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?

Price: $12
Availability: Mary Kay representatives, Mary Kay website (clicking there will send you to my representative, who is the only Mary Kary rep I’ve ever dealt with that didn’t force products on me and only recommended colors she thought would look good or knew I would like — I highly recommend buying from her!)
Rating:

Product Details: Here’s the perfect primer to help you create eye looks that grab attention. This waterproof formula creates a foundation so your eye colors glide on smoothly and stay perfectly in place longer – without creasing or smudging. It’s proven to extend and intensify eye color.

Product Pros:

• Definitely keeps color on.
• Not as dry as other primers; easy to work with.
• Eyeshadows blend flawlessly on top, would especially be good with those difficult matte eyeshadows we all have that are nearly impossible to blend!
• Water resistant!
• Looks white, but dries clear.
• Great value for how much you get.
• Love the packaging — super easy to get the product out without contaminating the product.  Plus it’s classy.

Product Cons:

• ?

Not only did I decide to try this product out on my eyes — I decided to put it on the back of my hand, with some shadow on top!  Hands get far more wear, and with us washing them, it’s good to see how waterproof this stuff really is.

I didn’t really notice any fading, and I seemed to have to scrub to get it off after it had set completely.  Doesn’t budge is right!

It’s such a wonderful value — I might keep a bottle just for my kit, as it’s easier to work with than other eyeshadow primers.  It’s more smooth, less dry, and you can tell it is silicone based — making it extra creamy and easy to apply.

Overall, I would recommend this product to any make up user, professional or otherwise.

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!