My new favorite under eye concealer

My youth seems to be fading a little more every day... my skin is a little drier, my forehead a little more wrinkly and dark circles are creeping up under my eyes.  Life has gotten so busy that I don't have time to try out a ton of natural remedies for my circles or puffiness.  So I like to focus on concealing! 

Here is my new favorite under eye concealer...

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles treatment concealer...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! It is inexpensive (I got it with a coupon and paid $6- normally 9), it covers the darkness with a little bit of product and it does not settle in the fine lines.  I dust over it with a little HD translucent powder and it stays all day. 

The color is also great.  I am super fair and have a hard time finding concealers that don't appear a little orange on my skin- i am using this in Fair, but they also have shades in light, medium, honey, neutralizer and brightener.  The neutralizer shade is for extreme dark circles and the brightener is more light reflective.  The applicator tip is anti-microbial- I break out very easily, but haven't had a problem with this causing any breakouts.  If you're nervous about using the same applicator on your face every day, you can always dot it on the back of your hand and apply it with your fingers, a brush or a sponge. 

As far as my own application for this, I give it a couple of clicks, dot it under my eyes and use my ring finger to pat it into my skin.  It doesn't need a ton of blending, just patting and it really doesn't look cakey at all.

I can't say enough great things about this product! For all you frazzled moms out there like me who have been shopping until the wee hours of the morning only to wake up the next day with more to do... try it out!  It would also be a great stocking stuffer for those ladies in your life!  Merry Christmas!!

Brushes Part 2: Brows and Liner

I know what you're thinking... it's been 2 months since she's blogged... what a terrible blogger!! Surely you've all been holding your breath, waiting for that next blog about brushes you can run out and buy.  Things get so busy once school starts, and having crazy preschoolers doesn't help. ;)  I can honestly say I am going to put in much more blogging effort this month.  I'm even shooting for some great holiday looks to share with you! :)

On to brushes...  Last time I promised to show you eyebrow and eyeliner brushes to make your life easier. Here they are: 

Eyebrows:

Any very thin angled brush will do for eyebrows.  Here are the two I use most frequently:

                                                 

Anastasia Angled Cut Brush (I actually love their eyebrow kit and their stencils!)

The other one I use for a little bit more precision and when i need a more angular look is

                                                        

MAC 266 Small Angle Brush (This one serves dual purpose for eyeliner and brows)


Some tips on defining brows:

* Use a shadow that is a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color unless you have blonde eyebrows (like me!).  In that case, go a shade or two darker.

* Don't be afraid to trim up your eyebrows with cuticle scissors and pluck the strays, but don't get too carried away.  The trend this fall has been to have fuller, more natural looking brows. Kandee Johnson has a great video on You Tube on how to groom and shape the brows. It is extremely informative and you can find it here.  She also has a great one on defining eyebrows with shadow here.

There are so many different things you can do with brows, and you can change them up to match whatever look you're trying to pull off, i.e. darker brows to contrast a darker lip, softer brows to go with a muted look... Too many ways to mention! I'll have write solely about brows one day...

Eyeliner:

The brush I use the most for this is the MAC 266 (see above) small angled brush- the same one I use for brows.  This brush provides razor-like precision and you can make your eyeliner as thin or as think as you'd like.  It also works perfectly to "wing" your eyeliner out on the edge of your eye. 

The other brush I use is the STILA #28 smudge and line brush. 

                                               
The pointed side of this brush gives you more of a liquid liner feel when using gel liners and you can drag it easily across the top of the lid.  I wouldn't recommend using this below the eye- it is too easy to mess up.  As for the smudge side... excellent, excellent tool for smudging a kohl liner or bringing your the shadow color from your lid to the bottom line of the eye without getting it all over your cheeks. 

What type of liner can you use for the brushes?? 

My personal favorite:  MAC Fluidline.  Glides on easily, lasts FOREVER (it's waterproof), and doesn't dry out as easily as some other gel liners I've used in the past.  Available in a variety of colors.

(Drugstore Alternative to Fluidline):  Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama, or Loreal HIP cream liner.

Both of these brushes also do well with creating liner with shadow.  If you want to intensify your color, just wet your brush and dip it into your favorite shadow and use it as a liner.  For people with watery eyes, this may not be the best choice as it will most likely fade, but if you're drier than Summer in Arizona, you're good to go. :)

Side note:  You do not have to use expensive brushes for these.  There are tons of drug store and even art supply store alternatives.  Take a look around the makeup section next time you're at the grocery store or drugstore... you'll never know what kind of treasures you can find!

Coming Soon:  How to create an EASY Smokey eye... I may even do a video!!

