The Ultimate Makeup Routine
Between hitting the shower, getting dressed, and grabbing your coffee as you run out the door, you’ve got limited time each morning to put on your face. That’s why creating a makeup routine that works is essential in getting you out the door looking amazing. We’ve got a tutorial that will teach you the correct steps for fool-proof makeup in record time.
One thing you don’t want to speed past is your product ingredients. Vegan, cruelty-free products keep you looking gorgeous and give you peace of mind.
Remember: Always start with your skincare routine
Wash your face, but make it adult-ish. The same skincare routine you had in your teens and early adulthood probably needs leveling up. Look for skincare that doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens, or other toxic ingredients.
Vegan, cruelty-free skincare products normally have higher standards for ingredients, so shopping from these brands is a safe, easy way to get better skincare and feel good while you’re doing it.
Step one: face makeup
Once you’ve cleansed and hydrated, start by creating the perfect canvas for your more colorful cosmetics. Every artist has to start somewhere!
Apply primer
If you aren’t using a primer, grab one now. Primers help keep the surface of your skin protected from moisture loss and product penetration, while making sure that any products you apply later stay in place all day.
Primers can help fill in cracks, wrinkles, and even pores to create a more even skin texture that will really make you glow when you get to your foundation.
We like the Set the Stage Hydrating Priming Serum from Lawless Beauty and the Luminous Primer from 100% Pure!
Think about color correction
If you have areas of redness or dark circles under your eyes, color correcting concealer is the solution.
Apply color corrector concealers prior to foundation—think peachy, orange tones for counteracting dark circles and green shades for redness and acne. While it might sound odd to put a rainbow of shades on your face before your foundation, color theory is hard at work here.
Put on foundation
Once you’ve primed and corrected, it’s time to apply foundation. Foundation evens out your skin tone, and the goal for a no-makeup makeup look is “less is more.” Focus on applying foundation to areas that really need coverage.
Finding the perfect vegan, cruelty-free foundation is easy. Here are some brands we adore.
- 100% Pure. Formulated with fruit pigments, these foundations are available in both powder and liquid—we love a versatile company!
- Clove & Hallow. We love Clove & Hallow’s mineral foundation. It’s one of the few buildable pressed foundations available right now, and it’s also certified by PETA.
- Kosas. If a skincare serum and tinted moisturizer got married, Kosas’ Tinted Face Oil Foundation is their love child. Formulated with natural, plant-based ingredients, this lightweight foundation evens out skin texture for a natural, no-makeup look.
Consider a BB or CC cream or a tinted moisturizer
Really want to shave some time from your morning routine? Try using a BB cream, CC cream, or tinted moisturizer.
- This liquid skin tint from Clove and Hallow is a lightweight, buildable formula for all-over coverage.
- Moisturizer, color correction, and foundation all in one, Pacific Beauty’s Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream is the easiest way to get your face prepped in one fell swoop.
- Color correction and physical sunscreen make this CC cream from Pacific Beauty a must-have for tinted skin protection.
How to blend: brush, sponge, or finger
Blending is essential, and the right tools for the job make it easy.
Fingers are perfect for delicate areas around the eyes, as well as when using products with natural oil bases (like coconut oil) that need to be warmed to the skin.
If you’re going for a more airbrushed finish, a beauty sponge is the perfect choice. By bouncing it gently across your skin, paying careful attention to your under-eyes and the corners of your nose, you’ll get a smooth finish with no streakiness.
For the best brushes and sponges, we like the Luxie Complete Sponge Set, La Beauté Soi, and EcoTools.
Use concealer for blemishes and dark circles
Blemishes get covered up once you’ve applied foundation, so now’s the time to go on acne- patrol. If you still notice dark circles, dab a little concealer on the inner and outer corners of your eye and blend to make them less visible.
We love the vegan, cruelty-free concealers available from these powerhouse beauty brands:
Apply your concealer strategically
Concealer isn’t foundation, so your goal when applying it should be to use as little product as possible on the smallest areas of your skin that need correction. Blend with your fingertips to make sure you don’t remove too much product, and remember that you can always add more, but it’s a lot harder to take away.
Bronzer, blush, and highlight
When you’re adding color back to your skin, opt for just one product for a touch of natural color and oomph. Whether you go for highlighter, blush, or bronzer, choose your fave and give yourself a light dusting. Layering all three will give you a more sculpted, studio look that’s perfect for a night out.
Highlighters To Try:
- Elikya Beauty Illuminateur
- Aether Beauty Golden Diamond Highlighter (featured in our June 2021 Kinder Beauty Box)
- KVOS NYC Fairy Dust
Blush To Try:
- BellaPierre Mineral Blush (featured in our May 2021 Kinder Beauty Box)
Bronzer To Try:
Where are you supposed to place all these products?
