My favorite BB Cream

You. Guys. 

I know what you're going to say. You're like, "Hey! Why the radio silence?" My apologies, friends, it's been a bit of a crazy summer.

Anyhoodles... I recently came across theee best BB cream and had to share my findings with you. It's a bit pricey, but I used a .33 oz sample for two months and still have a bit left. So it's worth the investment. (Plus, it comes in two sizes, so you can try it out without having to create a large divot in your wallet.) 

It's called Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm (I dare you to say it three times quickly) and it has changed my life. It provides fabulous coverage without weighing your skin down. It's not quite dewy, but it's definitely not matte, so it's perfect for the summer. I add a bit of my favorite concealer, and I'm good to go. 

I dare you not to love it. 

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Frugal Finds Under $25

I apologize that my posts for Thursday and Friday didn't make it live last week. I've been dealing with a sick baby and a sick me. So please forgive me for posting last Thursday's post today. Your regularly-scheduled Makeup Monday will return next week.

In lieu of my standard "Like it/Love it" Thursday, I decided to compile another Mother's Day gift guide that highlights some frugal (yet fabulous) options. Everything shown below is under $25, so if you're feeling bold, you might want to snatch up a couple of these deals for your favorite gal.

[I would also be remiss if I did not mention that J.Crew is currently offering 30% off of all spring sale items with the code SUNSHINE. I have my eye on these, this and this. To name only a few.]

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Primers: A Primer

I have always had an on-again/off-again relationship with acne. Which, to my dismay, got really nasty (and deeply cystic) during my pregnancy. Add that to the fact that I'm in the waning year years of my twenties, and I have discovered that I have quite a bit of scarring on my face. (I don't really like to talk about it.)

Enter primers.

I have always been a bit skeptical about the effectiveness of primers, mainly because I don't like to wear a lot of foundation. Plus, it's just more money to spend on "un-fun" makeup. Well... that was then. Now, I've discovered that the right primer can be the difference between uneven skin texture and tone and a more fabulous, not to mention flawless, face. Plus, a primer helps keep the rest of your makeup in place. (Which comes in handy around the 3:00-4:00 makeup horror hour. You know what I'm talking about.) 

In my opinion, Smashbox wins for the best products in the business. I mean, I would bathe in the stuff if I could. Stila also has a great color-correcting product that would work well if you're looking to lighten up some spots but don't have a lot of scarring. Admittedly, both brands can be a bit pricey (though are pretty reasonable given their effectiveness), so I've included my two favorite drugstore options. Use this if you need more coverage (like me) and this if you want to add a subtle glow. 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Makeup questions? Contact me here. 

Fresh lip color for Fall/Winter

This season we've seen a shift toward a dark, bold lip. Much like the red lip trend, finding the right shade can be a little intimidating. My advice is to look for shades in the bordeaux family. Those purple-red hues are simply stunning, and work with various hair and skin tones.

Application can be intimidating, but if you follow the steps I outlined in this post, you should  be good to go. Remember to keep the rest of your makeup fairly neutral, and have fun! 

1. NARS lipstick in Afghan Red  | 2. Topshop lipstick in Mischief | 3. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Plum Perfect | 4. Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in 109 Rogue Noir | 5. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture in 31: Rose Fusain

Makeup application 101

Have you ever had one of those flawless makeup days? You know, the kind when everything you do to your face just works, and you feel like you could conquer the world? It's an amazing feeling.

Have you ever had the dismay of realizing that said flawless face lasts about as long as your daydream about conquering the world? Me too.

I received the following question from one of my lovely readers:

"dear miss l:

my makeup never stays on my face. it looks ah-mazing when i first put it on, but then not more than 20 minutes later you cannot even tell i was even wearing makeup to start with.
am i using bad makeup (inexpensive stuff you can find at your grocery store)? would it be worth it to shell out bigger buckos for the name brand stuff? am i applying wrong?
i NEED your guidance!"

