I love color- from bright pink nail polish, to a smoky purple eye, to a vibrant red lip- but there's something about a nude and beige makeup look that feels so comfortable and brings out a sort of "prettiness" in everyone. Nude colors, or neutrals as they are otherwise called, are colors that resemble different skin tones and shades that compliment your existing skin tone, enhancing your existing features to create that "no makeup" makeup look. It's an easy way to put together a look without the guess work of what color goes with what, and using neutral colors are great for a put together, on the go look for those busy moms out there. I feel you ladies- a toddler that won't sit still and the infant that screams at your feet, begging to be picked up, all while you're trying desperately to put some kind of makeup on to hide the sleepless night you thought would never end! And if you're not a mom, well, just wait, your turn will come ;) Here are my top picks for neutrals: Eyes When using neutrals on the eye, think soft earth tones and the varying shades of skin tones that we see all around us. Browns to use in the crease to create depth in the eyes and cool tone shimmers to highlight the brows and inner tear ducts to make your eyes pop and appear larger. Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Creme Brûlée, Cocoa Bear, Beaches & Cream, and Vanilla Bean Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Cheeks When using neutrals, coral and bronzy colors for the cheeks are great at adding color and also to sculpt the cheekbones. Lips Nude lips doesn't necessarily mean no color- think of it as your lips, but better! You can enhance your natural skin color by wearing a lip color 1 to 2 shades darker than your natural skin shade, or make a bold move with a darker earthy tone color for a more dramatic look. I love, love, LOVE nudes!! Flattering on any skin type, color, and face shape- it really is the universal go to look for fool proof, no brainer, beautiful makeup. It's also a great way to incorporate a bright color against a neutral backdrop. So when in doubt, just stay in the nude ;)
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I 'm starting a series of posts of the most common application questions I have received through the years called Back to Basics 101. I think what gets lost in the world of beauty websites and video tutorials is the simple step by step guide to everyday makeup application- foundation, blush, lipstick, etc. In this post, I will be focusing on bronzer. Bronzer is one of the most misunderstood and poorly used products, and also one of the most overlooked. When done correctly, adding warmth to the face can create a healthy glow and dimension to our faces when achieving a great makeup look. I often get asked "how do you look so naturally tanned and get that defined look?" Well, its bronzer. To be honest, I've also committed so many of the same mistakes in learning the proper way to apply bronzer and to contour that I've been guilty of the "dirty face"- what happens when you wear too much bronzer and you look like you've been pulled through a pile of dirt! This post will offer some tips on the proper way to apply bronzer in order to achieved a contoured look that will raise your makeup application skills to the next level. For reference, I've included the picture seen on the left to help in each step and links to recommended products. 1. Matte is where it's at: When choosing a bronzer for contouring, always look for a matte bronzer without any glitter or shimmer in it. The purpose of the bronzer is to define and "pull back" those features on the face you want to slim down or make smaller (the cheekbones, frame of face, nose, etc). Any shimmer will only bring attention to the face and will have the opposite effect that a bronzer is supposed to do. 2. Brown is the new orange: For the longest time, bronzing powders and creams have been made with an orange tone, leaving your skin with an unnatural color, making you look like a stand in role as an oompa loompa in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! When the sun warms up our skin, it creates a reddish undertone. What you want to find is a bronzer that has this same undertone to get the most natural look possible. Check out my essentials page to find the bronzer I use and love. 3. Avoid a heavy hand: To ensure a natural, flawless application, take your time to build up the product. Work one area at a time to avoid getting bronzer all over your face, which will defeat the purpose of contouring. Adding product in small amounts allows you to have more control over product placement and allows you to have a cushion for mistakes- its always easier to add more product than to remove it. 4. Blend, blend, blend- then blend some more: You want the bronzer to melt into your existing foundation or powder thats already on your face to create a seamless look. Blending will create an even, airbrushed look, creating the illusion of that great tan you would get after a vacation on a tropical island (which I'm still waiting for, but that's a different story). 5. Get the right tools for the job: For contouring , an angled or a small densely packed brush works great. I love using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for this area (see additional recommendations on my essentials page) A larger brush can be used if you're looking to just warm up your skin instead of defining through contouring, such as kabuki brush , which is a short bristle, tightly dense brush. I hope you find these tips useful in helping you achieve a beautiful bronzed, sun kissed look. Please leave your thoughts, questions, or comments on what products you'd like to see featured in this Back to Basic Series. Videos covering these topics will be coming soon, so look out for links to my youtube channel in future posts.
I often get asked "what are your top most inexpensive makeup products?" Oh, how I love that question! I love it because I have so many to choose from and there are so many products I've found over the years that are true diamonds in the rough, yet are overlooked because a low price tag brings a sense of "cheap". So in this post I want to dismantle the myth that low price doesn't always mean low quality. 1. These brushes pack a punch when it comes to drugstore brushes. Their all black appearance reflects that of their more expensive competitors, giving them a sophisticated, more professional look. Their soft bristles feel comfortable on the face and the E.l.f line offers a variety to choose from, from small detail brushes for eyes, to large powder brushes for all over application. My favorites are found within their studio collection (pictured on the left). The powder brush is excellent at buffing in powder and liquid foundation The small stippling brush is a great brush to use when applying cream products, such as blush, highlighter, and bronzer. 2. Wet n Wild Eyeshadows: These eyeshadows are packed with pigmentation and long wearing color. They've been my faves for years and continue to be a product I continually return to in my collection. 3. I have tried so many bronzers at the drugstore but was always disappointed at the color pigmentation, the orange tint that they would leave on the skin, or at the amount of shimmer they had. I made it my mission to find a good matte bronzer at a drugstore price and wow, did I ever! This bronzer has great color pay off, silky in texture and easy to apply. 4. This sponge creates a great finish on the skin when applying foundation, almost an airbrush look. It's also great at applying loose powder on the face. The magic of this sponge is because of the texture it gives when wet. Just submerge in water, completely soaking the sponge, then squeeze excess water to leave the sponge moist and bouncy. Great alternative to the high end Beauty Blender which retails for $20 a sponge! 5. I've compared this concealer in wearing power and quality to my high end favorite MAC's Pro Longwear Concealer (see essentials page) This concealer is creamy, easy to blend, and provides full opaque coverage for concealing blemishes, redness, dark circles, and any other problem area where coverage is needed. Apart from its concealing power, because the product is so pigmented, it can be used as a foundation and as contour and highlight creams because of its extensive color selection. More ways to use means more bang for you buck! What other Top 5 lists would you like to see? Comment and connect with me!
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When I'm not spending way too much time getting ready or drooling over the newest beauty product, I'm a stay at home mom of a rambunctious 4 year old boy, a sweet baby girl we lovingly call "sissy", and a wife to my high school sweetheart. Archives
August 2014
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