How to Choose the Right Brushes: Shadow

This begins a 3 part series on makeup brushes. This one is about Shadow Brushes, then we’ll talk Liners/Eyebrows, and finally Face (foundation and Blush). 

I think back to the days when I used the sponge applicators that came with the eye shadow, and I cringe. Now days, if I purchase an eye shadow product with a sponge tip applicator, I toss it immediately. The sponges pick up and pack on too much color and don’t leave much room for blending.  I’ve come quite a long way in my shadowing journey.

The type of brush you need completely depends on what kind of look you’re going for. 

For example,

I use a wide flat brush for almost all my looks.  This brush lays down a base color and is also great for lightly packing in some highlight color on the browbone and inner eye without getting too thick.  This versatile brush can also be used to lay down color close to the lashline on either the top or bottom of the eye, or to apply an emollient based shade.

                                                      

The one I use is the MAC 242.  Most makeup brands will have a version of this one.

My favorite (and you can read a blog all about why it’s my favorite here) is the fluffy domed brush.  This one is perfect for the base of your crease color as well as all over color.  It allows you to create light layers of color that blend out into perfection.  It is also a lovely blending brush for when your eyes are pretty much done but need some extra blending with the highlight colors or to smoke out a color that is too dark.

                                                          

MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush

Next is the stiff domed brush.  Great for the crease color .  This one packs on a little more color to a more concentrated area than its fluffy counterpart, so it also works for that outer corner V you may have been trying for.  Also an excellent all over blending tool as well as a great stippling tool. 

                                                                                                                

I use the MAC 217 Blending Brush

 

The small flat brush is going to be your go-to brush for any heavy color needs.  If you want to pack on an intense color, this is the brush you would use.  For example, you may want just an all over intense blue color that fades up into the crease.  Use your small flat brush to pack on that color from the lashline up to the crease. THEN take the fluffy domed brush or the stiff domed brush, pick up some shadow that matches your skin tone and start blending the blue up into the crease and above it.  This would fade the packed on color at the top and leave the intense, more concentrated color at the bottom.  This type of brush can also be used for emollient or cream based shadows that you want to spread all over the lid. (like a paint pot)

                                                                                                               

I use an old Estee Lauder one that I bought a few years ago, but they don't seem to have it available anymore.  The MAC 228 Mini Shader would be a nice alternative. 

Pencil brush is what you need for an intense smoky eye look.  Use this pointy stiff brush to get your darker color up close to your lash line on both the top and the bottom. A pencil brush can also be used to soften a harsh liner or even make a more dramatic outer V with a darker color. 

                                                       

I use the MAC 219 Pencil Brush

These are the main brushes I use. Tons more are available, and I own so many others, but I always end up coming back to these 5.  I think even with just 2 of these you could create almost any look. 

There are 3 main things to remember when using brushes for eye makeup:

1. Always tap the excess shadow off the brush before application. Yes, this gives you
    less color up front, but you should always build in light layers to your desired level of
    drama.  This will also help to prevent “fallout,” which is shadow particles under the
    eye.

2. Get a good anti-bacterial brush spray.  These are inexpensive, and they help to clean
    the color off so that you can use the same brush for 2 very different colors in one look. 
    Just spray it either on the tip of the brush or on a Kleenex and gently swipe until the
    color is gone. This one from Sephora is reasonably priced and has a nice smell, too!

3. Wash your brushes with baby shampoo. Don’t use soap or your regular shampoo. 
    These can cause the brushes to dry out and the bristles to break.  Also remember to let
    them dry on a flat surface.  Putting them top-up while they dry can let the water sink
    back into the brush and damage the bristles underneath.

Remember, makeup brushes are an investment. I love MAC brushes, but you may be able to find some cheaper alternatives at different places.  If I'm handing out my humble opinion here, I would tell you don't waste your money on Sephora brushes.  They really aren't much cheaper than the MAC brushes and I've found that the quality just isn't the same.  My collection came over a number of years, and I've always tried to learn one brush before rushing out to buy a new one.  They also make great birthday and holiday gifts!! (so do sephora gift cards!!) 

Stay tuned for the next 2 blogs on makeup brushes, then a series on creating an easy smoky eye look!

Beauty on a Budget

Is it possible to have a professional makeup look without spending a fortune on products? OF COURSE!  If anyone understands being on a budget, it’s me.  There are tons of extremely expensive products I would LOVE to buy, but just can’t justify spending that much on one product. I think the real trick is knowing what products are closest to their brand name counterparts.

