You’re already beautiful; the makeup is just for fun. This is what my friend Dan Thompson used to say, and it’s so true. Makeup, to me, is fun, but I have a small confession to make: I actually don’t feel like ME without makeup on.
It’s not that I don’t believe that I’m beautiful without it, and it’s not that I hate the way I look, barefaced. It’s not even that I prefer the way I look with makeup on; it is that I honestly do not feel like myself without it. I don’t feel like my best self without it, either.
There’s probably a lot that could be said or conclusions that could be drawn about me, given that statement, but it is absolutely true. I put on makeup every single day, every SINGLE DAY, regardless of my activity or who I see or don’t see, because the truth is that wearing makeup is for me and for my own mental benefit. Illness is the only thing that keeps me from putting on makeup, and even then, I have to basically have one foot in the grave to not at least brush on a coat of mascara and a dusting of powder.
I have been writing about my Favourite Things for almost ten years now – the first Favourite Things was written in July 2012! – and the point of it has never been to tell anyone else what they should be doing or using. Nicole’s Favourite Things are NICOLE’S Favourite Things, things I love and things that work for me, and if they work for you or you want to try and enjoy them, then that is a bonus.
I know what it feels like to have someone disparage something you love, or cast aspersions on you for enjoying something, and I never want to make anyone feel that way. I never want anyone to feel that they should be doing something or that they have to do something or shame about what they do or like. If you’re a person who prefers to go au naturel, for whatever reason, I celebrate and support you! After all, we ARE all beautiful, and makeup is a fun frivolity that I do not want to live without. I COULD live without it, of course, but I do not want to.
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Daily Glow-Up Edition
First, let me show you what we are working with.
This is me at 4:10 am on a Thursday morning; my face has been washed and my hair has been brushed, but I am pre-yoga, pre-workout, PRE-COFFEE, all of which are things that de-puff my puffy morning face. I have no makeup on, nor any moisturizer. This is just me.
Serums and Primer
I have spoken before about my love for The Ordinary serums – I like the caffeine 5% for under my eyes, and the argireline solution for my forehead lines. Both are under $10 each and they last about four months. I mean, you cannot go wrong. I also use Smashbox Smooth and Blur primer, although I don’t think it smooths or blurs, but it does help my makeup last all day. In the summer and on warm spring days I put on Neutrogena sunscreen – it goes on before the primer, but after the serums.
This is me post-shower, post-yoga-and-workout, post-coffee, post-serum-and-primer.
BB and CC Cream
If I am not wearing actual sunscreen, I like IT Your Skin But Better CC Cream because it contains SPF. You can sustain sun damage any time of year, people, yes, even in Calgary, even in the winter. I am outside a minimum of an hour a day, regardless of weather, and much more than that in actual nice weather, so SPF is a must. If I am wearing the afore-mentioned Neutrogena sunscreen, then I use Garnier BB Cream, which I like but doesn’t have anything in the way of SPF.
Small note, if you decide to try IT CC Cream: it is quite heavy. Use about half of what you think you might need, otherwise you may end up with a Kabuki-like face. I also like a dusting of pressed powder; Revlon Photoready Blurring Powder is my favourite. Does it blur? It does not. But it helps “set” my makeup for the day.
The Eyes Have It
Longtime readers will recall that I have been a fan of Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift for many, many years. Honestly, I have tried many more expensive brands of mascara and I always come back to Maybelline, which is available for about eight dollars at the drugstore.
There’s nothing like a mask and car lighting to showcase the eyes:
In addition to the most ridiculously-named-but-so-good mascara (FALSIES, WHAT), I use an Annabelle eyeliner and brow pencil. Here’s the thing: never in my life did I think I would need a brow pencil. I was born with what can be kindly described as Luxurious Eyebrows, but were, in my teen years, something more akin to a cross between Martin Scorsese and Bert from Sesame Street.
However, due to greying and, apparently, balding eyebrows, I have had to fill in – gently, don’t want to channel Uncle Leo – my brows for the past year or so.
I also add just a tiny bit of blush to the apples of my cheeks.
Smooch
Lip colour is just so transformative. I like to have lots of options; I still wear a mask to most places, but if I’m outside walking or meeting a friend, I always put on some lip colour. Even just around the house, I like to at least put on tinted lip balm. Calgary is a very dry climate and I find lips can get chapped or cracked very easily, and O’Keefe’s is great for nighttime treatment or on the rare occasion that I want an untinted lip balm.
