On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being hardly any makeup at all and 10 being full-on diva drag queen fabulousness, where are you in terms of how involved/heavy your makeup has been lately?
Seeing as how, pretty much, all I’ve been wearing lately hasn’t been much at all (Well, let me clarify that… It hasn’t been much for me, since my idea of “hasn’t been much at all” might be more than the average gal’s, since I love le face paint and all.), I’d put myself at about a 4 or a 5… Maybe a 4.5. Or a solid 4.75? LOL! Let’s just say that I’m smack dab in the middle at 5.
Honestly, with the hectic holidays and a little bit of travel thrown on top — plus my inability to sit still for long (pregnancy has made me antsy, yo!) — all I can manage is whatever I can squeeze into 15 minutes.
And I’ve also been into more natural looks lately. I guess I’m going through a phase… I mean, sometimes I want to do all of the fun makeup extras — the extra contouring, the blending, the layering, the playing with different textures and finishes — and I like wearing a “heavier” makeup look, too, because, well, it’s fun, and it can be a great artistic outlet when I have the time, energy and patience for it, but right now, though, I’m all about skin that looks like real skin (which doesn’t require a lot of effort) and a light touch of color and definition on my eyes and cheeks.
The furthest I’ll go in terms of color lately has been on my lips, because for me I think they’re the quickest way to make an impact that doesn’t require tons of work. I keep a couple of nude lip colors in my makeup bag (one foolproof combo that works with everything: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Only You from the Ellie Golding collection and NARS Lipgloss in Chihuahua), along with some brighter options.
For brights, I still like ’em easy, and I have several reds, oranges and pinks in my bag from the MAC Velvetease Lip Pencil collection (Anything Goes, Lover’s Lane, Just My Type and Just Add Romance) because they’re like lip pencils and matte lipsticks in one, so they don’t take much fuss.
How about you?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Happy hump day!
Jane says
I seem to get to this time of the year where my skin is so dry (think crocodile like) and I just don’t like dealing with much on my face. I wear a thicker moisturizer and a light foundation (BB tinted moisturizer). I have been loving the cream shadow stick, liner and mascara on the eyes, some blush and a neutral lip. On weekends, I just put the tinted moisturizer and sheer lip balm. Just keeping it simple.
Amy says
A Solid 5! I’m with you Karen! You certainly have that “glow” about you and look beautiful. what foundation/BB/TM are you using?
denise S says
Still recovering from the holidays . I’ve been wearing neutral eyes lately too and bright lips. I brought the MAC 15 warm neutral palette and have been doing eye looks from that and a few of my gold palettes. Like the Lorac gold palette and the Carli Bybel eyeshadow and highlight palette. Golds blend in with my skin tone and look neutral on me. So I can rock bright lips without looking over the top.
breyerchic04 says
I’ve been much more into skincare than makeup for the last couple months. I still put on mascara, lipstick, and often mac face and body. But no fancy eye looks, certainly I’m not baking concealer and contouring my face all up. Being a little pre-emptive with my skincare has been fun though!
Nicole - Beyond the Pale and Freckled says
Makeup time tends to act as my personal time so even though I often intend to do something quick, if the kiddos are giving me the chance I end up doing the works. I can zone out, half watch some YouTube and just play around. Once the husband goes back to work, I’ll probably need to spend that time napping but right now I’m enjoying the makeup time!
Tatiana says
Except for New Year’s Eve, when I think I might have made it to a 6, I’ve probably been around a one or two. Yesterday I went to the mall wearing just red lipstick.
Lulle says
About a 3. I did a full face for New Year’s Eve, but apart from that I’ve worn very little makeup since we came back from our Christmas trip. It’s more laziness than anything else!
Angie says
6. I still don’t feel like putting a full face of makeup right now. I blame it on the weather! Lol!
kellly says
I’ve cut back in general on how much stuff I use. I used to use powder to set my concealer but it would crease and ended up looking horrible. I now use Onomie concealer and zero powder and it looks so much better! Blush, sometimes highlighter, eyeshadow primer, eye shadow, highlight shadow on the inner corners, and half a metric ton of mascara. Lipstick and I’m finished.
Julia says
“Brows, lashes, lips… frame the face!” has been my inspiration for looks lately 🙂 Just a little foundation, Brow Wiz, Roller Lash, and nude lippie, and I’m done… unless I do some easy cream contouring… but I swear, then I’m done! 🙂
Cherie says
You look absolutely stunning! Beautiful glow! I’m not doing much right now. I’m on a very short break from work to read your blog and all I’ve got today Sara Happ’s lip balm on and some Bobbi Brown Extra face cream, it’s my “cave” look when I’m on a busy schedule…back to work for me!
Rachel R. says
I enjoy wearing a full face, so most days I’m about an 8.
Allison C says
Because of the holidays and because I like to use my makeup whenever possible, I’ve been about an 8. You look gorgeous and glowing in your photo Happy New Year!
Divina says
Karen – your makeup looks fabu! Do tell – what products are you using in this pic for this post?
