I’ve been lucky to have great skin my whole life. I’m Italian and am pale but tan really easily. I have never really worn much makeup. When I was younger, I had a concealer stick that I’d dot under my eyes and blend up, and occasionally would do a swipe of Clinique’s double face powder. Red lips, a little eyebrow pencil. No blush, no eye shadow/liner, etc. Simple. But then I started working from home. I stopped doing much besides a light lipstick and moisturizer.

Now I’m in my late 40s and realizing that I look pretty washed-out and frowsy. I’d like to kind of brighten/even out my complexion and do a little something with my under eyes. I don’t even know where to start. I don’t want to feel like I’m wearing a mask on my face…I want everything to be super natural and light. I use a little moisturizer in the morning/night and that’s it. I also am pretty cheap and feel overwhelmed by the billions of products out there. I don’t want to spend a fortune…I am really happy with the cheap stuff, as long as it basically works!

I’ve been reading about primer/main/setting routine and I don’t really want to do that…too fussy for me. Really, I’m looking for a good foundation (powder? liquid? combo? brand?) that I can put on that will blend with my under eye concealer (brand? method? how to choose the right shade??). I’ll stick to my same lipstick and sometimes use that same tube to dab a little color on the apples of my cheeks. I’d be really happy with a 5-minute makeup routine.

I’d love any advice! Thanks. :)

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