•Pardon my iPhone photos & my fab celfies, not-so-smiling
Mac: Eyeshadow, Loose Powder & Priming Powder / Darker Foundation for minimal use (The regular size bottle lasts me forever and it's my favorite)
*I am a diehard fan of jet-black, pencil (usually from Sally Beauty Supply)
Guerlain: BB Cream Foundation - my little miracle in a tube that I am so thankful to have discovered this year while in NYC, it's like the invisibility cloak from Harry Potter.
MY AuNaturale Lashes: (yes, it's true I don't use fake lashes, ever - the last time I did was prom circa 2011)
•It takes a little bit of TLC to get them just right and most days I do not have time but for holiday parties and going out I am happy to sit in front of the mirror & do them!
1) You need several Mascara Tubes - I have anywhere from 8-10 at any given time
2) Apply one even coat of each mascara you choose...one after the other
*I use drugstore mascara - always have & I will until I can afford to spend more money! For now I settle for quality skin/foundation/powders [some other items as well]
3) Manage Your Clumps: Meaning, as soon as you see a problem amongst lashes settle it sooner rather than later in the process. Once you fix it the rest of the coats go on much easier & you will be 10X more satisfied with the finished look.
*My Favorite Tool for this would be a metal-toothed eyelash brush/comb. I've found two very similar-quality brushes; one from Sephora & the other from Target!
--> PS: I like to do my routine in order - liner - lashes (lash cleanup with a Q-Tip) - Prime - BB - AndOr Contour - Loose Powder - Prime Powder (top, lightly) - Shadow
How?!:
•Eyes: You know the order & necessary steps but for shadow I have 2 different looks that I love; not to mention they're easily achieved...
1)Browns and or golds
2)Black/Gray and or silver
1- I like to use a shadow primer (any brand will work to some extent in my opinion) followed by lining the area above the already dried eyeliner with my darkest shade of Brown. Above that I add a brown shadow that seems to be about "2 shades lighter". Just below the brow line and down to previously applied section is reserved for a highlighting color, in this instance a nude color or even some sort of white will work. I blend the colors together evenly with a larger shadow brush and fill-in/add to the colors as needed & voila !
2 - Especially with the holidays sparkles, black & silver are always a great look. Black shadow can be trickier to manipulate so starting with less on your brush to begin with can help. I have a really great off-brand black pigment that I am constantly using for this and I start by shading just above the black liner I already have in place. A finer, more structured brush that has a more flat appearance is perfect because you won't have to spend as much time trying to contain the black to the one area versus the entire lid. Next I usually add a shade of purple, pink or graphite esque shadow and accentuate the look by blending of course & adding a highlight. With this look the highlight can be the same white as I mentioned in Look 1; just below the brow line and down to the previously filled in space.
OR you can make a more dramatic look with the highlight in either corner of the eyelid - Sparkles are best applied last cautiously so that you do not have them in your foundation & hair. I really like loose options and even common things like Chapstick or your shadow primer can be a huge help in getting them to stay put.
You can also try glitter-mascara, I have used Victoria's Secrets version & I found that one swipe per eye adds just the right amount.
Lips: Especially in the bitter Upstate New York winters, my lips are in constant need of hydration. So my base almost always has to be something super hydrating even Chapstick or a burts bees tinted balm followed by a shade of red/pink or brown/purple for me, ALWAYS. I'm boring with lips so please forgive my lack of experimentation with all of the other fabulous options there are out there.
•Hair Hack: I am a very busy person & my 1.5 feet of hair can really slow me down, so I've come up with some really quick & super easy hairstyles that get me by. Today for my relaxed, winter waves I used (shh guilty pleasure) Aussie Mousse & a small amount of any gel that isn't too hardening + doesn't turn white upon contact! Then I just scrunch the two into my hair until it looks like the strands are retaining some shape & throw it up into a messy-bun as I do my makeup. Sometimes to get a less-voluminous look I will re-locate the bun lower after a while & sometimes I seperate a part (center or side). You can make this look more polished by straightening the ends or blowing them out (only when dry of course, no frying please!) OR build more volume and add some quick curls with a wand (I use a Chi 1") or curling iron depending on your curl style preference.
**While studying abroad we had quite a few early mornings for day trips et cetera and I managed to not sacrifice my look/outfit without waking up even earlier! I always pick out an outfit the night before, even if you chane your mind in the AM it gives you an option and shower ing at night can be a huge help (I know it's not ideal)! For makeup I usually went natural & bare with nothing but SPF BUT my hair usually transpired from a "slept in/tousled" look, sometimes not even editing what happened in my sleep! Some suggestions? Keep your hair as wet as possible before you hit the pillow, parting your hair gives a flatter look whereas left alone post-shower gives you more volume & it all can be touched up if need be with any styling tool. Running some hairspray through & a blow dryer to embrace the volume, or straightening some sections to enhance the sleek look you so carefully created in your slumber.
Stay Tuned...
Xoxo
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