How the *Allure* Beauty Box is Helping One Editor Shake Up Her Routine

My relationship with makeup has followed a trajectory that is reminiscent of so many relationships. At first, it was intensely exciting, but after the novelty wore off, it crossed over into the much-dreaded “comfort zone.” And that’s where I find myself today. This morning, I woke up like I do every other morning. I hit the snooze button exactly three times and when I finally rolled out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom, half-heartedly plugged in my curling wand, and dutifully unzipped my cosmetics pouch. My routine is exactly that, a routine, and I follow it to a T: a layer of foundation, a dab of concealer under the eyes, a flick of black liquid liner, a swipe of red lipstick, and I’m out the door.

My repetitive regimen came about not because makeup had lost its lustre, or because I didn’t have the desire to try new things. It’s that I’ve pared down my routine to the necessary steps that will give me an extra 15 minutes of precious sleep each morning. So why now, at age 34, am I willing to give up my well-rehearsed, perfectly-timed morning ritual?

For one, my beauty priorities have shifted over the past few years. Growing up, I had oily, acne-prone skin, so I’ve spent the better part of two decades trying desperately to minimize break-outs. Now, when I look in the mirror I'm far less concerned with blemishes and more fixated on the fine lines that are becoming more defined. And then, of course, there’s the pressure of being surrounded by my Allure colleagues, who are always two steps ahead on current beauty trends. Just a few weeks ago, I was waiting in the elevator bank when the doors parted and Devon Abelman emerged with a constellation of Flirt Cosmetics Chicers on her face.

While I may want to shake things up a bit, I'm certainly not daring or confident enough to decorate my cheeks with star-shaped stickers. So to snap myself out of my makeup rut, I'm taking the safe and (let’s face it) lazy-girl route by signing up for the Allure Beauty Box. A monthly subscription will allow me to experiment with deluxe-size samples from well-known beauty brands and newcomers alike without the investment and commitment of buying the full-sized products. It’s also carefully curated by Allure editors—the very same ladies who inspire me each and every day. So really, what do I have to lose?

Join me on my journey as I discover new beauty products, or better yet, challenge yourself to do the same by signing up for your own Allure Beauty Box subscription. Here’s my current routine. I’ll update you monthly on how it evolves, the products that earn a permanent place in my makeup bag, and even the ones that don’t quite make the cut.

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Face

It took me just under a decade to find the formula and shade of foundation that would both sit well on my skin and perfectly match my complexion. After some trial and a lot of error, I discovered L’Oréal Paris True Match in Light Ivory. I’ve been using it faithfully for seven years, along with L’Oréal Paris True Match pressed powder. To camouflage my dark circles and my unshakeable habit of staying up past my bedtime, I dab a few drops of Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Fair Golden under each eye. This concealer made its way into my makeup bag five years ago and it’s nothing short of amazing (for lack of a better word). Depending on my mood, I’ll either dust a peachy-pink blush onto the apples of my cheeks (Nars Orgasm Blush is a favorite) or I’ll give my cheekbones a little lift with a diagonal sweep of bronzer. I avoid wearing highlighter in daylight, because it looks unnatural on my skin, but once the sun goes down, I’ll blend Nars All-Over Stick in Copacabana along my brow bones and on the ridge of my cheekbones.

Hair

If you ever ask me to hang out and I tell you that I can’t because I’m washing my hair, it’s probably true. I lather, rinse, and repeat every single night with OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil shampoo and conditioner. I'm fully aware that washing too often can be damaging, but the reality is that if I skip even just one day, I look like I swam laps in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. I have a blow-dryer on hand for emergencies, but more often than not, I air-dry to minimize heat damage. Since my hair is depressingly thin, naturally pin-straight, and stubbornly curl-averse, I use a high-temperature curling wand to create voluminous waves every morning. My tool of choice is the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand and I use it on the 410-degree setting with the smallest barrel to achieve tight spiral curls, which I brush out the second before I head out the door. If I didn’t have my trusty wand, my hair would go limp within minutes of stepping outside, but my T3 curls last all day until I rinse them out at night and start all over again.