When I read this, all I could think about was how many times this has happened to me. It's frustrating, really, when you find that your foundation hasn't lasted and/or your mascara has made its way to every surrounding area of your eye but your lashes. When your eyeshadow clumps into hideous creases and your blush seems to fade.

Thus, I want to share my little tips and tricks with you all, so that we can band together and say no to the ephemeral makeup that seeks to sabotage us all.

First of all, I do think it's important to get a quality foundation. In an ideal world I think we all would love to frequent the makeup counters at our beloved department stores and indulge ourselves in all the niceties that higher-end makeup can afford us. However, after taking a long, hard look at the economy, this is not always possible.

That being said, I still believe that makeup (and clothing) can and should be an investment. For me, the foundation that I wear is the most important aspect of my makeup application process, so I spend a little more for it. As a consequence, I rarely buy new eyeshadow or liner or other, more "superfluous" makeup products. (Or I wait for a birthday or other special occasion to make my requests. Te hee.) You may have a certain eye shadow color or blush that you simply can't live without, so you might seek to save a little by buying a cheaper foundation. This is all fine and good, so long as you're still seeking for quality products in your specific price point.

But even if you spend more money on certain makeup products, you must be certain you know how to properly apply it. Here are my two steps to properly applying makeup, regardless of the price point, with options that encompass those on a smaller budget, and those on a larger budget.

Step One: Foundation

The single most important aspect of foundation application is to moisturize. I can't emphasize enough how integral this step is to the preservation and maintenance of your makeup as a whole.

When you wake up in the morning (or whatever time you choose to apply makeup) moisturize you skin (and preferably use some eye cream) at least ten minutes before you plan to apply your foundation/concealer. Why, you ask? Because the moisturizer needs adequate time to absorb into the skin. If you do not give it ample time to do so, your makeup will wear off in a matter of hours because it will have leeched onto the unabsorbed moisturizer and fade along with it.

Apply your makeup with some form of an applicator (preferably a brush like this for liquid foundation, or this for powder foundation, but if you have a leaner budget, go with sponges like these). This is ensures a more even, and less cakey, application.

Concerning the "10 minute waiting period" for moisturizer, I can personally attest that this single action makes a world of difference. I conducted an experiment on myself and was shocked at the difference that a few minutes' wait made in the overall staying power of my makeup as a whole.

If your foundation is liquid-based, always use a powder to set your foundation. Depending on your preference, a loose or a pressed powder can be used. (If you're like me and prefer to use a pressed power, make sure to apply it with a large makeup brush to ensure that the powder is dispersed evenly and does not appear cakey.) Take your powder compact with you in case you need to make small adjustments/touch-ups throughout the day.

This firm foundation will set the stage for your blush and/or bronzer and help them stay in place all day.

*If you have a little bit more of a budget for makeup, along with the makeup brushes I mentioned above, I would recommend getting a foundation primer (my personal favorite is Laura Mercier's Oil-free Foundation Primer) that you can use instead of moisturizer (if you tend to have oilier skin) or over your moisturizer (which is what I do because my skin tends to be on the dry side). A primer helps to prep your face to make it an easier canvas to work with by evening the surface of your skin. Also, I would get some oil-blotting sheets like these to carry with you throughout the day. As far as foundations go, I personally use Bare Minerals and love it. I also think the entire Studio Fix line at Mac is phenomenal. It's worth the extra money, believe you me.

Step Two: Eyes

In the past, one of my biggest makeup frustrations has come from the lack of staying power for eye makeup. It seemed like whenever I mastered the perfect eyeshadow/eyeliner combo, it would be a wasted mess in a couple of hours-- creasing and smudging would be the inevitable result, which made me wish for dim lighting or to be surrounded by people who are near-sighted.

I have learned since then that preparation is 2/3 the battle.

Add a light layer of powder and foundation to your eyelids. This will help the eye shadow to stay in place, and reduces the risk of creasing. Add a thin layer of powder to the bottom part of the eye, below the lower lashes. (This helps dissuade rouge mascara or eyeliner from smearing below your eyes.)

