The Beauty Breakdown: Everyday Glam

So, I know what you’re probably thinking. EVERYDAY glam? Oxymoron much? But there’s simply not a better way to describe it!

There are women who feel most comfortable and confident without makeup on, some with a little makeup on, and those like me who love a completely full face of makeup. No matter your preference, I’ll show you some of my favorite products to help you get glammed up and out the door every day!

Even though I love a full face of makeup, that doesn’t mean that I want or can afford to spend 45+ minutes beating my face in the already hectic mornings. Some of the products you’ll see down below are great, not only for the product and quality itself, but for the ease of use and time-saving perks!

| P R E P | ēlia Soothe Daily Spray Toner - YALL. If I could bathe in this, I *SO* WOULD. Soothe is a spray toner curated by a locally-owned, toxic-free spa that I LOVE LOVE LOVE! It's straight forward and pure goodness in a bottle. Depending upon your skin type, there are different toners that may work better for you. I personally have fairly sensitive skin that will get red and irritated if you just LOOK at it the wrong way. It's incredible annoying, and I've never found anything that will "calm" it down mid flareup... until now! I use this spray in my morning and evening skincare routines, as well as throughout the day. It's safe to use on top of makeup, so you can use as a refreshing spritz in the summer and as a calming + moisturizing spray in the harsh winter months with dry indoor heat that wreaks havoc on skin. This product is a game changer and has a great price point. I get to shop local and know EXACTLY what is in each bottle. This is a hands-down favorite component in my makeup bag and on my vanity. (Available here at elia.com, $14 for 2oz./$24 for 4oz.) Urban Decay Optical Illusion Complexion Primer - So in general, Urban Decay is a cult-favorite cosmetic company. I'm not sure whether it's my skin type, texture or just general dislike, but I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to passing over UD options. Several months ago, UD sent some new products for me to try before they were released; honestly, they sat in my "to review" storage for a while before I even decided to try them out. In a pinch, I had misplaced my usual ride-or-die primer (Smashbox Primer Water) and came across the new Optical Illusion Complexion Primer and opted to give it a try. I am SO glad that I did... This creamy, silky rosehip-infused formula instantly blurs fine lines and wrinkles, reduces the look of flaws, and minimizes pores. If you've followed my blog, you know I'm always pimpin' out some rosehip oils and extracts. It's a light, but powerful moisturizer and provides antioxidants where you need them most - your face! After using once, I was instantly hooked. Rarely have I found a primer that so drastically perfected my skin before I even added any foundation or concealer. A little goes a long way, so start with a couple pumps at the center of your face (that's where we have the most redness) and work out from there. You want a minimal amount of primer on the outer perimeter of your face to keep it from looking cakey and to prevent overuse of product. Focus on the areas where you tend to be oily or dry, as well as any areas on your face that you seem to "lose" makeup throughout the day. For me, I start with my nose, sweeping across the top of my cheekbones and down into the hollows of my cheeks. I add a few extra dots on my T-Zone, making sure I get a nice even layer in the center of my forehead and between the eyebrows. I like to let the primer absorb into my skin for 5-10 minutes prior to starting on my foundation and concealer. I normally use this time to do my eye makeup and brows, leaving only mascara (and falsies!) to complete at the very end. (Available at Sephora, $15 for travel size 0.5oz./$34 for 1.0oz.) | F A C E | Bare Minerals BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (holy 💩— that’s a mouthful!) is a 24+ hour buildable foundation with light-medium to full coverage. They have an incredibly wide range of colors, and the pump cap makes dispensing a breeze! BMBPPWF has an SPF20, which is higher than most comparable liquid foundations available on the market. Available at BareMinerals.com, $34. Sorme Cosmetics Believable Finish Wet/Dry Powder — my ride or die. AMAZING buildable coverage and can be used Wet or Dry! Available on the Jill Brooks Beauty Shoppe, $19. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer - full coverage, extremely pigmented and a tiny bit goes a long way. Seems pricey for the size of the tube, but trust me when I say it will last you forever and worth every penny! Available at AmazingCosmetics.com, $28.

