I am in love, guys. For real. I am having an affair with Almay foundation, and I decided to take this new found adoration and run with it. Therefore, all of you pretties are getting my top favorite cosmetics. I don’t have a ton of extra money to throw out the window for makeup, so I do a lot of drug store shopping, but, of course, like any girl, I have my favorite Sephora picks, as well. I’ll give you a little bit of both, and if you have any suggestions for me, I’d love to hear about them! I’m always looking for the next-best-thing when it comes to beauty products, so lay ‘em on me, ladies (gentlemen are welcome to give suggestions, too, of course)! Here goes:
1. Dream Mousse Blush
This stuff is legit. It’s the creamiest blush, and I love how easily it glides on. I use number 25, which is called “Rose Petal,” and I’m in love with it! The mousse isn’t super thick, so you don’t feel like you’re drowning in blush. I like the mousse a ton more than regular powder, just because I find that it’s easier to blend. The little bits of shimmer don’t hurt, either, and the pale pink gives the skin a natural glow without those 80-year-old bright pink cheekers.
2. Almay Smart Shade Concealer
The Kate Hudson commercials totally sold me on this one. When she asks, ” Do you ever buy a makeup thinking that it’s your shade, until you try it on (I’m paraphrasing here)?” I thought, ‘YES! THAT’S ME!’ I either get concealer that’s too dark or too light, and I swear to you guys, this is like the Baby Bear of makeup! It really does blend to your skin tone, and all that you need is a little bit. Many of you clear-complected ladies out there probably don’t need concealer, anyway, but I know that there are ladies like me who struggle with their complexions and want to hide those blemishes. This is the way to do it, along with the next product.
3. Almay Smart Shade Powder
This is the partner to the above concealer, and it’s pretty much the same deal, except with powder. Just take that handy little brush that’s stuck to the bottom of the container, swirl that baby ’round and ’round, and apply to your face. I go in a counterclockwise motion, but I’m no expert, so do what ya please. Next!
4. Kat Von D Eye Makeup
This is where I’ve struck gold. I have never found an eyeshadow that works as well as Kat Von D’s line of shadows. I’ve been using the above set for awhile now, and I keep finding myself replacing it when my favorite colors run out. I love that you get a little bit of everything, so it lasts a good amount of time, and it stays on forever! I know you girls know how annoying it is to get that crease-junk from your eyeshadow, and this doesn’t start to line-up in the creases until it’s almost bedtime and time to take it off. Actually, I would recommend any makeup from this line. I have a red lipstick called “Stiletto,” and it’s fabulous.
5. L’Oreal Colour Riche Lip Liner
When you decide to bust out that Kat Von D bright red “Stiletto” lipstick, you’re gonna need some liner. Now, I’ll admit that I’m no lipstick genius. I’m still feeling my way around the colors that are right for me, and when I get brave enough to wear those bright lips to work, chances are that I’ll wipe it all off by the end of my shift in order to cake on my cherry-flavored Chap Stick. However, this liner makes it super easy to “color inside the lines,” if you will, and it saves your lips from looking sloppy, sloppy.
6. Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara
There is nothing like hearing that little ‘pop’ when I pull out the wand to a brand new tube of Lash Stiletto mascara. I have a tendency to lean toward the wands that are skinnier, as opposed to the super fat wands because they’re easier to work with. Those big wands usually end up poking me in the eyeball at one point or another. I’m not even sure what to say except that the stuff works! You can pile it on as thick as you please, and you will not have tarantula eyes, I promise. The waterproof kind works awesome, too!
7. Maybelline Master Drama By: Eye Studio
Of course, you can always go with the traditional black or brown, but I have this in “Vibrant Violet.” It’s bright enough that you can wear it to work without looking completely obnoxious, and it slides on really easily. I hate those pencil liners that you have to burn with a lighter in order to soften them up enough to use (does anyone still do that?). The twist-up eyeliners rarely, if ever, pose that sort of problem for me, so they’re a-okay in my book.
8. NARS Lipstick
I have a tube of NARS lipstick, and this is the shade that I have in my possession. It’s called “Funny Girl,” and I never, ever would have picked this shade on my own. While making a pit-stop at C.O. Bigelow with my mother-in-law one evening (we had just dropped our Caleb off at the airport to head back to Georgia – we needed a little retail therapy), she insisted that I give this puppy a try. I did. I was super excited about how much my face brightened up when I put it on, and regardless of my fear of looking like a clown in bright pink lipstick, I paid the $25, which was pretty much all that I had in my checking account at the time, to take a tube home with me. “If you’re feeling low, and you’ve only got a dime in your pocket, go get your shoes shined.” Or, errr, by some lipstick. I still don’t go near it too often – I continue to be a lipstick rookie, ya know – but it’s always there for when I wanna get riskaay.
9. Milani Eyeshadow
I’ve already talked a bit about eyeshadow, so I won’t babble about this for too long. I just thought that I would note that I bought a little container of the “Beach Sand” shadow last night, and it’s gorg. You can use it dry for a more meek look, or you can add water and make it more dramatic. Either way, it really is fabulous.
10. Olay Makeup Remover
And at the end of the day, all of you have a beautiful face underneath all of that fabulous makeup, and I love Olay’s eye makeup remover. Just squeeze some on a cotton ball, and gently rub those lovely lids of yours. Even your waterproof mascara comes off easy-peasy, and it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.
Alright, now go get glamorous!
xoxoxo
Ash
