Thinking back on my ever-changing makeup routine, I thought it might be fun to share what it looked like back when it all began; when I first started experimenting with makeup and had accumulated a nice little set of products that I’d use every day before heading off to school.
It all started with frequent trips to the drugstore, where I’d pick up a few products here and there to play with. I stuck with just the basics, all drugstore buys, from the time I was 16 through my last year of college ’til the age of 21 (which is when I first started watching makeup tutorials on Youtube, and discovered Sephora and MAC!).
So here’s what was in my (tiny!) makeup bag and made up my everyday high school makeup routine:
Face:
CoverGirl Smoothers Liquid Make Up – This product has gone through a few branding/name changes (I think it was first called ‘Continuous Wear’, then ‘CG Smoothers’, and then ‘Aqua Smoothers’), but the actual container has always stayed the same and it seems the formula has too. To this day, I still use this foundation – it gives you light coverage with a satiny finish. It’s an especially great starter foundation because of it’s quality, coverage, and price-point!
CoverGirl Fresh Complexion Concealer – Another great product from CoverGirl that I used both under my eyes and over blemishes. (Personally, I’ve always liked CoverGirl’s face products – foundations, concealers, and powders – over other drugstore brands. I found that they have great coverage, longevity, and pigmentation).
Eyes:
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black – This is an excellent, long-lasting eyeliner pencil. After years of using this, I ended up replacing it with a different eyeliner that I found to be slightly softer and easier to apply (can you guess which ones……? The Urban Decay 24/7 pencils!).
Maybelline New York Full ‘N Soft Mascara – I’m surprised at how soft and natural my lashes felt while wearing this mascara. It was like I wasn’t wearing anything at all! I think the only reason why I stopped wearing this was because it wasn’t as dramatic as other mascaras I sampled. (Later on, I ended up replacing this with MAC Zoom Lash as my new HG mascara).
Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quads in Chai Latte – This palette is perfect for brown eyes (and I’d imagine green as well!), as it has excellent color payoff, and comes with everything you need for a complete look. There are even instructions on the back of the palette to show you how to create the perfect look. It’s a great starter palette for anyone new to eyeshadow!
Brows:
Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil and Gel – This was my very first brow pencil. I have dark, cool-toned brows, so I picked up the shade ‘Dark Brown’ only to discover that it had a red/orange undertone. Other than its slightly warmer-toned range of shades, these pencils are long-lasting, plus they even come with a handy gel on the other end.
Lips:
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Balm – No lipstick, no lip gloss, just lip balm! Burt’s Bees was just starting to launch new lip products, and this most basic (yet effective!) version was probably in everyone’s purse/book-bag/back-pocket back when I was in high school. It’s still a favorite of mine (though I love to try out the tinted balms and new flavors!).
What was your high school makeup routine?
Currently in high school? Share what you use in your everyday routine!
