Updated Foundation Routine for Fall/Winter

"Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest."~Christian Dior

So its almost Thanksgiving and I thought it would be the perfect time for me to do a updated foundation routine. As all of you know the temperatures are dropping and our skin is losing most of its moisture. In my case, dry patches start to be a lot more noticeable. So during this time of the year I try to change up my foundation routine and skin care routine as much as possible to help keep my skin looking fresh and moisturized.

STEP ONE:

Moisturizer. You want to moisturize your skin 30 minutes before applying any type of primer to your face. This allows your skin more time to absorb the moisturizer. My current moisturizer is Origins, VitaZing SPF 15.

I love this moisturizer for various reasons. Its is an organic product that is formulated without any parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and various other products. Not only does it moisturize my skin but it also has a sheer tint, a little more sheer than a tinted moisturizer, and it helps me look awake. The SPF is like the cherry on top. It has a scent to it that is not over powering. The scent kind of reminds me of mangoes. It smells delicious but like I mentioned before, not overpowering at all. For this a dime size or less is perfect to apply to the entire face and neck. This is good news since this product is a little pricey ($35) for the amount you receive (1.7oz). So keep in mind a little bit of this goes a long way.

STEP TWO:

Primer. Face primer is a must for everyone. A primer helps the product adhere better to the skin and it helps you use less product. Some primers brighten up colors or minimize pores. My all time favorite primer is Benefit Cosmetics, The POREfessional.

This primer is a quick fix primer. By quick fix I mean you see immediate results versus seeing the results over time. This quick fix primer helps minimize pores. I love this because I do notice the difference immediately and I do have large pores on my cheeks and nose. I apply the product in my problem areas and for the rest of my face use a different primer. You do not need to use much of this product. I recommend using this only on the problem area and using a different primer on the rest of your face. If you find this to be too much of a hassle a pea sized amount of this will cover your entire face.  It is a primer that is a little on the pricey side. It retails for $29 and its a .75oz bottle. I will say that like my moisturizer a little of this goes a long way. I had one bottle of this primer for a year before I had to repurchase a new one.

The second primer I use is Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in the Oil Free formula.

This I apply to my forehead, chin, and upper lip. I use the oil free formula because it does help control my oily skin a lot better. Once again another primer that is on the pricier side. This is $30 for a 1.75oz bottle. A good dupe for this that I have found is the Palladio Herbal Foundation Primer.

 It leaves my skin with that silky smooth finish, it is not too greasy feeling but does hydrate at the same time, and it is less than half the price ($11.99 for 1oz) of the Laura Mercier. My skin seems to be very weird I tell you. I have dry patch areas and I have oily areas. If only they would combine an give me normal skin I would be happy. A girl can dream :)

STEP THREE:

Foundation and concealer. Now this would not be an updated foundation routine if I did not change up something, right? For this cold season you want to have a more dewy foundation, specially is you have dry skin or dry patches. Matte foundations may give you a more dull flat look and if you have dry skin it make look like you have very unhealthy flaky skin. I have two foundations that I alternate with, depending on how much coverage I want. The first foundation is the Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation. My color is in Light/Medium. 

There are 3 shades to pick from and the reason for that is the true skin matching technology. This is an amazing product! You apply this to your skin and start blending it in and you see it start matching your skin. It is amazing to see this in person. I feel like this foundation hydrates the dry patches and does not overly hydrate the rest of my skin. I would say this is the perfect foundation for any skin type since it knows where to hydrate the most. This is another organic product, GO GREEN! Some of the pros of this foundation are that it is paraben free, cruelty free, vegan, toxin free, and recyclable. This does have a slight scent. I cant quite describe it but it smells clean to me. This foundation does give me a dewy finish but it is not full coverage. I would say this is more of a medium coverage foundation but I don't mind this one bit. As for usage, one pump is more than enough since the product does spread out easily and evenly. This retails for $42 for a 1oz bottle. The price may be very steep for some, but the quality of the product is well worth it and the packaging is perfect as well.

The second foundation I like using is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation. My color in this is Natural Tan.

