Todays FOTD: Everyday Natural Makeup

Despite being a makeup junkie, there are few firm favourites that I use pretty much everyday and serve as holy grail items in my beauty stash. This post is a quick insight into some of the main treats my face is fed on a daily basis.

Base: Nars Sheer Glow in Santa Fe
I've been using this foundation for 4 years now and I still have no complaints. It's the perfect everyday foundation for normal-dry skin, due to its luminous finish I wouldn't recommend this foundation for oilier skin types as it may make your skin super greasy without constant powder touch-ups. Personally, I tend to get slightly *greasier* in my t-zone area, but I use Macs MSF after a few hours use and I'm good to go for the rest of the day. I wouldn't say this foundation radiates that 'glow from within' look, but rather has a beautiful satin finish that smoothes over any imperfections without drawing any attention to them. In terms of coverage, this foundation is sheer in texture, though buildable for soft coverage of imperfections.

Bronzer: Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel (Bronze Universal)
This cream-gel bronzer was all the rage a couple of years back, and most people seemed to have gave up on the application of this makeup newbie. Though once you've caught the hang of what works best with this product, it really works a treat in warming up your skins base. The trick, for me at least, is to use the product as I would foundation. I like to use this with my Real Techniques Expert Face brush, and gently pat in upward motions from the hollow of my cheekbones.

Contour: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola
Although I'm not a massive contouring freak, I like to use this product to create a slight illusion of a shadow for my cheekbones and down my nose. For olive skin tones, I find this works best as a contour shade rather than a bronzer as it has 'cool' undertones rather than a red base. It's also a matte product, which is perfect for defining the face.

Highlight: Mac Lustre Drops
With this product, a little goes a long way. I like to use a couple of drops of this over my cheekbones and down my nose to create a luminous and radiant base.

Lips: Mac Soar & Blankety
Soar is a mauve-pink liner that works perfectly to create the illusion of fuller lips. I fill around and in my lips with this shade and then tap Blankety ontop for a fuller, but also glossier pout.


Saina
xo

Top 5 bronzers – Featuring: Soleil tan de Chanel, Nars Laguna, Dior Bronze Amber etc.

 

Finding the right bronzer for your skin tone can sometimes be a tiring task, some are wary of looking too orange, or perhaps looking ‘dirty’. And despite the thrill that comes with purchasing new makeup products, sometimes a splurge can end up being a waste of money if you are left with a product that just does not work for you. Factors such as tone, colour, texture, are all definite things you should consider, however you must also ask yourself what look you want to achieve. A natural, healthy glow? A sun kissed skin effect? A heavily structured and contoured face? Or perhaps you lean towards the Jersey-Shore-girls side of things? All that is entirely up to you and will play a part in the product you choose whether it be one shade darker, or more, shimmery or matte etc.

Here, I have created my top 5 favourite bronzers, and I hope this insight will help anyone on the hunt for a new bronzer. (In order of swatches left- right: Soleil Tan de Chanel, Mac Format, BareMinerals Warmth, Dior Amber Bronze, NARS Laguna)

Chanel  Soleil Tan de Chanel: This product is ideal for those who are looking for a multi purpose-bronzing product. It works well as a standard bronzer, a tanning effect makeup base to be used under or in conjunction with foundation, a complexion enhancer to be used alone, cheek colour, or as a contour colour. It consists of a light creamy-mousse texture leaving a velvety finish on the skin. The colour could be applied with a light hand to create a subtle apricot glow. I find this product to work best with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush.

 Mac's blusher  in Format appears shimmery in the pan, but actually applies as a subtle golden glow throughout the super pigmented pink toned brown bronzer. This is definitely another buildable colour, and depending on your skin tone you should decide on application. For lighter skin tones this will make your skin appear way too red, although I think this will work as a great bronzer for medium-darker skin tones. The depth to this blusher works as a great 2in1 bronzing and contouring colour on my skin and I use this with the Real Techniques Contour brush.  

Bare Minerals  all over ‘warmth’ is a heavily pigmented mineral loose powder, which requires careful application. Due to the powders colour depth it can be quite dark, and therefore a little goes a very long way! It has slight shimmer passing through it, adding to the flushed glow it creates. As it’s very pigmented and quite dark I use this as a contour colour and I find the Real Techniques Contour brush collects the right amount of colour on the tip of the slight tapered brush for controlled application.  
 

Dior Amber Bronze: This bronzer is my favourite as it’s perfect for medium skin tones, the finely milled powder is orangey-brown in tone and can definitely be applied in layers to build up the colour intensity. If your complexion is already warm in tone, this powder will enhance a golden sun kissed colour. This bronzer has an ever so slight hint of shimmer running through it, which complements the glow it creates. I do not recommend Amber Tan for those with lighter complexions, as it will probably end up creating the dreaded Oompa Loompa orange. To create an overall glow to the face, I apply this with the Real Techniques Blush brush.

Nars Laguna  is well raved about and I can understand why. This is my go-to bronzer on casual days where I am looking for a ‘no makeup-makeup look’. Laguna is a finely milled dusky brown powder defused with subtle golden shimmers. This bronzer is not orange at all and therefore can be used for a natural golden tan glow or as a contouring shade. I use this to add colour to my complexion using Sigma’s F25 Tapered Face brush.

What are your favourite bronzers? 

xo