Makeup Archives | Page 9 of 9

Purple Evening Look!

July 22, 2014

A simple and pretty makeup look that enhances your eye color and is perfect for a night out!

Face

Foundation: Use your favorite foundation, tinted moisturizer or powder. (Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation in 2)

Bronzer: I chose a matte bronzer but shimmer can work too (Too Faced Chocolate Soleil)

Blush: Soft pink color (Nars Blush in Douceur)

Eyes

Highlight: A light beige color on the lid

Contour: A medium brown on the crease

*I used a neutral palette for the highlight and contour colors so I don’t have specific shade names*

Inner Corner Lid: A shimmery silver color (NYX Eyeshadow in Snow Candy)

Lid: A purple color on the lid (Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Drama)

Liner: I used black eyeliner to line both the lashline and waterline (Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner in Black (top) and Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet (bottom)). Then, I used a small angled brush to smudge the same purple eyeshadow I used on the lids (Drama) to the bottom lashline.

Mascara: Black mascara (Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant)

Lips

A berry shade (Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in Moody)

You can make this look a bit more dramatic by adding false eyelashes and rocking a red lip or tone it down by using a nude lip color.

Happy Tuesday!

Summer Makeup Product Ideas!

July 1, 2014

I never really need an excuse to purchase makeup-colors and textures are always oh-so pretty!- but summer brings a great reason to try out new shades and products. I compiled a mix of new and old products I think would work great for summer.

nordstrom; $65 each

Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Eyeshadow Palette

The colors featured in these palettes sure do captivate the essence of the ocean. Personally, I would try out the Surf Palette as the colors are unique and season appropriate. Sand Palette can be used every day and year round as they are beautiful neutral shades.

sephora; $36

Tarte Golden Days and Sultry Nights Amazonian Clay Collector’s Shadow Palette

Smaller (and cheaper!) than Bobbi Brown’s Surf and Sand Eyeshadow Palette, this set is a simple mix of gold and bronze eyeshadows with a pop of color in between. You also get two matte shades that are perfect for blending out colors.

sephora; $24

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil

Absolutely L-O-V-E these pencils. Highly saturated with color, these will last you a while- on your lips as well as in the tube. They contain antioxidant resveratrol and come in neutral, bold and deep shades. Fun, bold shades to try: Zinfandel and Corvina.

drugstores, ulta; $7.49

Maybelline Color Sensation Vivids

At about half the price of Bite’s High Pigment Pencils, one swipe provides ‘notice me’ color. There are no neutral shades in this collection so be prepared for bold look!

macys; $20

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Long-lasting eyeliners with an impressive array of colors, you’ll find just about any shade you desire. These glides on creamy and albeit unattractively named, Chaos, Freak and Mildew are fun colors that can speak for themselves.

macys; $24

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Push Up Liner

If you’re more inclined toward liquid liner than pencil, this may be one to try out. It’s waterproof and claims to facilitate application thanks to a custom angled tip. Anything that can make a cat eye easier is always welcome in my book. Note: For a limited time, Sephora Beauty Insiders may receive a free mini sample with any $25 online purchase!

sephora; $39

Nars Matte Multiple

Gotta love a 2-in-1 lip and cheek product that ranges from bronze to pink/coral. You can take it on the go and the matte finish is great for those who don’t want or need added shine. Can be used wet or dry resulting in a sheer or pigmented look respectively. Looking for a glow? You can try Nars The Multiple.

sephora; $12 mini/$24 full size

Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Currently using and loving this mascara. I received this in the Sephora Beauty Insiders Birthday gift a few weeks ago and it’s amazing. Separates and defines lashes with ease and the best part is it does not irritate my eyes. It’s not waterproof but it does last.

What summer products are you looking forward to exploring?

My Summer Essential Product List!

May 13, 2014

With summer around the corner, I decided to write a post and share a few of my favorite must haves for summer.

PCA Skin Representative/Dermstore $40

PCA Skin Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Love this sunscreen! True to its name, it has weightless, non-greasy formulation that has caffeine and silybin added as antioxidants. It does not make me breakout and wears well under makeup.

Sephora, $30

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

This is a matte bronzer, (no shimmer or shine) which I find perfect for summer since my skin tends to be more on the oily side. Sometimes I use it to contour my cheekbones and sometimes I use it as I would a blush to get a hint if color. For some weird reason, the smell reminds me of those chocolate scratch and sniff stickers you would get in elementary school.

Sephora, $20

Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

This eyeliner will last all day without smearing. I have worn this without an eye primer and it didn’t budge. The tip allows for both a thin, precise line or a thick bolder one. Apply once and forget about it the rest of the day.

Sephora, $25

Stila Convertible Color

I received a deluxe sample of this 2-in-1 product that is both a lipstick and a blush. It is creamy without feeling heavy, sheer with buildable color, and you can toss it in your purse and take it on the go. The color I got was Peony, a brownish rose that looks pretty and natural.

