If you made use of the tips in last week's clearing space post and your makeup drawer is nice and cleaned out, I bet you're left with a selection of your absolute favorite products. I certainly am and it has simplified my mornings to be able to pull open that drawer and get quick access to exactly what I need (along with a few non-essentials that I couldn't bring myself to part with of course).
My absolute must haves for my morning routine are included below. After years of trial and error, more makeup counter mishaps than I care to mention and struggling with skin that has a major tendency to break out, I have assembled this arsenal. Save yourself the trouble and pickup these items to make your morning routine more manageable and more beautiful.
Foundation
YSL Touche Eclat - This is my all in one miracle worker. It works great as a highlighter and concealer. I also use it for contouring. To keep the contour subtle, get a color just slightly lighter than your skin tone. For a more dramatic Kim K. situation, pump that up to a few shades lighter.
Smashbox Bronzer - This is actually not an every day item for me, but when I'm going for a slightly more "made-up" look, I dust this on. If you're not accustomed to using bronzer, check out this how-to.
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Original Foundation - If you have skin like mine that has a tendency to break out, this foundation is a lifesaver. Using thick liquid foundations and heavy powders left me with cystic acne. I tried everything - even Accutane - and the acne didn't fully clear up until I ditched the heavy products and started using this powder. I've been a devotee ever since. You can brush on a light layer or use more and really blend it in for more coverage.
Eyes
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Sticks - These guys single-handedly shortened the time it takes me to get ready and lightened my load when traveling by eliminating the need for separate eye shadow palettes and brushes. I'M IN LOVE. I use two colors daily (Golden Pink and Bark), but the whole line is worth exploring. Just use the pencil to draw eye shadow wherever you want it, blend with your fingers before it sets and then it stays all day. The best.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner - I finally switched to liquid liner a few years ago and have tried product after product. This is the best one at there at a reasonable price. It can go on thick or thin and stays put all day.
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Waterproof - Am I the only one who ends up with mascara rings under her eyes when using anything aside from waterproof mascara? It may be my cross to bare, but at least I finally found this gem. It's waterproof so it stays in place, comes off easily with eye makeup remover (a necessity for keeping all that black smudge off your nice white towels) and it actually lengthens my short lashes without looking clumpy. Added bonus - you can layer it on so rather than starting from scratch, I can apply another coat after work and before heading out for the evening.
Lips
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis a Levres' Glossy Stain - Unlike most lip stain that I've tried, this one turns into a creamy lipstick-like feel once it's set. It's long-lasting and comes in a huge range of colors. Pro tip - don't blend your lips together after putting it on - just let the color set. Corail Aquatique and Rose Tempura are the two colors shown.
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - Great for applying on the way to work (which is actually where 90% of my lip color gets applied) because it's easy to follow the shape of my lip with the pencil without actually having to look in the mirror. The other drivers in Brentwood appreciate this fact I'm sure. I use Walkyrie as a daily color.