I’m not a huge rule follower when it comes to beauty or fashion. My philosophy is: If it makes you happy, work it with pride! But I had a serious post-baby transformation in all areas of my life (becoming more responsible, a good role model, etc.), as well as undeniable changes in my lifestyle and face. I soon realized that some make up looks are better left for the younger set.
For a more age-appropriate look, I try to avoid overt glitter and large shimmer particles because they can accentuate large pores and wrinkles (although there is a difference between shimmer and glitter in that you want your highlight products as finely milled as possible for a subtle youthful glow). So I try using more cream products because powders can sometimes emphasize wrinkles and cake up in an unflattering way.
To help, here’s my daily “I am getting older but still a foxy mommy” face makeup with additional tips to take you straight from day to night in minutes flat.
Step One: Protect, moisturize, and base! Multi-tasking products are key for busy moms, and the bare minimum is a daily moisturizer and sunscreen in one. I recommend at least SPF 30 or above and if you’re outside or in the sun a lot, reapply every few hours or so as directed. (A future blog post dedicated to sunscreen for mom and baby to come next week!) I’m currently using Dr. Jart BB cream with SPF 45 on top of Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil for my oily skin, topped with Laura Mercier Mineral Powder with SPF 15. For normal skin, Dr. Hauschka Quince day cream is light and refreshing for this time of year, or if you’re a little sensitive, Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream Light is a gorgeous cream for spring into summer. Also, one of my favorite sunscreens is Coola SPF 30.
Step Two: Master your eyes! If you want to look half awake you must curl your eye lashes–trust me. If time allows, sweep an all-over color over your entire lid. Some shades I like are MAC Violet Star, Uninterrupted, and Amber Lights. Dr. Hauschka’s Spring Eye Shadow Trio is perfect for moms on the go as it contains two day shades (a light pink and champagne) and one dark brown to add for night. You can also skip eye shadow and go straight to adding many coats of mascara; my faves are Benefit’s They’re Real!, Maybelline’s Falsies Flared, and Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara.
Step Three: Blush it up! Blush is another key ingredient in making you look awake. It brightens the face and distracts the observer’s gaze from eye bags. Adding it high on your cheek right under your eye will create an “I’m awake and young” look. I like a matte or semi matte blush, again steering clear of overt shimmers. I adore the Kat Von D Everlasting Blush in Por Vida. And if you have dry skin, look for a cream blush formulation–NARS makes some of the best.
Step Four: Conceal for real! As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, I have a serious under eye problem. I currently use Benefit’s Erase Paste for concealing my dark circles and alternate with the . For treatment, I’ve also been loving the I recently grabbed on a Target run. I really feel it’s making a difference on my eye crepey-ness. The cream is very moisturizing and has slight touch of light reflecting particles while the lash serum has made my lashes appear fuller and darker.
Step Five: Lock in great lips! There are so many long-lasting balms and stains out there that you can wear all day so you don’t have to touch up your lips. My latest obsession (thanks to my bestie, Alyssa) is the NARS Velvet Gloss pencil in Mexican Rose. It’s such a bright, cheery pink and stays intact all day through many iced coffees and an entire shift at work! I also love the new Stila Color Balm lipsticks and Revlon Colorbust Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon. You’ve got to have a vibrant lip in spring!
Step Six: Conquer day to night! We’re always rushing to get out the door for date night once the sitter has arrived and we’re on the clock. So I simply build upon my already existing day makeup, touching up with powder, adding more blush if needed, and then a little eyeliner to top and bottom lash lines in a fun colors like khaki, gold, green, turquoise, bronze, or dark purple. (Try to avoid too much black around the eye as it can be aging.) Then I slap on a more intense lip color and I’m out the door. The day and night routine takes me all of 20 minutes!
Amity Spiegel is a total beauty junkie who lives in Brooklyn with husband Mike and son Cole. She is an esthetician with a holistic focus, a once and future triathlete/marathoner, a lover of trashy rock biographies and healthy eating and cooking.
