Favorite Products
Face
If you know me in person you know I'm all about my Bare Escentuals make up. A lot of people aren't interested in spending so much money on their makeup and for years I stuck to getting all my makeup at Target and Kroger and didn't even wear foundation most of the time. However, after I was introduced to their Bare Minerals line I was hooked. The cool thing is most of their products are available in kits that make it a little bit cheaper and sometimes they also have stores at outlet malls where the kits are ultra discounted, which is what I've been doing lately. Here are the products I typically wear most days:
Moisturizer: I use Clinique's Dramatically Different moisturizer, which I love!
Foundation: Bare Minerals Original (SPF 15) Foundation in Fairly Light (or Light...depending on the season)
Color/Bronzer: Bare Minerals All Over Face Color in Pure Radiance/Tropical Radiance Duo (From a kit). I only use this in the summer when it's not so obviously a fake tan. I'm so pasty in the winter that no one would believe my bronzer was a tan.
Blush: Bare Minerals Blush in Naughty, Naughty
Finisher: Bare Minerals Tinted Mineral Veil (I only just started wearing this a few months ago, but I love it now! It really seals your foundation and gives you a very finished porcelain look)
Eyes
I normally don't buy Bare Minerals eye shadow because it's quite expensive, for a while I was using Covergirl's Eye Enhancer 3-Kit Eye Shadows in Shimmering Sands, which I loved, but it ran out a while back and I got some neat colors in a Bare Minerals kit, so I'm using those now.
Eye Shadow: Bare Minerals Glimpse in Kudos, I couldn't find it on their site, but I got it in a kit so it might have been a limited time thing it's basically a light shimmery gold. Believe it or not I actually use one of their plum shadow colors called Idol for my crease and blending. It works surprisingly well with the gold. You can check out my review of these eye shadows here! On lazy days I use the Wet 'n Wild Walking on Eggshells kit which I reviewed here.
Eye Liner: Back when I first started using Bare Minerals I decided to try out their Liner Shadow in Tiger's Eye. I'm now addicted and I will never use liquid or pencil liner again. I actually apply it with a slanted brow brush which makes it easy to make a thin, pointed line. The neat thing about BM shadows and liners are that you can mix them with water for a slightly different color that stays on really well. I use it without water, however, and it usually lasts the whole day.
Mascara: I am very weird about my mascara. I typically only use Maybelline Define-A-Lash Waterproof Mascara in brownish black. I love it and I'll tell you why in a minute. Lately I've also been using the L'Oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminating Mascara underneath the Maybelline.
Eyelashes: Okay so the method behind my mascara madness is as follows: Most of the time, especially the non-summer months (like 10 months of the year for Ohio), I'm not concerned about the 'waterproof' part of the waterproof mascara I use. I only use it because it typically holds a curl better when I use my eyelash curler. However, waterproof mascara, as you could guess by the title, is a hassle to get off, so when I use a normal mascara first and the waterproof on top, I get the results I want: my eyelashes to hold a curl and my makeup to come off clean with only soap and water. Voila!
Also, I'll let you in on a little secret...After applying my mascara I usually heat up my eyelash curler with my hairdryer for a few seconds (only SECONDS!) before using it, it holds the curl all day and your eyelash curler doesn't stick to your lashes like it would if you used it right after applying the mascara normally. Be CAREFUL if you are going to try this, it literally only takes 2-5 seconds of heating to get the curler warm and take it from someone with experience: it hurts like HECK to burn your eye with one of those suckers. And it leaves unlovely red marks.
Lips
My mom would scoff at me if she knew how little I wear lipstick. In her day that was the only thing you needed to look "put together" but I usually just forget to put it on. I apply make up before eating breakfast so there's no point in me putting on lipstick with the rest of my make up and by the time I walk out the door, the idea is long gone. Not that I don't usually have 4 or 5 lipsticks/lip glosses in my purse at all times...it's just not something I think about.
Chapstick, on the other hand, I have to have all the time. Burts Bees is by far my favorite, but I've started using Nivea products which I love as well.
When I remember lip color I usually go with Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss in Zena or Bambi. It's actually a lip plumper and lip gloss in one, which I love. I actually reviewed Bambi here! That's about as far as I go in terms of a "regular lip product"...I'm not into the all day long-lasting stuff. Maybe when I have a job and have to look presentable at all times I'll rock some lipstick.
Nails
In the past few months I've become obsessed with nail polish! However, I've never had super long nails but as of late they've been doing pretty well. These are my normal nail care products, if you have something you'd like to suggest, please do! I'm always looking for ways to make my nails look nicer.
Cuticles: I love, love, love Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. When it comes to doing my nails, I can't get enough of it. I reviewed it here. I also like to use Barielle's Nail Strengthener Cream for my nails and cuticles.
Basecoat/Topcoat: I don't have a big preference for these. Currently I'm using Julep's Nail Therapy before my Beauty Secrets Base Coat. As far as top coats go...I go back and forth. Seche Vite gives me major shrinkage so I usually will choose Posche over SV. However, on days when I just don't care, I'll use a normal top coat like Color Club or OPI and throw on Beauty Secrets Cuticle Oil, which dries your polish as well!
Colors: I usually stick to OPI, ORLY, and China Glaze...those are my faves. Although I have a new found love of Color Club and Julep. I'd love to try Nubar or Nfu Oh or Gosh...but those just aren't available around here!
Haircare
Really the only hair product I use on a regular basis is shine serum. I DO always splurge on nice shampoos and conditioners but I rarely use moose or hairspray. I'm hoping on testing some new hair products out, though, and sharing them with you!
Smoothing Serum: I use Victoria's Secret's So Sexy Smoothing Serum...I have 1.5 bottles of their old product still and I can't live without it. It makes your hair sleek, shiny, and soft and it smells amazing. They recently changed the packaging and I haven't tried it to test if the formula is the same, but I guess I'll review it when I do!
Frequently Asked Questions
I have received a few questions via e-mail, none of them the same, but what I wanted to do here was post a couple how to's from Michèle at lacquerized! She's been busy lately and hasn't been updating much, but I LOVE her blog and her nails are gorgeous, so I pretty much check out her "how to's" when I have a question.
So for future reference here are some good how to guides:
-How to Paint Your Nails (at least how she does it, it always looks fab)
-How to Clean Up (I'm pretty lazy about this, I usually use a q-tip but I like her paint brush idea!)
-Guide to Shaping Your Nails (I've got nubs that aren't super great to shape, but I'm working on it!)
Also, this is a link from me, but if you're wondering what BzzAgent is (how I try products for free sometimes) and want to learn more about it, I have a special page here, check it out!
Any other questions about the products I use or where I get them? Shoot me an email at EStyles.ww@gmail.com!
