Make-Up 101: The Routine

The following is my usual make up routine. I refer to how other people do their make-up routine, so my routine is actually a mix of how other people do theirs. This is not really a strict guide, simply a rough sketch for the basic routine.

• Prepping

• Cleaning the face -- This is something really basic and I don't think I need to elaborate much on this, however, I would like to stress how important this is though. A thoroughly washed faced makes a good canvas. Who wants to work with oily skin? You get the idea. ^^ 
• Toning -- If you have perfectly fine skin, (i.e., does not sweat too much, does not dish out too much sebum), you may wanna skip this step. But you may wanna do it if you have uber oily skin like mine,or if you are acne prone. This helps reduce the oil produced by your skin, as well as keeps your skin nice and tight.
• Moisturizing -- For goodness sake, do not ever skip this step! I am an avid advocate of moisturizing, and I never get tired of stressing how important this is, especially for folks like me. I won't go through on what it does to your skin, but please do not assume that just because you have oily skin, you do not need to moisturize. Golden rule: Oil is not moisture. Your skin produces oil either because it has hyperactive sebaceous glands, or your face clearly lacks moisture. So please, moisturize!

•   Make Up Proper -- Setting the Canvas

• Primer -- After your moisturizer dries, apply an ample coat of primer on your face. The primer basically makes your face a bit smoother; it fills in the gaps in your face and makes your make up last longer. It doesn't really prevent oil from coming out, but it does help keeping the foundation intact. I do strongly recommend Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer. It glides on the skin like silk and makes your skin really smooth and silky. But, it will set you back 825 PHP, which in my case, is really out of the budget. For people on a tight budget, like me, I recommend ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer. It costs only 400 PHP, so it really won't set you back too much. 
• Eyelid Primer -- After I apply my eye serum, I let it dry for a few minutes before I apply my eyelid primer. I am using ELF Eyelid Primer. It really keeps my eyeshadow and eyeliner intact the whole day, even with the very humid weather we've been having all week.
• Concealer -- I always make sure to use a concealer. I don't really have a lot of problems with my skin, but I still use a concealer for under my eyes, my laugh lines and my nose. I use my ELF Undereye Concealer and Highlighter for my under eye area, and I use Mary Kay Concealer for the other areas. The coverage from Mary Kay is unbelievable! I strongly recommend getting this. 
• Foundation/BB Cream -- I am currently using a BB cream for my daily coverage, because I think using foundation everyday is too heavy. I use Maybelline's Clear Smooth 8-in-1 BB Cream. It really gives you ample coverage without the weight. Good for daily use.
• Finishing Powder -- Me, being quite oily, usually would use powder after foundation, especially if it is liquid. I just use it on the T-Zone and under my eyes because that is where I am oiliest. I currently use Nichido Final Powder in So Natural. It's great because the powder is not actually tinted, so it doesn't make me look pallid at all. And it's only 105 PHP. Great deal!

•  Make Up Proper -- Putting on the paint

• Eyebrows -- I usually start with this area, since I put make-up on at work. In case I don't finish, I won't look like a monkey without my eyebrows. I just trace the shape of my brows using a medium coffee color. I'm using IN2IT Waterproof Eyebrow Color in Eyebrowns. It's actually a palette with 3 colours: Light Brown, Medium Coffee Brown, and Brown-black. It comes with a great applicator, but I still use my own brush. You can also use the palette for smokey eyes. 299 PHP in Watsons.
• Eyeshadow -- I am a warm toned person, so I prefer neutral colors. I love browns, beige and golds. I'm using IN2IT Island Sands. This palette has 5 awesome shimmery colors great for blending and layering. 375 PHP at Watsons.
• Liner -- It use my eyeliner sparingly nowadays. I used to be a liner person in college, but I mellowed down a bit when I started working. It made me look too aggressive, so I only use it sparingly. I'm a fan of liquid and gel liners because they are more precise. I'm using AVON Extra Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in Black. For my gel liner, I use Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black. 
• Blush -- I am still working on blushes, since I have not really studied the techniques in applying it effectively, but I am using ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder. Close dupe of NARS Laguna/Orgasm Duo, but not exact. I love it because it just gives me a natural looking glow without looking like a slapped tomato.
• Lipstick/balm/stain -- Perfect final touch to the ensemble. I am loving pinks and nudes right now since it exudes innocence, hahahaha, which I unfortunately lost a while back. I'm loving Cover Girl Lipstick in Rose Quartz. It's kinda hard to find here. Had to have it shipped from the US.

And that's it! That is actually my basic routine. If you have suggestions, please comment below! ^^

Ja ne, pretty ladies!^^