How I Upped My Makeup Game

There are few things I think I need to say first and foremost. I have learned everything I know by trial and error. I am not a professional. Secondly, I feel that makeup should be fun and if it works for you- ROCK IT! We are too hard on each other. What may look like crap to me actually makes that girl feel like a beautiful princess! Lastly, there are higher end products than what I have that probably do a better job. However, I am all about beauty on a budget. I get most of my stuff at Target or at the drugstore.

That before? That's not an uncommon makeup look I used to rock. I really tried not to overdo how I previously did my makeup. That is really how I wore it.

Quick and dirty on what have I changed and what have I learned

• Skincare, skincare, skincare
• Primer sets the stage whether for foundation or eyeshadow
• Eyebrows- Framing for your eyes, learn to do them! 
• Eyeliner- Now it is always under my lash line on my lower lashes
• Bronzer- Not just something you put your blush on top of
• Pink frosty lips do not equal nude lips (I used to think only a light lipstick if you have smokey eyes)
• Smokey eyes can be done in a variety of colors but black and silver are harsh
• Eyeshadow primer can make a difference for even the cheapest of shadows
• Tools matter- maybe even more than the makeup
• The angle at which I curl my eyelashes matters

Now to get a little more in depth: 

Step 1: Skin. For me that generally includes serum, daytime eye moisturizer, face moisturizer and primer. 

Primer makes a big different in my makeup. I have two different types depending on the look. The pixi primer is more of a luminescent dewy look, and the face perfector is a more of a matte look. (Unfortunately they no longer make that pixi primer. Sad day! I'll be on the lookout for a different option) 

Step 2: Foundation: Since I followed my skin routine including primer I will use regular foundation instead of a BB cream (I use that when I want to combine some steps). Today happens to be Colorstay Foundation by Revlon in 200 (nude). Sometimes I use a makeup sponge, today I used my fingers. 

Step 3: Highlight and Contour (HAC). My highlight and contour leaves a lot of room for improvement. It is a new step for me. (Please don't cringe, its a work in progress!) Lets just called it a modified HAC. I'm not sure I love the super dark with super light HAC routines I've seen. I use a concealer in the lightest shade (usually an ivory) and draw a line up the center of my nose and then fan out onto my forehead, an inverted triangle under my eyes, and a bit on my chin. The inverted triangle under my eyes does a a wonder for my dark circles and for the rosacea redness of my cheeks (which has improved greatly with better skin care). While that sets for a minute I take a bit of bronzer and darken the hollows below my cheek bone, and sometimes I used a bit on my nose to contour, and then under my jaw line.

Next I use my fabulous favorite tool: my buki brush! This is perfect for blending. I love this brush so much and could not live without anymore! This is more densely packed than an all out full size kabuki brush. Mine is a Bare Escentuals (Minerals) you can check out here for 20 bucks. Or for a cheaper version I would recommend the Coastal Scents brand here for 4.95. I use circular motions to blend in my concealer/bronzer. Depending on how my skin is doing, sometimes I use a stippling motion to blend the concealer out just where the edges are. This brush also works great with Bare Minerals loose foundation to give a heavier/thicker application. After blending I lightly sweep bronzer with in an E motion from around my forehead, hollows of my cheeks, under my jaw. I'm currently using a pixi bronzer I am sampling from Ipsy. 

Step 4: Blush. Nothin' fancy. I have a bare minerals blush brush that I use and apply from the apples of my cheeks (I usually smile a big cheesy smile and hit em right on) then I go outward along my cheekbone toward my ear. When I am feeling a bit fancy I will use a luminizer/brightener I got from Bare Minerals just on the top of my cheekbones near the outer corner of my eyes. 

Perhaps a bit better blending on my bronzer on the left but you get the idea. Before when I used to just use bronzer on my cheekbones followed by blush on my cheekbones it gave me quite the baked potato face. You can also see how the bit of bronzer around my hairline and under my jaw gives my face better dimension. Not just flat face. 

