Even though I post some really bold beauty tutorials, that doesn't mean that on a daily basis I wear a lot of makeup. I like to keep my skin looking like skin. There are a few products that I carry in my makeup bag and I know I can always count on them to simply enhance my features.

Instead of going for a full coverage foundation, I like wearing a BB cream. My favorite at the moment is the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, it evens out my skin tone without looking like I have something on. It doesn't cover any blemish, so to "fix" that I use the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. This product is very thick, so a little bit goes a long way. If you use just a thin layer of this concealer, you don't have to set it with powder, unless you prefer doing it. It actually doesn't crease on me, only when I use a lot of it.

To highlight my face I use the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. This is not the most pigmented luminizer, therefore it's perfect for that healthy glow. My favorite natural-looking eyebrow product is the MAC Penultimate Brow Marker, which I use only on the sparse areas. It creates a shadow, giving the impression of fuller eyebrows.

I love the Benefit They're Real Mascara, because it enhances my eyelashes without clumping them. Finally, for lipstick I usually use MAC Velvet Teddy. Which is a beautiful brownish nude.

What are some of your favorite products for a fresh everyday look?

It's been a little over a year since I started blogging and looking back makes me appreciate how much I learned and improved.

A fact about me, I actually had a blog with some friends when I was thirteen. However, all of them gave up on it, consequently I did the same. Every so often, I wish I had kept going and not quit.

1. BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST AND COLOR CORRECTING + LIGHTING
If you learn how to edit your pictures, it can dramatically change it for the better. I believe the basics are brightness, contrast and occasionally, color correcting. I always enhance the brightness so my pictures have an incredibly white background. For the contrast I raise it a tiny bit, so the colors look more vibrant. I used to color correct the photos I took with a Nikon D3200, now when I started using a Canon 700D I didn't have to do that anymore. I prefer my pictures to have a neutral tone, neither too warm, nor too cold.

My biggest advice for a beautiful picture is lighting. I love the look of natural lighting, but when I have to take a photo on a cloudy day, I like using an umbrella lighting with a fluorescent bulb.

2. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Right when I started this blog, I decided to post once day for a whole month. During the first week I had a lot to post about, but as the days went by I felt obligated to publish something and I had nothing to talk about. Don't even get me started on the low quality photos. I know that we all start somewhere and a lot of people wouldn't think it was too bad, but in my perfectionist brain that was awful.

In summary, don't post something just because you feel "pressured". Of course it's important to keep a plan, but don't force yourself into following an unrealistic schedule. I would much rather read a blog that posts once a week but actually has an incredible content, than reading one that posts every day and the quality is not as great. Remember, it's not necessarily about the camera and lens you use, but how much effort you put into it.

3. DON'T BE SCARED OF WRITING
This sounds weird, doesn't it?! In the beginning I used to write a review within five lines and I was done. I didn't elaborate or went in depth on the subject. At this moment in time, I realize that even I wouldn't waste my time reading that kind of review. The key to a good review or any type of blog post is to actually be informative and explain your point of view.

4. FINDING THE PERFECT TEMPLATE
When you're starting, it's fine to use one of the standard templates. You can totally customize those and to do that all you need to do is research HTML. I swear, it's not as scary as it seems. However, if you don't want to spend hours attempting to figure it out or buy a professional looking template, you can always find a free template. There are so many to choose from, simply type on Google "free template for Blogger" or "free template for WordPress".

5. EVERYTHING TAKES TIME
This could either be about gaining readers and followers, or about improving your skills. In the beginning you will have around five views per post. It takes months to get your first comment and then, an audience. The more you grow, the fastest you grow.

When it comes to developing skills, you need to be patient and practice as much as you can. The secret of getting ahead is getting started. So don't overthink things, just press publish!

If you fancy another reading I have a post dedicated to blog photography.

I don't normally wear white eyeliner, but this makeup instantly became my go-to/everyday look. Even though, I used a pigmented gold eyeshadow, this is actually quite "natural" and wearable on a daily basis (at least for me). I mixed two eyeshadows to create the perfect peach tone I was looking for. Finally, for the mauve lip, I went with a mix of my favorite products at the moment.

Products:
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette (Foxy/Half Baked)
Urban Decay Vice3 Palette (Undone)
Stila Snow Angel Palette (Matte Pink)
Sephora Pure White Nano Eyeliner
Maybelline One By One Mascara
MAC Plum Lip Pencil
Sleek Makeup Birthday Suit Liquid Lipstick

A long time ago I did my "Eyebrow Tutorial" on YouTube, and quite frankly, it's very outdated. I used to go for a slightly more natural look, but now I prefer defining and intensifying my brows.

STEP 1
I always start by combing my eyebrows with a spoolie brush, that helps me visualize where I need to concentrate most of the product. You need to know what you're working with!

STEP 2 
To fill in the sparse areas I use the Urban Decay Blackout eyeshadow. Mine is from the Naked2 palette, but they also sell it as a single. I tried using dark brown products before and it never matched my eyebrow color. Using a black eyeshadow can be very scary, specially because of how easy it is to get carried away and end up looking like you used a Sharpie. Keep in mind, I barely touch the product. When I'm done filling it in, I use the spoolie, once again, to blend any harsh lines.

STEP 3
Finally, I love using my MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Brown Ebony to keep my brows in place. Besides, this is a dark brown gel, which adds a lighter tint to the hairs.

I recently did my "Top 5 Pink Lipsticks" so, of course, I had to do the same thing for vampy lip colors. Most of my lipsticks are high end, mainly because I adore a true matte finish and I can never find something like that on the drugstore. If you have any recommendation from the drugstore, definitely let me know.

• MAC Rebel (Satin) - If you're looking for a unique lipstick, you must check this one. Rebel is a purplish fuchsia. On some people it looks more pink, on others it shows a lot more purple. It's super creamy and glossy looking, but it has an outstanding lasting power.
• MAC Sin (Matte) - If I had to choose only one vampy lipstick, this would be the one. It's a burgundy with a blue undertone and it has a beautiful opaque finish. It's the darkest color amongst this top five.
• Dior Rouge 999 (Glossy) - This is a classic red with a subtle orange undertone. It's highly pigmented and moisturizing. Also, it's really long lasting, especially for its glossy finish.
• MAC Viva Glam III (Matte) - Considering this a matte, it's very creamy and easy to apply. It's a beautiful berry color with a brown undertone.
• MAC Ruby Woo (Retro Matte) - Another classic bright red on this list, however, Ruby Woo is really different from Dior's 999. It has an incredibly dry consistency, and a blue undertone.  

Have you tried any of these? If so, which one is your favorite?