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.

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse foundation (Review)

 Recently I gave you the thumbs up on  the L'Oreal true match blendable foundation which is great for all skins but, I have been trying out a matte foundation by Revlon Colorstay called Mineral Mousse in Light Medium and I absolutely LOVE it! I don't think it's necessary to use a powder with extra coverage with this foundation so stick with Make-Up forever's HD powder for a flawless look.

 I love this foundation based on these things.........
1. Color range~ There are a good amount of colors to match just about any skin color.
1. Coverage~ It provides a medium to full coverage with a matte finish but, doesn't look flat or un-natural.This is best for women who need to cover flaws and imperfections but as a caution-DO NOT use around eye area becuase it is matte which will only enhance lines and look dry.
2. Long wearing~ It really stays all day long. The claim is that it lasts for 16 hours. I'm not sure about 16 but I'd say a good 10.
3. No Transfer~ I haven't noticed any rubbing off or transfer to my clothes.
4. SPF~ It has an spf 20 which is great for the everyday sun here in California.
5. Feel~ It feels light weight almost like not wearing anything at all.
6. Packaging~ The packaging is perfect for traveling. It comes in a small tube rather than a glass bottle.

Who can wear this? I would recommend this for Normal to oily skins or acne prone skins.It does a pretty good job of NOT settling into my fine lines and pores. This is NOT for dry skin or mature skin with lines and wrinkles.

How much does it cost? You can buy this foundation for about $14.00 and even less sometimes. I bought it when it was 40% off at Rite Aid


Where can I buy this? You can find Revlon products at your local drugstore or Target stores. Or you can buy online at www.drugstore.com

 Overall I would rate this  5 stars for a MEDIUM to FULL coverage matte foundation. I have nothing bad to say about it at all! I LOVE it!

L'Oreal True Match blendable foundation Review

 

  Before I get started I want to let you know that I LOVE FOUNDATION in general. It could be because I don't think I have the greatest skin so, when I apply foundation and powder I feel like I have flawless skin and THAT makes me feel great!
  Now, that you know about my craziness let's get on with the review. I've been using the L'Oreal true match blendable foundation for a couple of months now so, I can give a better review of the product. I really like this foundation based on a couple of things.....
1. There are an abundant amount of colors ranging from warm to neutral to cool.
I personally am a perfectionist when it comes to matching my skin so, I ALWAYS fell like I'm in between colors. I usually buy 2 colors and have to mix which is what I did with this foundation as well. I picked W3 & W4 which stands for WARM level 3 and 4 or nude beige and natural beige.I really feel like the blend of the two is perfect for me.
2.  It gives a sheer to medium coverage.
This is great everyday  foundation for most women with average imperfections. If you want a fuller coverage I recommend using a powder foundation along with the foundation.There is a matching powder but I haven't tried that yet. I'm currently using Mac skin finish natural in medium plus.
3. Has an SPF 17.
This is good for everyday protection and is light enough that it really doesn't reflect back with flash photography.
4. It really is blendable.
I find that it blends very easily and doesn't feel like I'm wearing foundation. It looks great without a foundation primer but, I wouldn't recommend wearing it that way since, it's not a long wearing foundation.
Who can wear this?
This works well for normal skins or combination skin. If you have dry skin you'll still need a good moisturizer underneath and if you have oily skin you'll need to use a good oil control product underneath.
How much does it cost?
One of the GREAT things about this foundation is that it is VERY inexpensive. I purchased it for about $11.00 on a buy 1 get 1 half off deal so, it was about $16.50 for two 1 oz bottles. That's a GREAT deal!
Where can I buy this?
You can find this foundation at most drugstores or online through www.riteaidonlinestore.com
Overall I'd rate this as a 4 star SHEER to MEDIUM coverage foundation.

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