Here’s an overview of my normal, daily eye routine in six easy steps.
Step 1: Prime lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion and cover dark under eye circles with Benefit Boi-ing concealer in Lite.
Step 2: Apply base color in Clinique ‘Like Mink’ Eye Shadow Duo over entire lid and brow bone. Then apply darker shade above lash line and into crease.
Step 3: Line just above top lash line with Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black Brown. I draw a thin line and extend it out a little at the outer corners. Then I line my lower lashes with a thin line too.
Step 4: Using the tip of an eyeshadow sponge, I smudge a bit of the darker eye shadow into the lower lash liner to make a slightly smokey and softer effect.
Step 5: Use Benefit Brow Zings in Light to fill in my blonde brows. I only use the wax section of the compact because it seems like the powder is a little too heavy for my coloring.
Step 6: Apply a coat of mascara to upper and lower lashes. My current fave is Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black.
And that’s it! So far the products I am most devoted to are the Primer Potion, Revlon eyeliner and Brow Zings. All three are the best I have tried (and I have tried a TON) in their category. Especially wonderful is the eyeliner since you can pick it up at any drugstore and it works better than liners double its price. I regularly try different eye shadow compacts in neutral colors and have a habit of trying a new mascara formulation every time a tube runs dry. Let me know some of your beloved eye makeup products and tips in the comment section!

It’s time for the first Maintenance routine submitted by a Swish-Style reader! Amber from Portland dishes on her skincare products from Murad:
“I started using this about a year ago when I kept getting pesky chin breakouts. The first two months the treatment cleared out all my pores and I’ve been free of zits for most of the time. If I’m not using all elements of the treatment I will break out from time to time.
step 1 ~ Clarifying Cleanser
step 2 ~ Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel & Acne Spot Treatment
step 3 ~ Skin Perfecting Lotion
If you order from Murad.com you get all 4 items delivered to you every 2 months and they bill your credit card over a 2 month span $29.99 each time.
Pros:  My acne is under control.
Cons: The every 2 month shipment schedule is TOO MUCH. The only thing I run out of is the cleanser (which can be purchased at Sephora or Bath and Body works). I now have 3 of each step due to over shipping. I changed to a every- five month plan but I’m still overrun. Another con is that the lotion doesn’t have an SPF.”
Thanks Amber for sharing your experience with the Murad skincare system! Has anyone else tried these products? I checked about her concern over the lack of SPF coverage with the Skin Perfecting Lotion. The description of the product seems that it is basically an oil-free moisturizer. So if you wanted to try a lightweight, non-greasy lotions with an SPF, I know the brands Boscia, Cosmedicine, Borba, Laura Mercier, and Lancome all should carry one through Sephora.
If you’d like to be featured on the next Maintenance post, send a description of your routine (skincare, makeup, haircare, etc.) and include a snapshot of your products to me: nicky@swish-style.com.

I thought I’d start off this new feature (see post below) by letting you all know my hair care routine. I have stick straight, fine, long blonde (naturally) hair. I have never dyed it but I sure will if it ever gets gray! My scalp is a complete mystery. I have to wash my hair daily because it gets oily by the next day but I also tend to get an itchy, dry scalp if I don’t use a clarifying shampoo every once in awhile. Yeah, oily and dry, I can’t figure it out! Anyway, here’s my routine. I use a lot of Aveda products. I like that they are natural and a very eco-conscious company, plus they work great for me! I shampoo and condition with Aveda’s Brilliant line. It is helps get rid of build up, makes my hair extra shiny and is gentle on my scalp. About once or twice a week, I shampoo with Aveda’s Scalp Benefits Balancing Shampoo. It’s extra clarifying and helps keep my dry scalp issues at bay. Before I blow dry, I work in a little of Aveda’s Phomollient and Kerastase’s Oleo Relax Serum. The Phomollient is my absolute favorite hair product, it adds volume without being sticky or heavy and it also helps get the tangles out. The Oleo-Relax Serum keeps my hair smooth, shiny and frizz free. It’s expensive but you only use a tiny amount so it lasts forever. I’ve had mine for almost a year and it’s not even half gone. I blow dry with a large paddle brush and about 3 times a week either curl loose waves or flip out the ends with my ancient Revlon curling iron. It looks crappy but still works! I set my style with a little John Frieda Sheer Blonde hairspray. It doesn’t darken blonde hair like a lot of hairsprays can and it is a flexible and weightless hold. So there is my hair care maintenance! Let me know if you have any questions or comments and I look forward to featuring some of your everyday routines!

I was thinking of new ideas for regular features I could do on Swish-Style and thought wouldn’t it be awesome if I could involve all you readers out there? We all have our daily routines, whether it be hair, makeup, skin care, nail care or whatever! I think it would be great if we could pool together to share information and tips on what things we use or do on a daily basis. It could be the start of discovering your new favorite product or trying a product you’ve already heard of in a brand new way. It doesn’t matter how many items you use in your routine, whether they are luxury brands or cheap drugstore finds. What matters is that it works for you! So send me an email either via the contact page or nicky@swish-style.com and let me know about one of your maintenance rituals. Include a list of the things you use, how you use them, why you love them and even if you are looking to change something. Also include a digital snapshot either from your camera or cell phone in the email. Don’t worry about editing it and its okay if you can’t get a pic of all the items together. Then look for your routine to be featured in my blog! I hope you’re as excited as I am!