My Current Makeup Routine

I’ve always been a bit lazy with my makeup routine because I really, really like sleep. I’m the least morning person who’s ever morninged, so I’m only willing to sacrifice 15 minutes for makeup, max.

But I also really enjoy playing with makeup, so cramming in a bunch of products is also necessary! My current makeup routine has expanded to the following, which I’m pretty proud of because it stays nice-looking despite the Australian summer and my oily-ass skin.

Pre-makeup: Wash face with water, apply sunscreen (I’m currently using Ultraceuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 30 Mattifying, my previous fave was Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence). Use Pixi 24K Eye Elixir on puffy bags if I feel particularly nasty (the cold rollerball is almost as good as a coffee).

1. Klara Cosmetics Reset Glow and NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12% mixed together as a glowy primer with a little Shu Uemura Face Architect mixed in if my skin is being naughty. I’ve also started trying Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone as well. Since my skin is quite oily I used to avoid any sort of illuminator to cut down on shine, so applying it all over is a bit of a radical departure. I’ve found that if I put it all over with a sponge and cover it up with powder later, it works really well to make my skin look glowy and healthy without making it look greasy. Here’s what the three illuminators look like alone. From left to right: Klara, Becca, NIOD.

I used to use a beauty blender to apply foundation, but then I got really sick of washing it, so I’ve switched to disposable sponges from Daiso. I know they’re bad for the environment, but I try to get a week’s worth of use out of one so I feel less bad. I’m also optimistic about the development of genetically engineered bacteria that can break down conventional plastics…

2. Genie Beauty Line Smoothing Concealer to cover up spots and in the undereye region. I used to avoid concealer altogether but I’m really loving how convenient this stick form is! I draw it on and smudge it out with a brush (currently using the IT Cosmetics Flawless Concealer brush from the Heavenly Luxe set), and it doesn’t crease too much once I powder and set with spray.

3. Williamspro Zero Powder then It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Silk Airbrush Powder on the oily bits. I’m absolutely in love with Zero Powder at the moment. It’s an arrowroot-based powder that doesn’t cause flashback (not that I get photos taken of me to every day) but soaks up oil really well, so the illuminator doesn’t turn into a greasefest. It gives an almost siliconey-smooth texture without turning into an oil slick. Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder is great for blurring pores. I use a magnetic kabuki brush from TBX, but I don’t really take advantage of the magnetic feature – I just like how heavy it is!

3. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (smells like coconuts!) and Dusty Girls Natural Mineral Blush in Golden Delicious for a summer glow. I use the Butter Bronzer in a “3” shape on the sides of my face using a Nude by Nature powder brush, and add the blush to the apples of my cheeks. I was never a big fan of coral blushes until I had a Shu Uemura makeover and the makeup artist used a whole bunch of orange on me. I’m obsessed with Golden Delicious from Dusty Girls – it’s really pigmented so I only have to touch a blush brush to it to get enough colour for each cheek (I’m using another brush from IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe set). If I’m feeling puffy, I contour using the awesome taupe shade from the Face of Australia Glamazon Contour Kit and the BEST contouring brush ever from Cover FX. It has a really nice flat shape so you can turn the brush to go wide or narrow, plus it has a skinny end that’s perfect for doing your nose. It’s so much easier than trying to do your whole face with a big brush because you can’t be bothered looking for a second brush (me, most mornings).

4. Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow in Veruschka, Pixi Beauty Silky Endless Eye Pen in Opal Overcoat, Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Angel. If there’s a step I skip a lot, it’s eyeshadow, but when I do it, I’ve found myself skipping powder in favour of cream and pencil.

Veruschka is a gorgeous olive shade that blends in easily with my fingers and doesn’t crease, unlike most other cream eyeshadows I’ve tried – I love it so much!

I use pencils for the inner corner and sometimes undereye too. I don’t know why I spent so many years trying to get powder in the inner corner without it landing everywhere, because with my dexterity levels it’s impossible and takes ages to clean up. These pencils are awesomely quick and precise, and have great staying power.

5. NYX Cosmetics Matte Finish Setting Spray to lock everything in. I like how it makes the powder stick together and look like skin. I also love how it comes out as a fine mist. I’ve also been using a Maybelline setting spray and the drops are a lot bigger, so the NYX version feels a lot less like I’m training a cat and the cat is simultaneously also me.

6. Shiseido eyelash curler and Maybelline Full ‘N Soft Waterproof Mascara. I set before mascara because I don’t have the patience to wait for my mascara to dry, so it always ends up transferring when I close my eyes for spraying (I tried leaving my eyes slightly open once…bad, stupid, sleep-deprived decision!). I’ve had this generic Shiseido lash curler since maybe 2008. I picked it up in a Bonjour in Hong Kong for about $3.50, and it’s absolutely perfect for my eyes. Unfortunately the spring broke recently so I’ll have to find a replacement soon.

I’ve been having the worst luck trying to find a mascara that holds my stiff Asian lashes in a curl while still being easy-ish to remove at night. Maybelline Full ‘N Soft Waterproof has been the best so far, but I’m not that impressed with its curl-holding power. Covergirl Lash Blast was awesome at curl-holding, but it never really seemed to come off completely. I have a parade of mascaras that I’m currently testing which I’ll have to review soon.

The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil in Grey Brown and Girlee Cosmetics Eyeliner Pencil. I frequently do these two steps on the train if I’m in a rush. I’ve strayed from this eyeliner a lot, but I always end up going back to it. It’s easy to use, easy to smudge out, and barely transfers, plus it’s easy to remove at night – it’s the perfect eyeliner! It’s one of the few products that I’m going to be able to finish without really trying.

And here’s how it looks with no Photoshop and 5 hours of sleep:

All this takes me about 15 min if I rush a little, which to me is still manageable. Now if I could only squeeze my meditation time in there as well…

Do you use any of these products? Or do you have any time-saving makeup tricks? Please share them!

Some of these products were provided for editorial consideration, which did not affect my opinion. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.