Friday, July 25, 2008
{ 7:00 PM }
For me, keeping my makeup kit relatively small is important because I often need to pack my stuff to stay at my boyfriend's for a couple of days each week. Lugging around a huge makeup train case is way too much for me, so I pick out the tools that are essential and basic, yet have a lot of versatility to them to mix and match. So i compile the things that I definitely use every day, such as foundation, powder, blush, liner, and a few shadows into a medium sized Tupperware box :) I also bring a few brushes that I use daily into a plastic bag. I stuff all of that into my backpack, and I'm ready to go!!!
So for those of you ladies who are new to makeup and don't know where to start in terms of purchases, I've compiled a list of things that you need to have a small yet complete makeup collection.
1. Some form of foundation- Be it mineral foundation, liquid, pressed powder foundation, a foundation is crucial because I believe the flawless face should come first. I used to be a mineral foundation girl, but I finally decided that it just doesn't give me enough coverage. So I've switched to MAC's Studio Fix Fluid, which gives your skin a beautiful finish and you don't need to apply much to achieve it. If you don't need much coverage though, I think mineral foundation is a good way to go.
- If you want to try out mineral foundations which may be a slightly healthier alternative for your skin, check out
- Everyday Minerals ($5-12). So many people love this foundation, it has so many shades, and its soo cheap!
- Silk Naturals ($11.95). This mineral foundation is unique because you create your own shade, and is perfect if you just had a tan and need to darken your makeup the next day. It's very cheap as well!
- Looking for more coverage? Try a liquid foundation
- Try MAC's Studio Fix Fluid ($26). You really do not need much to even out your skin, it takes as little as a dot. It is definitely buildable, and it doesn't look cakey.
- If you're using a liquid foundation, try using MAC's 109 small contour brush ($32) to apply your foundation. This is a trick that I learned from fellow beauty blogger Scandalous Beauty-- it will blend your foundation like nothing else and create an airbrushed look!
2. Concealer- Make sure to apply some concealer to your under eye area and on your eyelid. This will brighten your face more than you know, and instantly makes you look more awake and younger. If you have acne scars or other imperfections on your face, rely on concealer to cover them, and NOT on slabbing on more foundation. If you do this, and put on less foundation, you'll look more natural and will feel less cakey.
- MAC's Select Cover Up is great, as it can offer enough coverage to brighten up your eye area and can be doubled up as a foundation as well. I use it to cover my acne scars as well. (if you have a really deep imperfection that is hard to cover up however, opt for something else because its not full coverage)
3. Loose powder to set your foundation- Applying loose powder after you apply your foundation will get rid of that "wet" feel that you have after you first apply it, and will help create a matte finish. Keeping your loose powder in your purse so you can touch up during the day will keep you from getting that oily look. Make sure you dab your face with an oil removing sheet before you reapply your loose powder so you don't get cakey.
- I use Bare Escentual's Mineral Veil ($19) - now available in translucent, translucent with a touch of warmth, and translucent with a touch of an ethereal glow.
4. An eyeshadow primer- The infamous
Urban Decay Primer potion ($16). It's famous for a reason, it works! It intensifies your shadow's color, literally gets rid of creasing, and also gets rid of any fear that by the end of the day your shadow will end up in places you never knew it could land!
- if you want to mix things up and not use Urban Decay Primer potion, check out Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
5. A matte brown eyeshadow- A brown shadow is the perfect color to fill in your crease. I always have some shade of brown in my crease every day, just because I feel like it works with so many colors.
- check out Napoleon Perdis' Dark Brown color disc ($22)
- or Milani's #18 Java Bean
6. A Black shadow- I'm a lover of the smoky eye, so of course I'm going to recommend everyone to at least get a black shadow. If you don't want a full on smoky eye, then you can dab a little bit of black shadow in your outer v, and it will create a very nice subtle definition to your eyes. You can also apply it wet to create an eyeliner!
- I use NYX's Black ($5). Cheap, beautiful, and it does the job!
7. A very light off white color for a highlight- Finishing your eye makeup with applying a highlighting color to the brow bone brings you one step closer to giving your eyes that special POP. No look is complete without it.
- You don't need to invest in a super expensive shadow for this, a drugstore brand will just do fine.
8. Pink/peach Blush- If you're not going to put anything on your eyes, at least put on a blush. A blush gives a finishing touch that will prevent your face from looking flat and lifeless.
- try NARS' Orgasm blush ($25). It's a subtle color that is a slightly shimmery pinky/peach in color and so many women love and use this blush!
