Beautifully Boring: New Beauty in My Everyday Makeup Routine
An updated edit of the edit, featuring your soon-to-be favorites.
Welcome to the latest installment of Beautifully Boring, a conversation devoted to navigating all things makeup, beauty and other cosmetic adventures. The start of the new year always marks the beginning of a deluge of new product launches from brands old and new. Though no one would blame you for thinking the only new releases have been familiar iterations of various lip products or yet another pathetic shade range, plenty of noteworthy newness has hit the shelves in recent months — including some I can’t get enough of. So it only makes sense that my makeup and skincare routines have been punctuated by some of the most buzzed about drops, new-to-me products I discovered since the year began not that long ago and a few seasonal upgrades. Beautifully Boring is anything but boring and is filled to the brim with decadent treats and other miscellaneous delights. You can find every installment of Beautifully Boring here. Let’s dive in.
Programming Note: This post includes much more goodness than an email can handle and will get cut off. Don’t miss a thing, read it here!
The following contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through those links. Thank you for your support.
Wait, Stop Scrolling
Before you scroll any further, if this is your first time reading myMusings (hi!!! please subscribe!!!) or if you missed my post outlining my approach to makeup and the products in my everyday makeup routine, I highly recommend starting there. It gives you some much needed background about my approach and preferences, as well as other juicy bits you won’t want to miss. Better yet, have that post open in a separate tab for reference so you can see what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. I promise it will be a better reader experience. Plus, I will inevitably skip over very crucial details that were either covered in the last post or I completely forgot about them — so please, ask away. I’m literally always in the mood to deep dive on beauty and I love to hear from you.
Beautifully Refreshed: Rebelling Against Trends
While it’s only been two months since I last shared my everyday makeup routine, that’s practically a decade in the beauty industry. And with what feels like a record-breaking number of new beauty releases, my makeup bag has quite a few new delights to hold. But despite the latest transient trends, the bizarre rise of makeup in all sorts of blue hues and whatever Hailey Bieber is promoting, my everyday makeup look remains practical, achievable, desaturated, easy and beautifully boring. My expectations are still ridiculously high, I still refuse to use products I don’t love and I still have no idea what I’m doing (so subscribe for more tips LOL).
While you’ll notice several new products throughout my routine, the truth is that my daily makeup still looks largely the same (with a few notable exceptions mentioned below). However, I tried to provide more context on each of my most coveted makeup products highlighted in this post than I did in the last. The added details make this one far more useful (if I do say so myself) and it’s one you’ll want to return time and time again. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 before you go (it really does help me with the Substack of it all)!
Better Bases
PRIMER: I still refuse to do my makeup without my my holy grail primer — it’s the only primer that actually gives my skin that effortless, highly coveted lit from within glow that looks natural. I’ve searched far and wide for a “dupe” but simply put, one does not exist. Not only does it keep my remarkably dry skin from sucking up every ounce of moisture from my makeup, it also has a unique ability to make every foundation look better than they should (not an exaggeration). And while a lot of glowy products end up emphasizing texture you didn’t even know you had, this is so beautifully blurring and gives my foundation a little added radiance without every being too much. I know matte makeup is “trending” right now but my skin could never and frankly, it’s not my vibe. And while this primer isn’t cheap, it’s worth every penny. I wear shade Golden.
COLOR CORRECTORS: As someone who has always struggled with sudden and extreme facial flushing, a green color corrector has been a mainstay in my routine since I really got into makeup. And while I’ve found skincare products that have made a dramatic difference for me personally, I recently decided to add a green color corrector back into my routine (mostly because I kind of forgot about it for the better part of a year, whoops). And while I was tempted to repurchase the one I’d used for years, I decided to give a new one a go and I’m so happy I did — it’s infinitely better in every way. Another more recent addition to my routine has been an under eye color corrector because I have terrible insomnia and life is stressful so I’m lucky if I get more than three or four hours of sleep a night. I previously used one in a pot — which is very good and I highly recommend it — but I prefer this one because of the applicator. A tiny dot is all you need. I wear shade Dawn.
