To know me is to know that I absolutely LOVE makeup! I wear it every day, although at different levels depending on what I am doing. My gym makeup is understandably very light and understated compared to my date night makeup. Regardless, it is incredibly rare that I leave the house without it. Even if I never leave the house, I still like to wear a little so that I feel more put together, because I am more productive that way. I have tried lots and lots of makeup over the years. If you scroll down to my first post on this page you will see a stitch in time of my makeup collection. I have since used up some of those products and have tested newer ones. There are many items that have come and go in my vanity, but there are a few that I love and have repurchased several times. Makeup is very personal to each of us in terms of what works best on our skin type. So, what works for me may not be best suited for you. In this post I am sharing products that I swear by, listed in categories. I will continue to expand on this in the coming weeks. Click on the pictures for a direct link to purchase any of these items and give them a try! Pressed Powders
False LashesI wear false lashes almost every day. I love them because of how beautifully they enhance the eye. I am often asked why I don’t get extensions. I tried them for about six months and realized that they are not for me. The amount of time and the cost of the upkeep is not worth it to me when I can easily pop on a pair of false lashes that look fresh every time. I am someone that needs to take off all my makeup and jewelry before going to bed. I found that in being a side sleeper the lash extensions would start to look a little funky after a few days and also start to fall out more on one eye than the other. False lashes I can wear when I want, and if they get to be annoying at the end of the day, I can just take them off. It takes practice to get good at applying them. Check out my Instagram for videos on how to it easily. The two key tips are to make sure the lashes are not too long for your lid (so you may need to trim them from the outer corner) and to make sure the glue is tacky before applying them so the lash band does not slide around. After getting good at applying them, make sure that they are comfortable to wear and the glue is not irritating to the eyes. The following products are the ones I have found to be the most comfortable, flattering, and user friendly.
Eyeshadow PalettesHow many different eyeshadows do any of us use in a given day? How often are we really wearing greens, blues, or fuchsias on our eyes? I have about 10 different eyeshadow palettes and only reach for 2 of them regularly. Of those two palettes, there are only a couple shades I use in each. I tend to stick to light browns, mauves and creams in mattes or shimmer. What I recommend is creating your own palette with single pan shadows that you know you will use. This way, you only have to replenish the colors you use up versus buying a whole new palette. That being said, if I were to only keep 3 of the palettes I own, it would be these.
BrowsFilling in my brows is a crucial part of my makeup routine, regardless of whether I am doing minimal makeup or full glam. However, brow pencils do not matter that much to me in terms of the brand name. I blow through them so quickly that I see no point in spending a lot of money on them. I usually grab a bunch at the grocery store and don't think I ever pay over $8 because frankly, I don't see enough of a difference between those and the $20+ ones at Sephora. I have tried the "best sellers" from Smashbox, ABH, and Benefit, but I am not impressed. As long as a brow pencil has a fine tip, a spoolie, and is mechanical (so I don't have to use a sharper) it's good enough for me. Color is pretty unimportant to me as well. I will buy any color from dark blonde or taupe to light brown. I don't have a favorite per se, but these are some honorable mentions that I often buy. Liquid EyelinerIt is a common joke that you should never question a girl with winged eyeliner why she is late. That is because it can take FOREVER to get both eyes even. It seems like one eye always turns out lovely while the other wing goes in a different direction. Before you know it, you're going back and forth to try and even it out, and in the end, look like Amy Winehouse (RIP). I have been wearing liquid eyeliner probably since I was in middle school, and I have become VERY particular about it. I prefer liquid to pencil or kohl liners because I feel like I have more control, the pigment is more intense, and it is less likely to smudge. These are the ones I can confidently recommend.
ConcealersSorry ShapeTape, but you are not my favorite concealer! Although great for spot concealing I do not like it for under my eyes to brighten or conceal. I know it is highly rated and very popular, but I have others I love more. This is not to say I won't continue to use the ones I still have in my vanity, I am just not planning to repurchase ShapeTape once I run out. Here are the ones that I have found to work best for me as I see the effects of age creeping in around my eye area.
PrimersMakeup primer is really just an extension of skincare. As I have said before, not even the best makeup products or application will look good if the skin is not properly cared for first. Therefore I look for ones that have skincare properties in them.
LipsWhile I enjoy wearing the occasional bold red lip, I mostly stick to more natural colors. Each of these products is fantastic on it's own, but combining them makes for the most beautiful pout that is the perfect finish to any makeup look!
HighlightersFor a while, it was very on-trend to have a cheekbone highlight that could blind people. While that can be pretty with certain makeup looks, it is not practical every day. Here are three highlighters with various degrees of shine and price points that I will continue to keep in stock in my vanity.
Finishing SpraysI believe finishing sprays are crucial to bringing a makeup look together and assuring everything stays in place throughout the day. Of all the ones I have tried over the years, these are the only three I have loved enough to repurchase and recommend to friends.
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Makeup & MeI have been obsessed with makeup since I was young. However, my mother never wore makeup so I learned how to apply it on my own through trial and (a lot of) error. Youtube has recently changed the makeup world. I love to watch tutorials for application tips and recommendations on products. Archives
May 2021
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