A 5-minute makeup routine that lasts

When people ask me about my favorite beauty products, I often draw a blank. I stumble with, “Ummm, let me think,” as if I haven’t tested an endless array of skincare and makeup gems. The truth is, my best recommendations rarely surface on the spot—which is precisely why this newsletter exists. I’m a curator at heart!

Recently, I took a closer look at my makeup bag and realized it’s filled with treasures that have carried me through the summer—yet I’ve never shared them on &fini…so let’s change that. Today, we're delving into my current makeup bag, which, in my opinion, is at its very best.

Some of these products are new to the market, some new to me, and some are beloved staples I just can’t give up.

Let’s delve into the foundation of my beauty routine:

The main course

Primer
Each day begins with two pumps of Saie Beauty Super Glowy Gel in the latest Rose Gold shade. The finish is, as you may imagine, super dewy, but the product feels refreshing on the skin, like a fresh glass of water. No greasy finish, no gross slime-like feeling.

Tinted SPF
Next, I apply Tower28 Sunny Days Tinted SPF 30, using two finger-lengths of the product (the recommended amount for full SPF protection in case you didn’t know). Compared to the one million other tinted sunscreens on the market, this one is more like makeup—it’s tacky, long-lasting, and gives decent coverage for everyday wear.

Concealer
For concealing under-eye bags and blemishes, I’ve recently become a fan of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. While “creaseless” is a bold claim, this concealer comes closer to it than most. Your best bet is to apply it to super hydrated skin and follow up with some setting powder to really help it stick. 

Setting Powder
To lock everything in place, I set my under-eyes and the center of my face with Kosas Cloudset Powder. If I skip this step, my makeup looks half-baked by 4 p.m.—and that’s coming from someone who used to think face powder was only fit for oily skin types. I stand corrected.

Bronzer
Although I haven’t been using bronzer frequently, when I do, Saie Dew Bronze in Swim is my go-to. It seamlessly blends into the skin, avoiding the dreadful unblended look. And yes, I go in with creams on top of powders—say what you want, but it brings life back to the skin in my opinion.

Blush
For blush, I use Rhode Blush in Toasted Teddy, applying it with a blush brush and occasionally dabbing a bit on my eyelids as well. (Here’s the newsletter with my full review of these viral blushes ICYMI).

The rest

Brow pencil

The new Glossier Boy Brow Arch pencil is quite fantastic. The unique and tiny tip allows you to create natural-looking strokes like many of the micro-pencils of today, but the color payoff is stronger. What’s better is its long-wear capabilities, persisting through sweat and a full day of play on the weekends. However, I have reservations about the packaging as the white color has begun to flake off and made quite a mess in my makeup bag. Nevertheless, I adore the performance, so I deal with the packaging faux pas.

Freckle Pen
I find that tinted SPF slightly dims my freckles, so I reinstate them with the Beaubble Freckle Pen…though sadly it’s currently out of stock. Another great alternative is Freck Beauty’s Freckle Freck (a mouthful of a title). Leave these on for a few minutes before blending them with your fingers. 

Mascara
My mascara obsession continues with Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara. It performs like a classic from the early 2000s, providing voluminous lashes without clumping, yet it’s easier to remove and is formulated with safer ingredients compared to the drugstore options. The packaging is heavy and luxe, which I love.

The Lip Combo
The finishing touch is my lip combo, which varies daily but most often features favorites such as the EADEM Le Chouchou Balm in Bissap Glaze and iNN Beauty Sun Balm SPF 30 in Rosy Brown. For lip liner, I stick with Tower28 Oneliner in Check Me Out…but admittedly testing some new ones coming out in September that I’m even more excited about, so stay tuned. 

📅 I’ll see you in…October!

I’m in the midst of a bit of a life transition (I’m starting a new job in a few weeks!) so I’m going to pause on &fini in September to get acquainted. See you in October!

💌 Until next time

That’s all my sweet finis. Thanks for reading, I hope you love this newsletter as much as I do.