My favourite Cover Girl Semi-Matte lipstick in the Trending shade has been discontinued! Don’t you hate that? I guess it’s time to find a new favourite among the million other lipsticks around.
So there we have it; my daily glow-up routine. I enjoy Putting On My Face, as the senior set says, and these are all my current favourite products. I hope you enjoyed my transformation! If you have favourite makeup products, let me know what they are – I love hearing about such things! xo
You look lovely with your *face* on– or not. The shades you wear flatter you which I think is half the battle when it comes to make-up. I am the opposite of you. I feel like a clown when I wear anything more than a tinted lip balm and a few sweeps of the pencil on my eyebrows. Yep, I’m a Plain Jane.
Thank you Ally – I love that you know exactly what you need! I have many friends who say the same thing, that makeup makes them feel unnatural and clown like!
It is actually pretty rare that I put on makeup, but it does make me feel a tiny bit more confident when I do put it on. Maybe this is a reminder to myself that I should make an effort even when I’m spending the day at home! I also love The Ordinary products – I am always a bit dumbfounded at how inexpensive they are compared to like brands.
I know! How are they so inexpensive when other serums are 5x the price?
First of all, you are just really so, so beautiful Nicole. You glow. I think it must be that amazing heart of yours, shining through all your pores.
I giggled about the two blurring products that don’t actually blur.
Like you, I don’t feel like myself without makeup. Except that when I say “makeup” I mean mascara, because that is the one thing I feel like I CANNOT go without. Well. The pandemic has softened me a bit, so that sometimes I do leave the house without it. But only when I am feeling especially lazy. Because anytime I catch a glimpse of myself without mascara I sort of startle in horror.
I feel lucky that it is a choice, not an obligatory burden. For some reason, I am now thinking about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and how she woke up before her husband every morning so she could put on her face. That is… something. She (the fictional character) didn’t seem terribly put out by it, and in fact maybe she just felt more like herself when she had a full face of makeup on so I am not judging her (fictional!) choices, but I would be so grouchy and resentful if I felt like I HAD to wear makeup for the sole benefit of a MAN.
Thank you so much xoxo
I have never watched that show! I mean, I put on makeup every day but not generally before my husband sees me. I would be super resentful as well. It’s not for HIM, it’s for ME!
I wear the waterproof mascara you recommended every once in a while (Superstar?) and it’s great!
I never tire of hearing about makeup even though I’ve kind of stopped wearing it. I had to give up eye makeup a while ago due to irritation but I kept on wearing foundation and didn’t feel like “me” without it. Then once I started working at home I was surprised at how quickly I gave it up. Now I only wear it for special occasions and all of my job interviews. I keep thinking that I should at least buy a new bottle since the one that I have is at least two years old.
I am the same, I love hearing about makeup! I think you probably should buy a new bottle – mind you, I have had that same blusher for several years now, I should probably replace it.
I like how you say that you don’t feel like yourself without makeup – I am the exact opposite! I don’t own any makeup and I felt so weird on the 3-4 occasions in my life where I did wear some. I do like the Ordinary skincare products though, so many skin care products are CRAZY expensive and they don’t need to be.
The Ordinary is so great! I love that we know what makes us feel like “us” and we do just that!
I’ve never used that specific mascara but damn it works a treat on your eyes! I also have the IT CC cream and it is shockingly full coverage.
I literally just today have tried Kiss Falsacara which is apparently a dupe for lashify false lashes that last up to a week. So we’ll see.
Oh, I would be interested in hearing more about that Falsacara!
“Shockingly full coverage” is exactly the right term. The first time I applied it I used a normal amount which was probably five times what I needed and I was shocked!
I feel like you have mentioned The Ordinary before and that I made a mental note to try them. This time I’ve made an actual, physical note to remind me (now, let’s hope I don’t lose the note!)
Like you, I put on some sort of makeup every single day – lipstick too (even if I’m masked). And yes, I have never had to “do my eyebrows” until the last couple of years. My very favorite lipstick is Cover Girl Outlast – if I put it on after I’ve had my last cup of coffee (heat seems to melt it some) it pretty much lasts all day long. I don’t think I’ve tried that mascara (added to the note since I’m due for a replacement).
You, my friend, are beautiful inside and out and I love and appreciate that you see the beauty in people – made up or not.
