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#HerHighlight: The writer with a more-is-more approach to beauty products
A peek into her many, many makeup bags
by Amanda Ross
babe's new series #HerHighlight focuses on the real-life makeup and skincare routines of our beauty-addicted readers.
Name: Amanda / Age: 24 / Would die without her: Highlights that do not match her eyebrows / Her one-minute beauty tip: Spray a little perfume in your hair so when someone leans in for a hug, they can smell it / She always forgets: To wash her face after a night out / But never forgets: To overline her lips
I've tried to read that 'The Art of Tidying Up' book more times than I can count but it will never, ever stick because everything brings me joy. I'm Amanda, @itsamandaross, a 24-year-old writer who's accrued enough products in my short career to stock a Sephora. But in the words of the third-sexiest Disney princess, "Who cares? No big deal. I want mooore."
For skin, my typical day-to-day involves a triple cleanse with wipes and then a Mario Badescu cleanser because like I said: I'm a maximalist who uses way too much product in my every day life. Running to the deli for a smoothie? Cool, lemme just do a super quick cut crease and contour.
Yes, that's a book about cat astrology. My cat is a Pisces, thanks for asking.
I used to be a hardcore physical exfoliator fan until I learned how horrible that abrasion is for your skin. So I tossed my Clarisonic and Foreo and started (gentle) chemical exfoliating with Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta peels which are made for daily use and then the occasional mask. Oh! And a mask for my lips, too! The really gel-ly ones make my lips feel so full.
I make my friends participate in the lip masking too
I love Herbivore's Blue Tansy but can only take the smell once a week. It's like liquid licorice, which I do not love. Obviously all that exfoliating is a bear, so I go in on moisture by layering Vitamin E and argan oil serums and following up with a thick moisturizer like Glossier's super rich cream. They sink in while I watch way too much TV and deal with my very needy cat, Mouse.
I'm pretty sure every skin problem I have or have ever had can be attributed to my very occasional habit of falling asleep with my makeup on. I know, I know. I'm sorry.
For makeup, I'm a total hoarder but tend to stick to the same few products with minor variation. Right now, I'm obsessed with mixing a few Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Sunlight into my foundation. The result is a very pretty and very subtle bronzy glow. A few drops on their own look amazing on the tops of shoulders and collarbones, too.
My eyebrows are my demon children and I love them but also wish I could drown them in the bath. I tame them with a cheap Milani brow builder which is the $5 version of Glossier's Bow Brow and it works just as well. This is the part in my routine where I start to get lazy so I typically use my bronzer for a light contour and then sweep excess onto my lids instead of shadow.
I'd rather die than be without this incredibly inexpensive Pacifica blush my mom gave me out of her Ipsy bag, though — it has an incredibly subtle sheen that makes me feel like a radiant goddess.
One thing I'll never tire of is fragrance. My favorite thing is when someone (fine, when a boy I like) tells me I smell good or their jacket still smells like me or whatever. I've tried out a million of them and display them on a shelf below my tribute to my favorite band, Bleachers.
No, really. I even have a tattoo of their lyrics:
That's not weird at all, right?
Want to show off your impressive collection, favorite product, or tips and tricks? Use the Instagram tag #HerHighlight for a chance to be featured on babe.