Heather L says
I found it hard to answer your question because “it depends.” If I’m staying home all day, not going out for ANY reason, I wear no makeup or very limited makeup. If I’m going out on a quick errand to a “low-end” store like a supermarket or Wal-Mart type store, I wear tinted moisturizer, powder, and drug store eye shadow (1 color), blush, lipstick, and mascara. I also use primer (always – no matter how much makeup I’m using – 3 different primers to help even out my skin tone.)If I have to be ANYWHERE before 7:00am – primer, tinted moisturizer, and nothing else (I loathe getting up early!!). If I’m going “high-end” shopping (Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, the Mall, etc.)college, or work, I wear a lot more makeup that takes a minimum of 45 minutes to apply: primers, foundation, powder, mascara primer, mascara, eye shadow (usually about 3 blended shades), eye liner, lipstick, brow products, and blush. Sometimes I add to that highlighter, bronzer, and lip liner. If I’m going anywhere fancy, I’m a 9 1/2 – and I say that because I still don’t usually bother with contouring and false lashes which would make it 10.
To be honest, I like having an excuse to apply full makeup because I enjoy it. I don’t at home because I like to give my skin a chance to breathe and enjoy having time to use more skin care products. I work from home, so that usually amounts to 3-4 days per week of full makeup. As for hair – I’m a lot more lazy. I very rarely blow-dry or use any tools or products other than something for volume.
Monica says
I entered 7 but now that I think of it, the Christmas and NY party season pushed me up to a solid 8! I finally learned how to put on false eyelashes and I was rocking a full on UD Lounge smoky eye and falsies look in ALL the holiday parties I attended. I also started using highlighter everyday (thank you Becca Afterglow palette!) and even baked my under-eye area a few times. Wait… maybe I’m at a 9!
Chelsea says
Probably similar to you! I had been much lower maintenance, no foundation or eye-shadow, but I’m doing a fuller face lately.
Holly says
I never wear much makeup but I like to make an impact (if I can!). I popped into Sephora last night as I was near the mall & not only was I complimented my matte raspberry lip but then, the skincare cast member thought I was wearing full makeup & was taken aback to discover I don’t wear foundation. And since I’ve nailed tight-lining & pretty much my cat-eye flick & smokey eye, it totally made my night! Also, your video on lining your lips has helped me immensely; I’ve worn more matte/bold colors since watching it.
Sandy says
This is easy….for years I worked and took tons of time and products to get “my look”. Now I am retired and usually am about a 4! I can not master eyeliner with the new cat eye. Also my top lashes are great BUT my lower lashes are now non existant!! What’s up with that?? Any suggestions anyone for my lower lashes??
Sakura says
You sure can rock the natural look! As for me,I’m a 3 right now because of winter skin battles that ensued this week. The temp went from 70 to 20! Yikes my skin is irritated!
Becky says
Karen your skin is just the DREAM right now. I’m swooning internally. I’m just heading back for a brief hiatus to the UK from Madagascar. Looking forward to it because a) home is brilliant b) I GET TO WEAR ALL THE MAKEUPS. Very excited. I’m going to go full drag queen.
Susan C. says
I’ve been battling a nasty head cold since December 25 (yeah, I sure know how to celebrate the holidays!), so I gave myself a 2. Basically that means I’ve been wearing no makeup, unless I leave the house to go to CVS, and then it’s just Neutrogena tinted moisturizer, some mascara, and a balm-like lippie (right now I’m loving IT Cosmetics CC+ in Love). Can’t wait to dig into my new palettes (Gwen Stefani for UD and Tarte In Bloom) when I feel better!
LindaLibraLoca says
Given that I have been doing some filming recently and that I have been wearing a purple smokey eye almost every day since October came around, I picked 8. But it is a phase, I can already see me gravitating towards lighter colors now that we are in the midst of winter.
Julene says
Karen, you look GORGEOUS in this photo!!!!! Your makeup is simple, clean and elegant. Love it!!!
Erin says
I’ve been at a 2 or a 3 lately. I’ve worn a full face twice in 3 weeks. I’ve done some lip colors and some mineral powder but we’ve been busy and low key lately. I don’t see this changing anytime soon.
LisaN says
I am mostly a ‘no to little makeup’ girl. I work from home, and if I don’t leave the house, I may just moisturize and add eye cream. during the week, if I have to run an errand, I will usually use powder and concealer to even out my skin, then add a cream-stick eyeshadow (bobbi brown – love-em) and eyeliner to define my eyes.
If hubby and I are going out, I may up the eye area, layering in some powder shadow and mascara (hate mascara, it always irritates my eyes), and add blush/bronzer, and lipstick.
I only go all out when I have to travel for work. Primer, Foundation, and then follow with all of the above.
Iris says
5 for me too. I’m using makeup which is mostly neutral and not a lot.
Lorraine says
I’ve been doing foundation, blush&bronzer , 2 products on brows, eye primer,liner, mascara and lip stick or chubby lip pencil.
I voted a 5 but maybe that’s more like a 6.
On a high maintenance day I’d be wearing eye shadow, face primer, contour, maybe some falsies, concealer, and face powder in addition to what I’ve been wearing lately.
Judy says
About an 8 even a 9! I bought so much stuff lately and now have the time to actually try things out. Loving my Chanel eye-shadow palette from the 2015 Holiday collection at the moment.