Makeup Essentials 101

The most frequently asked question I receive is, "what makeup do you use?" Well, that's rather a loaded question, because the products I use vary on a day to day basis. If you are just starting out in the makeup world, these products are staples for your every day routine!  

Now, grab a snack, a glass (or bottle) of wine & enjoy! It's a long one :)

** All products mentioned are solely my opinion based on experience. There are endless options for each product category. These are merely recommendations **

Primers
I cannot stress enough how important primers are to create that flawless look. SOMETHING has to be the meat in the sandwich between your skin and makeup. I have combination skin so I do not like to moisturize under my foundation as I get oily in my T zone. Don't get me wrong, it is IMPORTANT to moisturize everyday! Yes, everyday. Those with dry skin may get away with a moisturizer in the place of a primer. 

Face Primers:
* Benefit POREfessional $30.00- Minimizes the appearance of pores & creates a smooth canvas for perfect, long lasting application.

 * Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser $6.99 

* Mary Kay Foundation Primer SPF 15 $16.00 (Snaps for Sunscreen!!)

* L'Oreal Miracle Blur $19.97
* Smashbox  Photo Finish Foundation Primer $15-36.00

Eye Primers:
Eye primers are so important because they create a clean, crease resistant palette to gurantee shadow stays in place all day. Primers also have the tendency to boost pigmentation on the lid (colors will show up better on a primed eyelid).

* Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion $20.00
* Mary Kay Eye Primer $12.00
* Too Faced Shadow Insurance $20.00


Foundation & Application

Let's be honest, every one wants flawless looking skin so we'll just cut to the chase. No explanation needed here. Again, there is plenthura of foundations available, each cattering to a specific skin type, tone, and preference. These are just ones I love, and actually consider pretty universal.

* Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation $42.00- Soft, light weight liquid foundation that is formulated to provide a flawless finish

* L'Oreal True Match Lumi (Dry Skin) or L'Oreal True Match(I prefer this over the lumi, again, because of my skin type. The True Match has a thicker, less oily formula than the Lumi. The one that will be best for you depends on your skin type.

-- Applied with: Flat Top Kabuki Brush (Sigma Beauty & Sedona Lace have great ones) . Applying 1.5 pumps to the back of the hand, lightly dip brush in foundation pulling up about half of the product. Dab "dots" onto face. Repeat until all product is used. Blend out with brush in circular motion. Using a flat kabuki brush will ensure an even, flawless foundation as opposed to a "flat foundation brush." These brushes are made of synthetic hairs, meaning the brush will NOT grab & hold makeup inside the brush, it directly picks up the product and transfers right onto your face. Flat brushes can cause "streaky lines" and uneven application.

This.

Not This.

** Both Sigma & Sedona Lace brushes are low cost & the best!! MAC's professional brushes are literally, I kid you not, literally the SAME brushes, they are just double the price & say "MAC" on them.  

Concealer + Application

Concealer should be a NECESSITY in your makeup routine to brighten up that area under your eyes (especially if you have dark circles like me). The most common mistake made is buying the wrong kind of concealer. For under eye application, concealer should be in liquid form. DO NOT purchase a compact/thick like cream concealer for this. These types of concealers are meant for covering up blemishes. When applied under the eye, they will cake up without a doubt.

* MAC Pro Longwear Concealer $19.00 - Medium coverage concealer, provides up to 15 hours of wear, Creaseless.

* NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer $28.00
* Maybelline Instant Age Rewind $7.94
* Maybelline FitME Concealer $5.48

** Concealer for blemishes: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage $32.00

( I still have yet to find a drugstore concealer for blemish treatment, but will be on the look out! )

Applied With: Beauty Blender $19.95 I cannot even begin

to explain how amazing this little sponge is. It's so awesome & cute I could cuddle with it! (JUST KIDDING.. but it's great). I've bought knock off versions at TJ MAXX & they even sell them at Wal Mart now too, but none of them come close to the real thang. Simply soak your BB in water, squeeze all excess water out & you're ready to go. Apply concealer & gently dab BB repeatedly over to blend. This gives you the most flawless finish I kid you not! (( Tip: Can also be used to apply all over foundation.. score! ))

Why It Works: Most sponges will absorb up all your make up resulting in uneven application. Because of the soft lightweight material & dampness of the BB sponge, makeup repels off the sponge & directly onto your skin. Concealer brushes can do the same as flat foundation brushes mentioned above (streaky lines.. ain't nobody got time for that).

Eye Shadows
The most exciting part of this post! Every gal loves ooohhing & aaahhing over pretty eyeshadows :) But which palette(s) suits you best? << (See what I did there? Lord knows we can't live with just one)

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette $52.00

Consists of Taupe/Neutral shades. This was my very first palette & I still find myself reaching for it at least 2 or 3 times a week. The shades are just so beautiful, highly pigmented & versatile. The only downside is there are only 2 matte shades, but still gorgeous shadows nonetheless!