Maran, $12.49 for 1 oz,but this foundation is also buildable to full coverage and still not look cakey. It does go on fairly easy and I do find it hydrating. I would say this is a great inexpensive foundation for this season.

I like to apply my concealer after I apply my foundation. Sometimes foundations will take care of the problem areas of the skin so concealer would be pointless then, but other times you do need to apply that little bit to that pimple or to the dark under eye circles. For concealer for this season I like using my Amazing Cosmetics, Amazing Concealer in Tan.

This is a very pigmented and concentrated concealer. I love this for blemishes and dark under eye circles. It is a liquid form so that does help it glide on a lot easier. You seriously only need to use a pin sized amount to get the perfect amount of coverage for your blemishes or dark under eye circles. This concealer is paraben free which is great. It is very pricey though. I have the travel size, which is .2oz, and I paid $28 for it. The full size is .5 oz and its $42. It does last a very long time but it is very very pricey. I highly recommend it though. 

Usually my next step would be to apply a setting powder over my foundation, but not in this case. If you have super oily skin you can apply a very light amount of powder only to the oily areas, otherwise too much powder will matte up the finish and the dewy look will be useless. So for this season I would recommend to skip it. We don't want our skin too look flat and flaky. Next you would go onto finishing the full face look with lips, cheeks, and eyes. 

This is a very simple and quick way of having a nice dewy finish to your skin and help your skin not look dull at all during this holiday season. I hope you guys enjoyed this mini update. I hope to be doing posts more often as well. Does your foundation routine change during the colder season? If so, what foundation do you use?

PRICE LIST:

*Origins, VitaZing SPF15: $35 (Sephora & Origins)

*Benefit Cosmetics, The POREfessional: $29 (Sephora & Ulta)

*Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, Oil Free: $30 (Sephora)

*Palladio, Herbal Liquid Foundation Primer: $11.99 (Ulta o& Sally Beauty Supply)

*Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Foundation Serum: $42 (Sephora)

*Neutrogena, Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup: $11.99 (Ulta & most drugstores)

*Amazing Cosmetics, Amazing Concealer: $28-$42 (Sephora and Ulta)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

Golden Goddess Look

"When you reach the heart of life you shall find beauty in all things, even in the eyes that are blind to beauty." ~Kahlil Gibran

By now I think we all know that one of the summers biggest trends is the bronze golden look. It is fun, subtle, and flatters any skin tone. There are many variations on how to create your own golden look and I finally decided to go for it and do my take on it and here it is!

I know the lighting sucks but you can still see what my finished product is. It is very simple to create this look and it can be done using gold and brown eyeshadows you already have or spending less than $10 to buy a quad that is nothing but gold and brown colors. It is a perfect look for a night out with friends, a date night, or just for work. If you want to learn how I did this look and what I used keep on reading :)

PRODUCTS USED:

FACE:

*Laura Mercier Oil free Face Primer (Sephora)

*Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer (Sephora or Ulta)

*MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer (MAC)

*Lancome EFFACERNES Waterproof Protective Under Eye Concealer in Medium Bisque (Sephora)

*MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (MAC)

*Laura Mercier Bronzing Pressed Powder in Golden Bronze (Sephora)

*e.l.f. Mineral Blush in Rose (e.l.f. and local Target)

*e.l.f. High Definition Powder (e.l.f. and local Target)

EYES:

*Urban Decay Primer Potion (Sephora or Ulta)

*Almay Intense I-Color Powder Shadow Trio for Brown Eyes (Ulta or any drugstores)

*Cover Girl Eye Inhancers 3 Kit Shadows in Golden Sunset (Ulta or any drugstores)

*Flirt! Cosmetics Dream Eyes Eyeshadow in Solid Gold (Flirt! Cosmetics or Kohls)

*MUFE Aqua Liner in #7 (Sephora)

*Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (Sephora or Ulta)

*Benefit Cosmetics Browzing in Dark Brown (Sephora or Ulta)

*MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash (MAC)

LIPS:

*MAC Lustre Lipstick in Sweetie (MAC)

*e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips (e.l.f. & Local Target)

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE LOOK:

Once you have put on your foundation, bronzer, and blush apply your eye primer. I used the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Next use the first (and lightest) color in the Almay Color Trio and apply over the entire eye. This works as your highlight and base color. 

