Wednesday, April 6, 2011

April MakeUp Haul

Anyone who knows me knows I have become completely addicted to anything involved with beauty and hair regime. Well lately I have been dabbling a bit more in makeup. I'm talking using the right brushes for the right applications, the art of contouring and highlighting, etc. This is due to the fabulous ladies I subscribe to on Youtube. They have literally taught me soo much more about makeup that I could have ever learned during my time at beauty school.

Because of my free time that I have now I am constantly trying new looks with makeup. I must be doing something right because I get lost of compliments on the finished product. So with all that said I decided to do a makeup haul on some of the beautiful colorful things I've picked up over the past couple of weeks.

Make Up Forever HD Foundation   $40 

I absolutely love this foundation. I've been using Make Up Forever's liquid HD Foundation in 177 for about 2 years now and I refuse to use anything else. I just love the way it gives me a flawless finish especially when I look back at pictures I've taken when wearing it. It doesn't feel thick or heavy at all and it's oil free which is a major plus for me since I have oily skin. It is a bit pricey but I must say it's well worth it. I can never go into a drug store and get foundation becuase I'm the type of person who needs assistence when picking a shade. And let's face it nobody in Rite Aide, CVS, or Walgreens is going to help you match your shade in foundation. It's just not going to happen!

Mac Samples:
Oil Control Lotion Moisturizer  $29.50
Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone   $19.50

So the other day I went to the Mac store in the Westchester Mall and I wanted to find out how can I control my makeup from looking soo oily throughout the day. The store manager Michelle actually assisted me and she began to ask me what moisturizer do I use. Bashfully enough I kinda replied with a "I just use Vitamin E oil". She explained to me that although Vitamin E oil is very nourishing it would better if I used it at night as a treatment and get an oil free moisturizer. So she gave me a sample of their Oil Control Lotion. She then began talking to me about primers. I had bever used a primer on my face before. Michelle also did me the pleasure of making a sample of their Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone primer to control the my oily T-Zone. When I got home and used the Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone primer I noticed how it instantly becomes dry but not a flaky dry, sort of like a smooth dry. And it did notice how it allowed my foundation to go on even more smooth with no signs of an oily T-zone. Mission Accomplished!

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural   $27
Studio Finish Concealer  $16.50

While I was in the Mac store I was also interested in getting a setting powder to go over my foundation. I explained to Michelle that I didn't want to look too matte, ofcourse not skiny, but have a nice glow. So she suggested I get the Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Dark. When she put it on me I aboslutely loved it. Previously I was using my Stila bronzer and I just wanted a lil less bronzy so this was perfect. As for the concealer, I usually don't wear concealer. My foundation gives me perfect cover becuase I don't really have dark circles. However I love Kim Kardashian's undereye makeup and how it just looks soo illuminiscent and I wanted that look. So the trick is to get a concealer in 2 shades lighter. So I got the Studio Finish concealer in NC50. So with the combination of the Mineralized Skinfinish and the Studio Finish concealer I have an illuminiscent glow.

Lustre Lipstick "Fresh Brew"   $14.50
Lip Pencil "Chestnut" & "Cork"  $13
I'v been on the search for a really good nude lipstick for women of color. After watching a couple youtube videos I found one referred by MakeupD0LL. So without even going to a MAC counter I went online and ordered the Lustre Lipstick in Fresh Brew and 2 Lip Pencils in Chestnut and Cork. Most women don't take the time to line thier lips but the extra 2 minutes really makes a difference especially if you have small lips like mine. Ohh and I only got 2 lip pencils because I wasn't sure which one was going to look best with the lipstick. The trick is to get the lip pencil closest to the color of the skin around your lips. It will blend better.

What are some makeup tricks you'd like to share?