makeup products to achieve a flawless face :) PART 3 HIGHLIGHTS! tips and tricks:)

Hi beautifuls! This is part 3 out of the total of 3 posts in regards to what i wear to get an absolutely flawless face. Like I stated before, this is NOT the makeup routine I wear every day as this is a lot of makeup (although it doesnt feel like it!). Instead, I reserve this makeup routine for night out or when I want my skin and face makeup to look its best. Hope you like it :)


I split this post into three parts: Base (Primer, Foundation and Powder), Color (Contour, Bronzer and Blush) and Glow (Highlight).


Everything all together:



Highlighters:




I've included two different highlights because i use them for two different looks. I use the MAC MSF when I want a super noticeable glow. I only apply it to my cheekbones as it can give off a slightly pink cast and it is very glowy. It is finely milled so it doesn't come off as glittery, chunky, oily or anything else. It also doesn't look gaudy, but it is more of a statement or nighttime look than the Sin eyeshadow. I use sin as a more subtle look and apply this to all of my highest points (i.e. my cheekbones, my brow bone, my cupid bow, above my eyebrow bone...I will do a tutorial soon showing the placement). This gives a very subtle glow, but if applied more heavily on the brush,it can look more dramatic.


Highlighter: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Light Flush







I bought this highlighter, which is light pink with bronze and raspberry veining, about three years ago when it came out with the N collection in 2008. This is a limited edition product, but I found a dupe for it so look forward to that in upcoming posts! Applied subtly, this is a beautiful strong glowy highlight. It gives off a pink-ish highlight. With that being said, it does work on cooler skintones as well, but I always wear this highlight with a wam colored or no blush (as opposed to a cooler shade of blush). Applied with a different brush which would provide heavier application, Light Flush turns becomes more pigmented and a sort of light-pink bronzey color that I use as a blush. I like using this mostly for more dramatic looks because the sheen, shimmer, and color make it a bit more statement-making than another highlighter.


Highlighter #2: Urban Decay Sin



(2nd shade)



(2nd shade)


I never had any interest in Sin before I picked it up in the Naked Palette. Even then, it looked pretty but just seemed like another average highlighter. Boy, how wrong I was! After seeing Natty use this color as a highlight, I had to try it out for myself and it was love. Sin is described as a shimmery golden peach toned color, but I find this color to be much more multidimensional. It sometimes gives off peachy tones, sometimes pinky, sometimes champagne, etc etc. I find this color morphs to whatever color I pair it with. It gives off a beautiful glimmer that truly looks like your skin is radiant, healthy, and awake. Regardless of the fact that this isn't a bright blush which would offer a pop of color, I still feel like it really brightens my face up.


That's it for my flawless face series :) Hope you girls enjoyed! Please let me know your star products that are key for you achieving a flawless face.


xxx

makeup products to achieve a flawless face :) PART 2

Hi hunnnies! This is part 2 out of the total of 3 posts in regards to what i wear to get an absolutely flawless face. Like I stated before, this is NOT the makeup routine I wear every day as this is a lot of makeup (although it doesnt feel like it!). Instead, I reserve this makeup routine for night out or when I want my skin and face makeup to look its best. Hope you like it :)

I split this post into three parts: Base (Primer, Foundation and Powder), Color (Contour, Bronzer and Blush) and Glow (Highlight).

