What “essential” makeup step do you usually skip? Is there a step that you skip in your own makeup routine that most find essential? (e.g. concealer, mascara, foundation, etc.)
I very rarely use concealer! I just can’t be bothered most of the time.
Thanks to Michan for today’s question!
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i rarely use highlighter! i am always scared that if i dont have the time to really apply it correctly ill look like a hot mess!
Blush! I have a mild case of rosacea, so adding any blush on top of this would not be pretty.
TBQH – Foundation. I really am happy with my skin as it is, so tend to wear it more when I’m dressing up then anything. I’ll usually do my eyes and my lips and call it a day
You’re lucky
same!
Foundation primer. Although it’s not the *most* essential thing ever.
Blush!
I don’t always use a proper moisturizer or primer underneath my foundation! Oops! 😉
i almost never wear foundation. and i only use a lash curler when i’m wearing false lashes
alternatively, i usually skip foundation! i was told, you can wear concealer without foundation, but you can’t wear foundation without concealer! i have found this to be very much true, since foundation evens my skin up, but undereye circles, pimples, crevices etc still need that extra help. therefore i just use concealer, or foundation just where needed. except when i have a big night out, of course!
Concealer and sunblock. Unless the sunblock is in my foundation I can’t be bothered. Its greasy, thick, smelly, clogs my skin and all around gross.
Have you tried a mineral sunscreen? Bare Escentuals and Peter Thomas Roth make versions. They’re translucent and go over your makeup, way easier to reapply than traditional sunscreen and not nearly as gross.
I’m intrigued, what are these mineral sunscreens you speak of? I’ve had a quick browse on the Sephora site and can’t find anything like what you mentioned. What are they actually called?
Sunscreen is so important!! I agree with Hope that if you can’t find a good liquid sunscreen, try a powder version by using mineral foundations. Laura Mercier makes an excellent one as well as several other brands. However, you won’t get the same level of protection as you would with a liquid sunscreen. I’d strongly recommend you go out and just get samples of a multitude of sunscreens from all different brands and see which texture you like the most. Finally, there are sunscreen sprays available too. Though I tend to avoid those, due to the potential effects of cumulative inhalation, it is another option out there.
foundation! i only use it for special occasions.
Priming. I just find that it takes away the naturalness of foundation. It tends to make me look cakey. Just a matter of personal preference.
Um…I skip wearing makeup most days xD idk if that counts and if I do wear makeup I barely ever use black/brown liner, never mascara instead I use falsies, and I don’t wear foundation or concealer.
I almost never use any kind of setting powder/powder foundation because powder just looks like makeup under sunlight or just anytime during the day. The only time I’d ever even have the thought of using a setting powder is if I were going to a special event, but even then probably not… for me and my skin, powder always looks like makeup and less natural. I’m just not a fan of powder.
Brows. Mine are dark and thick enough, no need to add anything to them.
how lucky!!
I know right?! I have to do my brows because one, they’re not dark and think enouch. And as a guy, thick eyebrows are a must! And two, mine are slightly uneven at the middle, so I have to slightly reshape them to match up. Again you are so lucky!
I dont do my brows either , because I dont really need it and I dont like the way filled in brows look on me
I don’t curl my lashes – don’t need to.
I don’t apply face primer.
I rarely apply a cheek highlighter, though I have two nice ones.
Eyeliner. I have always been terrible at applying it and I just don’t have the time or patience to do it everyday.
Totally concealer. I usually just use extra foundation instead 🙂
I rarely use concealer either! Not that I think it’s essential, though… It’s just that if there’s one thing I usually skip that other people don’t, it’s concealer. I just don’t find that I need it! I have uneven skin tone and all the rest, but it evens out once I’ve got my foundation on 😀
I also rarely conceal and I don’t know if it’s considered “essential” but I never powder. I know people love it or hate it but NARS sheer glow foundation sinks into (in a good way) and becomes almost part of my skin and stays put all day so I never feel the need to set with powder! Sometimes when I’m bad (shh) I fall asleep in my makeup and my skin still looks great the following morning. That is if I don’t have mascara smeared all over my face!
I usually do not use foundation, just concealer (or little bit of foundation in the areas that I need the coverage)
i rarely use lipgloss or lipsticks even though i have tons of them! maybe i just don’t like the feeling of something in my lips.
Some people might find these essential, but I never use a primer or an eyelash curler. I don’t think primer is necessary when you’re using a long-wearing foundation and eyelash curlers freak me out. I’m certain that I’ll end up pinching my eyelid and pulling out lashes. :/
FYI
Urban Decay’s new Book of Shadows is up on Sephora.com
I just ordered mine.