Sephora, $35

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Coutre Vernis A Levris Glossy Stain

These lip stains are on the pricey side, but in my opinion well worth it. Unlike other stains I have tried, these don’t feel drying, there is a great color selection and are nicely pigmented- one swipe and you’re good to go. The long-lasting staying power ensures you don’t have to reapply frequently and you don’t have to worry about it leaving a mark on your drinkware.

Drugstores, $5

NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss

These come in a variety of shades (neutral to bright) and the price tag allows for multiple purchases. The consistency is a bit sticky ( not as moisturizing as I would have hoped) but they do last a good 2-3 hours on the lips and the color payoff is excellent. I really like Cherry Cheese Cake as it is a wearable summer orange color.

Giovanni Cosmetics/Individual Representative, $14

Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

When I’m not making my own body scrubs, I like to use this one. The yummy chocolate scent makes for a sweet body treat that is not abrasive but still effective in smoothing away rough skin, especially on elbows, knees and feet.

Drugstores, $5-$10

Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara with 3 Zone Brush

This mascara is one of the few mascaras out there that doesn’t irritate by eyes. Other mascaras leave a burning sensation on my eyes towards the end of the day, but not this one. I also love the brush as I can use the tip to coat harder to reach lashes such as the inner corners and bottom ones.

I always love trying other products, so please share your favorites!

Fun Spring Look!

April 29, 2014

Spring is perfect for a few bold and bright shades in makeup. Here’s a neutral look splashed with a pop of color I created. The products I used are in parenthesis. You can also simplify this look by skipping the crease color and using only one eyeshadow, either the medium shade or the lightest shade on the lid; you’ll still get the pop of color.

Face: Use a light-weight foundation to provide an even base. (Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation)

Concealer: Use concealer only if you need it. (Kat Von D Lock-It Tatto Concealer)

Cheeks: A soft pink blush gives checks a bit of color without competing with the overall look. A swipe of bronzer can also be used in place of blush to provide a subtle hint of color. (Nars Blush in Douceur)

Eyes Primer: This step is optional, however it does keep the eyeshadow from creasing (Too Faced Shadow Insurance)

Eyeshadows: Use neutral colored eyeshadows, one light, one medium and one dark. Pat the medium shade on the lid and use the darker shade in the crease. The lightest shade, also known as a highlight shade, should be used just underneath the brows and make sure to blend well. (Urban Decay Naked 3: Trick (lid), Factory (crease), and Strange (highlight).

Eyeliner: Line the top lid with black liner and the bottom with a blue. (Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black and Maybelline Master Drama Chromatics in Blast of Blue)

Mascara: One to two coats of your favorite mascara (Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara with 3 Zone Brush)

Brows: Shade in brows with powder (Merle Norman Natural Brow Powder)

Lips: Choose a bold lip color, preferably pink, coral, or orange (Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Tart)

What are your favorite spring makeup shades?

Special Event Makeup Tips!

April 22, 2014

Any special occasion- be it prom, a performance or dinner party- can send you into a frenzy to find the right dress, shoes and hairstyles. Makeup is usually the last item on the checklist but in my opinion, it’s the most fun and helps pull the look together. While many hire a professional makeup artist to achieve their coveted look, if you opt for the DIY route, here are some tips to help you look your best so you can be less worried about touch-ups and more focused on the event.

Skin care

Having a good skincare regimen in place facilitates your makeup application. Cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and exfoliating are basic steps that can help you achieve a fresh, youthful look. Proper exfoliation can also minimize the appearance of pores and ensures makeup does not cling on to dry, flaky patches.

*Note: While facials and microdermabrassion are excellent in enhancing your complexion, always schedule your appointment at least a week before your event to avoid an unwanted surprise.

Face

Liquid foundation is a popular choice as it’s easy to apply, and can benefit all skin types. However, mineral makeup works especially well for those who have acne and cream foundation doesn’t melt as fast so it lasts longer.

Using a primer underneath your foundation and then setting your foundation with loose translucent powder makes it last longer and can keep oil in check.

Concealer

You can spot correct imperfections with concealer. A concealer with a yellow undertone is great for counteracting the redness found on blemishes and scars while a concealer with a peach undertone is a good option for dark under eye circles.

Concealer can also be used as an ‘eraser’ to fix any mistakes- think eyeliner and lip color.

Brows

Use a brow powder on your eyebrows, and fill in only sparse areas to get a natural but defined look.

Eyes

Whether you are going for a natural or smoky look, using an eye primer helps eye makeup from creasing and can even enhance the eyeshadow color(s). My personal favorite is Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Water-proof eyeliner is a must to keep your eye makeup from smearing. My current liquid eyeliner obsession is Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.

Lashes

False eyelashes (falsies) are always a fun way to give that extra pop. If possible, try out a pair of eyelashes a few days before the event to rule out the possibility of having a reaction to the adhesive (glue).

If you don’t have false eyelashes or can’t wear them, a few coats of waterproof mascara should do the trick.

Cheeks

Powder blush flatters most skin types (except dry) and lasts longer. Dry skin can use a crème blush.

Lips

For long-wearing lip color without the fuss, lip stains are the way to go.

Most important, have fun with your look and embrace your unique beauty!