Weekend Makeup Edit

     Now that it’s feels a bit like summer I find that when the weekend comes around I skip wearing liquid foundation. I put away the eyeliner and put together the simplest look with little products. Instead of my normal liquid foundation I’ve been using my Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in classic beige. I’ve had this for a while and to be honest I can’t even remember when I bought it and why I stopped using it. It’s a great face product for sheer coverage and it has an SPF of 15. However before I use this I cover some of my imperfections with Urban Decay’s Concealer in Medium Neutral, I do have acne scars but I am not going for perfection in covering them up just a sheer coverage.

     For eyes I’ve been using Urban Decay’s Naked 3 Palette. I use the color Nooner to cover the entire lid. I’ve been using Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Mascara lately for my lashes to give me a semi-dramatic look. For lips I’ve been using Tarte’s LipSurgence in Blushing Bride to give me a little pop of color…and I’m out the door.

-Melissa

May Ipsy Bag

      Just when I’ve convinced myself to unsubscribe to Ipsy, they pull me in again. What a vicious cycle! I am always looking for new sunscreens especially when summer rolls around. I’ve never heard of Bare Republic SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen but I’m willing to try it. We don’t have a Rite Aid in Texas but when I’m visiting the east coast on vacation I make it appoint to visit one. It’s the only place I know that sells Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics. There are some products I like from the brand and there are some that I regret but I am interested in trying their Pure Pigment Eye Dust. I might never have an excuse to use it but it sounds fun to play with.

      I don’t do anything to my eyebrows other than using an eyebrow comb to get them all going in the right direction. I really have no need for any eyebrow tint or eyebrow pencil but I’m willing to Chella’s Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Color a try. It may sound weird but I like trying different facial washes. I’ve tried many products over the years and I have never seen the brand Nuxe in stores. Lastly, it must be a sign because after a class at Sephora (in reference to lips) I was sent Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Ozone. I’ve wanted to try that exact liner for the longest time. I tried it today and as a first impression I really liked it. I like that I can use it with any lipstick. A universal lip liner sounds great to me! Let’s not forget the cutest bag I’ve seen so far this year.

-Melissa

First Aid Beauty’s Mattifying Gel

     When I saw that First Aid Beauty had a mattifying gel I had to try it. I’m already a huge fan of the First Aid Beauty range and to see something that targeted us oily peeps only made me want to buy it. So I skipped testing it out and dove right in and bought it during the Sephora VIB sale.

What it’s supposed to do…  it states it hydrates and removes excess oils. Helps minimize the appearance of pores.

Here’s how I used it…

I’ve been using it everyday sometimes opting out using a primer. On the weekdays I put it over my moisturizer (which has an SPF); I use less than a pea size amount for certain areas on my face. A little of this product goes a long way. I learned that using too much of this can make my foundation cakey. I’ve tried it with my NARS Sheer Glow and Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide. With both foundations I can tell a difference. I’m not as oily as I normally would be. Yes, I still get a bit oily but I place the gel only around my noise, the area between my noise and chin and it’s helped combating most of my oil.

On the weekend I put away my moisturizer and put on the sunscreen. After sunscreen I use a little less than a pea size amount all over my face. I use Laura Mercier’s Mineral Powder, which has a SPF of 15 on top of it. It works well together; in fact I don’t see a cakey face.

Why I like it… It’s not only helps with my oily skin but it doesn’t irate me. It goes on clear and doesn’t have a strong scent in fact it’s really not noticeable. It may not take away all my oil but it does take a lot of it away to where I noticed a difference. I don’t blot as many times during the day as I normally do.

Here’s the con’s… It’s not something I would use all over the face and differently not under the eyes. Using too much of this product separated my foundation and it looked cakey. It does take a bit to dry but otherwise it’s a good product.

Here’s what you need to know… It’s quite pricey at $30 at Sephora. However, a little of this product goes a long way so it will last you awhile.

-Melissa

Prep, Prime and Apply

     A couple of week’s back I talked about a class I took at Sephora called ‘Perfectly Paired Lip and Cheek’. A lot of things I was already doing but I learned my techniques by trial and error. Some techniques were new to me and it was an eye opener like ‘why didn’t I think of that’.  I don’t always use a lip scrub every single time to apply lipstick. I may not always remember to prime when I’m in a rush but these are a couple of tips that I have been doing and some I learned.

Prep & Prime

Apply a scrub to your lips; you can use your fingers or a baby tooth brush to work it in there.

To scrub off - gently wipe away with a tissue or rinse with water.

Apply a lip balm to moisturize the lips.

Apply a lip primer on your lips, this helps the products to not only stay a longer but to really show the color.

Applying the Lipstick

Optional- Use a lip pencil to trace your lips. For fuller lips go a little above your natural lip line.

Fill in your lips with your lip liner for more staying power

Apply your lipstick.

Use a lip or eye brush and sweep inward if you have access (lipstick) on the edge of your lips.

Use concealer around the mouth to hide an lipstick mistakes.

Hope this helped!

-Melissa 

Those Three Products after the Shower

     There are those products that I use everyday after I shower that I can’t imagine doing without. When my face is behaving I use First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream. It’s gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin.  I’ve notice some dry patched on my forehead lately and this has been helping combat that. For eye’s I use Origins Eye Doctor. I am currently on my second pot of this product and I have noticed a difference. My under eyes not only feel smooth but hydrated. I especially noticed the difference when I use eye brightener under my eye. It doesn’t settle into the lines like it use to. For lips I like using Dior’s Crème De Rose. It's pretty expensive but a little goes a long way. It keeps my lips from cracking during the night and it also smells great!

-Melissa