Let me start off by saying, I am not a makeup girly. I’m a professional dancer, and most of my time is spent in the studio, working up a sweat. For the lifestyle I lead, a full face of makeup is not a practical choice. However, the necessity of a bare face has, over time, taught me an incredibly valuable life skill: self love. I’ve bared my untouched, unfixed, unedited face to the world on countless occasions, and it’s shown me I have nothing to hide. I respect myself, and how I look naturally, enough to show it off with pride.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to wear makeup — we all doll ourselves up from time to time — but not needing the makeup, not fearing what people will see and think about my naked face, has put the power in my hands. For most female-identifying folk, makeup is a crutch that society deems necessary. We are told that feeling beautiful requires effort, time, and money. I am here to tell you that it’s not true. Instead, your confidence makes you beautiful. Your passion makes you beautiful. Celebrate the beauty of a bare face and love it exactly as it is.
All of that being said, there are of course occasions where we do want to put in the effort and spruce ourselves up. Whether it is a date, a party, or a special dinner, we can add that pop of makeup without masking our identity or breaking the bank. So, I would like to offer up my quick, lightweight, and effective summertime beauty routine: a few affordable products and a few minutes in the morning are all you need.
Simple Skin Prep
I don’t typically wash my face. I know, how taboo! I find the hard water in London extremely drying, especially on already dry skin, and I don’t like the way it leaves my face feeling stripped. At most, I’ll dampen a washcloth and give my face a good scrub (this exfoliates too), and spray with toner from Lush.
Next, I use my favourite homemade face cream from herbalist Anne Marie Coughlin, based in Delaware, Canada. Her self-made business is called Farm in the Del and she develops all her products at home with natural ingredients, many of which are grown in her own garden (and all of which you can pronounce). I use this face cream twice daily, religiously. It gives my skin a natural glow without clogging my pores or leaving an oily sheen.
Effortless Makeup
Day to day, I avoid foundation, but I will use a few dabs of BB cream if I’m dressing up for something special. I apply a little blusher on the cheekbones, some bronzer under the cheekbones, and a light dusting on the end of my nose. This just gives my naturally pale skin a bit of colour.
I like to fill in my brows (I’ll forever regret the extreme plucking extravaganza of 2014) with a bit of Morphe brow pencil. Just enough to thicken them and fill in the gaps, followed by adding a bit of gel so they hold their shape. My go-to mascara is the L’Oréal Telescopic. You can buy it at any Boots, Superdrug (UK), or Shoppers Drug Mart (Canada). It’s inexpensive, and it’s fantastic. It’s the only eye makeup I use.
I rarely bother with lipstick because if I’m going out somewhere, it’s likely to eat. Instead of endless reapplications, I often opt for a dab of Vaseline for a natural shine and some hydration. Once my face is on for the evening, I want to forget about it.
Recently, I’ve tried using a setting spray to combat the extreme heat and long, sweaty hours. While it feels nice on the skin, I’m not yet convinced that it actually makes an impact on the longevity of my makeup. TBD on this!
No-Fuss Nighttime Routine
Similarly to my morning routine, my evening skincare routine is simple and effective. One thing I firmly believe in is removing makeup before bed, specifically any sort of complexion products. Especially in the summer, your skin needs to be able to breathe and sweat without the obstruction of makeup. Otherwise you’re on the fast track towards blackheads and breakouts! Once my skin is clean, I simply apply a generous layer of the same Farm in the Del face cream.
I also drink about 2-3 liters of water per day, which has massively cleared up my skin (and of course is necessary when you exercise for a living).
In summary, you don’t need a hundred and one products to leave the house looking your best – just clean, hydrated skin, a simple beauty routine, and a big bottle of water. All of the products that I use are vegan and cruelty-free, and I’d recommend trying any or all of them. But, equally I would recommend trying a bare face for a day, just to see how it makes you feel. Be bold! You might just surprise yourself!
Written by Maggie Kelly
About Maggie
Maggie Kelly is a Canadian dancer and fitness instructor currently living in London, UK. Maggie is enjoying life as a freelance artist, and exploring what London has to offer!
Great article and great advice. Thank you!