Liquid foundation is one of the ficklest products to apply. Ever. Not only is its basic application a chore, but even after you feel like you have a routine down, the smallest hiccup — anything from product buildup on your brush to a stray brush stroke — can throw off your entire look for the rest of the day.

But after years (literally, it has been that long) of trying different methods, brushes, and foundations, I think I finally have it down to a handful of simple steps that can make all the difference in the world.

1. Grab your favorite liquid foundation

Grab your favorite liquid foundation. Now, I almost always choose a full coverage one, as this method will sheer it down a bit, making it suitable for most skin types and needs. Pour or pump an amount about the size of a nickel or quarter (this will vary depending on the condition of your skin) onto the back of your hand or a palette.

2. Take a dense, flat-top brush

Take a dense, flat top brush (my favorite is the Sigma F80), and dip it into the foundation. Dot this onto your nose, the cheeks, around the borders of your face, and your chin (one “dip” should pick up enough product to lightly dot around all of these areas).

3. Starting at the nose…

Starting at the nose, stipple in small, tight areas, moving to the cheeks and the borders of the face, stippling product inward towards the center. Repeat this process for your chin.

4. With what is left on the brush…

With what is left on the brush, stipple over the area above your lips and below your mouth. Avoid the area where you get smile lines for now (this will look weird, but we’ll correct this malfeasance later.

5. If you regularly use foundation under your eyes…

This next step is only if you regularly use foundation under your eyes, rather than or in conjunction with concealer. If you don’t, skip to the next step. Take a bit of foundation on the outer edge of your brush, and dot lightly under the eyes, concentrating the product at the lower inner corners where your undereyes are darkest. Stipple lightly over this area, taking the foundation applied under the eyes up and onto the eyelid and browbone.

6. Stipple across your forehead and into the hairline

You should have about 1/3 of the product left. Take some on your brush, and stipple it across your forehead and into the hairline (almost as bad as the jawline is a blatant change in color at your hairline, which many people tend to neglect). Your entire face should now be covered (except for the small area around your smile lines).


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When I found out that my due date was May 1st, my first thoughts weren’t of baby blankets and onesies. All I could think about was, how am I going to avoid looking like a wet dish towel in one of those post delivery photos? — the ones that someone always manages to snap at the exact moment when you’re the most sweaty, the most tired, and the least ready to have a remotely flattering picture taken. I’m talking about that moment when after 12 hours of intense labor, the cameras start clicking like crazy!

I never really thought of myself as a particularly vain person, and I know that when the time comes, it’s supposed to be all about the baby, but I was determined to hang on to some shred of my former makeup loving self, and come out of the whole experience glowing, despite the stretch marks and imminent hemorrhoids.

About a month before my due date, I became the lone pregnant lady haunting the aisles of my local Sephora. I rarely took a friend on these occasions, mainly because I could not have any distractions from what I saw as my personal mission. I was determined to put together a look that could withstand whatever curveball Mother Nature decided to throw my way, be it C-section or 24 hours of labor. Whatever happened to be going on below my neck, I was hellbent on keeping what was above it well controlled and looking its best. I needed the makeup equivalent of an Earthquake Prevention Kit.

I decided that my best course of action was to treat my baby’s delivery like a really long and painful spinning class. I knew to expect a lot of huffing and puffing, and most of all, a lot of sweat. That meant that I needed a face that was waterproof and sweatproof. I wanted to strike a balance between no makeup and being a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills. To me, that meant glowy and flushed, not sculpted and painted. Even if I spent whole days in oatmeal splattered pajama pants and my husband’s wife beater remembering the days when I could count on a morning shower, I would feel secure in the knowledge that I didn’t go down without a fight.

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Who says you have to spend half of your paycheck on skin and hair care products to look your best? Why not just turn your kitchen’s pantry into your beauty bar and save a few bucks? All it takes are a few edible ingredients, an open mind and some DIY kitchen beauty tips.

1. Strawberries – These wondrous red berries aren’t merely delicious when they’re sliced and drizzled with balsamic vinegar, oh no. Strawberries are also your best friend for natural teeth-whitening. Once per day before your regular brushing and flossing (because of the sugar in the strawberries), mash two or three berries in a small bowl, and carefully, but vigorously, brush your teeth with this berry paste (you may want to dedicate a toothbrush to it, as the one you use will probably stain). Look for results within a week or two.



2. Honey – Pretty much a savior for skin and hair. Honey acts as a natural antiseptic and antifungal, and it’s also a fantastic humectant, preserving moisture in the skin. Try dabbing a bit over broken facial acne to speed the repair process (test on a small area first), mix a small amount in with your conditioner for a moisturizing and yummy-smelling hair mask, or place on your mouth overnight to wake up with full, luscious lips. Be careful, however, as honey tends to stick…everywhere. Use less than you initially think you’ll need, and add to it bit by bit from there.