Next we are going to use Flirt! Cosmetics eyeshadow in Solid Gold. Using the sponge tip applicator provided with it or a small eyeshadow brush apply this color over the eyelid. I only like to use the sponge tip applicators when I want to pack on a color and this is defiantly one you want to pack on.

Now using the Cover Girl trio in Golden Sunset use the dark brown color for the crease. This color is not a very pigmented or strong color so you may want to go over it more than once. 

It should look a little like the picture above. Now because I wanted to add some color I went in with my MUFE Aqua Liner in #7. #7 is a very deep violet color with shimmer. Perfect for summer time and the added bonus is its waterproof! I also lined my water line with Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero, this is of course optional. Finally I put on mascara.

Excuse the messy hair (this was taken before I flat ironed my hair (was waiting for it to completely air dry)).This is the end result. I hope you guys like this look. Like I mentioned before it is very simple but also a versatile look. 

**Coming Next will be an Ulta Cosmetics Haul and review...maybe some different looks using the products.

My Everyday Neutral Eye

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.” -Ralph  Waldo Emerson

(Once again taken at work :D)

Hello! So today I want to show you  my everyday makeup look. It is very simple and I find it to be great for an everyday use. So lets get started :)!

Foundation Routine:

So my personal foundation routine is what really takes me a long time. I don't know why but I enjoy taking my time in prepping my face and applying my foundation. So for my face primer I use two different products (I also enjoy cocktailing products whether its for skin or hair :D). The first primer I use is Benefit Cosmetics, The POREfessional. I love this product since it is a quick fix in minimizing pores instantly. This I specifically use on my nose and cheeks since its where I have noticeable pores. The second primer I use is M.A.C. Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50. This i apply on my entire face, including my nose and cheeks  because I want to have a product with SPF close to my face to protect it. After priming my face I go into applying my foundation. For foundation I use M.A.C. Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation in the color  NC42. I apply this evenly on my entire face with a foundation brush. I currently use Sephora Collection I.T. Foundation Brush. Once I have applied an even layer of foundation on my face I use concealer. I am currently using Amazing Cosmetics, Amazing Concealer in Tan. I love this concealer because it is very effective for any imperfections, scars, and under the eyes and it is very concentrated so a little bit will go a long way. I tend to use my finger to apply it over a concealer brush because the warmth of my finger helps blend the concealer in better and adhere better to my face instead of the brush which sometimes doesn't give you the desired coverage. This pretty much summarizes my current foundation routine. Now onto the eyes.

Eyes:

So after I have applied my foundation I go into prepping my eyelids for my eyeshadow. I currently use Urban Decay Primer Potion. I have found UD primer to be one of the best in keeping eyeshadows on longer, creasless, and I feel like I use less product. I apply the UDPP on my entire eyelid. The base color that I use is UD Eyeshadow in the color Sell Out, which is a pink champagne shimmery shadow. I use my M.A.C. 213 Fluff Brush to apply it. I apply Sell Out over my entire eyelid and brow bone since it works well as a highlight. I dont pack it on since I just want a hint of color and since I will be applying another eyeshadow ever it. Using the same brush I then use UD Eyeshadow in the color YDK, which is a bronze mocha color with golden glitters. I use YDK over my eyelid and for this color I do pack on a little bit so you can actually see the color. For my crease I use UD Eyeshadow in the color Twice Baked, which is a dark brown color with brown shimmers ( I am a big shimmer person :D). I apply this color with my M.A.C. 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush. I love using this angles brush because it makes it a lot easier to get the color in the crease and reduces the amount of blending time. Since Twice Baked is very pigmented I don't have to layer it. Like I said before I apply it at the crease and blend upward to soften the look. To blend a little bit more I use M.A.C. 224 Tapered Blending Brush. Dont over blend because then the colors will mix together and you will not be able to tell the difference in the tones used. 

