What's in my Makeup bag

As a Makeup artist it is very hard to try and narrow down what I keep in my makeup bag so I will just share with you what are my must have's or go to products.....

#1. Concealer. I Use Maybelline Age Rewind under eye concealer in Medium. It has been a very long time since I've raved about a concealer but, this one is fab! Not only does in conceal very nicely but it doesn't emphasize my lines....Hello Bonus!

#2. Foundation. Every woman needs a great everyday foundation and I keep going back to my old stand by True Match Blendable foundation in W4 from L'Oreal. I have tried a numerous amount of foundations but, this one is just beautiful and buildable yet, feels ultra lightweight.

#3. Powder. Laura Geller balance N brighten in Medium. I tried this in a small kit and ended up buying the larger size. It is a great powder foundation. Used alone it gives a nice sheer to medium coverage. used with foundation it gives a beautiful flawless finish. I keep it in my purse to touch up once a day. (Warning) the colors run a bit light. I wish there were more colors and I do wish they were a tad bit warmer. So, if you tend to have a bit more yellow in your skin or are a medium to dark or darker skintone this may not be right for you instead try Mac Mineralize skinfinsh natural.

#4. Bronzer. Mac Matte bronze. This has been my old stand by for a while now. I found a better bronzer from Too faced but, alas I was allergic to it. I was so sad because it was matte and the color was amazing. So instead I'm back using the Matt Bronze from Mac.

#5. Blush. This truely varies from day to day much like lipstick and eyeshadow however, My favorite blushes are Rose D'Oro from Milani it's a gorgeous warm and cool shimmery rose/ bronze color. Desire from Lorac..Oh this color is just an amazing cool shimmery pink. I can pop this on top of ANY other color and it just creates a beautiful glow from within look. Love this!

#6. Eyebrows. I have used LaFemme Medium brown eyebrow powder for over 15 years now and I still love it.

#7 Eyeshadow. a friend of mine introduced me to Lorac Serenity eyeshadow years ago and today it is still my favorite. It is a  nude shimmer. It can be used wet or dry for a beautiful dewy look on the eyes. Just gorgeous especially when there is no time for a full on smokey look.

#8. Eyeliner. I have tried many eyeliners over the years but  lately I have been picking up Physicians formula shimmer liquid eyeliners daily. I use the black one almost daily. It really does stay all day.

#9. Eyelashes. I would not be who I am without my trusty Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I have cow lashes (thye go straight down not straight out but, down) so, without this tool my looks would never be complete. I have also been enjoying the Rocket Mascara from Maybelline although my all time favorite is my Yves St. Laurent Volume effect Faux Cils.

#10 Lips. I love the pro longwear lip pencils from Mac paired with my favorite Color design lipsticks from Lancome. I am still looking for a replacement for my Shu Uemura 132 lipstick. I loved that thing to death. It was shear goodness in a Coraly shimmery way.

Lancome dual finish powder dupe

 In the  land of dual finish powders Lancome has always remained at the top of my list. I always seem to go back even after finding a "new favorite" for some reason I just keep going back. Well, on my search for a less expensive version I decided to try L'Oreal's infallible never fail powder.

 Now,You may have noticed a trend here in the products I've been trying and yes, I am guilty of trying one line at a time and since I love Lancome I figured I may as well try L'Oreal considering L'Oreal owns Lancome. WHAT?! you didn't know that?! Well, now you do.

 Here are the similarities.
 1. They both offer sheer to full coverage. You can use them wet or dry which gives you a wide range of coverage options.
 2. The basic colors are similar. I wear Matt neutrale II  in Lancome and Nude Beige in L'Oreal.
 3. They are both mattifying.

Here are the differences:
1. Lancome packaging is larger and nicer. The L'Oreal packaging is smaller which is better for a small purse and I do like that the sponge is in a separate compartment so it can breathe but, I do not like that the packaging is on the cheap side.
2. The total amount you are given for Lancome is .67 oz 19 grams versus L'Oreal which is .30 oz or 8.5 grams. When you look at the total amount you are getting, $35 for Lancome vs $14 for L'Oreal you are still getting a better deal for the L'Oreal powder.

 All in all they are pretty much the same as far as feel and purpose although, the L'Oreal powder lasts longer throughout the day. So, If you're looking for a great dual finish powder and don't want to commit to a larger quantity of product then, I say try the L'Oreal infallible never fail powder.

Favorite powder foundation (Mineralize Skin Finish Natural)

 I'm sooo loving Mac's Mineralize Skin Finish Natural powder foundation right now! I originally bought it a couple of months ago to use along with the face and body foundation but, didn't really care for the face and body and decided to use it with L'Oreal's True Match Blendable foundtion (which I'll review in a separate post). I bought The Medium Plus because I had more color at the time but, now that summer is over I need to move on to the Medium color. I still use my Make-up Forever HD powder to minimize where I have noticeable lines and pores.


 Here's why I love Mineralize Skin Finish "Natural"........
1. Unlike some other Mac face products, I DON'T BREAK OUT!!!!
2. When used alone it gives a natural flawless look but, doesn't look like I'm wearing foundation or powder.
3. The finish is like a matte satin which is ideal for most women.
4. When used with a liquid foundation my skin looks ultra flawless. I use this combination when I'm going out or when I'm having a bad skin day : (
5. It feels lightweight or like nothing at all unlike studio fix powder foundation.
* The only thing I wish was different was that there was a mirror in the compact so I could use it as a touch up throughout the day but, other than that this is a winner!

Who is it for?

ALL skins can wear this. If you have extremely oily skin I'd recommend using a mattifier prior to make-up application.

How do I use it?

Brush it on with a powder brush for even natural coverage. Use it alone or over your favorite foundation. DO NOT use a sponge or puff as it will muddy up the powder and will look flat and lifeless.

How much does it cost?

$26.00 This is a good price for a professional powder foundation. It's not drugstore quality so you're going to pay a little more .

Where can I buy it?

You can purchase directly from www.maccosmetics.com or at your local Mac counter