Best of Beauty
Grab some popcorn folks, this is gonna be a long one…..
As I was contemplating what my next blog post should be about, I got a text from one of my best friends asking me about product advice. The lightbulb went off and I decided I was going to compile a list of my all-time favorite Holy Grail products and spread the word! Keep in mind certain things like foundations and powders that work fabulously on my skin may not work the same on yours. So as usual before purchasing something I encourage you to sample it on your skin first! Enjoy!
Primer:
If you plan on wearing your foundation for longer than an hour a day, then you should most definitely be using a primer. There are a ton of different primer options, all of which offer different results and are suited for different skin types. My holy grail primer is Dr. Brandt Pores No More. Not only do I use it on myself but I also carry it in my kit and use it on 80% of clients. This primer may not work for you if your skin is extremely dry as it slightly mattifying, but it mostly smoothes out your skin, fills in your pores and I find, even adds some color correction. You can purchase it and read more about it here.
http://www.sephora.com/pores-no-more-pore-refiner-P376480?skuId=1730134
Foundation:
Once again this one is tough because there are so many variables when it comes to skin, but having myself tried foundation after foundation my go to, I know it will last all day and looks beautiful is my Estee Lauder Double Wear. I feel as though it took me awhile before I jumped on the Estee Lauder wagon as I always associated Estee Lauder with my grandmother haha. Since the company has been around for so long I always assumed it was the makeup I would start using when I had grandchildren. Little did I know, that when a company has been around that long, they are obviously doing something right and clearly know what it takes to make the perfect product!
This foundation is very full coverage, you don’t need a lot to get a flawless face! If you try it and feel that it is too heavy on your skin they also offer a light version of the same foundation. You can also try mixing the double wear with a face cream to thin it out and get a lighter coverage if that is what you like. I wore this foundation on my own wedding day in +32 weather and it lasted! If a foundation can pass that test it’s a winner in my books! Read more about it and purchase it here.
http://www.sephora.com/double-wear-stay-in-place-makeup-P378284?skuId=1465327
Concealer:
If you are not a makeup person or just don’t have time to do a full face of makeup, I always recommend using a little concealer under your eyes. It can really make a difference on how bright and awake you look! Naturally the majority of people have under eye darkness, this is because the skin under your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face. It is also the first area of skin that loses collagen and elastin and tends to be significantly dryer than the rest of your skin. Without going into too much detail about color correcting and skin care, the best concealer I’ve found for under eyes is MAC Pro Longwear. I use it on myself and in my kit as well and love love love it! Lasts all day, comes in every shade as is relatively inexpensive when it comes to professional/high end makeup. Read more and purchase it here.
Under eye Setting Powder:
I might start to lose you here now, as this is likely a step that you’ve never done before. Whenever you use a liquid product you need to set it with a powder to ensure it stays where you’ve placed it. If you take the 5 minutes every day to apply concealer you want to make sure it’s going to last. Now a lot of concealers claim to be ‘crease proof’ and ‘long lasting’ but in my experience this is only the case when set with a powder. Technically if you have a face powder that you love, it will work, but these two under eye setting powders are phenomenal!
- Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
2. MAC Shaping Powder Pro in Emphasize
Note: This is a pro product that can only be purchased in pro stores or online, but can be purchased by anyone online even if you’re not a pro 🙂
Face Setting Powder:
As I mentioned above, when using a liquid or cream foundation, you need to set it with a powder to ensure it stays in place. My favorite universal setting powder is Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, although you can also find really nice powders at the drug store. Maybelline Fit me line has many options all at a lower price point and also work great! Read more about the Laura Mercier and purchase it here.
Mascara:
100% hands down no seconds thoughts, Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll. It’s amazing, volumizing, lengthening and lasts all day! If your lashes have a difficult time maintaining their curl after you have spent the time curling them, then this is your mascara! It’s a little bit dryer than other formulas allowing it to dry faster on your lashes therefore maintaining the curl rather than dragging it out! They also have a waterproof variety that is equally as amazing plus its waterproof, need I say more? Find them here.