If you decide to use a cheaper mascara or eyeliner, invest in the waterproof variety, as this will help eliminate any "bleeding" that can result from the wear-and-tear of your daily life. If you have set your eyes with some powder/foundation, it can help eyeliner from bleeding as well. Just ensure that you select an eyeliner with some staying power. For a more dramatic and reliable effect, go with a liquid liner (it has four times the staying power of a pencil liner). But, if you're like me and don't really like eyeliner for an every-day look, skip the step all together. It's one less thing to worry about.

*If you have a little bit more of a budget for makeup, I would recommend getting a higher-end mascara, because they will not bleed as much as a drug store brand. I have recently raved about Mac's Plush Lash Mascara and Diorshow Iconic Mascara because they don't bleed at all. This is an instance where you really get what you pay for. And a lot of women think it's worth it. As for an extra eyeshadow boost, I would recommend getting an eyeshadow primer like this one, because it primes the lids and provides a smoother texture to work with. It has the same positive effects as a foundation primer, and really lengthens the life of your eyeshadow.

{For tips on lip stick application, please see this post. Though it specifically addresses red lipstick, the same basic principals apply to most other lip colors. A nice prep of chapstick and some powder and foundation works wonders.}

So there you have it my friends. Just a few simple tweaks to a standard makeup routine can engender much better results. I hope it works as well for you as it has worked for me.

Concerning mascara...

I LIKE

Voluminous Mascara by L'Oreal ($7.50)

I LOVE

Plush Lash Mascara by MAC ($12.00)

I LUST


Diorshow Iconic Mascara by Dior ($27.00)

Makeup brushes part two

Here are the rest of my recommendations for basic brushes.

Eyes

MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush

MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush

Cheeks

MAC 116 Blush Brush


Bare Escentuals Flawless Face Brush

Now for some fun ones. For a great eyeshadow brush for your crease, I highly favor the MAC 219 Pencil Brush. The angle of the brush is perfect for adding eyeshadow to the crease of your eyelid.

I also love brow brushes. You can go high end, with this gem from the queen of eyebrows, Anastasia (I like this one because you get two brow brushes in one), or go the frugal route by just thoroughly washing an old mascara wand and using it.

Eye liner brushes are also great if you like to play around with eyeliner and dislike using the pencil form. This brush from Bare Escentuals is great because it is curved to accommodate your eye shape.

Last, but not least, I heart lip brushes. Especially ones that are retractable, because they can be thrown in your purse with your favorite red lipstick. This one from MAC is currently my favorite.

So there you have it; I hope my couple of posts has inspired you to go out into the world of brushes and have a little fun. Because, believe you me, it can be really fun.

P.S. Yes, I realize that I am pretty obsessed with MAC, but that's because it's the best. It's young, high quality without being completely unaffordable and has myriad products that pretty much satisfy any makeup need you may have. I hope I can eventually convert you all to the wonderful world that is MAC makeup.

Never underestimate the power of a great set of makeup brushes

Life gets busy. I know that when I got up this morning at 5:20 am (eesh) the last thing on my mind was makeup brushes, but let me tell you what, they came in handy.

These days I use makeup brushes for pretty much everything (save my Studio Fix application) that involves makeup. I use a brush to conceal my blemishes and to apply my foundation (whether it be the Bare Minerals I use now, or the liquid foundation I used to use), to apply blush, and when I have the time, to apply eyeshadow. It may seem superfluous to have so many makeup brushes, but I can attest to the fact that they have been a lifesaver.

First off, let's discuss why it's advantageous to use makeup brushes.

One of the most integral parts of makeup application is to enhance your face in a natural way, rather than appearing as if you have a bad tan on top of seven layers of cheap makeup. There are instances where you can play up your features with eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick where it's obvious you're wearing makeup, but the point is to make it look like it's a seamless extension or enhancement of your face. Makeup brushes, then, become vital because they aid in the application process of your makeup.

