Easy, everyday, finger paint makeup look

Last week, I posted about cream blushes, and how much I love them. I shared on my Instagram how I apply them, and my favorite way to apply is with my fingers. It just gives the best payoff of product.

And if you asked me a few years ago to apply my makeup with my fingers, I would have screamed. When I had really bad acne, the idea of putting my hands on my face – a habit I worked so hard to break, to the point of having my colleagues and husband pull my hands away or say “stop” when they saw it – would have been disturbing to me.

Now that my acne has cleared up, and I spend so much time using my hands to apply skincare, I’ve gotten much more comfortable with the idea of using my hands. And I have really come to love this when it comes to applying makeup. There is so much great liquid or cream makeup, and the heat from your fingers really allows that makeup to sink into your skin without the annoying consequences of using a brush.

I wanted to put together a post on my morning makeup routine that I have been doing since I went back to work. I love doing my makeup in the morning- it’s such a ritual for me. Lately, I’ve been keeping it relatively simple (probably not to most), but I realized that the look I’ve been replicating over and over is one that is done mostly with my fingers.

So I am going to call this my easy, every day finger paint makeup look. Because when I am doing my makeup, I love the ability to be creative, and just see where products take me. I don’t usually decide what I am going to do with my makeup until it’s happening, unless I have a lip color I know I want to wear, like this gorgeous hot pink lip I’ve been loving lately.

This whole look, with the exception of my mascara, is built around finger-applied products, which gives you such a natural finish for your face. You don’t have those pesky brush strokes, or any cakey product, you just get flawless finish as the products melt in. I know it can be an intimidating idea, but once you get comfortable with knowing that a little bit of a product goes a long way when you’re using your hands, you can start slow, and build to the impact you desire.

Each of these products is very buildable- they will appear sheerer on your first application, and you can slowly add to get the coverage or saturation that you are looking for, similar to an oil paint or a watercolor, if you’re into painting like me. You might notice all of these shades fall in a similar range, and that’s on purpose- you want them to create one similar tone that covers your face and gives you that natural, effortless glow.

I start with the Ilia serum foundation, with a tiny drop on each cheek, my forehead and my chin. I rub that in with my hands, and follow up with this favorite, dewy concealer just under my eyes and around my nose where I get red. Follow that with this beautiful magenta liquid eyeshadow, swiping a few marks across your lid, and then gently tapping around the eyes and a little underneath to get that really pretty color haze. I use this for a little shimmer, just in the center of the lid up to my brow bone, almost a 45 degree line up and out, and then a little in the inner corners of my eyes to pop. Use my #1 mascara right now for long and lasting lashes. Apply your blush with your fingers, going slowly, and up towards your temples to meet the eyes. I have used this highlighter for years- I tap my fingers onto the stick, then right onto my cheekbones and bridge of nose. Finish this whole look off with a matte lip that doesn’t dry out or smudge under your mask, and voila- you’re set!

My bottomline is to be creative with your makeup – let loose and let the colors drive your choices. I love to pair pinks and warm tones around my hazel eyes, but don’t be afraid of darker shades for fair skin, because most of them will sheer out as you apply them to your face. And when you consider your blush and your eye shadow, use similar shades – you can even use the same products, as so many of these liquid or cream bases are meant to be multi-use, or just allow for you to meld them easily.

Regardless of whether you try all or one of these products, please try a cream or liquid based product from my routine – I dare you! I promise it will change the way you use and buy makeup, even if you love a full face of makeup every day, or you rarely wear makeup and want something special that doesn’t look overdone.