My daily survival kit

With painting and cleaning temporarily replacing my nine-to-fiver these days, I’ve really scaled back on the amount of makeup I apply. Not that I wore a ton of makeup before [or did I? Was I walking around looking like a clown without knowing it? Some friends you are!] but you know, I always applied eyeliner, powder, blush, at least two different eyeshadows, bronzer, you get the idea.

Lately, since I don’t get around to putting my face on until around three o’clock in the afternoon, I don’t see the point for me to pull out all the makeup stops, so to speak. ESPECIALLY when my husband says he can’t tell a difference either way. [Nice of him, yes, but a TOTAL LIE.] That being said, I still feel compelled to NOT look like a total hag, and so I’ve pared down to just the bare minimum.

The following are the five products I can’t live without…I’ve been using each of them religiously for at least three years, so you know they’re tried and true:

Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara
I’ll be forever envious of those women whose eyebrows just stay in place naturally. Mine do not. I’ve been using eyebrow goo (technical name) since highschool and cannot live without it. I used to use another drugstore brand, but either they stopped making it or my drugstore stopped carrying it, so I was forced to switch to Maybelline. I deigned to use Maybelline for awhile because it was colored (like, eyebrow colored) and would flake off, but they reformulated it awhile back and now I can’t even tell the difference between Maybelline and THAT OTHER BRAND.

MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in “Engraved”
I am a black eyeliner FANATIC and personally believe that blacker-than-black eyeliner is acceptable for any occasion, any time of year, and in any part of the country. MAC’s Powerpoint line of eyeliners is the best I’ve found; it goes on smooth and in one stroke. “Engraved” is the darkest black MAC makes…In the Powerpoint line, that is. “Smolder” is actually the darkest, but it’s just sort of…lacking. It goes on smooth, but not as smooth. It stays all day, but not without smudging. Although it’s not THE BLACKEST BLACK EVER, “Engraved” is definitely the best option out there for a good quality black eyeliner.

Maybelline Volum’ Express Turbo Boost Mascara in “Very Black”
I have searched high and low, for years and years, and have FINALLY found the perfect mascara. It’s got a nice thick brush, but not so thick that I mascara other parts of my face (at least, not very often.) It stays on all day and doesn’t flake, even when I pick at my eyelashes. I’ve tried LITERALLY, ever other brand out there, drugstore or otherwise and this is the best. Better even than…Dare I say it…DiorShow? Yes, better. And cheaper. Can’t beat that!

AmazingConcealer in “Light Golden”
Yes, that is really its name and yes, it is truly amazing. All credit goes to my aunt, who introduced me to this concealer. She gave me a tube of this stuff a couple years ago, saying I could have it because she needed a new one anyway. That one almost-empty tube lasted SIX MORE MONTHS and the tube I’m using now is the only one I’ve had to buy so far. It only comes in seven shades, but it looks so flawless, I’m convinced there’s no need for a bunch of different choices. It’s a little pricey, but like I said, I’ve only bought ONE tube in two years, so it’s totally worth it.

MAC Powder Sheertone Blush in “Pinch O’ Peach”
I’ve been in a pink blush phase recently. It just seems more inviting and friendly than bronze or reddish hued blushes. Not that I’m really friendly – I’m not – but I like to pretend like I am and I guess I feel like my blush helps? Or maybe I’m just sauced. Either way, of all the blushes I own, I reach for this one more often than not. A little dusting of this blush is all I need to round out my look. “My look” being…”Trying Not To Look Like Too Much Like A Hag”…I guess?