Lorac Pro Palette $42.00

Perfect for everyday wear. If I recommend ANY product to you, it's this one! I could literally only own this palette alone & be satisfied. Combination of shimmery & matte shades.

BH Cosmetics Day & Night Palette $9.00

This palette is for the explorer. For the one who wants to experiment with a wide variety of shades (There's 60!! Yes, 60 shades for $9.00!!!) I will admit, some of these are not highly pigmented, but that's what you get for 9 bucks, right? I love this palette when I want a pop of color here & there, it includes nearly every single shade in the color spectrum. Worth every penny.

NYX Wiked Dreams Palette $14.99

I'm going to be honest. I do not own this palette, nor have I ever tried it. I've eyeballed it quite a few times & find myself resisting, only for the fact most of the shades are comparable to the Lorac Pro, with the exception of a few. This a great combination of matte and shimmer shades, also offering a few colorful shades too. I have heard nothing but great reviews on this palette. Definitely worth a try if you don't want to splurge on the Naked2 or Pro Palette.

Maybelline Eye Studio Eye Shadow Quads $7.94

Perfect for the gal who isn't sure what the F@%k she's doing with makeup. These quads are full proof. All are cheap & highly pigmented. Of all drug store eye shadows I have ever purchased, these are by far one of the best and least chalky.

Downside: Pretty sure they are all shimmery shades (no mattes). This can be overwhelming if you're more of a plain Jane.

Maybelline "The Nudes" Palette $10.00

This palette is everything. The whole shit shabang. These are the perfect combination of neutral shades, also providing a well balanced ratio of mattes to shimmers. Not only are these highly pigmented, but the quality is insanely comparable to high end products. They are even more beautiful in person... and for $10.. can't beat that!

Eyeliner
Eyeliner can be tricky because it comes in many different forms: pencil, liquid pencil, gel, cream, liquid. Gahhh give me a break will ya? The best advice I have is to find one of these variations you are comfortable with and stick with it. Here's a few great liners--

Pencils:
* MAC Eye Kohl $16.00 - Soft & silky eye pencil, glides on smooth & lasts all day!

* Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner $20.00 - Perfect for the lazy gal because this puppy never needs sharpened. Every time you put the cap back on, it self sharpens (amazing, right!)

* L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil $7.97 - It is exactly what it says- a liquid pencil. Never have experienced an eyeliner that goes on as smooth as this one. (I'm obsessed with the smudger at the end) Downside: If you do not have a steady hand, this product is NOT for you. It can be a mess if not applied with ease. Also, it almost always needs sharpened, & when done be careful, this product is very delicate & will break off in a sharpener so it cannot ever be fully sharp sharp.
* NYX Slide On, Glide On, Stay On, Definitely a Turn On Eye Pencil $7.99 - Offers many shade options, is long lasting and glides on very effortlessly.

Gel/Cream:

* Makeup Geek Gel Liner $7.99 - A true BLACK gel liner, goes on smooth & easy.
* e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner $3.00 - (link is to Walgreens, but it's available at Walmart). EASY EASY EASY. I just can't even begin to explain how easy & smooth this eyeliner is. PLUS it comes with a little brush! ahhh (love!)
----Applied With:

* Sedona Lace EB 19 Eyeliner Brush $8.95 - Dip this in those ^^ & you're guaranteed a perfect, clean wing EVERY time. Tip: Brush excess liner off onto a paper towel after each use as any left over product left on the brush will harden.

Liquid:

* KatVonD Tattoo Liner $18.00 - Offers the most precise point for that perfect winged liner. Is also extremely long lasting and a true black. Has little 'shine' to it as most liquid liners do,

* Maybelline Line Stiletto  $5-8.00 - Another great liquid liner that has a sturdy enough point to give you control, but is also a bit flimsy for easy strokes.

(I like pairing these 2 together-- Line Stiletto on the lid, and Tattoo Liner for a wing)
* NYC Liquid Liner $3.00 - This liner comes in a pen form and has a very dense tip. Very easy to apply and nice color payoff.
* Too Faced 3-Way Lash Lining Tool $22.00 - An all in one eyeliner. This is very unique because it has a fork like tip. This design makes it easy to tightline and really get into the spaces between each lash to make the lashes look 5x as thick. Don't be afraid by the 3way tip, it's actually very easy to apply a wing liner this this cowboy.


Mascara
I wouldn't consider ALL these mascaras as a necessity 9okay yea they are), but every one always asks about my lashes so here it is. Applied in this order:

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara $5.94

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara $5.84

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator $7.97

Benefit They're Real! Mascara $23.00

Eyebrows

Eyebrows are perhaps the most over looked part of a makeup routine because when talking about filling them in, it is common to think of one of these three: 

The fact of the matter is, filling in eyebrows PROPERLY can completely polish off your look.

