The Non-Ritual

I’ve mentioned before that the ‘Notes’ app on my phone makes for some entertaining reading: the late night scribbles, the on-going list of beauty-quips the boy makes for ‘The Boy & Beauty Vol.02’ post (oh yes, it’s happening), and ideas that crop up as a product of my makeup-heavy reading list. ‘The Non-Ritual’ was a phrase coined by Allure when describing Mila Kunis’ low-key at home regime and it got me thinking – if there’s one common denominator between Mila and I, and I’m clutching at straws here, then that’s it. I like to doll myself up, even experiment with the war paint on the odd occasion (see yesterday’s red eyeshadow dalliance), but most days I’ll happily plod along with a basic beauty routine. Hell, at the moment for a good three days of the week I don’t even wear the stuff, call myself a beauty blogger, eh? But makeup days still outnumber the barefaced ones and for when I’m against the clock or quite frankly cba-ed, out comes the non-ritual routine…

Now firstly, don’t be fooled by the solemn ‘looking deeply out of a window’ pose, that’s me trying to stiffle a laugh as I watch the neighbours walk their cats. Amazing stuff. But back to beauty and I’ve dusted off and rediscovered two old favourites from last summer. Remember the This Works Perfect Look Skin Miracle? That caramel tinted cream that evens and perfects, sitting half way between an all-over bronzer and a tinted moisturiser? Well it’s back into rotation and for low-maintanence days I’ve just been blending this all over for a subtle, yet kinda covering, glow. No concealer, no powder, no bronzer – that’s it. But I’ve been feeling like I needed something extra in the apple area so called on one of my favourite blushes of all time, the unhelpfully difficult to source in the UK, Tarte 24hr Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy. Whenever people ask what cosmetics they need to stock up on when they’re visiting the US this is top of the list. One dust into the product and over the cheeks is all you need to source a natural, yet slightly coral toned flush. Eyes and lips are taken care of by two usual suspects; the L’Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara and Clarin’s Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 2 which bring crimped and curled lashes and a light sheen for the pout respectively.

I thought I was being conservative with my ‘Five Product Face‘, but four? FYI, if I had to cut it to three I’d save on the blush and just rock my natural flush – there you go there’s my ‘Three Product Face’ post out of the bag too.