Foundation, Bronzer, and Blush Application w/ VIDEO!

This is a very natural makeup look I use everyday to look presentable. Its easy to play this look up with a dramatic eye and play down with simple eyeliner and/or mascara. 

The makeup shown in this video are:

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in "C35" applied with a Chanel #6 brush

e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set

MAC Mineralize Blush in "Chic Couple" applied with a a Sephora Powder Brush
      - http://www.sephora.com/face-eye-travel-tool-kit-P105102?skuId=822791

Tarte Amazonian clay mineral bronzer in "Park Avenue Princess" applied with a Chanel #10 brush

February Favorites

Hello! With it being the last day of February which is awesome because to me it signifies the last harsh month of cold here in Virginia and we can finally move into warmer days! Yay! So this month I've been experimenting with a few new favorite products and a crazy confession in skin care product I've been using. So lets get started!

*Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review these products nor were they given to me to review. I purchased these products with my own funds for my own personal use.*

The first  product I've been using is the L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream in Medium. The reason in buying this product is to starting moving into liquid foundations. Normally I use MAC's Studio Fix Foundation which is a medium coverage, build-able powder foundation (which has a couple of different ways of applying but I'll talk about that in another blog.) But I also wanted to see what the hype was with BB creams and also wanted something hydrating that I can slap on without much thought and it even out my skin tone when the weather warms up. Armed with as much research with video and forum reviews, I went ahead and purchased it in a medium skin tone at Wal-Mart for $8.00

It claims to do "4 Beautifying Actions in 1" and I'll list them with their definition of each:

 - 1. Hydrates: for all day moisture

 - 2. Primes: to smooth skin's texture

 - 3. Perfects: to hide imperfections

 - 4. Corrects: skin for a healthy looking, even complexion

Hydration: Now I have normal combination skin (dry patches on the cheeks and an oily t-zone), I can say it does provide light moisture and throughout the day it doesn't feel greasy or heavy and doesn't make me too shiny across my forehead and doesn't make my dry areas feel tight.

Primes: I also have some small but visible pores on the skin/ cheek area on both sides of my nose. Granted their small but it does smooth the texture out visibly to make my skin's texture look even. 

Perfects: Now here is where I'm a little "meh" about this product. I do tend to get my definition of imperfections I call pimples but that could also include texture and redness but then again they've went over that with Primes and Corrects - which I'll be getting into in a moment. But for my definition of imperfections with blemishes it doesn't quite cover them. It'll get rid of SOME redness but you'll still see the blemish. 

Corrects: And this finally with this I'll have to say it does even out my skin tone and does look healthy. 

So overall I'll say that this is a good product. It does what it says and even though the consistency is a little liquid-y, it does the trick. But be forewarned, those with heavy dry patches of skin I'd advise not to use this product because the color pigment can sink into the dry skin and make them stand out. If you do have some dry patches and can exfoliate the skin beforehand (not everyday) I'd recommend that and it'll glide on like a dream. 

My next product has been Origins Clear Improvement. I purchased this for $16.00 at an Origins store. Its a charcoal mask claims to clear pores and that skin can "breathe a sigh of relief". I'll have to agree! Its thick and when its on its cool and you can almost feel it working by getting into your pores and pulling out the dirt and grime and gunk that in your skin. When used once a week, it made my black heads on my nose look small and less large and even dissolves the external layer of dead skin off my face that does let my skin actual feel like its "breathing" like it claims. It makes you feel like you've really pampered yourself without doing much at all! 

After using I'd strongly recommend using a a good thick hydrating moisturizer afterward as the White China clay does suck out every drop on oil in your skin. 

Now my confession. With my previous review of the Origins Clear Improvement Mask in mind. One day I ran out of moisturizer and found myself without the most important part of my mini at home spa treatment... my moisturizer! So after some inner debate and getting creative, I headed to the kitchen to grab... olive oil! But not just any olive oil! It has to be Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Olive Oil. Crazy! I know but there are so many healthy properties that benefit the skin. It softens and smooth, and locks in moisture into the skin to keep it supple and hydrated. You can read more about the benefits of olive oil as a moisturizer at The Passionate Olive. 

Olive oil is used in a lot of natural beauty products in body scrubs, soaps, and even lip balms! You can use it mixed with sugar and honey for a lip and face scrub, or with epsom salt or sugar with some coffe ground for a great body scrub. Also you mix a little bit with your body lotion to give your lotion a winter time boost.  Its also an AMAZING eye makeup remover! Takes off mascara like a dream! I didn't have try hard to wipe it off! Plus it conditions the lashes so they stay soft and strengthens the lashes. And with those concerned with it causing acne, it hasn't with me. If your a little uneasy about using it all over your face at least try it as a makeup remover and wash it off with a little soap and water. Try and see for yourself!

I hope you found this very informative and try some of these products out and let me know more about your experiences too!

Stepping out of the "Safe Zone": My Journey into Makeup

When I first got started in application and wearing makeup, I did what most girls do, sticking to  the "safe" colors of browns, pinks and golds and little bit of black eyeliner and that was it. As time passed on and YouTube became popular, I stumbled upon tutorials with daring colors and techniques that made me run to my makeup kit and make a bigger, bolder line, a deeper darker crease and flash of color on the lid and BAM! I was hooked.

The first video I replicated was Sarah Victor's Classic Pin Up video. Simple, not flashy, but definitely different from my day- to- day. Then I subscribed and checked out other looks she did and was blown away each time. Shortly after checking her videos, was subscribing to new channels left and right. Craving new looks, approaches in application, product multi-tasking, and even product reviews.  As time passed on, I had a collection of Beauty Guru's in my arsenal that still school me with the color combos and executions they used.  

As time went on, I tried new approaches, invested in brushes and makeup, I've had a few friends ask me,"how did you do your eye make up?!" or I'd get "I love it! But would be too scared to try that!"  (usually that's with colors of bright blues, forest greens, and even orange and yellows!) But as I told them "Yes you CAN"! And within that group some have even asked me to go shopping with them when they get makeup and show them out of the "safe zone". 

It can be hard to step out of that warm and fuzzy safe zone we create. We're all creatures of habit. We all do it, even with small things that we don't think about. Like when we go to our favorite restaurant and want to try a new dish but get cold feet and order what we already know and comfortable with and then are a tad bit bummed out that we didn't try the special. But that's life. It's trial and error with a risk. Point being is that if we don't take the risk, we'll never know the outcome. There have been numerous times where I've tried and look and Holy Calzones! It did NOT go the way I thought it would! So I either tried to fix it or start all over.  But I wouldn't have known unless I tried. With each new video and inspirational picture I find on Pinterest, its a new challenge for me and I want to be able to not just be able to do it, but to share it with others like you who want to educate themselves and keep learning because not all techniques work with everyone.

Here are some tips that helped me and my friends step out of the "Safe Zone": 

1.) Educate! Watch videos of different beauty guru's - I've learned so much from them and their bold looks! Plus its a great way to keep up with trends!

2.) Look at your beauty bag/ box/ stash - Figure out what colors you have the most of. I've noticed with my friends I've helped, its usually light pastel colors of blue, purple and pinks and 1 edgy color of i.e. Turquoise, purple, or green. and normally that's an eyeliner. (and there is nothing wrong with that!) 

Then from what you learned about your makeup, take the most frequent color and go a few shade darker and/or brighter. You'll be able to integrate it into what you have and get the creative juices flowing!

3.) Eventually invest in some brushes. - Those sponge tip applicators just can't do the job of blending out colors in a particular look. The only thing I use sponge tip applicators on is when I need to pack on a color in one particular spot. (But if you can do it, more power to ya!)