Step 5: Brows. I'll do a full brow tutorial at a later date with better pics. In the meantime here is a tutorial I like here. I use a blonde eyebrow pencil from Avon (I purchased for 1.99 on sale!) and make an outline. I draw the top and the bottom of my eyebrows. I left my natural brow shape be my guide. Next I use a blonde eyebrow powder from Nyx to fill in between my lines using the provided brush. (5.99 at Target) Then I take my lovely buki brush and brush it over the top just to soften the edges. My Nyx kit comes with a spoolie if you prefer to soften the look by brushing the powder with it instead. Then I use the wax to set them in place. I would say pencils tend to look harsh, so if you aren't using an eyebrow powder, consider it. 

Step 6: Eyeshadow and mascara. I have found that using an eyeshadow primer really helps me. I use a Nyx pearl (shimmery) base, but they also have plain white, nude, and beige and its relatively cheap at 6.99.  You can pick it up at Target or Ulta.

















I won't due a full tutorial on my eyeshadow today, but I've learned a few things.

First thing: Brushes, brushes, brushes. It will make a difference. I have tons of different brands of brushes, but my current favorites are Coastal Scents. Great quality and easy on the wallet. Also, I never use eyeliner under my eye. I use eyeshadow underneath my lower lashes smudged with a dome shadow brush. A small dome shadow brush is your friend. It works great for your crease as well as smudging things out. I started with an Avon one but have upgraded (even though it cost less) to this dome brush from Coastal Scents. You can see the middle of my lid is the palest color darkening at the edges and into my crease. I always use a light (but not silver) color for my brown bone. Shoot for pale skin color. My liner is not a huge thick line, just a nice tight line along the lashes (I used a Sephora liquid liner in brown today). Next so there aren't any dramatic lines I use a blender to blend the color. Again, mine is Coastal Scents. Previously I used a fluffy old school kaboodles brush. The blender works better. Haha. Seriously, tools make a difference so go buy some nice eyeshadow brushes!

Also do not be afraid of color. I used lots of purples and pinks here and it provides just as much of a smokey look as what I used to think black did. Black and silver are harsh. I'm not sure I will ever buy more of them. I've learned that liner doesn't need to be black to be dramatic either. This dark brown works great with the burgundies of my shadow.

This Chella highlighter does wonders on the brow bone just underneath the brows, sometimes I use a bit on the bridge of my nose. I highlight under my brows after I finish my eyeshadow and that just pat with my finger to blend.

Crimping my eyelashes with the curler at this angle rather than straight up and down gives a much better effect. I learned this little trick from pinterest and it actually works.

Have I mentioned that tools are important?! The way bristles are packed into the brush changes the amount of makeup they can hold and then put on your face. 

Two of my fave fave fave tools: My buki brush, and my doefoot blender brush. They are my little blending buddies. I can't live without them now. Even when I started using darker colors in my crease I wasn't blending very well. I'm sure I looked like a fool. 

 My beloved dome brushes! As you can see the Avon is a bit tighter and smaller. I like using this to apply eyeshadow below my lower lash line. The Coastal Scents brush is perfect for applying color into the crease of your eye. These have made a huge difference.

My final step is using a full size kabuki and loose powder. 

bareMinerals Bring on The Night: Review

Can I say that I am in LOVE with this collection. I purchased this at Ulta. The bad news is that I can't seem to find it at Ulta, Sephora or QVC to send you in that direction. I'll review the products and colors for you as they may pop up individually or in new collections. I'm sure you could darken up the look, but to me it is a romantic look perfect for Valentines day coming up!

I've been a bareMinerals fan for a very long time, and this made me fall back in love with the brand.

This color collection includes 8 great pieces:
Mineral Veil Finishing Powder
Matte Eyecolor: Queen Phyllis
READY Eyehadow: Guest Star, Uncensored
Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara
Flawless application face brush
READY Luminizer: the Daydream
Blush: Beauty
Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss: Glamorista












READY luminizer
The daydream seems like a very soft pink color in the compact. On my skin it only give a hint of pink but gives your skin a shimmery pearlescense. It is described as a "pink sugar glow" I'm new to the bareMinerals luminizer and I have to use with a very light hand or I feel like a disco ball. It is NOT glittery but the shimmer is nonstop. I do like this product, but it is not every day wear for me. It might be the lightness of the pink that makes it seem so shimmery. You can check out a similar product here in a bit darker color: READY luminizer duo for 24 bucks. It is also a mirrored compact which is fantastic. Never know when you need a mirror! The more I wear this the better I get at applying without going overboard.



