I am doing something a little different and a little crazy today.  I am sharing the contents of my makeup bag with all of you!  Now, let me start this adventure with a little disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form a beauty blogger.  I don’t have perfect skin, beauty bloggers everywhere would probably cringe knowing how I apply my makeup but I know what I like and what works for me.  It has taken me a really long time to find products that work for my skin and that I can use individually for an on the go look or all together for a full made up face.

For any of you who don’t personally know me let me tell you a little about my skin.  I have had red, blotchy skin since middle school (thanks for those genes, Mom!), my skin is a combo of really oily in some areas and dry in others plus I have larger pores in my T zone area.  Sexy, right?  After years and years of wearing only MAC product I recently decided to venture out of my comfort zone and have found product that is better suited to my needs.

So what is my process?  After the usual wash, moisturize, protect…

Step 1 – I love this Algenist eye cream and use it every day before as a first step to my make up and every night before bed.

Step 2 – I have struggled to find the right primer for my combo skin but FINALLY (thanks to the help of an amazing associate at Sephora) found this Make Up Forever Mattifying Primer.  I put a little on my fingers, rub it together and then press into my face.

Step 3 – I started listening to the podcast “Straight Up With Stassi” a while ago and Stassi kept talking about her amazing airbrush foundation from Sephora.  I finally broke down, tried it and fell in love!  I wear LIGHT and use a Beauty Blender to smooth over my skin.

Step 4 – I adore this MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (in NC20) for those days I want FULL coverage.  Just a little goes a long way under the eyes and around my nose.

Step 5 – My MAC BB Cream (in Medium) gives a great dewy finish over the airbrush foundation that can be a touch dry.  I use a flat foundation brush to apply a little bit on top of the foundation.  If I am having a low key day running errand I skip steps 2-4 and pick up here.

Step 5 – This Benefit Hello Flawless Powder Coverup is perfect to set foundation.  A little bit gives you a really light coverage or you can layer for a fuller coverage depending on your needs.  I use Petal in the Winter and Champagne in the Summer when I have a little tan.

Step 6 – This Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer smells like HEAVEN!  I use a little on my cheek bones, my temples, and down my nose for a bit of contour.

Step 7 – This Becca Shimmer Powder in Opal gives just the right amount of highlight without looking greasy.  I highlight the same areas I just applied bronzer to with either a blush brush or my finger (don’t judge) depending on the day.

Step 8 – A quick sweep of Benefit’s Galifornia on my cheeks for that sunkissed glow.

Step 9 – I always play around with my eye shadow palettes but am currently loving this Smashbox Cover Shot Palette in Golden Hour.  I mix and match colors depending on my mood but always start with a bone color from lash line to brown bone and then a neutral on my lid.  Oh, and I always line my eyes in MAC’s Technakohl liner in Graph Black and finish with this Buxom Lash Mascara.

Step 10 – On a daily basis I use Benefit Gimme Brow in 1 to fill in and shape my brows then use the Becca Shimmer to highlight but for a more dramatic look I prefer the Fiona Styles Brow Sculpting Wax.

All in all my full made up look takes me about 15 minutes and I can be out the door with just some BB Cream, Powder, Bronzer, Brow & Mascara in 5.

Just curious, how many of you would like me to do an Insta Stories tutorial of how I do my makeup?

XO, Niki

Shop all products below!

Make Up Forever Step 1 // Sephora Airbrush Foundation // Algenist Eye Cream // MAC Concealer // MAC BB Cream // Benefit Hello Flawless // Too Faced Chocolate Soleil // Becca Shimmer // Benefit Galifornia // Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Palette // MAC Technakohl Eyeliner // Buxom Mascara // Benefit Gimme Brow // Fiona Stiles Brow Wax