If walking into Sephora sends you into sensory overload, here’s a curated list of products from drug store to luxury that will give you a simplified routine and an everyday makeup look to be flawless in a flash!

SUNSCREEN

All those years of slathering yourself in baby oil in the 1980’s trying to get that Bain de Soleil tan may have taken their toll—but the best way to combat the effects is to incorporate a broad spectrum sunscreen into your routine TODAY and EVERY DAY to protect your skin from further damage while you battle your brown spots. Don’t forget to reapply throughout the day!

My picks for under makeup: 

• La Roche Posay Anthelios AOX Serum SPF 50: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097457
• Supergoop Glow Screen: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096700

My picks for over makeup: 

• Coola Setting Spray: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096839
• Coola Classic Face Mist: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096843

EYELASH CURLER

Many of us have noticed that our eye shape has changed over time (hello, muffin top) and the laxity of the skin can make the eye look droopy. A curled lash gives a hooded eye an instant eye lift without surgery for a more wide-eyed appearance.

My picks: 

• Kevyn Aucoin: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097282
• Shu Uemura: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097284

MASCARA

On your simplest makeup days, a little brow color, some blush, a quick lip and a swipe of mascara will give you a balanced and polished makeup look. Find a formula that you love and give those curled lashes some pop! Check out tubing formula mascaras if you struggle with finding a mascara that doesn’t transfer to hooded lids or smudge under your eyes.

My picks for mascaras: 

• Essence Lash Princess: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101550
• Tower 28 Beauty Make Waves: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097397
• Beauty Pie Wrap Star (tubing): https://www.beautypie.com/us/products/wrap-star-tubing-mascara (use my code GLOSSED for a free 30 day trial membership!)
• Trish McEvoy Lash Curling (tubing): https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096981
• Kevyn Aucoin The Volume(tubing): https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101551

CREAM/LIQUID BLUSH

Easy to apply even for the makeup novice, a cream blush should be your go-to blush formula for dry or mature skin–it melts into the skin, gives a natural flush, and maintains a beautiful glow throughout the day. A soft peachy-pink intense enough for your skin tone can be the perfect goes-with-everything color.

My picks: 

• Stila Convertible Color: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101566
• Colourpop Super Shock Cheek: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096970
• Trinny London Lip Luxe in Eugenie (as blush!): https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097512
• NARS Orgasm Liquid blush: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101602
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer blush: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097325
• Glossier Cloud Paint https://go.shopmy.us/p-1238844
• Tower 28 Beauty Beach Please: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1628071

BRONZER

The quickest and safest way to fake a sunkissed look is with a bronzer. Apply with an oversized powder brush for a foolproof “I just got back from a weekend at the beach” glow. For fair skin, look for a liquid bronzer that gives a sheer and subtle kiss of color.

My picks: 

• CHANEL Les Beiges Bronzing Cream: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097061
• NARS Bronzing Powder: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097062
• Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101580
• Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint (for fair skin): https://go.shopmy.us/p-1238777

EYEBROW PENCIL, PEN OR POWDER

After the eyebrow massacre that was the 1990’s (what were we thinking?!), many of us are still suffering from a condition I like to call “Dinky Brows.” Couple that with the fading of our natural brow color and some rogue grey hairs, and our brows may need a bit of help. Use a brow pencil or pen to create hair-like strokes to define sparse brows and/or brush in a brow powder to add depth to a faded brow. Add a little lift to your brows with a clear brow gel, or use a gel with a tint to add a little color.

My picks: 

• Mented High Brow: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101584
• NYX Micro Brow pencil: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096971
• NYX Lift and Snatch brow pen: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096973
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101586
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101589
• Anastasia Beverly Hills brow powder: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101590
• Surratt Expressioniste Brow Pencil: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1510092

NEUTRAL EYESHADOW PALETTE

As we age, sometimes less is more when it comes to eye makeup. A great neutral eye palette can give you multiple options from soft to smoky. And if you’re still longing for a pop of color, try smudging a bright shadow along the lash line. 

My picks: 

• Tarte Toasted palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096684
• Juvia’s Place The Nubian palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101615
• Colourpop Nude Mood palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096999
• Ilia Beauty The Necessary palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097309
• Tarte Amazonian Clay palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1116830
• Makeup by Mario Master Mattes palette: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1238810

TINTED MOISTURIZER OR SERUM FOUNDATION

Repeat after me—texture draws attention to texture. Meaning, the heavier the foundation formula, the more likely it will draw attention to lines, scars and dryness. Now is the time to lighten up when it comes to coverage and my favorite foundation type for mature skin is a tinted moisturizer or serum foundation. They even out the skin, add a glow, and diffuse the look of fine lines and dryness. (Remember: even if you’re applying a tinted moisturizer with SPF, you should still apply a separate sunscreen under your makeup!)

My picks: 

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097319
• Trinny London BFF Destress Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097458
• It Cosmetics CC Cream: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101632
• Colourpop Pretty Fresh tinted moisturizer: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101634
• ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1238826
• CHANEL Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1096939

THE PERFECT NUDE LIP

Nude doesn’t have to mean naked—from soft peach, to ballet slipper, to latte, to rose—the perfect nude is out there, no matter your skin tone. Couple it with a lipliner to intensify the lip border and perfect the look.

My picks: 

• CHANEL Rouge Coco 402 or 432: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1116854
• Mented Semi-Matte Lipstick “Peach Please”: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101640
• Uoma Beauty Badass Icon Matte “Miriam”: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101642
• CHANEL Rouge Allure Ink #140 and #168: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097461

THE PERFECT BRIGHT LIP

Don’t shy away from a bright lip! You can start with a stain, a balm, or a gloss to baby step your way into a bolder lip look. Keep the eye shadows neutral and soft and then reach for a red, a coral or a bright pink for that perfect pick-me-up that always looks polished. Be sure to softly line the lips with a coordinating color to prevent the pigment from traveling into fine lines around the mouth—or choose a more satin-matte lipstick finish for a punchy pout that stays put.

My picks: 

• Pat McGrath Mattetrance Lipstick “Full Panic”: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097082
• CHANEL Rouge Allure Ink #170: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1097461
• Uoma Beauty Badass Icon Matte “Sade” and “Tina”: https://go.shopmy.us/p-1101642

There you have it! 

Consider this your capsule collection for an easy and effective makeup routine. Take these with you and you’ll be ready for whatever life throws at you! 

Are any of your favorites on my list? Anything you think I missed? 

Let me know in the comments!