   Matte Eyecolor

Queen phyllis is described as "buttercup" in color. I think that description really fits. Even though this is listed as a matte eyecolor, it definitely has a sheen. It has a great creamy and soft texture. The pigmentation is great. I have other bareMineral loose eyeshadow powders that I really am not a fan of, but this color is amazing. I have such a hard time finding golden colors that don't look harsh. This could be a multitasker in your routine. It has enough sheen that it would be a great highlighter as well as a base for your eyeshadow. It is an every day color. It would be great alone as a no makeup look. I own the Vanilla Sugar color but it is a bit too orangey in comparison. I will definitely snap up this color if I find it as a single. I used it as base and under my brown bone.

READY Eyeshadow

This is my first from the brand's READY collection. 20 bucks will buy you a set of two colors. Check them out here. The set included in this collection is called The Late Show. It includes a bronzey color Guest Star, and a blue/purple hue called Uncensored. The bronze color is very highly pigmented and creamy. Bronze can be another one of those easily unflattering colors but this blends beautifully. The indigo color, as its described, is not as pigmented for some reason and has a glitter to it. It is not as soft and creamy as the bronze. The color is dark but not too dark for day wear. It would look great on a multitude of skin tones. I used bronze on the lid and blended the indigo into the crease.






Blush
I'm a big fan of the all over face colors from bareMinerals and I tend to choose those for my blush because they give you a flush of color without the heaviness of some blushes. Glee is a highly recommended color, but my fave is Rose Radiance for my fair skin.
I hardly every use blush that comes in a compact. I love the loose blushes from bareMinerals. Easy to apply. Almost foolproof. The blush that comes with this collection is Beauty. It runs 19 dollars by itself. Not bad seeing how these tend to last me a LONG time, and almost always use blush (or the all over face color). I really haven't found a blush I like better so it gets used almost daily and it STILL lasts me. Beauty, the color in this collection, is a really bright true pink. It is very youthful in nature. It is NOT a color I would recommend to everyone. It is PINK and very well pigmented. If you aren't into a heavy blush, try the all over face color! My camera does not do the pink justice when I swatched it on my arm, but you can see it in my whole face picture.

Mineral Veil
Another product I love from this brand. I was using another loose powder recently, and have missed my mineral veil! Is powder worth 20 bucks? I say yes. I have tried a variety of drugstore powders that are just a train wreck. This gives you a soft finish, without being too cakey. I also love the sifter that keeps you from spilling it! I can't tell you how many times I've dumped minerals down the sink.

Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Glamorista

This is my first bareMinerals lip gloss. As you can see from this swatch it is nonstop shine! It is a plumping formula and tingles when you wear it. It costs a whopping 18 dollars and you can view some more colors here. Glamorista is a soft pink color that works well with this collection. The pigmentation is middle of the road for lip gloss. I like it for this kit, but I'm not sure I would spend that much on a single. It is a decent size though. My other comment would be that the angled applicator throws me off because I'm not used to it and my preference would be the straight applicators as weird as that sounds.

Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara

I have VERY short lashes, as you can see. This does a great job volumizing but I need a bit more lengthening. Overall I like this mascara. I have no complaints. It does not clump and it gives great volume. It doesn't add as much length as I would like. For 18 dollars that this costs, I would say you can get the same effects from a drugstore mascara. Again, great in this kit, but probably not something to run and out buy as a single.


Flawless Application Brush
I have always loved bareMinerals brushes. This brush is more densely packed with bristles than some of my other brushes. I personally like fluffier brushes for easier application and blending. This brush works well for the lumizer and blush.




I really enjoy the bareMinerals color collections. Individually, bareMinerals can be costly and add up quickly. The color collections are a great way to build up your products for a lot less. I got mine at Ulta on sale for 36 (was 49). The products I got were definitely worth more than that. 8 full size products around 20 bucks a piece... this kit is probably 150 worth of product. It is also a great way to try a variety of their products so you can know what to splurge on individually.