Eyes

I rarely leave my house without a full face of makeup, but if I was running late and only had time to apply one cosmetic product it would undoubtedly be eyeliner. My eyes are deep-set, so to accentuate them I use a bold liquid liner, and my go-to through thick and thin is M.A.C. Liquid Liner in Boot Black. I’ve been using this product for almost 15 years and anytime I’ve tried another liquid liner, I’ve been sorely disappointed. As for shadow, I gravitate toward shimmery gold and pink tones to complement my hazel eyes.

Amber Venerable/*Allure*

Lips

If you aren’t convinced that I’m a creature of habit yet, just consider my lipstick repertoire. I have exactly three variations of red that are on heavy rotation, including a cherry red (M.A.C. Ruby Woo) and a deep burgundy (Albeit Lipstick in Bordeaux). The latter was a gift, and although I was leery at first, it provides a surprisingly flattering, vampy-but-not-goth effect. I might be ready to kiss these three shades of red goodbye if I experiment with some new colors, emphasis on the word might.

Fragrance

For a full decade, I’ve spritzed my neck and my wrists with Lanvin Rumeur immediately after I roll on my deodorant and right before I brush my teeth. The fragrance has since appeared in its second iteration, aptly named Rumeur 2, but since I’m stubbornly stuck on its predecessor, I haven’t even had a whiff of the new one. In fact, I’ve stockpiled enough bottles of the original to last me a lifetime, give or take a few years.

Nails

Every day friends, colleagues, and even perfect strangers ask me if my nails are acrylics, gels, or silks, if I take supplements, or if I can function with such long nails. My answers are: No, no, and kind of. I have very weak hair, but remarkably strong nails. And I like to show them off. When it comes to nail trends, I’ve never been afraid to push the envelope. My current routine is a gel manicure at Paintbox Nail Studio every two or three weeks. I’m borderline obsessed with their statement-making, yet simple geometric nail designs. My husband and I are in the midst of buying our first home and he has created an elaborate spreadsheet detailing our financial plan for every imaginable disaster or setback. The conclusion that can be drawn from each scenario is that I need to discontinue my $85 bi-monthly manicures immediately if we have any hope of making ends meet. For the sake of my marriage (and personal finances), it would not be an entirely bad thing if I discovered some new nail polishes and products that I can use easily at home.

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Brows

My first foray into beauty was when I surreptitiously tweezed my own eyebrows in the mid-90s. I did it in the middle of the night, in front of the bathroom mirror, with just the dim glow of a nightlight and a pair of tweezers borrowed from my mom. Remember, this was back when pencil-thin brows were de rigueur and you’d pluck until you had a single row of hairs and an expression of perpetual surprise on your face. My self-shaped arches, however, ended up asymmetrical, with one brow always appearing as though it were raised. Instead of shocked, I looked like I was constantly judging everyone and everything around me. And who was I to judge anyone? I had hideous eyebrows. An aesthetician eventually set me on the right track. After a deepening codependence on her for nearly two decades, I finally cut the thread and overcame my tweezer anxiety. There are still some spots where the hair is sparse—a constant reminder of my earlier mistakes—and I use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Soft Brown to bridge the gaps and extend the ends ever so slightly. To set the look, I use Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch Up.

Nighttime

My entire life I’ve struggled with the social ramifications of a left eyebrow that involuntarily jumps off of my forehead whenever someone makes an absurd remark. Now that I am well into my 30s, I’ve come to realize that the implications go far beyond getting into hot water with friends from time to time, or offending complete strangers on the subway. My overly expressive face is giving me wrinkles—and a lot of them, so I've recently adopted a more aggressive skin-care approach. Since I’ve struggled with acne for most of my teenage and early adult years, my nighttime routine starts out with Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads. The formula is gentle and exfoliating, while the texture of the pads helps to slough off the dead skin, dirt, oil, and pollutants that accumulate throughout the day. Three to four nights a week, I use the Allure Best of Beauty-winning retinoid treatment Philosophy Help Me Night Cream to reduce the appearance of fine lines. It’s a fairly new addition to my regimen, as is my nighttime moisturizer du jour: La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream. I apply La Mer before I go to bed each night and by the morning my skin is radiant. Since it is far too rich to prep my face before applying makeup, I am on the market for a daytime moisturizer, preferably one that doesn’t leave me looking like a Picasso painting by the end of the day. Since my anti-aging regimen came about fairly recently, I'm open to new products and innovations. Serums, masks, eye creams, and moisturizers—bring them all!

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