GLOWY ROSY MAKE UP - THE KITCHY KITCHEN

My make up regimen tends to be pretty simple, but for spring and into summer I find myself going for a warmer, more lustrous look. After harsh winter weather, my skin is ready for some dewiness, and my lips appreciate being anything but chapped. So this is the simple but glowy look I go for, by simply mixing up some of the products in my make up bag.

First, start with a moisturized and prepped face, always. I love the Caudelie Premier Cru products. Yeah, it’s expensive, but I’m officially in my 30s and need to start giving a damn about my skin. But whatever moisturizer is your jam, start with that. And remember to go down to your neck!

For all of my face make up, I use a Beauty Blender, but a brush can work as well. You want to create a seamless, effortless look, so as RuPaul would say, “Beat that face!”

I don’t do foundation, because I hate the mask-like effect it can create on my skin. But, if you want to even out your skin tone and get a bit more coverage, I recommend using a tinted BB cream, or mixing some of your foundation with your moisturizer.

Ok, we’re prepped! So here we go…

Face

I start with a triangle of coverage going under my eyes and down the sides of my nose using the classic, YSL Touche Eclat. It works as a highlighter as well as concealer, so it bounces light off the face, adding a luminizing effect. Remember, blend blend blend! If you need more coverage, add an extra layer of the Touche Eclat after blending, and then blend again.

With a large brush, load up on a bronzer. My favorite is Laguna from Nars. It’s pretty subtle and doesn’t have glitter it in. Remember, glitter is not the same as glow! Sweep the bronzer in the shape of a 3 on the side of your face, starting at your temple, going along your cheek bones, and then under your chin. Blend again.

To finish the face, take a highlighter – RMS Living Luminizer is AMAZING – and paint the highlighter on top of your cheek bones, along the bridge of your nose, on the tip of your chin, in your cupid’s bow (above your lips), and on the brow bone just above your brow. Blend again!

Eyes

I’ve been retiring my liquid liner lately, and for a soft, romantic, glowy look, I like keeping the make up a little less graphic. I used Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Monochrome, which is a lovely, rosy color spectrum. I started by covering my eye lids with the lightest, beige tone (which on me is nude). Then, in the center of each eye, I swiped the copper, bronzy shade. Using a larger eye shadow brush, I blended everything together. Using a contouring brush, I blended the two darker shades, and lightly drew in the the outer crease of my eye (I have deep set eyes, so I never go all the way to the interior of the crease), and then along the outer third of my bottom lash line. Again, I blend! I then load up an angled brush with the darkest shade, and starting at the center of my lashline, work outwards, lightly jiggling to get the shadow deep into the lash line. Repeat on the other eye and blend.

For a final touch, I take a bit of the RMS luminzer and put it in the inner corners of my eyes, to make the tear ducts sparkle and bring some light in.