there isn’t time. :/
3. Can I have four HG items? Dr. Haushka’s Lip Care Stick is the best chapstick ever. Totally worth every penny. After that, my homemade face oil (that replicates Evan Healy’s rosehip face serum), rose geranium hydrosol, body oil (again, homemade – essential oil scented olive oil).
***FYI, you should check at Mountain Rose Herbs for oils and hydrosol. They have organic rosehip seed oil 4oz for $15, and a huge assortment of hydrosols. Rose Geranium, my hydrosol of choice, cost $27/16oz. I buy in “bulk” (i.e. 8 or 16 oz) and place an order once a year for my supplies for a fraction of the price. I store them in the fridge to prolong the shelf life. I decant into small 1oz/.5oz glass bottles (also available from Mountain Rose Herbs, but I buy from specialtybottle.com, which has a wider range of tops – spray tops for the hydrosol, and pump bottles that don’t expose the oil to air).
4. My routines are pretty consistent. I really really hate products that don’t do what they claim, so I intentionally looked for and tried lots of different products to find the one I thought worked best for me (thanks, Whole Foods, for your generous return policy). Since deciding, I’ve pretty much stuck to those products. The only real addition over the past 3 years when I decided my clay exfoliating mask wasn’t enough and I needed a stronger chemical exfoliator (ultimately settled on Earth Science Naturals Papaya-Glycolic mask). If I identify new needs in the future, I’ll take the same approach.
5. Manicures at home, whenever I slip back into biting my nails. Well groomed nails are the only thing that has ever gotten me to stop. Most of the work is grooming my cuticles. I usually use a clear nail strengthener type polish, probably Sally Hansen, to avoid the problem of unsightly chipped nails. I only vaguely care about natural nail polish (because they don’t really work, and I think nail polish itself is inherently toxic, and whatever chemicals that are left behind are surely toxic too, even if we don’t know it yet.)
1. About 90% of the time, I’m not wearing any makeup, mostly because I’m in such a rush to get out of the house that there’s no time for it. I’ll usually have a bag with a few basic makeup items at work, but after the day gets going, I’m too busy to deal with it. I used to be self-conscious about it then eventually realized that everyone I work with is too busy or too preoccupied being the center of their own solar system to notice or care about my bare face.
2. I wear makeup if I have time to put it on! And I don’t care if it’s just for me because it often is. I have nothing against makeup and do think I look better with than without. There’s a fine line though. Like a lot of other commenters here, I hate looking “done up.” I’ve had makeup applied at a counter a few times in my life and have always despised the results. One makeup artist – for Bobbi Brown, no less – changed the shape of my lips with dark liner, making me look like a blow-up doll. I was pretty horrified. I like my (natural) lips!!!
3. I have a good-sized crop of skincare essentials, almost all by Paula’s Choice, including a retinol serum, moisturizer and a BHA spot treatment for breakouts. I’m always wearing and carrying lip balm – sometimes tinted, more often not. I love the non-tinted balms by Savannah Bee, and the Rose tinted one by Fresh.
4. Over the last few years I’ve really started paying more attention to skincare ingredients, what makes an effective sunscreen, etc. I can be pretty geeky about it and often find that I know more than my dermatologist, who’s really just trying to keep me from getting melanoma and doesn’t seem the least bit interested in discussing product technology.
5. No manicures with polish except for special occasions. I love pedicures though and get them regularly.
Thanks to you both for this helpful information. I might be ready to make the switch!
OMG!!! Bobbi would have a fit over one of her artists overdrawing your lips!!! That’s a huge NO.
Crazy, right?
After that and a couple other bad counter experiences, I concluded that I don’t have a great face for makeup. It doesn’t take a lot to make me look/feel like a drag queen or like my own grandma. My lips were probably the one feature I felt good about at the time of that Bobbi disaster, which wasn’t long after I had finished chemo. That’s why, even years later, it’s still a little painful – but at least I can laugh about it too!
Oh, I’m so sorry. My mission as a Bobbi Brown MUA was to really LISTEN to what the customer wanted and not try to “sell them”…that was the worst! If a woman told me all she wanted was tinted lip balm, I gave her options, but wouldn’t apply a full face of makeup. Wouldn’t things be better in life if we’d just listen to one another???
Ooh, this is fun. I love makeup/beauty stuff, perhaps surprisingly, as someone who doesn’t wear much makeup…
1. That is a good question! I’ve never really thought about the why– I just do. Which leads to…
2. I fall in the minimalist camp to makeup (not so much with skincare), but I will put on mascara and a bright lip even if I’m home with no chance of seeing anyone. For major events, it doesn’t change much, except I’ll add eyeliner (which I wear sometimes for no reason at all) and maybe a highlighter. My skill level is such, however, that I’m afraid of looking clownish, and as I get older (I’m 41), I think a little less actually looks better anyway.
3. For makeup, I love red/dark berry lipsticks, specifically NARS. The now discontinued Terre de Feu matte color is my true love. For skincare, I now go on what makes it into the travel bag, and that’s hard to limit, but the top 3 are Sunday Riley Good Genes, a retinol, and La Roche Posay Hydreane Legere moisturizer. But in reality, I’ve got to add good cleansers (Clinique Take the Day Off Balm for evening, with Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip or Cerave), an acid toner (Pixi Glow Tonic), a Vitamin C (currently the Drunk Elephant one), and an oil (Sunday Riley Juno or Flora), and a sunscreen (I like Bioderma or Clarins for face). And I use a lot more on a daily, or alternating basis, but those are my versions of basics!
4. My routine has changed as my skin has (younger and oilier, older and drier). In some ways its simpler now– I’ve found things that really work for my skin, whereas before my routine was more erratic, kind of a hope and a prayer that stuff did something. Now, I have a system (#carolinehironsmademedoit).
5. I have never paid attention to nails, thankfully, as I’ve saved so much money (which has then been funneled to skincare.) My fingernails are always short and nude. I usually paint my toenails, but I do it myself. I’ve had three pedicures in my life, and those experiences didn’t convince me it was something worth paying for (and I live in New York, where mani-pedis are still– despite that expose a few years ago– very, very cheap. I’ve got three places within a 2-minute walk of my apartment.)
I’ve seen Pacifica items at my Target, but I’m not sure about polish. 🙂
Love that polish! Grey or taupe are my favorites, followed by a burgundy red.
1. I don’t wear a lot of makeup. What I do wear is to smooth out and enhance my natural look. I don’t wear to change my looks (i.e. no contouring or intense eyeliner for me). When I have been professional made up, there isn’t as big a transformation as with some of my friends anyway.
2. I wear make up when I leave the house (unless it’s just for a quick errand or for a physical activity like tennis). I wear so little it’s not a big effort to make myself up. Except today I have no makeup on as I returned from a vacation yesterday and haven’t unpacked yet.
3. Moisturizer with spf (Cetaphil), vitamin E stick (from health food store) and an exfoliating wash (Philosophy).
4. I am lower maintenance now. I used to wear heavy foundation, mascara, eyeliner and concealor. Now I’m bb cream, shape brows, highlighter on brow bone, apply a natural moisturizing lip color and I am good to go.
5. I go to a salon. Gel nail color for fingernails (every 2 weeks) and a regular pedi for toenails (monthly). My gels take 1/2 an hour so it’s no big deal to do on a lunch break. My pedi is a time to read and use a massage chair so I don’t consider it a time burden. I try to read a book a week anyways. There is very little maintenance required between visits. Moisturizing cuticles is the only thing I do on my own.