Doing my makeup is something that I love, even though it is not necessary. There is nothing better than the added confidence it gives me and how it lets me express myself. There are so many different things that can be done with it and so many different products that can be used. Ulta and Sephora are two of my happy places, and I can’t think of many things better than the satisfaction of trying a new product and falling in love with it. With that being said, I have a basic routine that I follow every day.

1. Skin Care

This is probably the most important step when it comes to doing my makeup. Keeping your skin healthy is vital to having your makeup look good. If I start having bad breakouts or irritation on my face, the first thing I do is not wear makeup for a few days. This is a whole process on its own, and something that happens every single day.

2. Primer

There are multiple things that primer can do, along with its main purpose of helping your makeup to stay in place. My skin is dry, so I have a hydrating primer. There are all kinds, for every need you could have.

3. Foundation

Not everyone wears foundation, but I do because it helps to even out my skin tone. It covers the little bit of freckles that I have and some redness on my cheeks. There are a couple different types of foundation, but I tend to stick with a liquid.

4. Eyebrows

Everyone that does their makeup often has one thing they have to do for a bare minimum. For me, it is my eyebrows. I use a pomade, a powder, and sometimes a setting gel to fill in my eyebrows. Then I take concealer and clean the lines if they need it. Wearing glasses with thick frames like I do draws attention to my eyes and brows, so I will feel off all day if I don’t have my eyebrows filled in. I don’t always keep them plucked like I should, but I am working on that.

5. Eyeshadow

I typically have at least two shades of eyeshadow on. At the least, I have a color on my lid and one in my crease. There is every color of the rainbow out there, so anything you can imagine can be created. This is where most of my creativity shows, and I love it. It can be natural, dark smokey, a cut crease, or full glam. Endless possibilities give a unique look each and every time it is applied.

6. Concealer

I do this when I need extra coverage over my foundation. I usually just apply it under my eyes, but it can be put anywhere it is needed. It is great for covering breakouts, too.

7. Contour/Highlight/Blush

I love a little shimmer on my cheekbones. I will typically contour just a little with a powder, then add a shimmery highlight to my cheekbones and nose. This will slim my face down and give me a glowing look.

8. Mascara/Eyeliner

I don’t wear false eyelashes, but I will put on some mascara. Good dark eyelashes, and sharp winged liner makes me feel like I can take over the world. This is really what ties a look together for me.

9. Lips

There's every color you can imagine, and it's the icing on the cake. Who doesn’t love red lipstick? It’s my go-to.

10. Setting Spray

This is the last step, and it really does hold everything in place. I like a dewy finish spray, but sometimes I will use a matte finish.

So, that is my daily routine, in 10 simple steps. Not all of it is necessary, and not all of it happens every day. The room for change is what keeps things interesting.