Showing posts with label Concealer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concealer. Show all posts

5/2/13

Drab To Fab Part 1

Can you think of times in your life when you just want to look amazing? I know we all want to look good, but have you ever been stuck in a rut? Want to look a step or even a leap better than you normally do? Want to make your boyfriend/spouse go WOW??? Well, I am going to be doing a series (this being the first segment) where we do just that! We go from drab to FAB!!! In this installment we will be going over foundation, concealer, powder and some contouring. Grab your makeup and let's get ready together!!!

10/27/11

Concealing Your Eyebrows

Halloween is upon us and for those crazy dramatic looks that call for no eyebrows are sometimes daunting. I don't feel I did a great job in the Sally look so I did some more research and found better techniques =). Here you are and I hope you enjoy! Have you sent me a Halloween look yet??? Can't wait to see them all this year!!!

4/4/11

March Favorites

Here are the March favs!!! I am looking forward to going out and buying some loot here pretty soon to bring you more options and MORE savings. By the way, do YOU have a request? Send it to my email and I'll getter done! =)
 Becky is up first with her March favs!

First up is the limited edition Urban Decay 15 year Anniversary 24/7 liner set. Out the door, it's crazy expensive at $92 but you're only spending just over $6 per full-sized liner which is a crazy good value. I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay's liners and all of them are super pigmented and smooth. I love that there is a big variety in colors as well, I'm able to wear something different every day. They also work well as a base! Also included with the set is their Sharpener which is worlds better than your standard cheap sharpener (who knew!). My only complaint is that the packing plastic that it's wrapped in has a strong smell to it and you have to let it air out for a week and store the pencils elsewhere. Also, Perversion (which is THE blackest black liner I have ever seen) clouds up my contacts when worn on the waterline.  
Next up is Benefit's Boi-ing concealer. I'm always trying to hide my under eye circles and liked Erase Paste because it brightens but sometimes it would start look look cakey on me after a few hours. After hearing how much Jen loved it in a post I decided to try out Boi-ing and this is MUCH better for me! You need next to zero product and I just pat it on and it covers up my circles and the redness around my nose just beautifully. 
I am in love with Tarte's new Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Wear Powder Blush in Glisten.  I bought it in a set off of QVC (my first purchase from there- it was at a lower price of $52 for eight items if you include the bag!).  It's a great pinky-peach blush with some shimmer but it doesn't make my pores appear any larger as other shimmers usually do.  This Blush lasts 8 or so hours on me which is much longer than normal blush.  When I usually do a quick touch up in the late afternoon (thank you oily t-zone) I'm always pleasantly surprised that I don't need to apply more blush  .  Love it!!  (p.s. the brush with the set is ah-may-zing!)
Also, I've been using the Olay Pro-X... I'm a fan!
Next comes Sariah with her favs:
 I have an eye cream that I love that I bought from Sephora. It's called REN. I am a "weeper" so my eyes are constantly getting a dose of salt water tears which is incredibly drying. This helps out with that SO much!
I have also been using a face wash by Clean & Clear that I love. It helps out with blemishes and breakouts like it's nobodies business! (Psst, this is Jen, I wanted to post this so I'll have to ask her the name of it later!)

3/16/11

Revlon Under Eye Concealer Review

For those of you that reviewed this product with me please send any pictures you wish to have posted, email your reviews or leave you thoughts in the comments. Can't wait to hear what you thought!

1/23/11

Reader Request: Dark Under Eye Circles

 
I got an email from Erica asking about under eye circles. I know that a LOT of my readers have this problem!!! Those pesky critters (am I Davy Crockett?) are famously annoying and unforch, there's no way to get rid of them. However, you have options for concealing them. So let us focus on the positive and we will do our BEST to get the right product in your hands and learn some tips for proper application. Let's tackle your first option:

*Concealer*

You should look for a concealer than is moisturizing and won't give you "dinosaur skin" under your eyes. Of course with a creamier product, you need to set it well with a good setting powder. Try to pick a shade (remember yellow will combat blue) lighter than your foundation. If your circles are super dark then try two shades. PLEASE don't go TOO light or you will look like a raccoon!!! I've dealt with models that have this problem and there are a few products that are my "go to's". I'll share them with ya cuz I like ya so much =):

