My Fast Face, Make Up Routine

I would love to say that I have the confidence to leave my home without make up and I'm proud of it but that would be a lie. I have no problem leaving and going into the world make up free but I don't like it. Not because I feel unattractive or that I'm afraid of people judging my appearance, I just don't like it. I love beauty, I love glamour and I love playing around with new make up trends and products. And that is the God Honest truth.

I believe that my feelings about make up and beauty come from my Mother and other strong women in my family. I grew up in a family of strong women. Strong feminist women who walk tall, and assert themselves when they walk into a room. As a young girl I remember looking at my Mum, Aunts and Grandmother and thinking I wanted to be like them. They always looked glamorous to me, with their rouge, lipstick and they seem empowered with how they conducted themselves wherever they were. I see make up as another way for me to show that I mean business. I am there, and I am there to be heard and respected. Yes, I should have all of that with or without make up but with a bit of blush and my long mascara covered lashes I feel that much more empowered to demand it.

So here it is, my fast face that I put on quickly before I go somewhere. My no-make up, make up.

Firstly, I keep this "fast face" in a chic, separate make up pouch. This is something I recommend to every woman. Invest in the luxury of a beautiful make up pouch, you deserve it and it makes that "me time" that much better. I love this black leather one from Rudsak. It has a lining on the inside that's super easy to clean if anything spills but it's butter soft leather exterior is EVERYTHING, #BOSSLADY luxury.

Everyone needs a great base, I love this Vitamin C glow booster from The Body Shop. It gives you a bit of a glow and offers a super smooth base before you apply anything else. I then follow up with Benefit's Lemon Aid. This is where some of my art training comes back to me, remember when you learnt about the primary, secondary colours and the complimentary colours? Red and Green, Purple and Yellow, Blue and Orange? No? Okay, well if you have redness if you apply a green concealer it will negate the redness and the same thing goes for purple and yellow. I have had perpetual purple under my eyes and in the inner corners of my eyes. I can sleep for days and they will be there, so instead of cursing them I simply apply Benefit's miracle worker Lemon Aid and pouf! goes the purple and a beautiful base is left on my eyes ensuring that if I am to apply shadows or concealer its does not disappear off my face.

Now that my face is all primed and ready and my purple is hidden, I apply my new favourite concealer and best drug store find ever! Maybelline Canada has launched their Better Skin Concealer that not only conceals what you want to hide today but works on making your skin better. Anything that pulls double duty is good in my books, beauty today and skin care tomorrow? Sold. A trick I have learnt is apply a concealer that is a tad lighter than your own skin and when applying under your eyes, apply in a triangle with the applicator wand but smooth in with a concealer brush. Better use of product and wayyyyy better coverage. I usually do not where foundation on a daily basis, I have invested in a strong skin acre routine and believe that my pores need to breathe. When going "out" or getting dressed up I would apply foundation now but it's not a part of my fast face.

Now, I have only recently taken up the contouring trend and was taught how to do it quickly and subtly ie.not Kardashian style. Using my favourite matte bronzer from Benefit, I contour my cheekbones and nose using the brush included as well as with the fan brush. I love the affect and it just enhances the cheekbones I once hated. After contouring with the darker shade I apply my blush. I love this cheek and lip tint from Dior. I love Dior always, but I really love this innovation they released this past season.

With it's adorable applicator and beautiful rose scent I simply smile, dab on three dots of product on the apples of my cheeks and blend in with my fingertips. I love the natural flush and longevity of the product. Added bonus, it tingles like mint-again it's all about the little things during this me time. Final touch to this contouring, Charlotte Tilbury's Wonder Glow. MAGIC. This product can be used as a primer/base adding a glow from within but it can also be used as a highlighter. It's magical just how smooth and brightening without being too much this product is. It adds light without making you shiny, which so many highlighters do. Applying it to wherever the light hits my face, top of cheek bones, nose, cupids bow and a little on the fore head and chin, and I'm done. With these three products my skin and structure of my face is complete.

I like my eyes. They're big and blue and ever since I can remember my Dad has called me Big Blue Eyes. I am all about enhancing my eyes and to do so I use warm colours with bronze and brown undertones. Right now I am all about the Charlotte Tilbury Uptown Girl Palette, I apply the top left colour form the palette during the day and it just enhances my icy blue eyes. With the all over application on my lid of the single colour I enhance my lash line with Julep's Gel meets Liner eyeliner in raisin. It's not as harsh as black on my fair skin and seems more daytime appropriate to me. Along my upper lash line and a bit thicker on my outer corner, finishing with the water line and this eye liner goes on like a dream. Now that my liner is done, I curl my lashes (don't do this before eyeliner application-it just makes harder than need be) and apply another drugstore favourite,

L'Oreal's Voluminous Lashes. I love this mascara during the day as it elongates and thickens my lashes but somehow keeps them looking natural. Not too heavy or sticky, pushing dramatic without being OVER dramatic. Finally, kind of light the contouring on the rest of my face I add a bit of light with Benefit's Eye Bright crayon (these are becoming difficult to find so if you see one grab it!), with the creamy formula of the crayon I apply in the corners of my eyes and along my brow bone. To keep my eyebrows in place I use a clear formula mascara from Julep that has a wonderful smaller brush so I can ensure all hairs are in place and my arch is assertive and on point.

The final stages and the two products that I will keep with me when I leave the home or simply reapply throughout the day are my Lancome Translucent powder, which I swear by, and whatever I put on my lips for that day. Maybe that's what I love so much about my daily "Fast Face" is that I can change it to suit my look of the day with my lip.

Here are some of my daily faves right now, Dior Lip Addict, Maybelline Blushed Nudes Touch of Spice, Charlotte Tilbury Penelope's Nude and Maybelline Colour Blur(these crayons are amazing and I have quickly got my friends addicted and using them). I love how much I can change my look with a different colour or finish on my lips. Natural, Vintage or Dramatic all with a swipe on my lips. I will reapply my powder throughout the day and check in to make sure nothing has smudged or looks off.

Now that my Fast Face is done. I know it seems like a lot when all written out, however I can do this quickly and it does give me a bit of "Me time" and I leave the house feeling like an enhanced version that I am presenting to the world. As someone who can feel awful due to my health, I do love how I can control and empower myself with this simple routine. When you look good, you feel good and I believe then you do good.