My Spring Makeup Bag

Sitting (Mostly) Idle, But Sitting Pretty

I’m averaging about two makeup days out of the entire week these days, but I can’t deny the pleasure of putting it on. I keep telling myself “I need to do this daily” but something always ends up getting in the way. Whether it’s a random Instagram Live HIIT session that beckons me to join in mid-day or the desire to vacuum the entire house twice over, either of those activities don’t lend themselves well to a full face of makeup. Nonetheless, when I do end up succeeding at putting it on, I feel fantastic and these are some of the products that have been getting me there.

Primer

Last year I have discovered two holy grail level primers that I am still alternating between. If I wake up poorly rested, with sallow skin in need of a lift, I opt for Sisley Paris Double Tenseur $192.00 and shed a tear for however many dollars it costs per pump of product. This was my “special occasion” primer, but these days there are no rules. My face is worth it, dammit! It brightens and lifts my complexion, and helps my makeup go on like a dream. When I am dealing with dry patches and want extra help to smooth things out, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer $42.00 does the job so well. It has this beautiful ability to help blur out my skin texture without being overly silicone-y feeling. My foundation doesn’t roll or pill over it, and it offers the needed layer of hydration to keep my dry patches at bay without making me more oily. It’s a winner!

Foundation

I love foundation so much. I think that after struggling with acne for the better part of the last decade, I came to really cherish the appearance of a more even base. My taste in complexion products has shifted a bit over the years - from full coverage matte offerings to more sheer natural finishes. Spring is the time of year when I can get away with the sheerest, glowiest of bases and I am here for it. The most frequently used, either alone or mixed in with other stuff, has been Maybelline Urban Dream Cover $12.99. I don’t find it to be as full coverage as the packaging claims, and that’s a good thing! I apply it with a damp sponge and find that I get an even, medium coverage with a slightly glowy satin finish. When I want to amp up the glow a bit, I mix it with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation $64.00; when I want to sheer it out and boost longevity I mix it with Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation $40.00, the latter being a combination that has survived Tulum heat without the need of setting powder! I know I say this often, but mixing your foundations is really the best way to get a fresh hint of something new without actually going out and buying something. I always recommend playing around and mixing what you have first, before hitting the shops for something new.

For sheer “no makeup makeup” options, I have been gravitating towards the new Sisley Paris Phyto-Hydra Teint 120.00 which is a tinted moisturizer with an ultra-light texture that effortlessly melts onto the skin, evening out my complexion without looking like I have makeup on. I find the shade range to be really limiting, but since it’s quite sheer it has a bit of flexibility. I use it in shade 1 “Light”. What I enjoy about this tinted moisturizer in particular is that it helps smooth out my skin texture and doesn’t make me feel greasy at all. It dries down to a really natural skin-like finish and has great longevity.

Of course, saving the best for last, I can’t have a spring makeup bag related video without a shoutout to arguably my favorite foundation of all time (and also the biggest pain in the butt to get ahold of): Giorgio Armani Essence-In-Foundation Cushion $90.00 (Canada Only). This has light-medium coverage on me, so a touch more pigment than the Sisley tinted moisturizer. I love it year-round. Unfortunately it’s incredibly hard to get in the United States. I first bought it in Canada during a weekend in Toronto, not knowing how much I’d fall in love with it. It’s a refillable packaging, but refills seem to only be offered in Europe/Asia/Australia. It launched with a skeleton range of shades in the US for a few weeks last year and then disappeared… this foundation has been toying with my emotions. I love that it lasts all day on my skin no matter if I’m feeling dry or very oily. It’s easy to apply with the puff it comes with, with a dense foundation brush for more coverage or with a damp sponge for a sheer dewy finish. It ticks all the boxes for me!

Eyeshadow

The eyeshadow department is where I have been most absent. On the majority of days, I haven’t been wearing eyeshadow. When I want a little something, a sheer wash of matte color does the job and I have been using Glossier Skywash $18.00 to do the job. I love the shade range: there is a solid selection of neutrals with some fun kisses of color. The ones I use most often are neutral (surprise, surprise) and their names are Pebble, Terra and Valley.

Mascara

Another step I have been skipping, but when I do wear it I opt for either Glossier Lash Slick $16.00 for a natural long and separated lash or Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal Mascara $7.99 if I am craving a bit more volume. I also tried and liked the Lise Watier V Element Fiber Volcanic Minerals Mascara $27.00 (Canada Only).

Cheek Color

Whether it’s blush, bronzer or both, I find that having a bit of color on my face can make the biggest difference. I’ve been opting for Lilah B Bronzed Beauty Bronzer Duo $42.00 if I want a hint of sunkissed glow, Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in “Powder Pink” $33.00 for a nude-ish dusty rose cream cheek color or trusty old fave Burberry Light Glow Tangerine Blush $42.00 (discontinued)… I am still so sad that most of my Burberry beauty loves are discontinued. I’m guessing the entire brand is headed in that direction and it’s a shame because they made incredible eye, lip and cheek color products.

Lipstick

A mixture of one, two or all three of the following: Boots No7 Precision Lips Pencil in “Nude” which is sadly no longer available (I’m trying to use up old lip liners and streamline my stash), Sisley Paris Phyto-Lip Twist in 2 “Baby” $50.00 which is a gorgeous balmy nude pink with a bit of shine, and Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in “Light Stone” $26.00 which was a limited edition color. The lip oils are fantastic though, so even if you pick up one of their permanent collection shades you will not be disappointed.