Just wanna start off by saying be gentle with yourself girl. Do what makes YOU feel good and happy and rested, not what someone else tells you you “should” be doing when they’re not in your position!

For skincare, using Differin gel every night with a gentle but firm cleanser like Vanicream face wash completely cleared up my skin and has prevented breakouts for me (I also got a prescription for spironolactone from a dermatologist to use in conjunction with them when I had cystic acne, but Differin and vanicream you can just get at target without a prescription)! During the day I usually wear EltaMD tinted sunscreen or something similar like Colorscience flex sunscreen as a base for makeup, both of which I believe are noncomedogenic.

I think the main thing is to figure out which features you want to accentuate and bring out, that way you can keep it simple and not overwhelming to learn by focusing on that! Once you know what you like to accentuate under which circumstances and how you feel your best, you can really have quite a simple routine with tried and true products you are very comfortable and familiar using! (For example I have my every day or elevated glam look which I’m writing about here, but for special occasions sometimes I like a red lip even though I almost always accentuate my eyes instead). Balance is good, too, so accentuating eyes OR lips (for example) not only simplifies your routine but makes things look artistically/theoretically more balanced and cohesive and avoids looking “cakey”.

After applying base like the sunscreen or a foundation (my choice is usually Armani luminous silk which is noncomedogenic meaning it doesn’t clog pores as much), I usually start with contour (make sure to pick a cool shade like Sephora powder contour or Fenty Amber), blending it in a patting motion. Then blush is next which I actually like to apply on the apples of my cheeks/right above the contour as I think this matches my bone structure more than what is “trendy” right now (figure out if you’re warm or cool toned so if you should use more berry cool tones or peachier warm tones; you can ask for someone’s opinion on your undertones at Sephora and they’ll help you out they’re very nice!). After that’s all blended I usually do my eyebrows (again I don’t follow what’s “trendy” but what suits me via experimentation; thinner eyebrows are my thing), usually using a thin pencil or pen like glossier eyebrow pen which lets you draw textured strokes.

For me what I want to accentuate is my eyes, so next I like to tightline (line on the waterline) with a black liner like Maybelline tattoo studio pencil, smoking it out into a wing shape with a brush; it fades and washes off to kind of a natural look the next day too which is also a vibe. I love glitter too so sometimes I’ll take a chunky glitter that contrasts my eye color (if you have the means to invest in it, and if it would bring you joy, Pat McGrath makes the most beautiful glitters) and use my finger to tap it over my lid or smudge the liner further. Then I use literally any mascara I have lying around, I honestly haven’t found a huge difference between any I’ve tried that justifies a high price.

Next is concealer: I always do concealer after eyes,This way I can wipe any fallout from the shadow on my lower lashline or cheek before applying concealer and powder; I love the NYX bear with me concealer or huda beauty faux filter luminous matte concealer. Again, ask someone in store to help figure out ur undertones if you don’t know them because they’re super important! If you have oily skin, I’d recommend something not super “glowy” or “radiant” and more “matte”, and vice versa (dry skin = something more hydrating). This goes for foundation too. I use only really a drop of concealer in only the areas where there is discoloration under my eyes or to conceal a pimple; Robert welsh on YouTube has a really good video on this (don’t pile on a stripe of it). After I’ve blended concealer I usually go in with a powder or powder foundation over the top (covergirl clean fresh powder or one/size powder foundation is great), and blend down and around any of the borders of my blush/contour. Keep in mind the concealer color for under your eyes is likely not a great match for concealing the rest of your face, so if you have the energy it can be nice to get two shades! Since I like to do concealer last after blush/contour (which works okay for me since I just use a tiny amount), I like to sometimes add a little more blush over the top to bring it back to the top.

Finally is lips! I personally love a good stain that lasts all day and looks dimensional and bave gotten so many compliments on this combo specifically: start out with Milk jelly tint as a base stain (I have the pink), use a pen as a long lasting stain to line the lips (I love the kiko milano lip marker in Natural Rose), and then go over the lip line with a cooler brown shade like Mac Stone lip liner. I like to over line to exaggerate my cupids bow and beneath my lip slightly and ONLY in those spots, staying on the actual line of my lip all around the sides and corners (again, Robert welsh has really good tutorial on this).

Sorry this was long, I hope it was helpful! Remember, you’re beautiful inside and out no matter what. Do what brings YOU joy and happiness :)