Who wants to waste any precious minutes of a chilled Sunday, by spending hours in front of the mirror, piling on a tonne of makeup? Not me. Unless I'm having a make-up free day, wearing my comfiest pjs and embarking on a Netflix marathon, then I want fuss-free, five minute routine, full of products that do all the hard work for me. But, I have a few rules. No liquid foundation. No contouring. No bold lipsticks. All I want is a fresh complexion, bright, defined eyes and a flush of colour on the cheeks and lips.

A quick dusting of mineral powder foundation is enough to hide any complexion catastrophes from a just a few hours of sleep or one beverage too many, the night before. Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder Foundation provides a build-able coverage that can be as sheer or as opaque, as you like. Full of beneficial ingredients that help to improve the complexion, it won't suffocate the skin and gives it a break, without the need to go completely sans makeup. Despite being a powder formula, the result is not at all dry or chalky. Thanks to the finely-milled, mineral content, the finish is so glowing and smooth and becomes more radiant as you continue to buff it into the skin. The SPF of 15 is great to protect from the summer sunshine, too.

To camouflage those inevitable, under-eye shadows and any areas of redness, a touch of concealer will work wonders. My favourite for when I'm looking tired, is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Not only does the thick, creamy consistency blend in seconds, but it has a highlighting effect which immediately brightens the complexion. Concealing both dark circles and blemishes effectively, it's a great multi-tasker and, despite providing a heap of coverage, it looks virtually undetectable on the skin.

I can never skip my brows, even on Sunday. To gently fill in any sparse areas and enhance the shape, without making them too dark and severe, I use an angled brush to softly apply a combination of MAC Omega and Brun Eyeshadows. Neither shade has a red-tone, making them both ideal for using on the brows, especially when you have dark hair.


Keeping the eyes simple, but defined, I then use two eyeliners. Along my top and bottom lash-lines and upper waterline, I'll use a brown pencil, smudging it slightly to give a smokey effect. MAC's Coffee Eye Pencil is dark enough to add depth and make the lashes look fuller, but it isn't as harsh as a black shade. As I like to smudge the pencil out, the application doesn't need to be at all precise, so it's super quick. To brighten the eyes and diffuse any redness, I'll run an off-white liner along my lower waterline. Soft and creamy, the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Nude draws onto the delicate skin so easily and never scratches or drags. As it's waterproof, the colour stays strong for hours, without needing to constantly touch-up.

Using eyelash curlers makes all the difference when you're feeling drowsy and looking it, too. My holy-grail tool is the Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curler, as it gives amazing lift and long-lasting curl with just a couple of pumps of the handle. A slick of Maybeline's Lash Sensational Mascara finishes off my eyes. Even with just one coat, the curved, plastic wand gives lashes a bold, false-lash effect. The ultra-black formula makes lashes longer, more voluminous and more evenly separated than any other, drugstore mascara I've tried. It's seriously impressive, so prepare to be bombarded with compliments when wearing it.

On the cheeks, I skip my usual bronzer and highlight and simply choose a cream blush. During summer, I much prefer wearing peachy tones, so the Clarins Multi-Blush in 01 Peach is perfect. The cream to powder formula has quite a sheer pigmentation, but can be layered for a stronger colour. Applied with either fingers or a brush, the blush melts onto the skin to create a natural-looking flush, which gives a healthy, youthful result.

As Sundays are usually all about food, I never bother with a bold lip. Instead, I'll reach for a nourishing balm with a hint of colour. More often than not, I'll opt for the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist, as it just makes the lips both feel and look amazing. A warm, peachy nude, this shade isn't too dark or light and pulls together any makeup look. Although it has a thick, comforting texture, this balm/gloss hybrid isn't sticky in the slightest, but lasts for a few hours before the glossiness wanes. Smoothing out any lines on the lips, it creates a plumping effect and a perfected pout.


What is your makeup routine like on a Sunday?

AGB X