by Nicole Jordan
I have a love/hate relationship with beauty. Not in terms of my physical appearance and “flaws,” such as acne scars, odd stretch marks, or slightly unruly eyebrows, but in terms of how to care for my skin or how to apply my makeup. It can be so confusing. So, whether I’m going through the motions of my daily routine or dabbling in a new beauty trend, there is always an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. This inner debate of wanting to take extremely good care of my beauty regimen, yet also feeling lazy from time to time, is something I’d like to think most women can relate to.
I largely blame this great debate on the fact the women are constantly bombarded by articles such as “10 Minute Make-Up routines,” “24 Hour Skin Care Products,” or “20 Things That Are Ruining Your Skin (*cough cough* aka your career and love life).” After I read these articles, the angel in me is left feeling ambitious enough to attempt these miraculous beauty regimens and the devil is feeling exasperated by the effort and cost. Knowing myself, ten minutes will turn into twenty, 24 hour skin creams/masks will develop a healthier relationship with my bathroom shelf, and the minor beauty “mistakes” I make are not legitimately ruining my life. So I will ask the question that everyone is trying to answer. How can I have an effortless beauty routine?
My answer: trial and error. Since I first started properly cleansing, moisturizing, and applying make-up, at the age of 13, I’ve discovered that there is not a single perfect product or regimen to create a flawless look on an ever-changing canvas. For all I know, the products that I love now may be replaced next year with ones that I like even more as my tastes change and I try new products.
I’d like to quickly share a few products that are currently helping me achieve happy, healthy skin and lay a foundation for beautiful makeup:
I largely blame this great debate on the fact the women are constantly bombarded by articles such as “10 Minute Make-Up routines,” “24 Hour Skin Care Products,” or “20 Things That Are Ruining Your Skin (*cough cough* aka your career and love life).” After I read these articles, the angel in me is left feeling ambitious enough to attempt these miraculous beauty regimens and the devil is feeling exasperated by the effort and cost. Knowing myself, ten minutes will turn into twenty, 24 hour skin creams/masks will develop a healthier relationship with my bathroom shelf, and the minor beauty “mistakes” I make are not legitimately ruining my life. So I will ask the question that everyone is trying to answer. How can I have an effortless beauty routine?
My answer: trial and error. Since I first started properly cleansing, moisturizing, and applying make-up, at the age of 13, I’ve discovered that there is not a single perfect product or regimen to create a flawless look on an ever-changing canvas. For all I know, the products that I love now may be replaced next year with ones that I like even more as my tastes change and I try new products.
I’d like to quickly share a few products that are currently helping me achieve happy, healthy skin and lay a foundation for beautiful makeup:
Please click on the above image to find online retailers for each product.
I'd also like to share the link for the Youtube channel of one of my favorite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge. She provides practical advice for everyday makeup application for women of all ages and fun tutorials of makeup looks worn by celebrities.
// Audrey Hepburn photo by Doctor Macro, graphic design by Nicole Jordan
Tags: by Nicole, Beauty, Our Uniform, Style
I'd also like to share the link for the Youtube channel of one of my favorite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge. She provides practical advice for everyday makeup application for women of all ages and fun tutorials of makeup looks worn by celebrities.
// Audrey Hepburn photo by Doctor Macro, graphic design by Nicole Jordan
Tags: by Nicole, Beauty, Our Uniform, Style