Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE make-up. I love it for its ability to transform your looks – dramatic, playful, professional and polished, glam.. etc. Being a girl means you can transform yourself daily – if you want to. Below is a list of my favorite products to achieve my favorite looks.
FOUNDATION
L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation in Nude Beige 460
I even prefer this over Bare Minerals. I always wait until CVS or Rite Aid have a BOGO sale and then I stock up. This goes on beautifuly with buildable coverage. I tried Revlon minerals and found it was too matte. With this, your skin shines through – I can’t imagine ever going back to a liquid.
CONCEALER
L’Oreal Bare Naturale Concealer in fair/light or light for summer
I usually buy a lighter concealer than my foundation because I find it better covers my undereye circles and tames any redness. Again, waiting for a BOGO sale is best. I like this just as much as the Bare Minerals concealer, but I do use the BM concealer brush which is excellent.
FINISHING POWDER
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil
The BEST hands down. It’s $$$ though so I only use it for special occasions or when I know I’m going to be photographed.
Revlon Photo Ready Translucent Finish Powder
This is a good every day finishing powder. Just like the L’Oreal products, it’s best to wait for a BOGO sale with these to stock up. It features slight shimmer to perk up your face a bit. I put this on with a big fluffy powder brush from Coastal Scents.
BLUSH
NARS Orgasm – the perfect peachy flush
Too Faced Pink Leopard – subtle pinky peach sheen
Rimmel Natural bronzer in sun bronze + Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Malibu Strip on top
Brush – MAC 168 Large Angle Contour Brush
Back in the day, I used to avoid blush thinking it was just for old ladies, but now find it essential to completing my look. I look best in cool tones pinks and peaches. If I want to feign an illness, which I would NEVER do, of course *cough cough* then I would skip blush.
EYE PRIMER
Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder for around $5
People like Urban Decay Primer Potion but that is 3-4x the cost. Buy a CG pressed powder and apply it to your lids with the puff and enjoy no creases all day. And that compact will last you a loooooong time. Save your money for nicely pigmented eyeshadows and blushes. Although a MAC Paint Pot is also an excellent primer – see my review of PPs. They are worth the extra money.
MASCARA
Maybelline The Colossal in Very Black
Colossal comes in a fat, bright yellow tube which is big fun, but more importantly, gives you full, lush lashes at a great price. Beauty buffs will tell you that Maybelline Great Lash is best but personally, I find it goes on thin and doesn’t do much for my lashes in terms of lengthening or thickening. It’s overrated.
EYELASH CURLER:
Shu Uemura – ’nuff said.
EYESHADOW(S)
MAC – Shroom (subtle everyday brow highlighter)
Stila – Kitten – shimmery and so pretty. more powerful brow highlighter or a great base for making other colors pop – also Wheat – Stila powder shadows are amazing because they feel so creamy and a tiny amount goes a long way. They can be used wet or dry.
L’Oreal High Intensity Pigments in Sassy (taupe/brownish color) super pigmentation for a drugstore brand!
Jane Eye Zing in Clubbing – a shimmery deep charcoal color perfect for going out – my 2nd place drugstore brand eyeshadow in terms of pigmentation
Urban Decay in Midnight Cowboy – super glittery and also fun for going out
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study - can be a primer or go on alone for a subtle, shimmery effect
Coastal Scents 88 Metal Mania Palette – outstanding pigmentation and gorgeous, universally flattering colors
Honorable mention: people love NYX Styx for shadows or in place of a MAC paint pot. I have yet to try one of these – I have no excuse since they’re so inexpensive!
EYELINER
Styli Style 24 hour self sharpening pencil in black
LIPSTICK
L’Oreal Fresco 528 – a rosy nude – discontinued, but one of my all time favorites
MAC Creme d ‘Nude
I am not a huge lipstick person. I love a strong eye with a more nude, neutral lip. I look like a “lady of the night” if I try to go beyond a nude-ish color.
LIP GLOSS
MAC Underage – a gorgeous pinky nude color
ULTA brand glosses also seem to have pretty good staying power
Revlon holiday limited edition gloss quad – mauves
LIP BALM
Rosebud Salve
Good ‘ol Vaseline before bed
NAIL POLISH
NOTHING beats OPI for staying power and amazing colors