P.S.-- If your brows look like those, you need to stop that. Now.

* Anastasia Brow Wiz $21.00 WIN WIN WIN!! Hands down best brow product of all time. It's precise tip mimicks actual hairs. It is the best brow tool on the earth!

* Maybelline Define-A-Brow $5-6.00 - A close second to the Brow Wiz. Not as precise, but still provides a nice color payoff for natural looking brows.

* Anastasia Brow Powder Duo $23.00- There are other dupes out there for this, but I shop at Sephora so very frequently I just always pick this one up. Maybe I'll venture out soon & do some experimenting! Be careful when substituting eyeshadows for a brow powder-- they don't always look as natural, which is why I always stick with the brow powders!

* Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Mousse $28.00- Though pricey, this small jar of brow mousse will last you for a very very very long time! It's a lightweight formula that goes on smooth, making it the perfect product to fill in natural looking brows.

Ardell Brow Sculpting Gel $6.49- Again, there are several options out there for a brow gel-- a necessity for those with curly brows like myself! ((This one is 3/4 the price of Anastasia's)).

Lips
Adding lipstick just completes the whole look of the face. If you're not into the very colorful tones, you will be surprised what a neutral toned pink or peach will add to your look!

* MAC Lipstick $15.00- MAC carries ANY lipstick shade your heart will ever desire (Not to mention they smell Uhh-mazing!) A Few of my favorites:
Ruby Woo (red)
Diva (dark red with brown undertones)
Rebel (deep plum)
Candy Yum Yum (hot pink)
Close Contact (Nude)
Brave (light mauvey pink)

These lippies are well worth the price for their high quality in color payoff and lasting power.

* Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss $4.97 - I am a straight up lipstick junkie & literally have to try everything. I picked this up at CVS the other day after making my boyfriend wait a half hour in the car for me on a "quick" makeup run. Anyways, I am very impressed with this lipstick-- creamy & yet matte, stays on ALL DAY. No touch ups needed. I see myself purchasing the whole collection in the near future. Snaps to Rimmel & Kate Moss (a perfect low cost option)

Blush/Bronzer

Blush can be like a drink of fresh water for your face! Even on those lazy days, applying a little blush on the apples of your cheeks can make you appear more awake & "glowing." Whatever you do, no not skip this step in your makeup routine!

* Milani Baked Blush $6.99- I Can'y say enough great things about this blush. Some of the shades really aren't that highly pigmented, but for blushes, that can be a good thing. Sometimes less is more! No one wants grandma or clown blush right?!
(Luminoso is my favorite!)

* Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color $12.00 -- These were one of my first blush purchases and I still use these blushes on the regular. They are highly pigmented, long lasting and offer a wide variety of shades.

* Benefit Hoola Bronzer $28.00 - Beautiful matte bronzer that looks good on any skin tone & is perfect for contouring.

* NARS Laguna Bronzer $38.00 - A pretty hefty price tag for something that goes on your cheeks, but it sure does payoff! It's the perfect shade of bronze, and when paired with the Hoola Bronzer, creates the most absolutely natural looking contour.

* I'm still on the look out for a good drugstore bronzer I really like, as most I come across are either tiled/mosiac and/or shimmery. Shimmery bronzers should not be used for contour purposes, only to add shine and glow to the face.

Miscellaneous

* e.l.f. Makeup Remover Pen $3.00 - This is the most genius product ever designed because we all make those F*%Ktard mistakes sometimes. The pen makes it easy to undo those mess ups (especially helpful with winged liner). I bought at Walmart, but have not been able to find it since. It is available on drugstore.com and possibly at Target. 

P.S.-- Not sure what this cat has to do with a Makeup Remover Pen.. I just love cats :)

* Mary Kay Mineral Power Foundation $18.00 - in IVORY 0.5-- Not sure who in our galaxy is actually pale enough for this powder. It is so pale it is nearly translucent so I use it as a setting powder. Using a small brush I apply this over my T-Zone (oily & highlighted spots). Even if you do not have oily skin, setting your foundation with a powder completes the flawless look. 

-- Make Up Forever Microfinish Powder ($34.00 loose, $22.00 pressed) is designed to do the same thing. I also love Neutrogena's Shine Control Pressed Powder $11.99

* MAC Fix+ $21.00 -- Last, but not least, this is the holy grail of all cosmetics. This spray can be used to moisturize skin, as a setting and/or prepping spray, to add pigmentation to shadows, bind together loose & glitter pigments, and as a "re freshening spritzer." Talk about all in one! This solution is saline based so basic eye drops can substitute for many of these functions.

The End! 

P.S.S.-- A BIG Thank you to my co-workers who bugged the living crap out of me every week to teach them how to do makeup. You lovely girls are 100% my inspirations behind this blog. This one is for you beautiful ladies!