SKIN CARE:
You know how awesome your skin looks after you go to the beach? All that salt water really clears up my skin, and Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub by Lush will get you there. The salt exfoliates (recently, I read an interview with Christie Brinkley who looks HOT at age 60, and she says one of her secrets is to exfoliate everyday) and contains lime extract which just makes your skin glow. $12.95 - $35.95. But go into Lush and ask for a free sample. They'll give you a good portion!
This cold winter is killing my skin. I moisturize day and night, but my face is still patchy. I'm experimenting with different moisturizers (Josie Maran argan oil, Elta MD daily moisturizer with SPF 40, coconut oil, even La Mer) but so far, nothing is doing the trick. I found out about GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment, which is a mask that actually puts moisture back into your skin. You can even leave it on overnight. It costs $69, which is expensive, but I had a gift card so I took the plunge. It smells like the beach, and does a pretty good job of making my dry skin look healthy and moisturized again.
MAKEUP:
I can't believe I've gone without an eyeshadow primer until just now. This makes a HUGE difference and really makes your eyeshadow pop. Just dab a little of MAC's Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly on your lid (I apply it with my finger) and then press on your shadow. I used to swipe on shadow, but I've learned if you press it into your lid, it's a richer, more even color and it really stays put, and will prevent your shadow from creasing. $20.
I'm playing around with eyeshadows right now. I've used Cover Girl's Shimmering Sands trio for the longest time...ever since high school, and although I have a ton of MAC shadows, I always keep coming back to this. It's really flattering and looks great on both cool and warm skin tones. $2.79.
That said, here are some of my new favorites:
MAC Soft Brown. This is a staple that everyone should have, and works with just about every color combo you want to do, on both warm and cool skin tones. It's a matte neutral brown, and great for the crease. $15.
MAC Orb. A matte vanilla for a good work look. I love to use it on my lid, and usually use it with Soft Brown in my crease, and a darker brown on the outer corners. If I'm doing a darker shadow on the lid, I put it in the corners and blend it in almost 2/3 of the way in to really make the eyes pop. $15.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Rose Gold. This is really flattering for warm skin tones, but I have cool skin and use it in my crease with a lighter color on the lid, and a darker brown shadow on the outer corners. It's less pink than the picture; it's more of a light pinky-bronze. $22.
Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow in Champagne Quartz. It's a neutral metallic shade and I love it on the lid. It's not as golden or dark as the picture leads you to believe. $22.
I have used liquid liner forever, and still love it, but have discovered that the secret to great winged eyeliner is MAC small angle brush #266 ($20) and a gel liner. I use Maybelline Lasting Drama Eye Studio in Blackest Black. $6.99. Check out Jaclyn Hill's winged eyeliner tutorial for tips.
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| Don't use the brush that comes with the gel liner...it's crap! |
Now, for weird some reason I get compliments on my skin. Which is crazy, because my skin sucks. I have zits and acne scars and redness. But somehow I've fooled you all. I owe it all to MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation. The sad part is that they have discontinued it! I bought up all the bottles I could find, but I'll have to move on soon. I've been doing a search, testing so many different brands, but I keep coming back to MAC. They tell me that the closest formula to my old foundation is Mineralize Moisture SPF15. $34.
While testing out replacement foundations, I went to the Bobbi Brown counter. While I didn't like the foundation as much as MAC's, the makeup artist introduced me to Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener. You apply it under your eye after you put on your foundation (you don't even need to carry your foundation up to your eye if you use this in it's place). Dab it under the eye in a triangle between your inner eye, down the side of your nose, and to the outer corner of your eye. One pump goes a long way! Then take a damp sponge and blend to fill in the triangle. Just be sure to set your highlighter with some powder. Since this is my first experience highlighting this area, I can't vouch for any other products. Once I run out of this, I will play around with some other highlighters and concealers...hopefully I'll find a cheaper one! $30.
I have Sonia Kashuk's Blending Sponge, but really want to try the Beauty Blender. I was kind of amazed at how well this blended, and it doesn't pull at your delicate under eye skin. Blend by tapping the damp sponge into your skin. It gives you an airbrushed look. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT! $10.49.
I don't have a favorite setting powder, so if you love something, let me know! I also don't have a favorite blush. I currently use Nars Orgasm; it's got great pigment and just a little goes a long way. I've been working on the same compact for a year and I've got plenty left. It's nice, but I'm pretty sure that there are a ton of other brands that would look great, too. $30.
I've been trying to find a good, paraben-free mascara. I didn't really want to spend a lot, either, because I really can't tell the difference between fancy mascaras and drugstore brands. I used to love L'Oreal Voluminious Mascara, but stopped using it because it contained parabens. Then, I was using Rimmel Scandaleyes, but it wasn't wowing me. I looked up some of the best sellers, and BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara was frequently on everyone's Top 10 lists. I tried it and really like it! The brush is very thin, but it makes it easier to coat and separate each lash. I don't really experience a lot of clumping or lash-sticking-together. So it's more than I normally would pay, but it's not easy to find a paraben-free mascara in the drugstore that actually looks good. $18.
For lips, I'm not much of a lip color person. I love to keep it neutral, and normally stick to gloss. Here are 3 of my go-to lip products:
Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked. It's a pinky neutral and looks great, but what I love most is that it smells a little minty, tastes a little sweet, and when you apply it, your lips will tingle a little. It's not sticky, like MAC Lipglass, but it is very shiny. $19.
MAC Viva Glam V lipstick. I normally can't stand the way lipstick feels, but this one goes on sheer with a neutral pink lustre. It's like your natural lip color, but with just a little more oomph. I wore it for my wedding. $16.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. This has a cult following and it's justified. This is like a blend between a gloss and a sheer lipstick. It looks dark purple in the tube, but goes on more of a light berry stain. Just Google this product and you will see how beautifully it looks on people of different skin tones. $15.
A brow product that I love -- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duality. It's a double-sided highlighting pencil. They come in 2 different options, Matte Camille/Sand Shimmer (for pink skin tones) and Matte Shell/Lace Shimmer (for yellow skin tones). One side is a matte highlighter, and one is a shimmer. Simply draw a line under your eyebrows and fill in your brow bone, then lightly blend it with your finger. It will make your eyebrows look so defined and just brighten you up! $23.
I'm saving the best for last. I was just browsing Sephora when I happened upon Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. This product is only a few months old, but this is, by far, the best brow product I've ever used. It's a waterproof, tinted mousse that goes on evenly, and it really defines the edges without looking too drawn-on. Try it! You will see. I recommend maybe going a shade lighter than your hair color, as it tends to run dark. BEST PRODUCT EVER AWARD!
$18 and worth every penny.
Also, get the #12 brush that goes with it. You could use the same MAC #266 angled brush that you use for gel liner, but 2 things: 1) if you've ever used gel liner, then you know it's not easy to clean that brush so having a second one on hand is smart, and 2) the Anastasia brush is a little smaller and firmer, and comes with an eyebrow spooley brush on one end. It makes for precise application, and using the brush helps blend out the color for a natural look. $18.