It is truly impossible to be a label snob in this business.  I know there are some people out there who swear by only using MAC products, but the truth is this: MAC is not the end all be all in cosmetics. *gasp*   Don’t get me wrong… I love MAC eyeshadows and blushes, and I swear by their brushes, but I don’t get caught up in wanting to spend all my money in one place. 

There are some fantastic products at your local drugstore or grocery store that I think are definitely worth purchasing.  And the best part… drugstores and grocery stores have these things called SALES and COUPONS.  :o)  I just picked up a Revlon Colorstay Foundation for $5.95 the other day!  There are also times when CVS and Walgreens will run a buy one get one free sale.  That’s definitely the time to go!

A recent drugstore treasure I discovered is NYX.  This is like the drugstore brand of MAC; they carry bright, highly pigmented eyeshadows, Shadow sticks, Tons of Lip Glosses and their blush is great, too.  The only downside to NYX is that it isn’t always widely available.  I found it this week at the new HEB in Sugar Land, but it isn’t in any drugstores around me.  Fortunately, if you can’t find it close to you, there are quite a few places to order it online.   (While I'm on the subject, HEB has EXCELLENT prices in their cosmetics section... definitely cheaper than most drugstores/grocery stores!)

Here are my personal drugstore favorites:

Foundations: Revlon Colorstay: Silicone based, full coverage and will truly last all day.

          

          Loreal TrueMatch.: Water based, won’t break you out, tons of shades, and    
                                              super, super blendable. 

                                                

                      Revlon Photo Ready: Medium Coverage with a tiny bit of shimmer. (not
                                                           for those with lots of fine lines)

                                                           

Concealer:  Revlon Photo Ready- Creamy and blendable!

                                                        

Lipstick: Rimmel Moisture Renew, Revlon Matte Lipstick, and NYX lipsticks

                                                       

Mascara:  Loreal Voluminous in carbon black- use any lash primer underneath for extra
                                                                                great results!

                                                                     

Lashes:  Ardell false lashes:  These are wonderful and come in a large variety of strips
                                                and individuals.

Eyeshadow: Loreal HIP is good for bright and deeply pigmented colors, while NYX and
                     Avon all have a large variety of blendable shades in both matte and shimmer
                     to suit almost anyone. I’m actually a big fan of Avon shimmery colors. (click here for a  
                     great Avon rep!)

                                                              

Liners: Revlon liquid ColorStay liner works very well to stay all day.

Powder: Coty Airspun Face Powder- translucent: Light formula that really helps to set makeup.

                                                          

If you do decide to splurge, but you only have a limited amount of cash to spend, splurge on those basic tools that will enhance the drugstore products like UD shadow primer, a good shadow brush or two (or three J), or a good foundation primer.

In the end, it’s all about what product makes you feel beautiful or happy.  Everyone, including the professional makeup artist, has at least one cheapie drugstore product they swear by.                          

                

What’s yours??

Happy Budget Beauty Shopping!!

p.s. if you have any topics you'd like to hear about, please let me know! :)

The Two Products I Can't Live Without

My taste in makeup products is constantly evolving, however, there are 2 products that are game changers for me. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and MAC 224 tapered blending brush.


Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion: Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably own this product, or at the very least, have seen it around. If this is your first time hearing about it, or you've been on the fence about purchasing it, let me try and convince you. Just buy it. If you wear this product, your eyeshadow will remain intact all day, with no creasing! Even the oiliest of eyelids are safe with this product.

Apply just a small amount of this product to your eyelids with your fingers or a thin, flat shadow brush and... magic. Your colors will be brighter, staying power greater, and best of all, your look will be instantly transformed. The silicone in the product helps your eyeshadow to float on top of your lid and stay that way all day instead of settling into the crease.


Take a look below at a swatch I did on my arm...

The color on the right is just plain shadow on skin. On the left is the same color shadow on top of the Primer Potion.  You can see the effect this has on the color alone! I used a blue as an example because I can't tell you how many years I stressed over never being able to make my blue shadow show up. Even the most expensive and pigmented colors can seem thin and wear away quickly on a bare lid.  Primer Potion changed the way I think about eyeshadow.
I can't say enough good things about this stuff! This summer I was doing makeup for a wedding and when I reached into my kit to find my primer potion, it wasn't there. I  was ready to bolt  panic stricken... luckily it had just fallen to the bottom of my box and was hiding underneath some shadow palettes. But I'm so serious about my Urban Decay that I would have had to do some serious brainstorming on how to duplicate the stay, knowing that nothing would work as well. (I've since learned my lesson... I always do a kit check now!)

My other must have... the MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush.