Brushes give you more control over the quantity of makeup you apply. As I recommended in my red lipstick post, a lip brush is a great avenue to pursue when applying a bright red lipstick, because you have more control over the amount of lipstick that is dispersed. The same applies for foundation, blush and eyeshadow.

Even if you have flawless skin, it is always wise to apply some sort of foundation (even if it's just a tinted moisturizer or something with minimal coverage) in order to even the tone of your skin. And the point of foundation is to appear as if you're not wearing it. When you use a makeup brush that is specifically designed for this purpose, you have a better chance of evenly applying your base makeup, thereby creating a natural rather than a cakey look.

Similarly, when you apply your blush, it should be a hint of color that enhances your face's natural glow, rather than being a 1980's hot pink streak across your cheeks. A proper blush brush helps distribute the rogue in a way that does so; so the apples of your cheeks look delightfully natural, and not Bozo the Clown-ish.

Eyeshadow can be tricky to apply, for it can easily crease or bleed. Using a eyeshadow brush, and tapping off excess shadow can ensure an even application that reduces the risk of creasing/bleeding because there is not excess makeup on the brush. This also mitigates the chunky eyeshadow look that plagues every eight year old that experiments with mom's makeup.

It is important to purchase high quality makeup brushes because they last longer and apply makeup better. Also, I would invest in a brush cleaner (this one is my favorite) so that you can regularly clean your brushes and preserve their life. I cashed in a few years ago when MAC was selling a mini-brush set for a steal (their brushes can get quite pricey). The only difference between my brushes and the full size brushes is their length. And, the set came with a darling case to hold them in. So keep your eyes peeled for deals like that. Below are the brushes that I believe are critical for basic makeup application. Even if you get them one by one over a period of time, it will be worth it. Trust me on this one.

Foundation Brushes

Bare Minerals Kabuki Brush (Pwdr)/MAC 190 Foundation Brush (Lqd)

Concealer Brushes

MAC 195 Concealer Brush/Bare Minerals Maximum Cover

These are the most basic of all makeup brushes, and are a great place to start. Tomorrow, I'll give you my picks for basic blush and eyeshadow brushes, as well as for a few "fun" brushes as well.

Sometimes all you need is a little Studio Fix

There is one, and only one, makeup item that has been an ever-present fixture in my makeup bag the past eight years. It is something I carry in my purse everywhere and if I do not have it, I feel a bit uneasy. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, Studio Fix, by MAC.

I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this powder is. It provides an excellent range of coverage (from the "ohmigosh i need to get rid of some oil stat" to the "i need to cover up some blemishes or under eye circles") and the included sponge works wonderfully. I typically stray from using the makeup applicators that are included in a product because I have my own set of brushes that work a lot better; however, I always use the sponge when I'm applying my Studio Fix.

C3 is perhaps the most commonly used color of all of the shades; I like it because it takes me from my palest (which unfortunately is most of the time these days) to my tannest (which was pretty tan back in the day). I would recommend visiting your nearest MAC counter to unearth your perfect shade.

At $26 it is a tinge pricey, but I promise you, a little goes a long way. Even in my heyday of only using this for blemish coverage, I'd get 3-5 months out of it. So you just might want to think of it as an investment.

Seeing red (in a good way)

Gwyneth Paltrow once said:

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”

Now, while I may not typically choose that manner of language (unless there's a cop pulling me over, or I've just let a softball pass in between my legs instead of getting in my glove) I think she raises a few excellent points.

First, it is important to embrace your whole self and appreciate the unique aspects that make you, you. Even tiny "flaws" like scars or prominent features (take my nose for example) can be used to your advantage. You should own your you-ness. Because why would you want to look like anybody else?

When you're comfortable in your own skin, it shows. It'll give you the confidence to play around with makeup and fashion; to discover the things that you love and that enhance your inimitable qualities. And trust me, people will notice.

