Let’s be honest, 2020 has given us one curveball after another.
So, with everything going on ( hello remote learning); finding the time for what was once our usual routine can be quite challenging and overwhelming!
So many of us are looking for ways to simplify our day to day routines. If you are one of those women I am here to help!
Often one of the first things we cut is taking time for ourselves. So, today we are going all in on giving you practical tips on how you can simplify your makeup routine.
One of the most important things we can do as women is take care of ourselves.
For many women that includes their makeup routine. Makeup and skincare have a magical way of giving us the confidence to take on the world. So how can we still achieve the boost makeup can give us while doing less?
Let’s break it down in a few easy steps
Step 1 - Declutter:
The first step in decluttering your makeup is looking at the expiration dates.
YES! Your makeup does really expire. The shelf lives vary but can be found on all packaging (see photo below).
This is because after the expiration date your products can harbor bacteria also, the products formula can start to break down and become less effective.
(1) For example, did you know mascara should be changed out every 3 months? Even your powder products have expiration dates.
If you find that your products are well past their date, take advice from Marie Kondo, thank them for what they have done for you and then send them on their way.
In addition, toss anything that you don't use. If a product has been sitting in your drawer for over a month and you never used it, chances are you never will. So why keep it and clutter your drawers?
You may be surprised to find out how liberating letting go of products that are expired or that you never use is! Once you see how neat and organized your space is becoming you will be able to enjoy what you have.
(Bonus tip for decluttering: Put your one off or special occasion makeup in a box and store somewhere else. This will allow for the products you use daily to be more easily accessible!)
Now that you’ve decluttered your makeup, let’s look at how we can creatively use what you have. This leads us to our next step in simplifying your makeup routine.
Step 2 - Multi-Use Products:
I absolutely love multi use products! Here are my favorite hacks:
- Mascara:
Let’s revisit our friend mascara. If you are anything like me, you might find it difficult to finish a full tube in 3 months.
Does the thought of throwing away a product before it’s used up make you cringe?
Then my first multi-purpose hack is for you. You can use your mascara as eye liner! This is a long-time hack of professional makeup artists. Fun Fact; Bobbi Brown herself invented gel eyeline from using mascara as eyeliner.
Here's how to do it: Take an angled eye liner brush and remove product from the spooly. You can choose to smudge it out or create a winged liner effect. My favorite for this is Papillon Organic Aphrodite Natural Mascara(check it out here)
- Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter:
Next up is your favorite cheek products like blush, bronzer, or highlighter. Don’t just stop at using them on your cheeks. They make great eye shadows and give you a very subtle and natural look! One of the biggest trends in makeup right now is a glowing natural makeup look. The easiest way to achieve this is using the same colors all over. Have a favorite shimmery eyeshadow? Use it as a pop of highlight on your cheek bones as well.
- Tinted Moisturizer:
Not quite ready to fully ditch foundation. Another great multi use product is tinted moisturizers. You get the benefit of your AM moisturizer & a fresh evening-out of your skin. To give you an extra boost of hydration & glow mix in your favorite Papillon Organic Facial Oil(check it out here)
- Lipstick:
Do you have some lipsticks you are no longer using because of wearing a mask? If you are using a clean, plant-based product use it as a cream blush. Again, professional makeup artists have used this hack for decades. It can gives you natural flush to the cheeks.
Step 3 - Get Glowing Skin
In the spirit of simplifying your makeup routine let’s now talk about how you can make it even more simple by focusing on glowing happy skin!
First and foremost, hydration, hydration, hydration! Drink plenty of water. Since our skin is 64% water (2) making sure you drink enough water is the number one way to keep it glowing. Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep as well. While we sleep our body is working its hardest for cell turn over. Making sure to get quality sleep will help boost your skins natural glow.
When it comes to products less is more! Before you go to bed make sure you are double cleansing (Check out our blog here on double cleansing for more details), toning with Papillon Organic Rosewater Facial Mist(check it out here), and follow with one of the Papillon Organic Facial Oils (check them out here). Following these steps, you will wake up to happy & refreshed skin.
Doing a thorough night time routine will make your already crazy morning much more simple. In the morning simply refresh your skin with the Papillon Organic Rosewater Facial Mist. Then apply one of their facial oils. Follow that up with the ultimate treat for your skin. Either gemstone rolling or gua sha(click here to see the beautiful gemstone rollers & gua sha stone from Papillon Organic).
Both tools help increase circulation & product absorption giving you an instant glow! It you want a more comprehensive look into both gua sha & gemstone rolling check out our previous blog; Everything You Need to Know About Face Rollers & Gua Sha. After you have done your morning skincare routine; follow our tip for multi-purposing your mascara. This process will not only save you time in the morning but save your sanity.
Bonus Tip: You can also keep an extra Rosewater Facial mist in your bag for an instant refresh and glow throughout the day!
It is so important for us to fill our cups during this pandemic. To take a little time out of our day to take care of ourselves. I hope these simple steps give you the tools to do just that. A little pocket of you time where you set yourself up to take on whatever the day throughs at you.
Written by Katie Kus: