Uh oh, not another monthly favorites blog!

I’ve been pretty lazy when it comes to doing my make up lately, being busy with school and all.  So here are the products used to create my most basic look for the month!

• Always my basic stuff…. Face Atelier Ultra Foundation, Maybelline Define-A-Brow brow pencil in medium brow (identical to MAC Lingering, in my opinion), Urban Decay Primer Potion on the lids prior to eye make up, and Urban Decay De-Slick mattifying powder to set the face.

• Nixie eyeshadows in Night Falls and Violaceous (MAC duplicates are Satellite Dreams and Violet Trance).  I put Night Falls all over the lid, and then Violaceous in the crease and outer corner of the eye.
• Nixie eyeshadow in Grace (closest MAC duplicate is Seedy Pearl).  I use this as a highlight, and have also been enjoying it as a cheek highlight as well as eye highlight!
• Urban Decay Lip Envy in Envious.  I apply this lightly so as to not get too much color on my lips, but just to add a little pink.  This is my go-to daytime lip color.  For gloss, I’ll throw on Nixie’s Smashing lipgloss, a shimmery pale pink, right over it.
• If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll throw on a red lip with Nixie’s Mila lipstick (close to MAC’s Russian Red) with Nixie’s Rosie lipgloss over it (any opaque red lipgloss will do).  This is more of a night-time look for me, or if I’m looking for something more dramatic.  I don’t do red lips everyday, and touching it up can be tedious when working.
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero.  This is my favorite black pencil ever to be on the market.  You can even use a brush and wing it out on the top lid!  Otherwise, a gel liner is my favorite on the top lid.  Any will do from MAC, Smashbox, L’Oreal, Urban Decay, and Bobbi Brown.
• Nixie eyeshadow in Gem for a blush.  This is a pretty pale pink similar to MAC’s Well Dressed, which would also work beautifully.  Slight shimmer, but not too noticeable.  For contouring my non-existent cheekbones I’ve been using Nixie bronzer in Montego Bay Glissen (a slightly pinky brozner).  I apply this VERY lightly seeing as I have fair skin, and don’t want to over do it!

For your homework, what are your favorite beauty products for this month?

Dear mL:

I see so many different tutorials on YouTube and online, and I was wondering what the right order is to apply make up?  Do you do foundation before or after your eye make up?  Do you do concealer before or after foundation?

Thanks!

(Multiple readers)

Dear readers:

I always find it interesting that people think there is one specific rule for when to apply what part of your make up.  Quite frankly, there are no rules to make up.  It’s not like hair color, where different developers give you different outcomes — there are ample possibilites at your fingertips!

Some people like to apply their foundation after their eyeshadow.  The benefits of this would include that you can easily clean up any eyeshadow fall-out without messing up your foundation.  I personally like to put my foundation on after just for that simple fact.  However, some people prefer to put it on before hand because it’s easier for them.  Whatever’s clever.

Here are my personal “rules” that I do recommend following, however, just for ease of application!

• Apply eyeshadow base around your nose prior to applying foundation.  This area rubs off the easiest!  I use Urban Decay’s Primer Potion (the original) very lightly.  It helps keep my foundation on all day!
• Apply blush (rouge) after your foundation, but before face powder.  Sometimes you’ll put on too much blush — it’s natural, it happens.  While we can try to apply it lightly at first and make it darker gradually, sometimes it doesn’t happen.  If we apply the powder first, you’ll just have to apply more powder to lighten it up — which can make your face look ridiculously cakey.  If you apply the blush before powder, however, it will blend and soften the lines of the blush easier!
• Always, always, always apply concealer after foundation.  Why?  Because of two simple reasons.  1. Foundation already gives some coverage, you’ll be using more concealer than necessary if you apply it first!  2.  When you apply foundation after concealer, you’re rubbing off a lot of the concealer, and thus using too much product.
• Lipliner BEFORE lipstick.  Though I think that’s pretty obvious!  It helps keep the lipstick on better and keep it from bleeding.
• Eyeshadow primer before eyeshadow, eyeshadow before eyeliner, eyeliner before mascara.  Otherwise the shadow covers the liner and mascara.  Ew.

Other than that, I don’t see any reason why to do one thing before another.  The wonderful thing about make up is that it’s a form of self-expression, so express yourself freely!  Apply however you want, and however you feel comfortable doing it!

I’ll try to recommend products of the same type from a couple of different brands, because I know we don’t have everything available to us at our particular locations (I live in Iowa, so I very rarely have much of anything available to me if I don’t travel or order it).  Mostly, I’ll be naming items by Nixie and MAC (just because I’m most familiar with those two brands).

To start out with, every person should have a good foundation.  Unfortunately, we all have different skin types so it’s hard to say what each person should use.  I’m the type of person who likes a more natural-matte finish.  I find the foundations tend to wear better, and longer, and they provide moderate coverage.  Of course, you’ll need the proper brush with your foundation, so I’ll give you all my recommendations with each foundation as well!  My recommendations:
Nixie Oil-Free Foundation — Some people have problems with this because it is a bit runnier than the average foundation.  However, when it dries, you get a really great amount of coverage.  I recommend using this brush by Sonia Kashuk to buff it easily into your skin without getting a streaky look.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid — A few people do break out from MAC foundations, so this won’t be for everyone (and pale ladies like me — beware!  The shades don’t go light enough for me but I absolutely adore the texture).  This one is great to use a stippling brush like the MAC 187.  If you don’t want to shell out the money for that particular brush, hit up your local Kohl’s.  They sell one very similar by Flirt!
MAC Studio Sculpt — This also gives a natural matte finish, and is absolutely gorgeous and I think it wears a little bit better than the Studio Fix Fluid. The 187 brush also works wonderful for this, or they have a powder brush that I love for foundation, the 109 brush.
Revlon Colorstay — They have one formulated for oily skin, and one for dry. I prefer the one for normal/dry skin as the finish is better, and the foundation is a little creamer (plus the one for normal/oily skin kind of smells like paint thinner). A foundation brush would work wonderful for this, here’s one from Nixie and one from MAC.
Some people also enjoy mineral make up. Personally, I’m pretty picky. My skin reacts awfully to bismuth oxychloride, a common ingredient in mineral foundations. Pur Minerals doesn’t have as much of it, plus it applies a little smoother so I recommend that, and Nixie’s loose powder. They’re the only two I have personally tried and liked the coverage. Otherwise, I recommend going to your local Sephora, MAC (they have three different types), or Ulta to try it out, and wear a mineral foundation for a day and see how your skin feels.

Next, you’ll need a good finishing powder.  You want something that will set your foundation for the day, and something for touch ups.  We all know I’m in love with silica powder, so read my blog about where to get them here!  Otherwise I love L’Oreal’s True Match powder (available at Ulta or any drug store).

Two blush shades are ideal for anyone starting their make up kit.  Really, different lipsticks will look better with certain blushes, and same goes with what you’re doing with your eye make up.  Everyone should have a nude color (even a bronzer would work), and everyone should have a nice pink color.
For pink, I recommend Elegance by Nixie or Dollymix by MAC.
For a nude, you have to be careful with your skintone.  Obviously, depending on how light and dark your skin is, you may want to edit this and use a different color.  I like Nixie’s Faithful, or MAC’s Buff or Blushbaby (I love both!  Go try ‘em each out )

Of course, then you also need an eyeshadow base.  As we all know, I love Urban Decay Primer Potion.  Make sure you watch the tutorial on how to get all the use out of your product!

Everyone should have four basic eyeshadows.
Leche from Nixie — a creamy, white-beige.  OR Shroom from MAC — a soft beige.
Manhattan from Nixie — a shimmery gray with a hint of taupe.  OR Satin Taupe from MAC — a shimmery taupe.
L.A. from Nixie — a medium gold.  OR Woodwinked from MAC — a medium gold.
Voodoo from Nixie — matte black.  OR Carbon from MAC — matte black.

Two basic lipsticks would include a classic red lipstick, then of course a nude lipstick!
Bourgeous from Nixie OR Honeylove from MAC — a matte nude color.
Babydoll from Nixie OR Faux from MAC — a neutral sort of dusty pink with slight shimmer.
Daniella from Nixie OR Russian Red from MAC OR Viva Glam I from MAC — different reds!

Then of course, we can’t forget a good gloss!  I like a nude gloss, then a wonderful red gloss to go over my red lipstick!
Candy from Nixie OR Prr from MAC.
Rosie from Nixie — it’s t he best red I’ve ever found from ANY company as far as lipgloss goes.

I’m not too picky, personally, as far as lipliner goes.  Whatever works with the lipstick, and twists up!  I  mean, really, who wants to carry a pencil sharpener around with them?

Edit 2\25\09:  Sorry guys, I left out concealer, eyeliner, and mascara, so I’ve added them now.  Thanks Jessica for bringing this to my attention!

Concealer is of course important for those of us who have things to hide, IE: acne or dark circles.
Nixie Full Coverage Foundation — it comes in a handy pot and I think it’s great.  Again, they’re really the only brand out there that is affordable and pale enough for my ridiculously fair skin (which I’ll explain in a blog later today).
MAC  Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 — I’ve used this on myself, even if it was a tad too dark, and I adore the consistency.  It’s pretty thick stuff, and stays on for ever.  Plus, SPF 35 is great for our poor little eyes, which have the thinnest, most delicate tissue on our entire body!
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer — I’ve only mildly played with this the other week when I went to Des Moines for the Motley Crue concert, but I think that it does have a more natural appearance than the Studio Finish, which makes me adore it.  Again, too dark even in the lightest shade for me to purchase, but for anyone who can I highly recommend this one.  Highly, highly, highly.  It looks so natural and covers so well!

Eyeliner is kind of essential.  It can play up a dramatic look, or simply make our lashes look fuller (what lady doesn’t want that?).  Obviously I like gel liners (some say cream, but really are technically gel), they tend to wear longer.  I’ll put my favorite pencil liner down as well though.  No, I’m not a huge fan of liquid.  Gets a tad bit too runny for me!
TIGI Cream Liner — supposedly discontinuing.  Bummer, because I love it.
MAC Fluidline
L’Oreal HIP Creme Liners — available at any drugstore.
Revlon Colorstay Liner — again, available at any drugstore.  I don’t like eyeliners I have to sharpen.

We all need mascara.  If you leave your house with nothing else, put on some mascara and a little lipgloss.  It’ll make you look more awake!
L’Oreal Voluminous (available at drugstores anyway)
Maybelline Lash Stylist — this one is great for you ladies with short lashes since it has a handy comb.  I would recommend wiping excess mascara off on a tissue (I have to every time, or it gets clumpy!) prior to applying.
Maybelline Volum’ Express Mascara — I use this over my Lash Stylist and love it.  Really, I do.  Plus affordable and typically Maybelline is BOGO at Ulta.  Can’t beat that!

I hope my ideas helped, ladies!