Thank you Gigi! And thanks for the tip, I am going to buy a Cover Girl Outlast this week because I need a good one to go under the mask!
This was fun to read! I should do a post about my makeup soon. I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it!
I ALWAYS wore makeup when I worked in an office but working from home, I rarely wear it, even if I’m going to be on Zoom. So now it feels like a treat to wear makeup! Mostly, I love choosing my lip color because I got into lipstick before the pandemic and there’s just something that makes me feel so put together when I have a good lip color on.
YES YOU SHOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MAKEUP! I’m applying peer pressure right now for you to do so!
Lip colours are so transformative!
This was so fun to read. And, echoing the comment above – you are SO beautiful. You really do glow and I love that you highlight you follow this routine to make yourself feel…like yourself. No strings attached.
Also, let’s discuss the fact you’re up at 4 am looking that amazing? What now?
I definitely feel better when I wear makeup. I am very minimal with it (never any eye shadow, NEVER lipstick – cue gasp, though I use lipstick as my blush)…but that 2 minutes of application really do make me feel more confident and comfortable all day. I view it as self-care.
Sometimes when we’re just lounging at home for the day I’ll go without makeup and while I love not having to wash my face at night (I hate washing my face at night), somehow I always just feel a bit “off” all day.
Elisabeth, hi! I LOVE washing my face at night! I feel like I’m washing the day away and it’s time for fragrant lotions and potions and me time. I spend so much time outdoors that it also helps me wash away the pollen, pet dander, and other stuff that might otherwise make my eyes and nose itchy. I always wash my feet before I get into my bed sanctuary too… anyone else?
Same same, Maya, I love it too! Of course, if I wore this amount of makeup to bed my pillowcase would look like a clown murder scene.
Thank you Elisabeth, what kind words! xoxo
I know someone else who uses lipstick as blush – so that makes two people! It’s a really smart idea.
You have such a beautiful glow, Nicole! I absolutely agree with Suzanne that it must be your beautiful heart! Maybe even your yoga practice, not eating meat, etc. whatever is making that glow happen, you have it, friend! I think it comes through how you look ‘natural’ after makeup, just more you.
I absolutely need powder every day too (Cover Girl Clean Matte) because I’m oily like that 🤣.
And I love L’Oreal Voluminize Million Lashes mascara–I think it’s a bit waterproof and I cry a lot 🙃.
And your comment about the eyebrows really hit too close to home. I still have a unibrow to take care of, but apparently other parts of my brows need a different kind of love… what the what?!?
Well, thank you so much! How sweet!
YES, eyebrows are so fraught! Why are they so high maintenance? Why do I have to pluck AND fill in?
I am the opposite and loath wearing make up! I stopped wearing it during the pandemic and it was sooo good for my skin. I tried to use a tinted moisturizer when I returned to the office in March but I started to break out so I have dropped that from my routine. When I’m in the office, I use some concealer to try to hide my dark under-eye circles, some eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara, and then maybe a hint of blush. That’s it, though. At home, I wear zero make-up! I am sure I look tired all the time, but I don’t know that there is a concealer that can offset the under eye circles I’ve got going on, though!!
But you look gorgeous – with or without makeup! It’s all about doing what makes us feel our best!
Absolutely it’s all about making us feel our best and I’m so happy that you know what works for you. FWIW, I don’t think there is a concealer in the world that will make my eye circles look not horrific all day – sometimes you gotta know when to fold them!
Ooh, I always love peeking in other people’s makeup bags – thanks for sharing!
Thanks Alyssa – I do too!
Thank you so much for sharing your routine, Nicole. I love seeing the products that other people use and love and what strikes me most about your choices is that yes, you wear make up (and of course I can see a difference between your no-make-up and make-up look, but you keep it natural and just highlight your natural beauty with these products! That’s the make-up routine I absolutely get behind.
I’ve been wearing less makeup during the pandemic, especially when I don’t leave the house and it’s done wonders for my skin, I have to say…. but I always have a CC cream and mascara on the ready. I also use the IT CC Cream and love it. I recently got “matched” with the right color (guess, I was going a little darker than I should have… I am pretty fair to begin with) and it really matches my skin so well now. I might have to give the mascara a try. I have a couple that I like but no “holy grail” yet.
Thanks so much, San! xo
I’m late to the party, but I’m happy that I stopped by to learn about your routine and your favorite things. I agree with all of the above, you always look great. I, too, attribute it to your big heart. You are a makeup expert in my estimation, because while you use multiple products the end result is very natural looking. You definitely glow.