- Sue Devitt Automatic Camouflage
 - Erase Paste by Benefit (super creamy, use Powderflage to set)
 - Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
- Laura Mercier's Undercover
(best drugstore find? Maybelline's New York Cover Stick) 

I also find that if you really want to pull out the big guns then use a highlighter on the inner corners to brighten! My most fav and an overall crowd please is the Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat. Did you know that this product is SO popular that one is sold somewhere in the world every 20 seconds??? You can use this also for contouring!
Now I have Gwen Stefani's song (and maybe my ring tone) playing in my head,"Now that you got it whachu gonna do about it?" You have your concealer, how the JUNK do ya put it on??? Well I'll TELL you...
  • Moisturize eye area and let it "soak" into your skin for a minute.
  • Add a primer to you face and coat your under eye well so that when you use concealer, it will be less likely to settle into fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Apply concealer with fingers or a brush (I aDORE using a MAC 217 for this!!!).
  • Blend softly so it becomes "one" with your skin. Don't tug because the under eye is very delicate and you'll just make the concealer travel.
  • Set it with a loose powder (I swear by Benefit Powderflage). I like to use a sponge or any fluffy soft brush (MAC 224 is a great example). 
Option Two:
*Eye Cream*

Invest in a vitamin-K based product. Basically buy an eye cream like Vita-K Solution gel or Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue that can help strengthen capillary walls so dark circles and veins become less visible. 

Option Three:

*Laser Treatment*

If you have chronic under eye circles than you can contact your trusty doctor about lasers. Lasers can thicken the skin by increasing collagen production, so you are less likely to see veins, according to Los Angeles facialist Kate Somerville in InStyle mag (LOVE it!!!).

So that is what I have found to be helpful and I hope that helped you too! Remember that going to Sephora can be SO much fun because you can test out EvErYtHiNg!!! Do it and DON'T be ashamed. I look like an absolute FREAK by the time I walk out of there. Like I'm totally tribal and preparing for war! Join me, it's fun to be "special" LOL.

4/8/10

How Do I find My Color Of Foundation?

Kat asked a great question in regard to finding your perfect shade and I want to help all I can so
HERE is a link to helping with MAC shades. It's really thorough and informative. Also, here are some basics for any foundation brought to you from Epinions.com (my comments/add ons are in red):

Consider Your Skin Type:


The first thing you need to consider when selecting a foundation is your skin type and the needs you have, like sensitive skin & allergies. Do you have oily, dry, combination or normal skin?
~Oily Skin – Make sure you select a foundation that is oil-free and controls oil and shine. Foundations with a matte or powder finish are very popular with people that have oily skin.
~Dry Skin – If you have dry skin, you need a foundation that has moisturizers in it. Dry skinned people have better results with a creamy foundation rather than a matte or powder finish makeup. These types of makeup can appear caked on dry skin.
~Combination Skin – If you have combination skin (like dry skin with oily T-zone) than you need a makeup that has moisturizers in it, but it’s oil-free and controls shine in your oily spots. There are many makeup choices for combination skin.
~Sensitive Skin – People with sensitive skin need to select a makeup especially for sensitive skin. Probably something that is oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and allergy tested for skin irritancy. Check makeup labels to be sure about these things before you purchase a foundation.

Consider Your Skin Color / Tone:

Selecting the perfect color foundation is SUCH an important part of buying makeup. If your foundation does not match the color of your face, hi, you won't look that great =). You need to be sure it's not too dark or light. I used to think it was impossible to find a makeup that was the “perfect” color, but I now know that there is a color match for every skin tone and color.

Normally all brands of makeup are grouped into something like “Ivory”, “Beige or Tan” and the “Natural or Neutral” colors. So you need to figure out what your skin coloring is. Ivory would be fair skinned, Beige or Tan would be darker skin or suntanned skin and Natural or Neutral would be darker than fair or pale skin, but not dark skin.

If you have ever looked at all the color selections available in foundations, you’ll notice that there are always several to choose from. Usually there will be several colors in the “Ivory” group and several colors in the “Beige” group. The reason there are so many to choose from in the same group is because everyone has different skin tones. You and your best friend may both have Ivory colored skin, but you may have different skin tones. Think about a medium colored Caucasian person (maybe part Indian), a light skinned African American person and an Asian or Oriental person…they all have about the same color skin, but obviously the skin tones are very different.