Thought Id let you all know!
😉
Foundation, almost always.
I can’t live without eyeliner / concealer / powder / mascara….and I truly enjoy my lipstick! I just don’t do a lot of foundation, especially in hot weather (never, in that case).
skip eyeliner!
curling my eyelashes! i forget to do it more than half the time :/
Mascara! Scandalous right? But it takes too long in comparison to the rest of my makeup routine (my long straight downward pointing asian eyelashes take forever to curl!) and since I use pretty heavy black eyeliner on my top lashline, mascara doesn’t drastically change my look.
eyeliner. i’m too ocd/lazy/ overall impatient to try and work with it
I skip make-up base, foundation, contouring, highlighting, very often skip lipgloss or lipstick, eye and lip pencils.
Eyeliner and foundation.
Foundation. I’m lucky enough to have very nice skin, so most of the time I skip it 🙂
Foundation. I’m fortunate to come from a family with good skin, so foundation is often unnecessary. Additionally, my skin tends to be sensitive to a lot of more popular ones, which makes it self-defeating. I will, however, wear it more often in the winter because I find it protects my skin from harsh weather.
Concealer is actually my absolute essential. I have deep set eyes with naturally darker hollows, which get more noticeable if I don’t sleep well. Out of habit, I tend to do touch up around them before I head out the door.
I used to forget eyebrow pencil but now that I’m 59, I use it almost daily.
I don’t use bronzer, I know a lot of people do. It’s just not for me.
I never use concealer, I just dab a bit of the foundation I’m using under my eyes. During winter I often skip powder, if it’s too cold and dry and I don’t have to worry about sweating.
In the past,when my face was rounder because of a few (hmmm!) extra kg.’s 😉 I wasn’t wearing blush in order to avoid the russian doll effect. Let me tell you, an important reason I stick to my diet is to keep wearing and enjoying those Burberry blushes!
Other items I tend not to use are: lip-pencils, eyeshadow base and eyebrow pencil.
Foundation. Lately I’ve had some problems with my skin and, to me, it looks like foundation only accentuates them. I prefer to accept them and treat them.
Sorry But I don’t wear mascara before I put on my falsies. Its tedious and time consuming to remove end of the day. I figured my barely there lashes will not be visible beneath the falsie.
… brows … There. I said it! Rarely do anything to my brows. I guess they just have a lovely natural shape and my body hair is very light. Though when I dye my hair a super dark color, I’ll pencil them lightly to match better. :/
Sjean, I am right there with you. If i do my brows i get this “OMG!! LOOK! BROWS!!!” effect, because i too, have very light skin/light brows, i look ridiculous, almost like Mommy Dearest/Joan Crawford.. Belive it, i’ve tried more brow colors than I care to think about, and it never looks right.. I envy people with darker hair..
lipstick! and blush :))
I rarely use foundation. I’m really proud of my skin, which is not perfect, but is in really good condition nowadays 🙂 So I let it breath as much as I can
I always skip foundation because I don’t see a point in using it and I hate the heavy feel of it despite how “light” its supposed to be. Just concealer where needed works fine.
I never curl my lashes because 5 seconds later they are straight again
Curling eyelashes. I just don’t need it, they are already curled. I also don’t always use concealer cuz I’m lazy…hah. That’s what full coverage foundation is for. I also don’t usually use face primer. I also don’t always moisturize if I’m in a hurry. I have super oily skin so I save the moisturizing for night sometimes.
I pretty much do it all, but then I need each step at my age ;-P.
concealer! I don’t even have a proper concealer
Usually foundation, It takes along time to blend very well so when I’m short on time I don’t really bother doing it
Haha, I always skip eye liner and mascara as I have hooded and oily eye lids, and sensitive eyes. I know, how inconvenient to have all 3
It depends. I pretty much never wear bronzer. My skin is really fair and no matter how light a hand I use and which bronzer I use and how much blending it looks weird.
I also often skip powder depending on which foundation I use and concealer too depending. I also have been known to skip liner, my eyes are already large and I find mascara alone works great. And then depending on the day I might skip gloss or lipstick. I also can’t remember the last time used lip liner but I wouldn’t call that essential.
im a setting powder skipper because of my dry skin!
Primer; faceprimer and eyeprimer.
Its mascara that I often skip when I have not enough time to do my makeup. My lashes are so straight so it always takes me pretty much time to curl them.
Primer! I think it works great when I use it, but most times I forget and have completed my face before I think about it!
Definitely foundation, i just cant be bothered when its just going to school or work!
