Beauty Routine

A few of my sweet readers commented + emailed me yesterday in regards to my "glowing" skin. First of all, thank you! Second of all, I have to say that I don't think I had washed my face that morning so that glowing skin may have been oily skin. But either way, I really appreciate your compliments and decided to give you a peek into my daily beauty regiment.

Let me preface this post by saying that I have to thank the skin gods for blessing me with pretty good skin. I have never had to deal with acne {aside from a few blemishes here and there}, but I also have to say that I drink a lot of water. I have always been a water drinker, when I was younger I never drank juice, or soda, just some good ol' ice water. I probably drink 3 liters a day, and on days when I don't drink a lot of water, I can feel it in my skin. Is that weird?

I also have to say that I am somewhat disabled in the beauty department. I only wear the basics, I don't know how to wear eyeliner {any special techniques?}, and rarely wear eyeshadow. I like to stick to a pretty clean palette.

First, let's start with cleansing and moisturizing:
Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads: I use these every morning and every night. They burn, really bad, but they make my skin clean and dry and even. These get rid of any lingering residue and probably help to keep my skin extra clean.
Lumene Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Day Cream: I love that this is over the counter but definitely feels like the most expensive cream in any department store. This has the perfect amount of moisture and a tiny tint of shimmer which is a nice base to applying my makeup. *I use this in the morning or after I shower.
Burt's Bees Radiance Serum: I don't know what this stuff does, but I think it has something to do with magic. If I use this religiously I can see a significant difference in the lines and the elasticity of my skin. *I put two drops on my face and neck before I go to bed.

Makeup:
Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer: This acts as my foundation and my concealer and is practically weightless. I love that it is sheer enough to not feel like you're wearing makeup, but tinted enough to conceal. I highly recommend!
BareMinerals Faux Tan Bronzing Powder: I don't use a ton of this, but it is nice to have an even tint of tan on your face to bring a little life into your skin after a long winter. I am a huge fan of the Bare Escentuals line because it is light weight, easy to apply, and is always even.
Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush: I never leave the house without a little blush on my cheeks. It is the perfect way to add depth to your face and define those feminine cheek bones! I typically use a deeper shade in the winter but I just purchased this blush and it is the perfect shade for warmer days to come. It really does wake up your face with it's tiny illuminating flecks.
Diorshow Mascara: The best, end of story.
BareMinerals Eyeshadow in Queen Phyllis: This is probably what I should thank for dewy skin. Sephora describes this eyeshadow as "soft sunlight." Here is my secret: I don't use this as eyeshadow, I use it as an illuminator. I put a soft sweep at the top of my cheek bones {right under my eyes} and down the center of my nose {which this may seem weird, but I remember sitting at a MAC counter in high school and one of the makeup artists gave me this tip for slimming your face?}. I do use this as eyeshadow when I'm feeling fancy, just not everyday.
Lancome L'ABSOLU Rouge: I love this lipstick. It is smooth, sheer, and feels like water when you put it on your lips. For someone who isn't always comfortable wearing a matte lipstick {which I think can be kind of harsh at times} this is a wonderful alternative for everyday lips.
Bare Escentuals Brushes: Soft and sturdy! I use the entire set.

So there you have it! Oh, and I also use this if I need a bit of under-eye concealer and I use these to remove my makeup.

Do you have any beauty secrets? I'd love to hear + learn some new tips!