My Holy Grail Products .. In Other Words, I’d Die Without Them

Every girl has her HOLY GRAIL of products, a list of products she reaches for on a day-to-day basis, most likely products that give a well put together and polished but still natural look.  In this post that’s what I’m going to be talking about . I noticed while writing this list down that I actually use a lot of “drugstore” products. It’s not even that I think other products are too “expensive” but more so because if I found a more affordable product that works just as well as something $10-30 more than why spend the money? I will be mentioning the products in order that I would apply them to my face.  

Keep in mind, if I were going somewhere special I would reach for my more “high-end” products which I will get into in another post. All of the products mentioned DO NOT cause a “white cast” in photos and photograph beautifully. That is a HUGE deal breaker for me as this can make your face appear extremely flat and round. All that contour would have been for nothing, and we all know we need a new instagram post at the end of a fun night, right? If any of you guys have a problem with “ghost face” make sure you check your makeup items for sunscreen (titanium oxide) that’s usually the culprit :).

1. Smashbox Photofinishing Primer

2.  Loreal Magic Nude Foundation in 320 (I know I just mentioned to watch for products with sunscreen but this foundation doesn’t cause a flashback)

3. Mac Prolongwear Concealer NC25  If you don’t own this product,GET in your car right now and get it.

4. Ben Nye Banana Powder I set my undereye concealer with this (prolongwear mentioned above) make sure to not use a whole lot because that could go wrong quick.

5. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent I lightly brush this over my T zone.

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Chocolate * I will have an entire blogpost just for brows but this stuff has saved my life.

7. Mac Give me Sun

8. Mac Melba Blush

9. Mac Highlighter Soft & Gentle * no photo

10. Loreal Voluminous Mascara Original (Blue/Purple Bottle) In BLACK, I’ve been using this mascara since I started wearing makeup in the 6th grade. I have tried them all, from brands ranging from DIOR to Loreal, and this always wins me over. I will forever wear this brand. Make sure NOT to get *waterproof* , because that stuff is potent and you will wake up with no eyelashes, hehehe.

11. Mac Liner in Oak* picture coming soon

12. Mac Lipstick Velvet Teddy * picture coming soon.. we already know how I feel about this lipstick..

Cheeks and Lips - Orange Is My New Favorite Color!!!

Although I never in a million years would have thought I could say this….I LOVE ORANGE. It is the color this year and not just in clothes, it is actually less fool proof and more universal in makeup. I know you are thinking bright orange lips on the runway and telling yourself no way. Do it, it doesn’t have to be the shade of orange to match Bozo the Clown’s hair, opt for a coral or vibrant red with yellow/orange undertones to paint your pout. Play up the eyes and use a shimmery shade with orange/gold on your lids up to your crease of your shadow and don’t be scared to use it on your cheeks! However picking the right shade is crucial…. And I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes we don’t communicate with our mirrors so our vision alone isn’t always enough to keep us looking like we haven’t been accosted by crayola. Here are some tips……

Lips: Corals truly flatter every skin tone. Red Orange shades are best on fair skin tones or olive complexions. To lessen the intensity line lips with a true red and to intensify your coral or favorite shade line lips with orange. When you play up your lips with this powerful color, its usually best not to use it on your cheeks or eyes. When I use coral I like to pair it with a simple lined eye and a neutral blush.

Cheeks: Keep it on the apples, this is not a contouring color! Keep your lips simple and avoid vibrant colors on your eyes. I love to use tangerine shades of blush, paired with shimmer highlighter and shades of grey and brown on my lids. My personal favorite and universally flattering shade is Stila Convertible Color in Petunia. Its also great on your lips, just not together. It blends easily and leaves you with a dewy glow!

Eyes: When using orange around the eyes, remember that is your statement. Go natural on everything else!!! Brown mascara is less harsh and a MUST when using such a powerful color to frame the windows of your soul!

Just like we change our clothes with the season, we should enjoy new trends with our makeup!

My Top 3 Mac Lipsticks for A Neutral Lip

I’m back with another lipstick post. Yay! So as you all know I’m obsessed with lipsticks. Especially Mac ones. My collection just never stops growing. Even though I love a bright, bold crazy lip I also like to keep it more neutral at times. Actually I’ve developed a bit of a nude lip obsession recently, so I thought I’d share my top 3 Mac lipsticks for a more neutral lip: Pink Plaid, Velvet Teddy and Twig.

Pink Plaid is a very soft pink but I still consider it to be more of a nude pink than just a pink because it is so light. It’s a matte finish (my favorite) and therefore it lasts so long, you don’t have to worry about having to re-apply the lipstick. I absolutely love this shade because it’s relatively cool-toned and since I have more of a cool than a warm complexion, I find that this suits me really well. So if you have light hair and fair skin you might want to give this a go. For me this is the perfect lipstick for those days when I want to wear more of a neutral shade but not a totally nude one. With Pink Plaid I can still add a slight touch of color to my make up look while still keeping it causal.