Eyeliner, Mascara, & Brows:

For my eyeliner I use Bobbi Browns, Long Wear Gel Liner in Black Ink. To apply the gel liner I use Sephora Professional Platinum Angled Eyeliner Brush #23. I find that using an angled liner brush that is also bent is a lot easier to use in applying gel liner, I apply a thin line of gel liner starting in the middle of my top lash line and working my way out and then going to the inner corner and joining both lines. Depending on my mood I will flick out the end or just follow the upper lash line. Next I use my BADGal Liner Waterproof in Extra Black. I love this eyeliner because it is creamy and does stay on for a long time. I use the liner to line my lower waterline and upper waterline. Lining the upper waterline makes your lashes appear fuller. For mascara I use Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black on my upper lashes as well as the lower lashes. Finally I like to fill in my eyebrows to give me a more complete look. To fill my eyebrows I currently  use Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zing in Dark. This little compact comes with wax, setting powder, angled brush, blending brush, tweezers, and of course a mirror. 

Lips, Cheeks, Setting Powder & Setting Spray:

Almost done! For my cheeks I use M.A.C. Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden. I use the bronzer to contour my cheek bone and for a little color. To apply my bronzer I use Bare Escentuals Flawless Radiance Brush. I like using this brush because it has a tapered end which is good for contouring. I blend my bronzer upward because if you blend it downward it can look like you have a beard, which no one wants. Next to add a little more color, I use Flirt! Cosmetics Blush in #15 Oh Please! which is rose color with gold in it. I add this color to the apples of my cheeks, just a little bit goes a long way. Finally to highlight my cheeks I use MIraBella Pure Finish in Illuminate. This gives my cheeks a soft glow. For my lips I use Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Candid, which is a sheer rose color with gold shimmer in it . It gives a beautiful shine and color to the lips. For my setting powder I use M.A.C. Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Dark and apply it with M.A.C. 134 Large Powder Brush for an even thin application. I use a powder at the end to help control shine since I have combination oily skin and this product really does help. Finally for my setting spray  I use M.A.C. Fix + Spray. 

This is my everyday neutral look! I hope you enjoyed it and if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments feel free to leave me a comment! Thanks and have a wonderful day!!!

Prices & Where to Find them!:

Foundation Routine:

• Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer: $28 (Sephora)
• M.A.C. Prep + Prime SPF 50: $30 (M.A.C.)
• M.A.C. Studio Sculpt Foundation SPF 15 in NC42: $29.50 (M.A.C.)
• Sephora Collection I.T. Foundation Brush: $30 (Sephora)
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Tan: $28 for travel size or $42 for full size (Sephora)

Eyes:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion: $18 (Sephora)
• UD Eyeshadow in Sell Out: $17 (Sephora)
• UD Eyeshadow in YDK: $17 (Sephora)
• UD Eyeshadow in Twice Baked: $17 (Sephora)
• M.A.C. 213 Fluff Brush: $22.50 (M.A.C.)
• M.A.C. 224 Tapered Blending Brush: $29.00 (M.A.C.)
• M.A.C. 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush: $24.50 (M.A.C.) 

Eyeliner, Mascara, & Brows:

• Bobbi Brown Long Lasting Gel Liner in Black Ink: $21 (Bobbi Brown or Sephora)
• Sephora Professional Platinum Angled Eyeliner Brush #23: $15 (Sephora)
• BADGal Liner Waterproof in Extra Black: $20 (Sephora)
• Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black: $21 (Sephora)
• Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zing in Dark: $30 (Sephora)

Lips, Cheeks, Setting Powder & Setting Spray:

• M.A.C. Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden: $23 (Sephora)
• Bare Escentuals Flawless Radiance Brush: $22 (Sephora or a local Bare Escentuals Store)
• Flirt! Cosmetics Blush in Oh Please!: $12 (Kohl's or Flirtcosmetics.com)
• MiraBella Pure Finish in Illuminate: $36 (Some salons carry it or mirabellabeauty.com)
• Smashbox Lip Enhancers is Candid: $18 (Sephora)
• M.A.C. 134 Large Powder Brush: $52 (M.A.C.)
• M.A.C. Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Dark: $27 (M.A.C.)
• MA.C. Fix +: $19 (M.A.C.)