Beauty Essentials - November 2013
I love beauty products. Having 45 minutes to play with makeup before leaving my house is my favorite treat!
Often I have far less time than that. Talking to friends who not only are short on time but also feel intimidated by the multiple steps and possibilities of a fully made-up face, I’ve edited some of my favorites down and added what I hope are helpful tips.
Often I have far less time than that. Talking to friends who not only are short on time but also feel intimidated by the multiple steps and possibilities of a fully made-up face, I’ve edited some of my favorites down and added what I hope are helpful tips.
I had a bad accident a few years ago that left me with multiple health problems. In the course of healing, I have learned more about organic makeup and beauty products and many have replaced my old favorites. For some items, like mascara, I just haven’t found a good replacement.
Living in California, I am focused on wearing SPF every day. Having sunscreen built-in to products is an easy way to protect your skin.
These are my steps when I’m in a hurry. It doesn’t take me long, but I have a lot of practice. Please mix and match to meet your needs.
1. PRIMER
- NARS primer with SPF 30 - a great base for makeup. Use way less than a dime sized amount for your whole face.
2. FOUNDATION-ISH
- Supergoop CC Cream with SPF 35 - again, a small amount goes a long way. I try to cover my whole face, focusing on the t-zone.
3. POWDER
- Bare Minerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 powder - I’ve tried others, but this works best for me. It comes in a compact, but I prefer the original packaging. Tap a bit into the top of the round tub, and I use a MAC Buffer brush to apply.
4. COVER
- Face: RMS un-cover - created by a makeup artist and totally free of synthetics and chemicals. The texture may feel heavy when you first use it. Play around and figure out how much coverage you need. It is a terrific face concealer with a lot of moisture.
- Eyes: By Terry Touche Veloutee - I swipe the brush from the inside corner of my eye all the way around to underneath the outer edge of my eyebrow. Think of a Nike swoop motion. Then I blend with my fingers, focusing the coverage on the darkest areas around my eye.
5. BRONZER
- NARS bronzer in Laguna - I’ve tried many others, but I always come back to this one. For travel, NARS also makes a great version that includes the terrific Orgasm blush.
6. EYES
- Shadow/cream: Becca eye tint - Eyeshadow can be intimidating, but this is the most foolproof version I have found. Put a small amount of this cream on your finger and rub it on your eyelid. Even the colors that look dark in the tube are subtle and so pretty!
- Eyeliner: Chanel Kohl eyeliner - I use navy instead of black for a dark but not goth color. I like kohl pencils because they can draw a very sharp line or be easily smudged. I put a line on my top eyelid and sometimes dot the bottom eyelid as well. Chanel’s website offers free shipping and fun free extras. MAC also makes very nice eyeliner pencils in lots of colors.
- Mascara: This may need a post of its own. I’ve been experimenting after following Lucky magazine’s fun editor in chief Eva Chen’s advice to use drugstore mascaras. I’m not sold - they don’t stay on as well as the more expensive formulations. Lately, I’ve been using Kevyn Aucoin’s two cult mascaras, the Volume and Curling versions. I like Volume on the top lashes and Curling on the bottom.
- Eyebrow: Tom Ford Brow Sculptor - I LOVE this eyebrow pencil. My favorite ever, and I have spent the past year experimenting with all types. It is expensive, but amazing. I use Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel to set the brows in place.
7. BLUSH
- I really mix it up with blush. I subscribe to Birchbox and Ipsy and often try the blushes that come in my monthly subscription packages.
- Cream: I start with Benefit BeneTint - two strokes like a slash on my upper cheekbone. Then I’ll decide between Josie Maran, NARS or By Terry cream blushes.
-
8. EXTRAS/ESSENTIALS - These add a bit of time, but I believe they are secret weapons!
- RMS Living Luminizer - a glowing but subtle cream that brightens your face. I put it on my upper cheekbones, the outer edge of my eyebrow, upper lip and sometimes in a subtle line down the bridge of my nose.
- Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil - I love this compact. I brush it onto my face as a final step. It seems to set makeup and add a sort of airbrushed look.
- YSL Touche Eclat - Designed by the same person as By Terry Touche Veloutee, this is amazing after a long day. Rub a bit into the inside corner of your eye or anywhere that seems dark. An instant brightener.
Lips are the last part of my routine, but they change so often I haven’t thought through my recommendations yet. Stay tuned!
If you clicked on any of the examples above, you may have been directed to www.beauty.com. I’ve discovered that it is a great site, and they have some really big promotions, even 20-40% off beauty products. I used to mostly be a Sephora shopper, but they don’t have as big a selection of organic and natural products and they almost never have promotions.
I hope this is helpful. Thank you for reading!