This is probably one of the most hyped up Mac lipsticks at the moment and it’s sold out all the time but my mom did manage to get a hold of it for me and since beauty has been mine for about 2 months now. Ever since I got this lipstick I’ve been wearing it most the time and I’ve used almost half of it up already. I just love how much fuller it makes my lips look and it just goes with every single make up look and every occasion. I love how this balances out heavy eye make up but it still looks amazing with a more simple eye make up look because it draws attention to the lips then. Basically I’m wearing this most of the time because I’m obsessed with the shade. Since I’m quite fair many nude shades make me looked like I’m sick and really wash me out but this one doesn’t at all and I know I’m going to have to repurchase it once I run out.

Twig is actually the newest member of my Mac lipstick collection but I’m obsessed already. It comes in a Satin finish, which I’m quite happy with because it’s still relatively matte. I find this color fairly hard to describe but I would say it’s more of a dark pink brown kind of nude. Either way it’s just a stunning color and I think I will be wearing this a lot. It’s very pigmented and leaves a beautiful finish on the lips as it’s not entirely matte but not glossy either. Even though it doesn’t last as long as Pink Plaid and Velvet Teddy it still lasts up to 5 or 6 hours and maybe. Despite having purchased Twig quite recently I know I will be wearing it all the time because it’s just one of those shades that I love. It’s still very neutral but adds that little something to your look and it makes your lips look fuller. What more could we want?

So these are my top 3 Mac lipsticks for a more neutral lip. They are pretty much my every day kind of shades and the ones I put on when I want to wear a lipstick but I kinda don’t, if you know what I mean. Sorry for all the selfies but I thought it would be nice to see how they actually look on my lips. They’re not the best quality but I got them off of my Instagram. Nonetheless I still have some swatches for you guys.

As always I genuinely hope you enjoyed reading this post! What are your top 3 Mac lipsticks for a causal lip?

Every Day verses Special Event Makeup..The Run Down!

I recently worked on an editorial photoshoot where the model hardly ever wears any makeup. As I finished working on her, and I saw her glance in the mirror I definitely read a little horror in her eyes. It made me smile and I explained my philosophy on makeup that photographs amazing. You have to over due slightly, even for the most natural look. The camera reads things differently. Every day natural makeup is different than special event makeup. Do you really want to look like you have nothing on when your face is going to show up on five hundred instagram photos? I didn’t think so.

We all have our regular makeup routines, right? A little concealer, some bronzer, maybe mascara and we are good to go for the day. But when it comes to makeup for special events, it takes a little more.  Every day makeup can look great, but usually doesn’t last for more than a few hours.  Try these tips, take some pictures and see the results. Simply stunning but not over the top.

Tips for longer lasting, looks amazing in photos makeup:

• Prime, Prime and Prime.  A skin primer is mandatory for helping makeup last through all the booty shaking and fist pumping. Primer acts as a barrier between your skin and the actual makeup. It’s the glue that helps it adhere to the skin.
• Set and Forget. Setting your makeup with a transluscent powder is another mandatory step that helps lock in your foundation. Use a large fluffy brush and a rolling motion, pushing the powder into the skin.
• Waterproof mascara. Use it! It adheres better, smudges less and over all lasts longer.
• Make sure you face matches your chest, not neck. Everyone’s neck is slightly lighter than the rest of them. Match the foundation to the chest. Don’t you hate seeing a photo where everyone’s faces are a shade lighter? Drives me crazy!
• Less can be more, but in this case more is better! Traditional makeup (ie. cream and liquid foundations) heat up with your body temperature and melt off the skin.  Notice by lunch time most of your makeup is gone… You need a little bit more for long lasting special events. My rule of thumb is to be a little uncomfortable with the amount of makeup you wear for a special event look. Makeup fades down with in the first 2 hours, realize this and compensate for it. Be a little uncomfortable but still feel pretty…You’re shooting for pretty not trashy, so just a little more than normal.
• Judge your makeup at a distance. Cameras are always taking pictures from a distance. No one is zooming in on your face. Stand back and evaluate. Makeup will always seem more up close and is not accurate of what others are seeing.
• False lashes are highly recommended. They really can open up the eyes, and enhances the eye shape. Shoot for natural looking falsies, not so long that they are hitting your eyebrow. yuck.
• Most IMPORTANTLY: If you aren’t “feeling” the way you look, it will show up in your pictures, and you’ll end up not liking them. So even if I say less is more, if you don’t think so. Then do what you feel looks best. Makeup should enhance, not detract.

I always tell my clients to stand back and judge special event makeup through a lense. Take some photos at a distance and see what the camera sees, then evaluate.  My model from the other day did just that, and loves her pictures! What the most important thing is to “feel pretty” and to feel like you still look like yourself!  

ps. I highly recommend airbrush makeup for long lasting special events, such as weddings. The longevity of airbrush cannot be compared to traditional makeup!

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight

I have to admit this was an impulse buy but I think it all worked out for the better. Like who needs another highlighter made from real 24k gold sheesh! I dont! Just kidding I love love love this product. I was impressed with the fact that its made with real 24k gold and that it delivers a light shimmer hmm just candlelight. Its good for any skin tone whether it be the fairest of the fair or dark like ebony. I have read some people only like to use this product on the as a highlighter but I beg the differ. Used lightly it can be used all over but be careful too much of this powder will just make you face look oily and that's not very cute. I also have Nars Albatross highlighter same gold concept but it has way more shimmer to it but I think I prefer this one because the shimmer is light and not to heavily pigmented.