FOUNDATION: If you’ve followed me for more than thirty seconds, you’ve likely heard me go on and on (and on) about my new favorite foundation — really, I’m obsessed. While I absolutely did not expect a self-described “soft matte” foundation to play well with my skin, which is akin to an arid climate (read: really dry), it easily eclipsed all other foundations in my collection and I’ve never looked back. I find that it applies best in thin layers, which really allows you to customize the coverage level in a way that always seems to look perfect. I also think the thin but not too thin formula makes it incredibly adaptable to whatever base you pair it with. For example, because I wear a glowy primer, this never looks matte on me but friends of mine who prefer a more matte finish and use a mattifying primer say it’s perfect for them, too. The fragrance is nearly undetectable and it blurs in all the right ways while still letting your skin be skin. If you don’t love your foundation you should probably get this one. I wear shade LN5.
SKIN TINT: When I think about my top five favorite coverage products of all time, this skin tint makes the list every single time (save w/ myskinterest). It’s truly in a league of its own and if I’m not wearing the foundation above, I’m wearing this. While the product may look thick when you see it online, don’t be fooled — it’s practically weightless on the skin. For me, it’s one of those very, very rare products that not only applies beautifully and wears well throughout the day (for a skin tint) but it also provides just enough coverage while letting my skin look like skin. It never clings to dry patches (it honestly feels somewhat hydrating), it blurs and it layers without ever looking cakey — though it’s still a skin tint so don’t expect too much coverage. And as whispers of spring become a chorus of vibrant blooms and balmy afternoons, I’ll absolutely reach for this skin tint more and more. I wear shade two. — save w/ myskinterest
CONCEALERS: A good concealer is hard to come by and for a while, I started to wonder if I would ever find one that I really love. And then, amid the flurry of concealer launches last year, I finally found the concealer of my dreams (save w/ myskinterest15). In my experience, it blends effortlessly, is perfectly creamy and very kind to dry skin (even I can wear it under my eyes!!!) — plus it never looks cakey. While I wouldn’t say it’s full coverage, it offers more coverage than most concealers in my collection — and it works really well with my more sheer foundations and skin tints because it’s so easy to work with. My advice is to rip off the sponge tip applicator (it’s messy and ineffective) and you’ll quickly get the hang of how to click up just the right amount of product. I know it sounds weird but trust me, it makes the user experience infinitely better and this concealer really is worth the slight packaging flaw. I wear shade two. — save w/ myskinterest15
For on the go touch ups, this concealer is an absolute dream (save w/ myskinterest15). While expensive, it’s worth every penny in my opinion because it’s very effective and isn’t drying. I wear shades two and three interchangeably. — save w/ myskinterest
Let’s Face It
BRONZERS: Bronzers are my Roman Empire. While most are too saturated or lean too orange for my very fair and desaturated complexion, finding the perfectly subtle, neutral and desaturated bronzer is always a uniquely euphoric thrill. While I still love my former holy grail and glowy favorite (save w/ myskinterest), this year I found the bronzer that’s so life-changing it deserves its own national holiday. The only thing is it’s ungodly expensive but hear me out. Because it is a masterfully crafted gradient of light, neutral shades, I think of it as an all over skin enhancer that effortlessly serves as a subtle bronzer and an everywhere powder that makes my skin look healthier. And it BLURS! I know it seems too good to be true (or worth the price) but it really, really is that good. I love it so much that I even bought the next shade up but I rarely reach for it as much as I do the lightest shade. For me, this bronzer was the end of a decade but the start of an age and the one that caused the Earth to shift. It literally puts itself on and saves my makeup from looking awful when I can’t be bothered to blend or color in the lines. I wear shade 01 Tottori.
When it comes to cream bronzers, I’m still grieving the loss of my beloved favorite that was discontinued by Armani. However, this cream bronzer is making up for Armani’s poor judgement. It’s the perfect shade for my complexion and if you’re my skin twin, you should absolutely give it a go. I wear shade M80.
BLUSH: Some people look absolutely stunning in vibrant shades of blush or several layers of more skin native hues. I do not. And I’m not even being self-deprecating, I’m merely letting you know that you shouldn’t come to me for blush recommendations. That said (lol), I really like subtle peachy and coral blushes that lean more tan than pink or red. While I don’t wear blush everyday, I most often reach for this slightly peachy, slightly rosy, slightly tan blush that is far more stunning than it appears online. It’s pricey but it’s an investment worth making in my book. I wear shade Rose Tan.