Focus the application of your bronzer, blush, or highlighter on the apples of your cheeks, temples, and bridge of your nose. Use these products on the same areas you would normally blush or see color from sun exposure.
Specifically, highlighters should be placed at the top of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, your Cupid’s bow, your brow bone, and your inner corner.
Blush is traditionally applied on the apples of your cheeks, but you can go slightly higher for a more sculpted look, or slightly lower for a more rounded feel. You can also dust blush across the bridge of your nose for an overall flushed, healthy look.
Bronzer gives the illusion that you spent a day in the sun. Dust this golden-brown powder just below your cheekbones, at the outer edges of your hairline, and along your jaw for a natural, just-spent-hours-in-the-sun glow.
Powder, cream or liquid
Drier skin types love cream and liquid formulas. These types of highlighters, blushes, and bronzers blend easily and add extra moisture to the skin that’s perfect for a natural, dewy finish. If you have oilier skin, powder formulas will have more staying power.
Step two: eye makeup
If you’re used to spending half an hour on your eyes, get ready for gorgeous eye makeup that you can do in under five minutes.
Sculpt your brows
Brushed-up and feathered brows are incredibly popular, which makes it easy to groom your brows quickly and still look polished.
- Brush eyebrows upward with a brow comb
- Fill in gaps with an eyebrow pencil
- Use a brow gel to hold everything in place (we love Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel!)
Apply eyeshadow
For the perfect no-makeup look, you barely need any shadow at all. For a glowy look, press a single shimmer shade in the center of your lid with your finger. You can even use your highlighter for this. If you’re looking to add definition instead, sweep a matte neutral brown tone (or your bronzer!) through your crease with a fluffy brush and leave it at that.
Here are some of our favorite, vegan, cruelty-free shadows to try.
- Bellapierre Shimmer Powder
- Nomad Cosmetics Iceland Palette
- Aether Beauty Eyeshadow
Use primer here, too
A primer can help keep your eyeshadow from creasing, especially when you’re using a shimmer shade. Dab just a touch on the center of your lid, and you’ll be good to go.
One to try: KVO NYC Perfecting Potion
Choose light, glowy colors for no-makeup makeup
Shadow colors for a no-makeup look should be simple, light, and always neutral. Look for colors that are one to two shades darker or lighter than your normal skin tone.
Always remember to blend
Blending is crucial for achieving eye makeup that looks completely natural. Use a soft brush to blend the colors together and avoid noticeable lines.
Finish with mascara
Mascara just might be everyone’s favorite product. Applying it properly can give you lengthier, fuller-looking lashes.
Start by curling your lashes, and then make sure to pick the right mascara for you. Whether you need lengthening, defining, or volumizing, vegan options are better for your style and your lashes.
Step three: lips
Even if you’re going for a no-makeup look, you can still treat your lips to something special. Just make sure that whatever lip color you choose is vegan and cruelty-free. Many lip colors that are not vegan contain animal-based dyes and emollients, so be careful to check the label and always shop from a brand you trust.
Finish off your look with a neutral gloss or lip balm
The perfect gloss does exist, and you can test-drive it in the July Kinder Beauty Box. Charlotte Cook Cosmetics Lip Gloss is available in 14 shades that are all vegan, cruelty-free, and long-lasting.
Otherwise, stick with a clear balm to make sure that you lock all that moisture in!
Step four: lock it in
Want to spend less time on touch-ups throughout your day? Finish your look with a setting spray or translucent powder.
Whether you prefer a spray for a powder, here are two options we love.
Glow the day away in your no-makeup-makeup
An easy, no-makeup look in under ten minutes? Done.
With high-quality, vegan, and cruelty-free makeup, you can get a natural look quickly and easily. Natural makeup looks help give you radiant-looking skin that lasts all day while vegan and cruelty-free products keep you (and your animal friends) safe from toxic trash chemicals that are unfortunately all too common in even the modern beauty world. It’s a win/win.
If you’re looking for the best place to find your new fave no-makeup makeup products, Kinder Beauty has you covered. Each month, you’ll receive different clean, vegan, cruelty-free beauty products that are sure to become staples in your daily routine—no matter how fast you have to speed through your mornings.
Sources:
Vegan Makeup Products From Cruelty-Free Brands | PETA
What Are Parabens, and Why Don’t They Belong in Cosmetics? | EWG.org
Non-Toxic Mascara Guide | Gimme The Good Stuff.orgRestore Your Self-Care Routine with KND
