I never used to be a makeup junkie; I still deny it, since I cull my collection pretty frequently when I realize that I’m not using things. This is probably the most makeup I’ve ever owned at one time.

I don’t use all of this at the same time (obviously).

1. Clinique Redness Solutions foundation SPF 15 – I LOVE this stuff. I have never, ever been a liquid foundation girl, but figuring out the best way to apply this and a better skin care routine means better application. This definitely evens out my skin tone/reduces redness, and I can definitely tell that it’s improving my skin.

2. E.L.F. Studio blush in Pink Passion – This color is not nearly as scary on as it is in the pan–it actually gives me a gorgeous, natural flush and brightens up my face quite a bit.

3. CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting waterproof mascara in Very Black – This stuff gets mixed reviews, but I’m on my third tube and have never had problems. I love the silicone brush, and it looks amazing on. It never flakes or smudges, is totally waterproof, and comes off easily with Clinique eye makeup remover.

4. Sephora Nano Eyeliner pencil in 06 Glitter Brown – This color has sadly been discontinued, but it’s a MAC Teddy dupe (although I might go for UD 24/7 in Bourbon). Gorgeous dark brown with copper shimmer (not glitter), perfect for blue eyes.

5. Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero – I use this to line my waterline, and it has great staying power.

6. ELF cream liner in black – For my typical fancy winged liner look.

7. Carmex strawberry tube – I use this year-round (it gives a nice shine and smells AMAZING), but this is my savior in the winter.

8. ELF plumping lip glaze in Babydoll – My “my lips but better” shade. It looks really light in the picture, but it’s a bit darker/peachy pink in real life. Gives me a subtle plump and a nice shimmer/shine.

9. Sephora Collection rouge cream lipstick in Valentine 09 – When I want to go a little crazy (because I’m a lip balm girl), I slap some of this on. I wish I had the courage to wear this all the time!

10. ELF mineral shadows in Elegant and Celebrity – The swatches on the ELF site are off, so I had to snag the more color-accurate ones. Elegant is a light, shimmery gold, and Celebrity is the darker, shimmery beige. I’m not much of an eye makeup girl (I normally just go for a bit of liner and mascara), but these colors are pretty and perfect for blue eyes.

11. ELF mineral booster powder in sheer – For days when I don’t want to wear foundation, I brush this on over my sunscreen. It has a slightly pinkish cast and gives me a light, even finish.

Over at The Demure Muse, Kat posed the question of makeup routines; namely, what is yours and is there anything you’d like to add?

Let me preface this by saying that I was never a makeup junkie. I didn’t start wearing makeup until high school, and even then it was mostly just mascara, so this whole wearing makeup and owning more than two colors of eye shadow is new to me.

The best way to start any makeup routine is with good skincare. I have dry, sensitive skin, so I’m very particular with what I put on my skin. In the morning, I wash my face with Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser on a cleansing brush, exfoliate with Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1, and moisturize with Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream and DDML. At night, I swap out those moisturizers for vitamin E oil. The only thing I’m missing is a regular eye cream; I do rotate two of them, but neither really makes a visible difference. This has been a near-miracle skincare routine for me, so I do it religiously.

After my skin is properly moisturized, I start with Clinique Redness Solutions foundation, swiping it toward my jaw and hairline with latex-free biodegradable makeup sponges. I have never liked liquid foundation, but the skincare routine plus playing around to find the best way to apply it changed my mind. As much as I loved my mineral foundation, the coverage just isn’t the same. Then it’s ELF eyelid primer in a thin layer on my eyelids while I do my hair.

Depending on how I feel for the day, my eyeliner is either Sephora Nano liner in 06 Glitter Brown (sadly, a discontinued color, but a MAC Teddy dupe) or Ulta Precision Liquid Liner in Carbon Black. I will never, ever give up my CoverGirl LashBlast waterproof (I don’t understand why the reviews suck–I LOVE this stuff). I typically wear some sort of ELF eye shadow, usually one of the cream duos in Mocha Swirl or Sugar Cookie, applied with my fingers (or, for powder shadows, Sephora or ELF brushes).

Currently, I use Almay SmartShade blush in Pink Rose 010, but I’m not in love with it. My former favorite is Sephora Blush Me! Mono in Rose Rebelle, but I’m looking for others (preferably matte).

I have highly pigmented lips, so I don’t have a tendency to wear lip color, and this, therefore, is an area that I would like to work on. I usually stick to Carmex or ELF Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm in Strawberry Creme. I love the idea of lip stains, but I can’t get them to work for me. I also love the idea of non-shimmery bright lipsticks. I have a Sephora Rouge Cream lipstick in The Red 04 and Valentine 09, but I don’t play around with them nearly enough. I have started using ELF Plumping Lip Glaze (although I can’t remember off the top of my head what color I have) more lately , which I’ve been very happy with (probably because it’s very sheer, haha).

Looking back at this, it seems like a lot. It really only takes maybe ten minutes to do the makeup part (my hair is an entirely different story), although I’ve never timed myself.

I’m not a big foundation-wearer. Well, I’m not a huge makeup-wearer in general, if we’re being honest here. My skin and liquid/creme foundations just don’t mix–my t-zone will, inevitably, end up flaky, no matter how many different brands and their respective formulations I try. Then mineral makeup appeared on the beauty scene, and I was introduced to Everday Minerals base.

This stuff? Rocks. The company only uses six organic ingredients, and the base is vegan and not tested on animals, with no petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicones, parabens, propylene glycol, carmine, retinol/AHAs, synthetic lake dyes, alcohol, animal by-products, or sodium laureth sulfate.

First impressions:
- Wow, my skintone looks even.
- This basically does the work of pancake makeup without the heavy, greasy feel.
- I use so little of this at a time, just buff a tiny amount on my forehead, nose, and cheeks and I’m good to go.

After continual use:
- My skin looks better (I attribute this to the combination of new, better products I was using, and the fact that this stuff doesn’t make my skin hate me).
- The packaging can get a little messy, so be careful when opening, and make sure to close the cover over the inner holes.
- Holy cats, I love this stuff.

This actually comes in four different finishes–semi matte, matte, intensive, and original glo, in addition to the myriad of tones (sorted by base). Two sizes are available, a wee pot and the regular size. Even better, they offer six trial packs with four tones each, so that you can find which color suits you best–for FREE (this is also available for cheek color and face powder). The company also family owned and operated, and donates the sales of a particular product each month to a chosen charity.

Available online from everydayminerals.com for $2.50 (small) and $12 (large)