Tag Archives: anti-oxidant

5 Minute Face

I love my morning routine. There’s something very comforting about having a regime. It gets my day off to the right start and sets the stage. But just because I enjoy applying lotions and potions, it doesn’t mean I want it to take forever. Let’s be real, most of us have a limited amount of time in the morning to get ready and we need things to be streamlined. Here’s a look at my five minute face (give or take). It may seem like a lot of products, but they are quick and easy to apply. You’ll have a natural, rosy glow in a matter of minutes.

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The first thing I do is apply a beauty balm. This is a moisturizer, primer, concealer, and SPH all in one. It will save you lots of time (and money).
shown: Estee Lauder Daywear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Cream $38

I then apply a concealer on the hard to cover spots. This takes two seconds, as the bb cream does a great job covering most flaws.
shown: Loreal Magic Lumi Liquid Concealer $13

The next step is to apply a blush stain (gel or cream). You could skip this step, but I find my cheeks stay rosy longer if I use a stain.
shown: Tarte Cheek Stain $30

I then sweep on a mineral powder. It gives me a flawless finish and helps to keep the oil at bay. I find mineral powders to be the best. They seem less cakey and are more natural.
shown: Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfectly Powder $59

Next comes a powder blush. I know, it seems like overkill to most of you. But I’ve found that using both a cream and powder blush gives me great color and is less likely to melt off during the day.
shown: Tarte Amazoninan Clay 12hr Blush $25

It’s on to the eyebrows. I like a gel instead of a pencil. The color sweeps on with a mascara wand and is super easy. It gives definition and holds brows into place.
shown: Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel $21

To set everything, I use a makeup setting spray. This keeps my face looking fresh and set all day.
shown: Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray $29

If it’s a day I’m going to be out and about, I’ll add mascara to the ritual. I always use a primer. It makes my lashes even longer and keeps the mascara from smudging.
shown: Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum and Primer $28 and Loreal Voluminous False Fiber Mascara $8

Last step is the lip. For most days I apply a tinted lip balm. It gives my pout a natural pop of color while keeping them soft and moisturized.
shown: Revlon Lip Butter

So, there you have it, my five minute face.You can add or subtract to fit your needs, but this is what works best for me. What’s your five minute face routine?

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My 5 minute face minus mascara!

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Battle Of The BB Cream

When I first wrote about Dr. Jart BB Cream back in October, there were only a few brands available here in the States. Fast forward five months and it seems every beauty brand has one in their arsenal. And with good reason. BB Cream (or beauty/blemish balm) got it’s start in Asia and has quickly become a must-have for millions of women world wide. This miracle cream combines moisturizer, primer, concealer, and foundation into one product, streamlining your morning routine. Think of it as a super-charged tinted moisturizer. But with so many offerings, one can become overwhelmed when choosing a balm. I have spent the past couple of weeks testing out the “latest and greatest” and am going to share my findings with you. I hope it helps you find the right bb cream for you.

MOST AFFORDABLE

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Garnier Miracle Skin Perfecter BB Cream $12.99
This balm is available in two shades and unfortunately neither worked for me. What I did like was the consistency. It spread very easily. It didn’t wear well on my oily skin and I was shiny in a matter of hours. I think this would be a perfect fit for someone with normal to dry skin. The best part is that it’s $20 less than all the other creams.
available at all major drugstores

BEST LUMINOSITY

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Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm $32
This gave me the best glow. It’s available in four shades and the colors are very pretty. It has a anti-aging, multi-mineral complex that promotes cell health, strengthens skin elasticity, and enhances luminosity. The consistency was middle of the road-spread easily but more on the thick side. It offers good coverage but had worn off my cheeks by the end of the day. I did like the overall appearance.
Available at Ulta

BEST SHINE REDUCER

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Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream $39
This had great coverage and definitely kept the shine at bay all day. The UVA/UVB protection helps inhibit oil to prevent your face from getting shiny. It wore very well. It comes in five shades so there is a choice for everyone. While the formula does create a smooth finish, it was very thick and hard to spread. The good news is that it doesn’t look thick on your face. This gets two-thumbs up for sure!
available at Sephora

BEST OVERALL COVERAGE

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Estee Lauder Daywear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Cream $38
This has the best coverage and overall look. It comes in two shades, which can be tricky, but the lighter one worked great. It offers powerful protection with their proven super anti-oxidant complex and SPF 35. The consistency was thick and spread okay (very similar to the Smashbox). It wore very well all day and helped control shine. Plus, it has an amazing scent.
available at all fine department stores

Overall, these creams were all great. I wish I could take the best of each and formulate a super bb cream. I would recommend getting samples and trying them first. BB Creams really are the best and there is absolutely one that will work for you. I hope I’ve provided you with a starting point. I’m almost out of my Dr. Jart (which is still wonderful) and am now very conflicted about which one to get next. Because of my oily skin, probably the Smashbox or Estee Lauder, but the colors were so luminous in the Too Faced. I really wish the Garnier worked for me. I could save some big $$!

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