But I also love several shades in this blush (save w/ myskinterest20) and this creamy liquid blush in the two peachy shades (save w/ myskinterest15).
SETTING POWDER: Because of the aforementioned life-altering all over skin enhancer that’s also a bronzer, I don’t really reach for setting powder all that often. However, when I do, I use this barely there pressed powder in the lightest shade. And not to brag but I’ve completely panned it twice. For the times when I need a setting powder to do more than just slightly blur, I always reach for this loose powder (save w/ myskinterest). It’s one of the only powders I can use under my eyes without making the area look like a dry, crusty sponge. I wear shade Translucent. — save w/ myskinterest
HIGHLIGHT: I never wore highlighter until I heard that it wasn’t on trend anymore, then swiftly I became a devotee. While this powder highlight may look overwhelming the pan, it’s remarkably subtle on the skin and gives that coveted ethereal glow you crave from a highlighter (save w/ myskinterest20). I also adore this balmy highlight that’s easy to throw in your smallest bag for those times you need a little midday glow up. I wear shade Sculpting. — save w/ myskinterest20
Eye Love You
EYESHADOW PRIMER: One of my biggest beauty revelations over the last year is that I actually really like eyeshadow (well, what many would consider to be somewhat boring eyeshadow). And because I’m no longer just throwing some bronzer on my eyelids and calling it a day, I’ve become a person that owns and uses an eyeshadow primer. I’m sure there are plenty of others out there that work just as well (I haven’t tried any) but this one is pretty great. From powder to creams, every eyeshadow creases on me unless I wear this eyeshadow primer, and it also dramatically improves the longevity of my eyeshadow. For example, even after a full day in the office, my eyeshadow is somehow still intact and just as saturated as when I first applied it hours earlier.
EYESHADOW: I really like eyeshadow now (see above) and I have a lot of feelings about it!! Honestly, I could write a whole post about my newfound love for eyeshadow but I’ll try to keep this snappy. I still gravitate toward matte, neutral tones that feel at home on my face, prefer eyeshadow singles and quads over palettes, don’t really know how to apply eyeshadow and only use formulas that basically put themselves on. However, now I find myself adding shimmer more regularly (!!) but in a way that remains practical and aligns with my lifestyle (read: office appropriate). Here’s a quick breakdown of the eyeshadows I can’t get enough of:
Despite all odds, this cream eyeshadow single reigns supreme. When paired with the eyeshadow primer I mentioned, this is literally budge-proof. I almost exclusively use one shade (despite loving others more in the past) because it has a barely there quality that is impossible to beat. My favorite shade is Studio.
While seemingly every brand makes them, this is the only eyeshadow stick formula you’ll ever need. Not only is it the actual best in terms of the easy of use, pigment pay off and longevity but the shades are exquisitely nuanced, the product don’t break off as you try to apply it and the range includes stunning mattes and shimmers. While I have nearly every shade, I’ve always been known to play favorites and the new shimmery taupe is otherworldly — you need it. My favorite shades are Shroom, Caramel, Trench, Pecan and Ballet.
I broke my no palette rule for this all matte neutrals palette and I have zero regrets. I’ve never liked anything from the brand but this is heaven for my personal obsession with practical, easy to apply neutral eyeshadows. I’ve already used every shade with the exception of the black and I’m in love. Truly a better than expected, must have basic that I cannot recommend enough.
Not only is this the best powder eyeshadow formula on the market but this specific quad is the most perfect assortment of practical and nuanced shades (save w/ myskinterest15). You can use them all, a select few or just one shade and you’ll get asked what you’re wearing all day/night long. There’s so much dimension to each shade, you can dial them up or down and it’s better than any other quad I own. — save w/ myskinterest15
When I want a shimmery topper, I reach for this eyeshadow single. Despite what the marketing and name would lead you to believe, these can be beautifully subtle when applied with a fluffy brush.
