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?
Every season is changing, both the weather and what trends cosmetic companies are laying down for the season!
I’m going to share some of the trends that are going to be in hot demand this winter along the lines of cosmetics, and hope that we can all try something new that we haven’t done before. I’ll also post product recommendations for each trend! (If there are more than one suggestion from a brand for each category, I’ve separated the color names using a forward slash, or /.)
Red lips. Red lips are back in full demand this season, offering a bold, classic and sexy look for any woman. That is, as long as you find the proper shade of red! Orange-based reds tend to be the brightest, while blue-based reds will help make your teeth look whiter. My favorite red lipsticks include Kat Von D’s Stiletto/Underage Red/Hellbend (Sephora), Nixie cream lipstick in Mila (Nixie), Urban Decay Gravity/Gash/Revolution (Urban Decay), and NYX round lipstick in Electra (Cherry Culture, NYX)
Nude lips. I know you’re thinking, “What? Nude and red are in this season?” And yes, it’s true. Both colors are 100% in to go with the “in” eye look. Nude lip colors often pale your lips, or are close to your natural lip color but add a bit of zing to your look. Some excellent ideas to look for are Rimmel London’s Airy Fairy (Rimmel London), MAC’s Creme D’Nude/Myth/Blankety/Honeylove lipsticks (MAC).
Silver and shimmery gray eyeshadows. What a wonderful way to deck the halls this season than with some shimmery silver eyeshadow! Almost all brands have an excellent silver, so here are my favorites! Ben Nye Grand Lumiere eyeshadow in Silver (Fun-Shop), Nixie eyeshadows in Cosmic/Silver Lining (Nixie), MAC eyeshadow in Electra/Silver Ring (MAC).
Bronze smokey eyes. Here are my recommendations for eyeshadows to help you achieve this look! Urban Decay deluxe eyeshadows in Underground/Shag (Urban Decay), Urban Decay eyeshadows in Baked/Half-Baked/Rush/Smog/YDK (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Bronzo/Bronzed/LA/Ritz/Morocco (Nixie), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Bronze (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadows in Patina/Era/Honey Lust/Bronze/Antiqued (MAC).
Purple smokey eyes (Can you tell smoke is in this season?). Here are some of my favorite violets, plums and purples from different brands that can help you achieve a vibrant smokey eye, or one with subtle and subdued color! Urban Decay eyeshadows in Flash/Last Call/Purple Haze/Ecstasy/Crash (Urban Decay), Urban Decay Deluxe eyeshadows in Frigid/Freakshow/Ransom/Fishnet (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Violaceous/Scorpio/Grape/Zodiac/Night Falls/Jinx/Romance (Nixie), Ben Nye grand lumiere eyeshadow in Royal Purple/Amethyst (Fun-Shop), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Violetta/Deep Violet/Royal Purple (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadow in Purple Shower/Violet Trance/Stars N Rockets/Trax/Satellite Dreams/Beautiful Iris/Idol Eyes/Nocturnelle/Shadowy Lady/Parfait Amour/Contrast (MAC).
Blue and navy eyeshadows (which can also be used to achieve a smokey effect). Thinking 80′s? Think of this is the 80′s blue with more class and sass. Urban Decay eyeshadows in Goddess/Mary Jane/Shattered (Urban Decay), Urban Decay Deluxe eyeshadows in Peace/Adore (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Anchored/Starlight/Blue Angel/Electric Blue (Nixie), Ben Nye grand lumiere eyeshadow in Cosmic Blue/Peacock (Fun-Shop), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Celestial Blue/Navy Blue (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadows in Electric Eel/Freshwater/Tilt/Deep Truth/Nehru (MAC).
Gel or liquid eyeliner in black. Use what works for you, everyone’s eyes are different so I’m careful in recommending for this category. As a note, I’ve never had problems with any black gel eyeliner I’ve used, from Smashbox, to MAC, to Urban Decay, to L’Oreal. Pick your favorite in your price range!
Black eyeliner pencils. I have one recommendation here, Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner. There’s nothing better!
Pink, shimmery cheeks! Make sure it’s a subtle pink and not overpowering to your skin-tone! Urban Decay blush in Quickie (Urban Decay), Nixie cream blush in Elegance (Nixie), Nixie powder blush in Elegance/Radiance (Nixie), Maybelline Dream Mousse blush in Pink Frosting/Rose Petal, MAC blush in Well Dressed/Dame/Fleur Power/Dollymix (MAC).
Fresh, even complexion. Of course, good skin starts at the root of good skincare. I recommend visiting an esthetician to assist you in picking out some wonderful skincare items. Or going to Ulta, or Sephora, and talking to one of the guys and gals there who are trained in their skincare lines. I’m personally particular to Bioelements (nothing has worked better for me), but there are also a ton of mass consumer products if you are on a budget. Always read the back of the bottle, it will tell you who the product is formulated for, what type of skin it is formulated for, and what it is supposed to do. After skincare, of course comes your foundation. I cannot recommend more the Face Atelier Ultra Fluid Foundation (Face Atelier), it goes on so smoothly, and really evens the complexion without looking like make up. Who could ask for anything more? For a more cost effective alternative, L’Oreal True Match (Ulta) has a wonderful selection of shades, and blends seamlessly onto the skin. The added SPF is a bonus! Not to mention it’s readily available at any drug store across the nation.
Not all of us have a lot of money to spend on department store make up, let alone do we always want to. There are plenty of excellent beauty products that you can get at your local Ulta, Wal-Mart, etc for an extremely reasonable price.
To assist, I’ve decided to mark my top drugstore products!
L’Oreal True Match Foundation. An excellent shade selection, long wearing, and with SPF. It has a very natural finish and evens out your complexion without looking made up.
L’Oreal True Match Powder. This is one of my favorite powders hands down. I find it very comparable to high-end powders only for a fraction of the cost!
NYC Translucent powder (loose or pressed). Inexpensive, easy to find, and sets your make up beautifully.
NYX Blush. Great selection of shades without too much shimmer. L’Oreal has a nice selection of blush in their True Match line as well.
NYC or Rimmel bronzers — really universal tones for all skin colors.
NYX eyeshadows. High pigment, superb blendability, and adorable packaging to boot!
L’Oreal and Maybelline mascaras. End of story.
NYX and Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks. Great selection of colors! I also enjoy Revlon!
Rimmel Exaggerate lip liner.
L’Oreal HIP Cream liner, or their Carbon Black liquid liner.
Revlon Colorstay eyeliner. Stays put. For a more colorful selection, check out NYX!
NYC brow fill kit, or Maybelline brow pencils. Either or are excellent.
Eco Tools brushes. Inexpensive, good for the environment, and wonderful quality.
These are my cream of the crop. I would recommend any of these products! Any questions? Let me know!
For your homework: What’s the best and worst products you’ve picked up from the drugstore? Do you find mass cosmetics comparable to more prestige lines?
June has ended, and I figure it’s about time I start posting my favorite beauty items of each month! I won’t restrict myself to a certain amount of items, seeing as it will vary from month to month, but here we go!