Why? Because this is one of those things that can give you a professionaly blended eyeshadow look even when you're in the biggest rush. I use this brush daily! It's a fluffy domed brush that has some give and is perfect for creating light layers that blend out well. 

Here's how I use it in it's most basic form: After applying primer potion, use a flat shadow brush to apply a layer of nude shadow (as close to your skintone as possible). Then take the 224 brush and using a medium colored shadow, swipe the end of the brush in the color, tap off the excess, and sweep it across the top of your crease in a light back and forth windshield wiper motion. Apply in thin layers until you get it to your desired shade. When you've finished that step, use the brush to blend it up and out towards the outer corners of your eyes. (for this step, do not put any more shadow on the brush... you are only blending what is already on your eye. Add eyeliner and mascara and you have a completed look.

*For the basic neutral look try a medium shimmery brown or a grey... my favorites are Praline by Laura Mercier and Satin Taupe by MAC*

Easy and Fast... my favorite!


Every girl has some product she swears by... What are your must-haves?

A Quick and Easy Foundation Fix (for combination to oily skin)

As a teacher and a mother of 2 small (and slightly crazy) children, I have an extremely limited time to slap on some makeup and become beautiful in the mornings.  It is a rare occasion that I can really sit down and have fun with liquid foundation to perfect my skin.  I discovered MAC Studio Fix about 2 years ago, and it changed my life. Ok, maybe not my entire life, but it certainly changed the way I think about morning makeup.  :)

What I love about this product is that it's fast, extremely effective in covering up imperfections and redness, one step (no extra powder required), and is versatile enough to use as a foundation alone or setting powder to control oil in the T-zones without becoming cakey when used with a full coverage foundation. **If you like Bare Minerals but have oily skin and it cakes in your pores, this product is for you!!**   It is also great for setting concealer under the eyes to cover dark circles.  Studio Fix is easy to tote around as well- throw it in your purse to use for touchups or if you're like me, grab it at a red light on the way to work. It's excellent for oily skin as it really soaks up any oil that's present, and it seems to last throughout the workday for me.  An added plus... even if you've been wearing it all day, it only takes a few small swipes to make it look perfect if you're headed to dinner. 

I will say, and I may get some hatemail for this... I'm not a big fan of the liquid version of this.  It is extremely heavy, does NOT do well with oily skin and, like most MAC liquid foundations, the colors tend to become a little orangey if one has particularly pale skin.

As a pledge to keeping it real, I've taken a before and after picture of myself using the product.

You'll notice right away I have a TON of red undertones, and I'm having a bit of a problem with blemishes this last week.  

I applied concealer (MAC studio finish) with a concealer brush to my blemish areas very lightly, then using a plain circle sponge I went to town with the Studio Fix.  For a full coverage feel, use the sponge like a powder puff in any pressed powder set.  If there are some areas that need a little extra, just make sure there is a little extra powder on the sponge.   If you prefer a lighter, more flawless look and have extremely clear skin, then use a big fluffy powder brush to apply. Just dip it in and swirl it in big circles across the entire face.  Either way, please don't forget to blend it down the jawline and onto the neck! As with any foundation, always apply moisturizer (even if you have oily skin... you can get an oil and fragrance free one) and, if you have time, a foundation primer.

So you see the difference, right??  HUGE!  And it is so FAST.  I really can't tell you how much I love this product.  It is available in an extremely wide range of colors, and if you go into the MAC Store or a MAC counter at Department Store, the Makeup Artists there are always ready and willing to match you to a particular shade.  Listen carefully when they do so you can pick up any tips they may share about the product!  (That is one of the best ways to learn new application techniques!)

And I have to add in a finished picture. I would never leave the house in just foundation...

(The lighting in my house is just not agreeing with me today.  I tried to fix the colors, however, unfortunately I am terrible with photoshop... so I apologize for the needed color correction, but you get the picture, right?? :))

Here is the link to the MAC website for the Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.

Like all products, there are a couple of situations in which I would not recommend using this product; Formal occasions- use a heavier quality liquid foundation such a Laura Mercier or Makeup Forever HD foundation.  Extremely dry skin... (see below), and last but not least... sporting events.  This product will hold up in humidity, however not through tons of sweat.  Better to try a silicone based product for that, or just go without.

If you have dry skin or some light wrinkles, MAC offers a creamy version of this product that dries to a powder finish.  Still the one step, very blendable and quick, Studio Tech will do the trick for you!


Thanks for reading!  I have endless topics coming up soon, including eyeshadow brushes and application techniques, how to find quality cheap products, makeup reviews on various colors, mascaras and other products, how to shape, maintain and fill-in the eyebrows... LOTS of things I'd love to share! 

Happy Fast-Foundationing!