I don’t set my foundation (it doesnt need it.) I also don’t use concealer,
Primer.
For everyday looks I usually skip concealer and foundation ( I just wear a sunblock ).
I skip concealer too! I feel like I very rarely need it, and when I do, it’s just such a hassle.
Yay, my question again! :3
I skip mascara very often. Most of the time I like what I look like without it wayyyy better than with it. Well… Actually I skip most make up steps, but that’s because I don’t have a lot, haha! 😛
I often skip face primer and curling my lashes. I do both if I have time, but they’re the first to go if I don’t!
I never use primer. I’ve tried a few samples and not noticed a difference.
I rarely curl my eyelashes, only if I’m going out for the night and I’ve allocated a lot of time to get ready. Mine aren’t massively curly naturally but they’re not straight so I feel I can skip this step.
I never use eyeliner with my eyeshadow because I don’t like the way it looks! I also rarely use blush or highlighters.
I almost never set with powder. I find that it doesn’t do anything to make my makeup last longer, and it just gives me dry patches when I do.
Foundation! It’s just so yucky to me, and with my ultra pale, ultra oily skin it just doesn’t seem worth it to find a formula/shade that will agree w/ my skin. A quick dust of Clinique’s Anti-Redness powder & I’m off :-).
Concealer, setting powder and mascara.
1. Concealer – just haven’t gotten to the search for concealer yet. I prefer better foundation.
2. Setting powder – A lot of times I feel it’s not needed, plus in a tropical country it could look/feel a bit heavy.
3. Mascara – hoo boy where do I start. It’s hard enough to get eyeshadows to stay in place. Mascara usually just melts off my lashes in 15 minutes. I haven’t found any that will last on extremely oily eyes. If anyone has a suggestion I would LOVE it. Thank you!
Clinique’s Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula!!!!
I have very oily lids too. Even drugstore waterproof mascara melts off me. This one lasts all day, and comes off with a facecloth soaked in warm water.
Oooh thank you so much! I will definitely try this. What eyeliner works for you, if you don’t mind me asking?
If I skip something, it’s usually the lips. Often I put anything on my lips. It works for me, because my make up is usually more eye-oriented. Mm, colourful eyeshadows…
I’ve tried a couple of primers and I can’t really tell any differnce. (I’ve really tested them! Half of the face with primer + foundation, the other half with only foundation. And… couldn’t really tell them apart.)
And yeah, I skip concealer too, if I have a good skin day.
I seldom use concealer as well. I use some Rx lotions to help control my acne, so I don’t have too many spots on my face that require concealer. Generally I just put a dab of Benefit Stay Don’t Stray over any small blemishes and that does the trick.
One “essential” step that I always and have always skipped is lash curling. Mine are so long and curly, I barely even need mascara TBH. I always wear mascara because once my foundation/concealer/powder is on, my lashes disappear. I just try to choose a light-weight mascara to add some color and thickness to my lashes.
The step for me that I find most essential when wearing makeup is concealer and/or a highlight for my superdark shadows around my eyes. I have dark black circles that are accentuated by shadows from my deeply set eyes, and the inner corner of my eye on the bridge of my nose is always black and I have to be sure to carefully highlight/conceal that area or else I look like I’m dying!.
Mascara, I hate that stuff!
i don’t use foundation, concealer, or mascara.
I don’t use under-eye concealer, ever. I use BB cream and that’s plenty of coverage for me, but even if I wore foundation, I just don’t have dark circles under my eyes.
Concealer for me too! And eyeliner!
I’m with Christine on this one, I very much dislike concealer. If I need extra coverage I just use liquid foundation (usually I prefer powder foundation). Perhaps sometimes I should use it, but I can never get it to look right… it always gets all cakey and pasty looking. 🙁
I don’t wear makeup unless I’m wearing contacts, in which that case I’d dab some concealer on my lids because they are dark [my eyes are huge, so shadows and darkness just make them look more pronounced] and then I’m set. So I skip basically everything. xD
I don’t wear foundation
powder – as I have very dry skin that hates powder
I skip applying foundation primer, using brow pencil and lip pencil, and curling my eyelashes.
Lipstick! Also, sometimes blush too.
I don’t use sunscreen ever. It makes my skin very oily and I don’t need any more of that since i naturally have oily skin.
That scares me when I hear that! :[ Sunscreen is so important! Like I said before, try a mineral powder sunscreen that gives coverage as well. Laura Mercier makes an excellent loose mineral foundation.
I also have very oily skin,but sunscreen is so important.Peter Thomas Roth,BareMinerals and Colorescience all make mineral sunscreens that come in tubes with brushes.They do not make your skin oily and you can’t even feel them on your skin.