What are skin tones? Well, if you look carefully at the different colors in the “Ivory” or “Beige” groups, you will notice that some are very neutral or natural colored while others have a pink, yellow or peach tint to them. This is to coincide with different skin tones. My natural skin tone is a bit on the pink side, so I need a foundation with yellow or neutral tones in it to even out my skin tone. I would never purchase a foundation with a pink tone or else I’d look like a bottle of Pepto Bismol! LOL Make sense? So you need to be sure about what the color of your skin is and what skin tone you favor before selecting a foundation.

When trying to decide on a specific foundation color, once you have determined the above criteria for your needs, you should then test the foundation on your skin to make sure that it is a match. I have seen so many people test makeup on their hands, but your hands are not always the color of your face. The best place to test a makeup is on your neck. The neck is where your makeup will meet your natural skin color, and it has to be the perfect color in order for it to blend smoothly and evenly, not leaving a noticeable line. So test the makeup on your neck or bottom of your face and blend it in well. The way you can tell if the color is just right is if it blends into your skin so well that you cannot even tell where you applied it. If this is the case, then you have found the perfect color for you.

Consider Your Climate and Environment:

The above criteria are definitely the most important in selecting a foundation, but you should also think about where you live and your climate, your everyday environment and your lifestyle. If you work in an office environment, you can use just about any type of makeup, but if you work outdoors or in very hot and humid conditions, you may need to be careful about your foundation selection. Some foundations do not hold up well in high humidity climates or very hot weather. Also take into consideration if you sweat and perspire a lot while wearing your makeup. There are special makeup formulas for this type lifestyle.

If you are outdoors a lot while wearing your makeup, you need to consider a foundation with SPF in it. Also think about whether or not you may need a foundation that is waterproof and/or sweat-proof. If you sweat or get wet, you don’t want your makeup to run off your face and leave it unprotected from the sun, or look like an idiot with half your face done...I'm just sayin =).

If you live in a very cold environment, and your skin tends to dry out in cold weather, you should make sure you select a makeup with moisturizers in it. If you have oily skin and the cold weather still dries you out somewhat, you can select a foundation that's oil-free but still has other moisturizers in it.

Consider the Look You Want to Have While Wearing Makeup:


There are so many different finishes in foundations today, so you need to decide what works best for you and your needs before selecting a foundation. This criterion may also be determined by your skin type needs mentioned above.
~Sheer or Natural Finish – This is the foundation for those natural beauties and people that do not need much coverage due to smooth, clear, even skin. Just for your information, I despise these people ;-) (just kidding) If you are not a “makeup person” but you want a foundation that is light and sheer, you should go with this type of finish. These foundations are usually in liquid form and are almost the consistency of pure water.
~Medium Coverage – These foundations are thicker in consistency and provide some coverage for people with blemishes, discolorations or just uneven skin tones. They go on thicker and can be purchased in liquid form or compact form (like creams, sticks or cream to powder).
~Matte Finish – These foundations are typically for those with oily skin. A matte finish is great for helping to control oily shine and breakthrough shine later. Matte finish makeup is also available in several forms (liquid, creams, cream to powder etc.) Matte finish makeup usually has a good bit of coverage to offer.
~Powder Finish – These foundations go on creamy and dry with a powder finish. These are wonderful for those with oily skin or combination skin because they tend to be thicker and the powder helps with shine. This type of foundation can be used by anyone, however, if you have dry skin, you will definitely have to apply a good moisturizer first.

Getting the Most Out of Your Foundation:

Selecting the best foundation for your skin care needs and wants is important, but if you have the best makeup in the world it won’t matter if you don’t prepare your face first. You should always use a good cleanser, toner and moisturizer before applying your foundation. Check out the skin care post link for more info on this topic!!!! It's pretty thorough.

Compliment Your Foundation:

Consider using concealer and/or powder along with your foundation for a completed look. Concealers can be purchased in different tones and forms (sticks, pencils or creams) and they are very easy to apply. I personally LOVE the camo palette from MakeUp Forever!!!! Concealers are great for blemishes or discolorations that are not totally hidden by foundation alone. I will be posting my new daily face routine soon!!! Powders are great for setting your foundation. The two work together to give you the ultimate coverage and duration. Powders also come in coinciding color tones and you can get them in loose or pressed form. If you are using a cream to powder foundation, you may not need to apply a separate powder unless you have very oily skin.

Hope that helps Ladies. Now, go get your founDATION on!!!!! =)