When I was packing up to leave my studio apartment to quarantine with my parents, I stuffed my bag with cozy sweatpants, comfy oversized tops, and my favorite leggings. But there was notably one thing missing from my packing list: makeup. With no plans to leave the house (due to statewide quarantine and social distancing measures), it just didn’t seem necessary. I grabbed my toiletry kit—without even looking to see what was in it—and was on my way.
After a few weeks of throwing my usual blow dry and makeup routine (although minimal) out the door, I honestly wasn't feeling like myself. And this feeling only heightened the anxiety that I was experiencing on lockdown since I was completely out of my comfort zone.
In an effort to feel a little more "normal" again, my mom and I decided we would change up our daily neighborhood walk and venture out a bit further to an area of shops nearby. I used this outing as an excuse to swap my sweats for a dress I had bought right before quarantine and hadn't gotten to wear yet. Feeling cute, I dug into my travel pouch to see what products had actually made it out of my apartment with me.
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Lo and behold, I found a bottle of Urban Decay’s Stay Naked Foundation ($39; sephora.com) deep inside my toiletry bag. While I hadn't worn makeup in weeks, two pumps of the lightweight formula ended up being the self-care I needed, and I finished my look by flat ironing the crimps from my hair. To my surprise, it's been this foundation that has made me feel more human again, and it has quickly earned a spot in my quarantine beauty routine.
First of all, I love how incredibly light it is—so much so, I don’t feel like I have anything on! Yet, it offers buildable coverage to hide dark circles and smooth out signs of tiredness (thanks, stress!), while giving me an even complexion and all-over glow. I also like that I can use it as a standalone product, and don't need concealer. When the biggest quarantine pimple popped up on my cheek, I tapped just a bit of the foundation over it to mask the redness.
Another plus? It has a slightly matte finish, so my skin never looks oily or greasy. (Don't believe me? See below.) And lastly, what makes this foundation truly stand out is that it comes in 50 shades to accommodate a wide range of skin tones. If you're feeling overwhelmed and need help picking a color, Urban Decay actually has an online quiz to make shade matching a breeze.
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rebecca-shinners helps me, personally, feel more put together before zoom calls and puts me into a working mindset at home, since I normally would wear foundation to the office. (I’m a very big supporter of doing whatever you can to make yourself feel good during this time, and if going completely barefaced is what is making you feel good right now, then embrace your natural look!)
If you're thinking of easing back into makeup during quarantine or just need a little sumthin' sumthin' to give your skin a smoother finish for Zoom calls or virtual dates, add the Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Foundation to your cart ASAP. It's one investment you can use in quarantine and beyond.
urban-decay-foundation ($39; sephora.com)
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