3. Potatoes – An odd one, yes. But there’s a certain compound in potatoes that’s been shown to help reduce swelling and puffiness. Using a vegetable peeler, shred a small amount of potato, let it chill in the fridge for a while, and then place the chilled potato magic under your eyes. For the next 15 minutes or so, sit and read a good book, watch a little television, or talk to your cat. When you remove the odd treatment, voila! There should be less puff under those eyes.



4. Cinnamon – This fantastic spice also has great skincare benefits! Who knew? Mix a bit in with your favorite lipgloss to turn it into a lip-plumper. Or, try making a facial mask out of honey and cinnamon that can be used to help dry out acne and exfoliate dull, tired skin.



5. Yogurt – A fantastic moisturizing agent as well as a skin exfoliant (due to the lactic acid it contains). Use as a cooling facial mask to wake up dull, tired, or dry winter skin, or soak hands in it to help soften and heal cuticles; in either case, the thicker the yogurt, generally the better it works.

Hungry for more kitchen beauty? Check out DIY Beauty with Kitchen Cosmetics.



6. Turmeric – This strong smelling, yellowish spice is great for fading skin discolorations and post-acne scarring. Mix it with just enough lime juice (another great fading agent) to make a medium-thickness paste, and dab onto discolored skin only. Leave on for about 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The area treated may take on a temporary yellow tint that should fade with another washing or two, but still — this is a treatment probably better suited to weekend nights.



7. Cranberry Juice – And we ain’t talkin’ ‘bout that sugary cocktail stuff. Spain’s raven-haired beauties still use pure cranberry juice to this day to keep their locks shining and lustrous. In the shower, use it as a post conditioner rinse. Pour over damp hair, massage in for a minute or two, and then let it sit for as long as you can before rinsing thoroughly.



8. Coffee – Coffee serves multiple benefits depending on whether you use it brewed or in its ground form. Brewed dark roast can be used as a post-conditioner wash to add richness to brunette, auburn, and dark blonde hair. Instant coffee can be added to conditioner for near the same effect, and plain ‘ol coffee grounds are a fantastic exfoliator. Mix with your favorite facial wash to give that face a good scrubbin’, or take it straight to your dry bod.



9. Salt – Natural sea salt is a great exfoliant and healing agent. Using small circular motions, rub down your entire dry body with straight up salt before your shower for a fantastic glow (make sure to use a rich moisturizer afterwards). Or (be careful with this one), try making a thick paste out of sea salt and honey, and place on stubborn acne. Be warned — it’ll sting like a jellyfish, but it works wonders for me.



10. Apple cider vinegar – This stuff is simply amazing. Pour some in a spritzer bottle, and use it as a facial toner to sop up extra oil and to regulate your skin’s pH levels. Dab some on ruddy cheeks or inflamed skin to take down redness. Use as a post-conditioner rinse to lock in moisture and shine, as well as protecting color and removing product build-up. Drink two tablespoons a day to decrease natural body odour, improve overall skin quality, and aid digestion. Amazing.

With these 10 simple ingredients, you’ve got yourself a fine recipe for skin and hair nirvana, all without breaking the bank or resorting to harsh, man-made chemicals. Just don’t try making anything edible out of all of these together… Salted strawberries over coffee-scented potatoes with a turmeric and cinnamon yogurt dressing topped with an apple cider vinegar and cranberry honey reduction? Mmm, my favorite.

I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours. Every so often I’m asked about my skin care routine, and because I make little adjustments to it all the time, I thought I’d share the process and products I’m using now.

Heya Milkmaid21!

(Love your Twitter handle, BTW)

Although I try new skin care products and techniques all the time, I find myself returning to many of the same core products and tactics over and over again, especially when my combination dry/oily/acne-prone skin goes ballistic.

My Skin Care Routine: The Abridged Version

In the morning…

• Philosophy Purity Made Simple
• Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion
• Korres Quercetin & Oak Eye Cream
• Clarins HydraQuench Cream or Clarins HydraQuench Cream SPF 15
• MAC Strobe Cream
• Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
• Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
• MAC Prep + Prime Powder
• MAC Blot

In the evening…

• Philosophy Purity Made Simple
• Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion
• Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector
• Korres Quercetin & Oak Eye Cream
• Clarins HydraQuench Cream

Then, one or two nights a week…

• I’ll use the Clarisonic MIA
• Retin A (on the days I use it, I’ll skip using both the Mild Clarifying Lotion and the Even Better Dark Spot Corrector; for more on this, see Your Skin Care Cheat Sheet: Retinols and Retinoids)

My Skin Care Routine: The Unabridged Version

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Brace yourself, young lady, because someone’s about to make a scene — and it’s you! Do you remember last week’s grayish blue smokey eye from our look at the Benefit Scene Queen The Annie Collection palette? Here’s a quick breakdown of it with pictures and a how-to.

The Benefit Scene Queen palette

When would I rock a look like this? Well, often! — specifically, whenever I’d want to look dressed up but not overdone, day or night. If it feels a little too dramatic for daytime wear to work/school, maybe give it a try out one night with friends or your boo.

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