EYELINER: After years and years of only wearing brown eyeliner (that is, when I wear eyeliner), I recently decided I wanted a more desaturated shade to better achieve the illusion of a thicker, more dense lash line. And I’ve found three that scratch the itch but they’re all very different in their own right. There’s this lipliner/eyeshadow hybrid that gives the most perfect barely there look but it also barely lasts a few hours (I wear shade Endless Cacao). Then there’s the very best eyeliner formula in the very best shade but it’s still slightly too rich for what I’m looking for (I wear shade Cinnamon). Finally, there’s the one the bests all the rest: the perfect eyeliner. It’s notably cooler than the other two and is more of a grey brown (without actually being grey) and it’s just perfect. However, it’s limited edition so grab it before I buy out their stock.
MASCARA: While I wait for my order of the best brown tubing mascara since my sample tube is long expired, my forever favorite mascara is finally back in stock (save w/ myskinterest15). And as someone who is uniquely passionate about my eyelashes and mascara, I promise you’ll love it. I know, I know — the wand isn’t what you’re used to and it looks kind of scary. And I know, you’re worried you wouldn’t know how to even apply it. But here’s the thing: it’s the most perfect mascara. Not only is it incredibly lightweight so it will hold a curl until the end of time but clumping a distant memory thanks to that unique wand. It’s so easy to apply (even I can do it), it makes your lashes look longer than ever before and it does not budge — like at all. And while that means you may have to put in a touch more effort to remove it at the end of the day, my usual triple cleanse (yes, triple) easily does the trick. I’m hesitant to say if you only get one thing get this; but if you only buy one thing from this post, let it be my favorite mascara. — save w/ myskinterest15
BROWS: Like most people, I have a love-hate relationship with my eyebrows. But because my brows are generally pretty uncomplaining, I use a clear brow gel that doesn’t make my eyebrows breakout (which happens with all the “long hold” brow gels) and what I think is the best brow pencil. It’s the first brow pencil I’ve ever finished and I immediately purchased another. I wear shade Light Blonde.
Read My Lips
LIPS: I have an extensive collection of lip products, and between lip prep, lip liner (save w/ myskinterest) and lip color, we could be here all day. However, I’m still looking for my perfect lip color for my wedding day which is coming up, so please (no like really, please) let me know what your favorites are!
Finishing Touches
TOOLS: I really can’t apply my foundation or concealer with a brush — I need a sponge. However, I also really can’t stomach the price of one from Beauty Blender so I buy mine on Amazon — you get like eight for $9 or something. And I can see how one could be confused by my willingness to buy several $70 lip glosses while refusing to buy the internet’s favorite makeup sponge — but I like to think of it as spending strategically. A makeup sponge only lasts for so many uses, whereas a lip gloss can bring boundless joy. I almost exclusively use this brush for most powder products, and this is my favorite brush for cream bronzers and other cheek products — nothing beats it. For eyeshadow, I rarely reach for anything other than this fluffy brush. I mentioned earlier that I have little to no makeup application skills so I rely heavily on a smudger brush to make my eyeliner look somewhat normal though Sephora makes a good one, too.
The most important tool I use is my beloved eyelash curler that I use every single day (save w/ myskinterest15). I’m somewhat obsessed with having long lashes — so much so that I used an eyelash serum I was very allergic to for more than two years because it worked so well. And while I don’t recommend doing that, I do recommend investing in an eyelash curler. It truly does make a difference and it’s one of my most used products. — save w/ myskinterest15
MISTS: I’m really not a setting spray person and I really only use mists to give my incredibly dry skin a much needed boost of hydration throughout the day. My three favorites include this viral sensation, this refreshing mist (save w/ myskinterest15) and my holy grail face mist (save w/ myskinterest). The latter is the easiest to take with me on the go and I use it throughout my skincare routine but because the mist is so beautifully fine — it works over makeup too!
If you’ve made it this far, you should probably subscribe! Also, please tell me all about your everyday makeup routine. What’s your favorite makeup product at the moment and what do you think I need to try next?
Until next time, follow along on Instagram and browse all of my favorite things. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.
myMusings is meticulously curated newsletter about skincare, beauty and everything in-between. If you haven’t yet, subscribe here and consider becoming a paid subscriber.
I think you should check out the Victoria Beckham lip liners and glosses