I wear lipstick when I leave the house. I don’t really like makeup, and I think that is partly because I never really learned how or what to use. At this point, I’m fine without it. Pre-pandemic I wore mascara every day, with my lipstick and a little bit of blush in the winter when I looked pale. Nowadays, I rarely bother with mascara. I wore it when I attended Mini’s h.s. graduation, so I guess special occasions. I might give your Falsies brand a try. I wear Oil of Olay (which might just be called Olay Skincare now, I’m old school and haven’t adopted their updated name) moisturizer with SPF. Otherwise, just a bit of lipstick. Like Ally, I feel like a clown with makeup on.
It’s all about feeling comfortable with your look, I love that you have found what you like! Thanks for your kind, sweet words!
You are cute as a button, Nicole! I’m a fairly new reader (by way of Suzanne’s blog and a comment that you left there). I’ve found that at 57, I’m wearing less makeup because it tends to age me if I go all-out. And I was a person that would not go to the mailbox without makeup on!
My biggest nemesis is bags under my eyes, but with dark circles as well. It’s a delicate dance to cover the circles and not accentuate the bags (which do go away by bedtime, not that anyone is around to see them at that point – ha!) I love the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer and a smidge of Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector.
I wear contacts and tend to avoid mascara because it always seems to flake and end up on my contacts. (Ouch!) If Falsies tends to stay put, I may give that a try! My eyelashes do need some help these days. 🙂
Hi Wendy! Welcome!!! I haven’t used concealer under my huge eye bags/ circles because I never have found anything that stays put all day – so maybe I’ll look into your suggestions! I think the Falsies stays put – I had laser eye surgery in 2000 so I have sensitive eyes, and I haven’t noticed flaking – but don’t quote me on that!!
You are a lovely person with or without makeup. That being said, I TOO feel much better about my life while wearing makeup. Unlike you: I will not put any on unless I’m leaving the house or having people over at the house; it’s too much work. LOL!
I’m interesting in your 8$ mascara and might give that a try next time. I also love The Ordinary products as well as IT. Lately I started using Nars tinted moisturizer with SPF. I think it’s a CC cream? It’s got good coverage, but not heavy. I use a Cerave’ moisturizer with SPF first, the the tinted with SPF because FLORIDA and I’m outside a lot.
Thanks for all the sharing.
Oh, Nars! I will look into that. I’m pretty sure they sell it at my Sephora or the Bay close to me.
SPF for the win!
You look so pretty and natural with the makeup on, which is the opposite of how I feel if I put on more than a flick of mascara and some lipstick. I try now and then to wear all-over BB cream or something because I would love a more even skin tone, but it feels like it’s smothering me and I feel like I look weird. I do need a better every-day sunscreen, though, because I feel like I’m getting more and more sun sensitive.
I think you look beautiful with your flick of mascara and lipstick!
I don’t think you would like the IT Cream because it’s quite thick and heavy – the Garnier is nicer to apply for sure.
I’ve only recently started to love makeup. I can’t believe it took almost forty years, but now I have more time to enjoy the process.
I love IT makeup. I keep forgetting about it…no pun intended. I will have to add that to my makeup list.
My local Kohls is getting a Sephora, which is. 5 miles from where I live. This is a game changer for me. 🙂
You glow even without makeup. I love that you shared your routine with us. XOXO
Oooh! Sephora! There is one very close to me as well.
Thank you for your very kind words!
Oh, this is fascinating! I am in the (significant) minority here – I don’t wear any makeup. None.
And as far as your preferences? Well, just for context – a few days ago, I was reading your blog, and you had shared a picture and all I could think was how vibrant you looked. And then I compared your picture to, well, me. (I know, I know – don’t bother to tell me I should not do that, because, well, I do [don’t we all, to some degree, even if we say we don’t?]…)
And all I could think was how – as far as I can tell – we are about the same age, and yet you look so much more polished, and put together, and, well, like an actual adult. I always feel like I am playing at being an adult, and part of it is how I present myself to the world. With makeup – it is not something I enjoy, I have literally no clue what I am doing, and I don’t think it makes much of a difference.
But I had NO IDEA that most people (well, of the sample who read your blog…) seem to at least do *something* most/all days. Seriously. No. Idea. 🙂
You do glow, as others have said. 🙂
What a very kind and sweet comment, thank you, Anne!