Second, never underestimate the power of red lipstick. Seriously. When executed correctly, this simple makeup item can really make a statement... in a good way. Here are some ground rules:

1. Choose the right shade of red

The single most important aspect of wearing red lipstick is choosing the right shade for your skin tone. (If you're not completely certain what your undertones are, you can always go into a department store and consult a professional. Also, I found a good little online quiz that might also be helpful.) If you have yellow or olive undertones (aka warm undertones) to your skin, you're best off with a warmer shade of red that has brown undertones. Like a brick red or a fire engine red. Below are a few of my favorites from MAC. (You can see all of their lip colors in better detail here.)

Chili


Spice It Up!


Dubonnet

Conversely, if you have pink or red undertones (aka cool undertones) you should stick with reds that have a blue or a pink base. Here are a few suggestions, also from MAC.

Ruby Woo

Lady Danger

Russian Red

2. Minimize the rest of your makeup

Red lipstick makes a pretty bold statement all by itself, so it is absolutely vital to keep the rest of your makeup clean and simple. We're talking no eye shadow (or very subtle eyeshadow in neutral colors) and minimal blush. Personally, I think a thin, soft eye liner and a coat of mascara are all you need to do as far as your eyes go. Feel free to skip the liner too, if you so desire. Blush should be so subtle that your cheeks don't even look like they have any blush on them; rather, that they just look naturally rosy. If you have really creamy, porcelain skin, I would skip the blush all together. Hello classic beauty.

3. Proper application is key

1: Start out with a lip moisturizer or primer to moisturize the lips.
2: Apply a thin layer of foundation and then set it with some loose powder. (This is especially helpful when you're planning on wearing the color all day... it helps set the color in place.)
3: Lightly line your lips with a lip liner that is similar (it should be practically identical) to the shade of lipstick you are applying. (Important Tip: do not line your lips with a shade that is darker than your lip color, better to err on the side of lightness than darkness.) If you don't want to go to the expense of buying a red lip liner, use a lip liner that most closely resembles your own lip color. (This is the route I would most recommend, because it can be difficult to match a lip liner with a lipstick.)
4: Apply a thin coat of lipstick. (Start in the middle of the lips and move outward.) I would strongly suggest using a lip brush to apply the color, because it gives you more control and helps regulate how much you're putting on.
5: After one coat of lipstick has been applied, blot your lips with a tissue.
6: Finish with another light coat of lipstick and you're ready to go.

*In the case of smudges, use a Q-Tip and follow up with a light concealer.*

And always remember to touch up!

Remember, this is meant to be fun and not stressful. If you ever have any questions for me, or if you feel I haven't been clear enough, please feel free to email me at l.list.feedback(at)gmail(dot)com.

Now, go get your red on!

A lovely assortment of affordable beauty products

Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream. All I can say is, WOW. Husband got this for me as a little stocking stuffer, and my hands have never been happier. It's the perfect size for your purse, and if you have super dry hands like me, it's a lifesaver.

My Favorite Lip Balm by CO Bigelow. What the Bliss Cream has done for my hands, this gloss had done for my lips. It's great for those of you who like to shy away from lip color, but don't want the monotony of chapstick. It's also great to put over lipstick if you want to give a matte color a bit of shine.

The Oxygen Peel by Philosophy. I happen to be a masochist when it comes to my face. It's not something I'm proud of, but it tends to be true. So yeah, I have a bit of scarring from such actions. I love this product because it's SO SO SO much cheaper than a chemical peel or a microderm, yet elicits comparable results. My skin cried for joy when I opened this present.

The Ultimate Blockbuster- Collector's Edition by Sephora. First of all, let me just tell you what is in this kit: 71 eyeshadow shades, 13 cream eyeshadow shades, 5 blushes, 1 compact powder, 60 lip glosses, one lip liner, one eyeliner, 4 brushes and 3 sponge tipped applicators. And it's only 48 bucks. This is a wonderful kit for the expert or the novice because it provides you with a lot of options to play around with. I absolutely love this kit.