| D E F I N E |

St. Tropez 3-in-1 Bronzing Powder - This was one of those purchases that I didn't intend to make. I was shopping online and Sephora's sale section always sucks me in. I love the St. Tropez line of sunless tanners and liquid bronzers, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with a bronzer by the Queen of Tanning. (Or is it the king of tanning?! Who knows...) When it comes to making decisions - even about beauty and fashion related topics, I normally trust my gut. It rarely steers me into the wrong direction, and this purchase is no exception. I LOVE this bronzing powder. *PRO-TIP*: I wound up mixing all of the shades by breaking up the powder with a small makeup spatula until fairly smooth without big "chunks" of powder. Add some 70% or greater isopropyl rubbing alcohol (I started with about 2 tsp. You can always add more!) and create a paste-like consistency. Once thoroughly mixed, use a paper towel to press down the paste and mold it back into the compact. For a little extra compaction, use the bottom of a glass to press on top of the paper towel. Carefully peel of paper towel (it should be fairly clean!) and leave compact open to dry. The alcohol will evaporate and you'll be left with a beautiful bronzer! Available at Sephora, $28. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick - Using a color 2-3 shades darker than your foundation, you can easily use this as a contour cream stick. I love the finish and coverage that this formulation provides, and hence the name, the seamless blending that is crucial for proper contouring. A little goes a long way with this highly pigmented product. It's available at Hourglass Cosmetics, $46. Benefit Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush - I'm OBSESSED with this glorious brightening baby pink radiant-finish blush. The formulation is a light, creamy texture that seems to just melt onto the skin, leaving you with a lit-from-within stunning sheer color. Know what's even better? It's ON SALE NOW at Benefit.com. Originally $28, Sale Price $20.

| E Y E S | When it comes to my brows, I'm pretty picky. They're either too waxy or too thick, too sheer or an awful muddy greenish tone. The list goes on and on when it comes to brow product cons. This naturally eliminates most brow products on the market now. I'm a superfan of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, and I've found VERY few products that can compete with it. One of my favorites on the short list is the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor Pencil. It has a rectangular shape enabling the user to mimic brow hairs with short single strokes. Change your grip to cover a larger area and shade in sparse areas. It even comes with a built-in sharpener to keep the tip pointed allowing for defined precision - which is KEY for picture perfect brows! This is a little easier to transport than the ABH pomade and less intimidating for those who are just getting started on their "brow journey." (Available at Sephora, $45 for pencil only or SAVINGS ALERT -- Neiman Marcus, $52 for pencil and refill.)

One of my very favorite products of 2017 was the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette. When it comes to shadows, 9 times out of 10 you'll get what you pay for. I'm all about saving a few bucks here and there, and eyeshadows seem like the kind of thing you could risk on; however, the pigmentation, coverage and finish of eyeshadows can take your smokey eye from drab to fab (And vice versa!) With a light handed dip or two into these shadows, you can get tons of pigmentation and product, definitely enough to cover your lid plus some. They have a silky, buttery feel when applying and go on so smoothly. If I could only have ONE palette (including contour, blushes, lips, etc.), THIS would be it. It has a wide enough color range to play it safe or to take a walk on the wild side - light colors, dark colors, mattes and shimmers. 5 stars. (Available at Sephora, $42.)

Chanel Calligraphie De Chanel Longwear Intense Cream Eyeliner (Available at Chanel.com, $35) Dior Diorshow Black Out Spectacular Volume Intense Black Kohl Mascara (Available at Dior.com, $30) Ardell Demi-Wispies Natural (Available at Ulta, $11.99 for 4-pair multipack)

| L I P S | My new favorite gloss is Gunpowder n Gloss Duo Lipgloss! 'Jack'd Up' is the perfectly pink nude color. The finish is a gorgeous shiny gloss without all that gross stickiness that most high-gloss lippies come with. I love supporting small businesses, and this is no different! Perfect for everything from daily wear to formal events. Brides, THIS is the lip color you want on your big day! Check them out on social media: @gunpowderngloss (Available at Gunpowderngloss.com, $12)

NARS Precision Lipliner in color "Halong Bay" (Available at Neiman Marcus, $24)

Thanks for reading. Love you guys so much! All photos by Arden Beth (@ArdenBethPhotog) of Dallas, TX.

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