A few more great things about this product is that is vitamin enriched so its good for your skin and you can also use it to set your foundation. Of course with everything that Too Faced cosmetics makes the packing is so cute. It comes in a cream and gold colored compact and the mirror on the inside states "Why be pretty when you can be gorgeous". You get a sponge applicator with it but its best to use this product with a kabuki brush if you have one. Applying it with the sponge applicator may coat it on and then you have that greasy oil slick look.

MAC Finally Flawless Collection

This is my first M.A.C. mineralized foundation and I am impressed. I have never tried their mineralize line. This collection is actually a relaunch from 2010 but is part of their permanent line. The foundation consists of a gel like feature based system that provides extreme comfort and creaminess in application, making this formula appealing to all skins but especially normal to dry. It make your pores invisible and the blend ability is amazing.

Now I wore mine out on Saturday night and got tons compliments all night about how flawless my skin was and how perfect, or if I had a new skin regimen. Its light weight , creamy, and moisturizes the skin. Downside is that it is a little greasy I had to really tone down the shine with my MAC prep and prime translucent powder here is why. 

This product is made for normal to dry skin so if you are the type of girl or guy that has combination or oily skin you may want to pass on this product. The foundation alone without the powder made my face look like a greased rubber ball.  

Many cleints who wear foundation know that they have a few different ones they use due to the time of year. You know something more for summer usually a matte foundation due to heat and humidity and during the winter something that is going to add moisture because your skin tends to be more dryer during that time of year to maybe up to spring. If you have dry skin or your a silver fox this is your go to foundation. For me it seems like I will on be wearing this foundation during the winter. 

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

This is one of my favorite MAC foundations I have been wearing this foundation for about 2 years now. This was released in 2009 and was supposed to compete with Make Up Forevers High Definition Foundation. Its gel based, true to color, moisturizing, with medium buildable coverage. Some of the ingredients include antioxidants Vitamins C and E, which help to defend against free radical damage. This one of the best foundations I have tried in years. I have a few foundation rotating and as long as MAC makes it will be in  MY permanent collection. 

As far as comparing it to Makeup Forevers High Def Foundation this when hands down. When you use this foundation and combine it with MAC prep and prime setting powder its like butta baby. Im really dark skinned like NW47 in fact but when I used MUF High Def foundation it made me look like I had a really dark mask on (not cool) and always an awful line of demarcation. I just used it so I wouldn't waste my money (40.00). When I use MAC Studio Sculpt it just melts into my skin no line of demarcation just blends well. great for normal to dry skin if you skin is oily or combo you will still benefit for this foundation.

MAC Quite Cute Collection

The MAC Quite Cute collection launched on April 7th and the promos for this collection were just girltastic. Everyone wanted a piece of this collection. The colors looked so spring-like and bright. It just reminded me of jelly beans,  but when bloggers got a hold of some of these products before the launch they seemed disappointed. 

The collection included an eyeshadow quad named CUTiE, five lipsticks, three nail lacquers, three lip liners, three mineralize blushes and four plush glasses. All the shades in this collection were pastels, meaning baby pinks, peaches, lilac and pale greens. None the less it did not shy me away from the collection. I wanted those colors! I had watched numerous other bloggers do their review on the collection and I have to admit some colors did not impress me, but others -- I knew I could have so much fun with. 

Out of the collection I bought three things. I bought the CUTiE quad -- which I love -- it is not as pigmented as it could be (especially for MAC), but I knew I could work around it and not make the colors the focal point of the eye look. I bought the matte lipstick, Candy Yum-Yum, which is just divine. It screams girl! It is such a bright pink. I mean it’s neon -- it might as well glow in the dark. I own a lot pinks, but nothing like this. I had to have it. The last thing that I bought was the mineralize blush, Sakura. MAC was really on-point when it came to the marketing for this one. It has the whole package: good product, nice packaging and cute presentation. It’s a two-tone blush with a heart-shaped fuchsia center and a surrounding lavender area. 

See Also : Matte Lipstick

The plush glasses were not for me I’m afraid. Why? They’re lip plumpers and my lips are big enough. Genetics were on my side. LOL. Plus, they make your lips feels like they just had a collagen explosion. The nail polishes are gorgeous but they are easily duped. If you don't have anything like them in your collection I would recommend them. 

Some final thoughts on the collection. This collection is made for the fairer skinned girls out there. For someone that is a warm or darker skinned, this collection could be a challenge for you. If you don’t want to work hard at trying to make it work for you, then I would avoid it. I personally thought it was fun to make it work and I think it did in my opinion. Being a woman of color, I guess I have gotten used to working a little harder for a look that is not supposed to be for my skin tone. I think this collection had something for everyone. If you didn’t want to buy the make-up you could have gone for the nail lacquers and vice-versa. This collection is available at MACCosmetics.com, MAC stores, Dillards, and Nordstroms. Prices are ranging from $14.00 - $36.00 and PRO discount is available.