I don’t wear blush, and I don’t do undereye concealer.
I never wear bronzer! I don’t even own one…I always feel like its just going to make me look dirty. I also don’t curl my lashes. I bought the $1 ELF eyelash curler to try to hop on that essential step but it doesn’t do anything!
I rarely wear mascara — most of them irritate my eyes so I don’t even bother anymore.
Try Tarte’s Light’s Camera Lashes – it works well and I also cannot wear a lot of them. If you get it at Sephora you can return it used if it does not work for you so you are not out any $. QVC has the best price on it if it works for you sold in duos even with the shipping/handling – it’s still cheaper than individual tubes at Sephora or anywhere that sells Tarte. I have heard good things about BEnefit’s new mascara that is a take off on Tart’s LCL in that it’s all natural – no chemicals – no flakies – lashes stay soft with it on.
ditto on the concealer. I usually just blend a bit of foundation under my eyes while I’m doing my face.
Definitely concealer… maybe 2 days a week I’ll put a bit on under my eyes, but for blemishes and the like, I prefer a bit of spot treatment with foundation!
For many years, I never used blush until recently but now I use a bright orange blush which sounds scary but on me it isn’t! LOL
I hardly ever used bronzer either until recently and I like Bobbi Brown’s matte, non-shimmery Bronzing Powder in Deep.
I never use highlighters, and these days most of the time I skip concealer too. I’ll start using eye makeup more often in the winter again I suppose.
Face primer! I always forget.
I skip both foundation (as I use a tinted moisturizer or just a blush over great skin care. Also I skip mascara as I have no lashes hardly left post chemo and early onset menopause from the chemo. It’s a lot of work to put mascara on for very little effect at all. If I am wearing glasses, I just forget the mascara as no one notices.
Mascara. I do wear it, but I don’t like to put it on unless I think I need it.
liquid foundation, blush, highlighter and lip gloss are rarely used!
Lip liner. I KNOW I should do it, but I skip it 97% of the time.
Face/foundation primer, usually. I haven’t found a good one yet.
I never curl my lashes anymore. They come out crinkled and even if they do curl, the curls don’t last long.
Rarely do anything with my brows. They’re average; I need to keep them neat more than anything, haha.
foundation! i never use it!
i wear only blush and concealer on my face (and the occasional highlight) but other than that i just skip foundation and set powder
eyeliner and mascara!
Foundation, blush , highlighter. LOL
I hardly wear foundation, only when my skin is having an “off” day. Thank God I have great skin and rarely have to deal with that. Even when I do my whole face, I don’t powder because of my dry skin. Also, although I do wear eyeliner a lot, there are definitely days where I skip it, especially if I’m in a rush! My brows never get filled in either, just brushed through with brow gel. They’re already full and have a nice shape!
What I can’t believe is that some people skip sunscreen or mascara. Sunscreen is so important and mascara is my FAVORITE – I feel like no look is complete without it!
I know right?!? It scares honestly when I see that. I do a mini shudder in my chair. Not even kidding.
highlighter. I used to do it, but not I don’t because during the summer I skipped this as I I sweat more ad haven’t gotten back on track yet!
Concealer
I hardly ever use concealer, I find foundation is enough except when Im really tired and have bad dark circles.
I dont use a highlighter very often, except for nights out. I think its too much for day-to-day wear.
I dont fill in my brows most of the time, I dont really need to.
I never curl my lashes, I dont really see the point.
And I very rarely use moisturiser, primer or sunscreen under my foundation, Ive got an oily T-zone already without adding all that to it! x
Blush- I have some redness in that area to begin with, and I have acne right in that area! So I do not want to enhance those!
I could probably use undereye concealer but I guess the circles aren’t bad enough for me to bother!!
In the last months I skipped foundation and lip stick/lip gloss. I just couldn’t be bothered in the hot and humid summer weather we had.
As for all-year-round, I usually skip the highlighter on cheeks part.
Curling my lashes. I just don’t see the value in it at all.
I often skip mascara. And I rarely use eyeliner.
Foundation! I’ll use concealer sometimes to cover up any spots and thats it.
Beach gal, try Larissa. It really works. Not a lot but it helps a lot. I buy mine online generically for 40 bucks. Also, once u see a result u can maintain by using every other day
Oops I meant Latisse. Damn u spellcheck.
foundation primer, I just don’t really need it
I did have an undereye brightener that I rarely used.
Mascara ! I don’t want to lose my lashes, I don’t have many as it is !
And lipstick because I find it so uncomfortable. I should though coz I buy them !