Everything all together:


Contour/Bronzer/Blush:


Bronzer: NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer Face Color in Sunny



I am in love with this bronzer. I got this for about $3 at Target around 2 years ago and have gone through maybe four or five. Before I used this bronzer, I used a Sephora one which ran around $15 or so. That one gave me such beautiful color but I would run out of it every few months and it would get quite pricey. After hearing so many raves about the NYC one, I ran out and got it and have loved it ever since. It is an exact dupe of the Sephora one, minus the price and the packaging. The NYC packaging is quite floppy but I care more about the product than the actual packaging. This bronzer gives such healthy color to my skin and can definitely be built up (I can use this bronzer in the summer vs. in the winter). It never looks orange either, just gives off a gorgeous brown color :)


Contour: ELF Blush/Bronzer Duo in Blushed/Bronze



I first picked this up to use as a blush and bronzer duo, which is exactly what it's marketed as. I am NC30 so not pale, but for some reason, the bronze side of this is much too dark for me as a bronzer. Instead, I use it to contour which I absolutely love it for. The color looks quite sparkly and shimmery in the pan, but with a few taps on the side of the compact, the shimmer falls off and you are just left with a gorgeous rich bronze color. I use this to contour and find it does an absolutely perfect job. It was $3 at Target and is said to be a dupe of NARS Laguna/Orgasm duo in terms of packaging, as well as coloring. The packaging is dead on, as are the colors :) I love this, although don't use the blush that often for some reason! Would definitely definitely recommend this, I love ELF products!


Blush: Sephora blush me! in peche tendre n4

Gorgeous blush!! I am not great at applying blush for some reason. I always feel as if I blend it too much and it then just looks muddy :( Because of this, I stayed away from blush for about a year and a half and neglected all of the ones in my stash and stayed clear from purchasing any new ones. I went to Sephora around two months ago and fell in love with this blush! It is an absolutely gorgeous baby peach-pink color and retailed for $9. The quality is unbelievable and it applies beautifully. I am going to do an in-depth post on this blush as it really is stunning. It also lasts forever on the skin :) I have used this almost every day for the past two months and have not made even the smallest dent. Sephora has a bunch of absolutely gorgeous blushes so I will definitely need to check out the other colors.

What do you guys like to use to achieve a flawless face?

makeup products to achieve a flawless face :) PART 1

Hi girls! Hope you're all doing well :) This is NOT the makeup routine I wear every day as this is a lot of makeup (although it doesnt feel like it!). Instead, I reserve this makeup routine for night out or when I want my skin and face makeup to look its best. Hope you like it :)

I split this post into three parts: Base (Primer, Foundation and Powder), Color (Contour, Bronzer and Blush) and Glow (Highlight).

Everything all together:

Primer/Foundation/Powder:

• Primer: Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel

I was shocked when I first heard that people were using THIS as a primer. A few years ago, when I first started getting into makeup, I was interested in getting a face primer but couldn't bother spending $28 or so. After hearing on makeupalley how this one was a dupe for the Smashbox as they both have the same active ingredient (Dimethicone...a well known silicone). I have used this every time I do my face makeup even on a daily basis. I love it and an amazing dupe for the Smashbox Photo Finish primer :) Only about $7. After I moisturize my face and let it dry, I apply a pea size amount and apply it all over my face. I then let that sit and continue on to the rest of my routine. It helps my makeup last much longer (which used to be a big issue for me) and leaves my skin very smooth so my foundation applies perfectly.

• Foundation: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer

This is marketed as a tinted moisturizer, but it is definitely buildable. It was about $10 at Target. I love this tinted moisturizer because it covers redness in a light layer and for other skin problems, with a dab of concealer and another layer (or two), skin looks absolutely flawless. Be warned- this doesn't look good applied with fingers (which is how I usually apply my foundations), I need to use a brush. I use my Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush, which is similar to the MAC 187. This finish is satin and quite glowy, but can easily be powdered down to a satin matte finish.

• Powder: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium

I am absolutely obsessed with this and definitely deserves its own post within the next few weeks. This gives off just the most glowy perfect super model finish. It isn't too glowy and definitely doesn't make one look greasy, but it imparts a glow in all the right places. With a more dense brush (i.e. a kabuki) it gives off enough coverage to work as a foundation. I am in love with this, definitely HG. I am NC25 and wear Medium, but during summer, I will switch to Medium Plus.

What do you guys like to use to achieve a flawless face?