Regular:
Waterproof:
http://www.sephora.com/mascara-volume-effet-faux-cils-luxurious-mascara-P393427?skuId=1430354
Liquid Eyeliner:
Liquid eyeliner is my jam, I’ve tried pencils and creams and gels but nothing beats liquid liner. The best one is definitely Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner. Gives you the perfect wing, lasts all day, never smudges and hell I even use it to tightline! Buy it, don’t look back!
http://www.sephora.com/stay-all-day-waterproof-liquid-eye-liner-P253818?skuId=1221084
Finishing Powder:
Now you’re thinking whoa girl, you already encouraged me to buy 2 separate face powders and here you are talking about a third! Yes, yes I am. If you have dry skin, you can honestly skip the setting powder and just come right down to this one. If your oily and have already set with a regular powder you still need this in your life! Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, specifically Dim Light. They are pretty much photoshop in makeup form, they make your skin look glowy and amazing. I will post the link so you can read more about them but you should probably just buy it, it’s that good!
http://www.sephora.com/ambient-lighting-powder-P377723?skuId=1483502
Lip Gloss:
No brainer again on this one, Buxom Full-On Lip Creams are the best. They are technically ‘plumping’ lip glosses so they have a minty tingly sensation and when worn out in the winter make your lips feel a little bit too cold. But they offer a huge range of shades and look and wear beautifully. Anyone who I’ve recommended them to has also loved them! It’s best to look at the shades in store, but here is the link.
http://www.sephora.com/buxom-full-on-lip-cream-P305132?skuId=1668995
Eye shadows:
This category would be way to long, I don’t even think I could pick just one palette or just one brand. I will happily give suggestions though. If you’re looking for an all matte eye shadow palette, the Tarte Tartlette palette is really nice. They also just released another palette called Tartlette in Bloom which has a variety of Matte and Shimmer shadows. You can find them at Sephora here.
http://www.sephora.com/tartelette-amazonian-clay-matte-eyeshadow-palette-P391759?skuId=1659424
Two other brands of eye shadows I absolutely love are ColourPop and Makeup Geek. Unfortunately these are not sold in stores, they can only be purchased online. ColourPop eye shadows are so amazing though and they are also only $5. They are all sold as individual pots and are a creamy mousse like texture. If you like shimmer and metallic eye shadows they are da bomb! Find them here.
https://colourpop.com/product-category/shadows-pigments/shadowsandpigments/
Makeup Geek shadows are all individual pans which allows you to customize a palette to your liking. Although this means you do have to purchase an empty palette to place them in to keep them sanitary and clean. They sell matte and shimmer shadows but my favorite from them are the foiled eye shadows. Once again beyond shimmery and metallic and amazeballs! FYI if I’ve done your makeup for an event I’ve likely used them on you. I heart them and you will too! Find them here.
EyeLashes:
If you have an event, such as a wedding or graduation or anything you’re going to be photographed in, I highly recommend wearing strip lashes. Strip lashes are good, because you are able to take them off at the end of the night without having to worry about maintenance or upkeep. Plus they are inexpensive when it comes to alternatives such as eyelash extensions. What many people don’t know when it comes to strip lashes is that there are so many varieties. The most popular and lowest price point are synthetic and human hair lashes. If you really want to amp it up though I recommend mink lashes as they can be worn from 30-40 times and the best ones I’ve found are actually from a local company called Crème de la Crème. You can find them here, and if you have any questions about style recommendations I would be happy to help! P.S All of their lashes are cruelty free so no minks were harmed in the making of them!
http://maisoncremedelacreme.com/
When it comes to blushes, bronzers and lipsticks, it’s the shade that’s more important. There are many many options out there when it comes to these and as long as you like the color you’re good to go. Don’t think they are not important though! If you are using a full coverage foundation and setting with a powder your face can end up looking flat and lacking dimension. It is always good to add some bronzer and blush to bring that dimension, color and warmth back to your face. Blush and bronzer do not have to be expensive and are a must when using foundation!
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! I’ve think I’ve covered the majority of products I love, but I would also love to hear you favorites and recommendations!? Thanks for reading! Stay Beautiful!
Sondra
Blonde Ambition Beauty