A Makeup Post!
Here’s another post about makeup I did on the new site, this one about Colourpop:
Makeup Post On My New Site!
Hi all---
If you don’t follow my other tumblr, you might not know I have a new website! It’s called YourBestWorstFriend and I just put a makeup post on there---the best holiday gift sets that are actually worth the money. Enjoy!
Look: Liquid Lipstick as Eyeliner
I’ve been looking for a new eye look lately--- mostly because mine are usually pretty boring and warm brown--but I’m not too keen on buying a bunch of new eye makeup and then hating it.
I’ve also been super into the idea of cranberry/rust red eyes. I think it makes me look dead/sexy/dead sexy, like a vampire who eats an enormous amount of food at dinner. So when I saw Kat Von D use her own liquid lipstick as an eyeliner, I said “oh, I’d love to fuck up this look by trying it.”
However, I didn’t fuck up the look! I ended up really liking it.
All I did was this:
1. I use a small eyeliner brush. I actually really like how this Maybelline brush works, which is weird, because brushes that come with makeup products are usually crappo.
2. Apply an eyeliner primer, which I normally don’t do because I don’t crease, but in this instance it’s easy for the liquid lipstick to transfer. I use the Lorac primer that comes with the Lorac palette.
3. I applied a matte brown shade to the crease, just to deepen the eyelid and create some dimension.
4. With said small eyeliner brush, I take a little Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Vampira from the stick that holds the doe foot applicator, because I’m not too sure about contamination. I apply it as i normally would apply liquid eyeliner.
5. To make the eye look a little less sick and more fashiony, I apply a little Rimmel Scandaleyes in nude in my waterline, along with a lot of mascara.
6. Use Vampira on the lips as well, wear a lot of black, scare people away!
Nivea Shave Balm As A Primer:
aka the shit I put on my face to look gr8
I was at my mom’s house for a minor dental thing because my mom is a hygienist and I get the hookup at her office. While I was there I noticed the Nivea Shave Post Shave Balm on my brother’s bathroom counter and thought:
Finally! I can slather that shit on my face and see if it works as a primer! There’s a lot of non-makeup shit that I’ve seen used on the internet as a primer--aftershave and Monistat being the more popular ones that come to mind--but I had also seen people put lemon juice on their face on the Internet, so it’s not like everybody on the internet is right and great all the time.
I was a little hesitant to do it for a few reasons 1) I didn’t want to buy it because I’d rather buy lipsticks 2) I didn’t want to smell like aftershave/grandpa/dirty grandpa/fratboi 3) I have a shady relationship with primers---I’m allergic to a lot of the ones with silicone, and find that the ones without it don’t do much to prep my face for makeup. But, alas, as I was about to get a dentist’s fingers shoved in my mouth, I realized there was no dignity in my day anyway and decided to go for it. What could be lost but a few hundred teeth?
Results:
7/10
I much prefer Smashbox Primer Water--I feel like it moisturizes better in this shitty weather, but this one was still pretty good. It smells like AXE mixed with a little bit of that drugstore moisturizer smell, but alas, you won’t smell like that dude on my freshman floor who had all of Entourage on DVD for too long. The scent fades. It feels cooling to apply, and dries to that classic tacky primer texture we all know and love. I found that my makeup application wasn’t too noticeably different---but it did keep my makeup creaseless for a few more hours than normal. While my acne discoloration (I had a few spots, so eat me) usually peeks up around hour 5, I’d say it didn’t till hour 6 or 7. I used Makeup Forever HD Foundation, which looks great in pictures but tends to oxidize/fade on me fairly quickly.
I’d recommend this shit if you don’t want to drop a lot for primer but work long hours and want to keep your makeup fresh. It won’t make your pores smaller or anything, but I’d say it’s a nice way to keep the makeup on for a bit longer than usual.
Also a couple points for it being a “men’s” marketed product without like, a very obnoxious name or a reference to steel or mountains or some other crap.
Do you have any tips for applying false eyelashes for the first time? I can never seem to get them down far enough and its really frustrating! :C
This isn’t going to be very helpful, but:
I am dogshit at applying false lashes.
New Years, 2014: I had long hair at the time and an appointment at Drybar and MAC lipstick and a navy blue sequined dress. I bought individual Ardell lashes and Duo lash glue (long suggested to be the drugstore’s best!) and was ready for battle. I was gonna be full glam at Bravo TV levels. I was gonna be the hottest gin mess at the open bar. I curled my lashes, applied a coat of mascara, took a Tweezerman to an individual lash, applied just enough glue and waited till they became tacky. This was easy. I had read all the things in the world about this very moment. I had seen every Youtuber do it with ease. I tried to apply it. I stuck it on my upper lash line and pressed it in with the butt of the tweezer. It fell off. It looked crazy. I did this for 25 minutes before I gave up. I still looked fabulous, but not nearly as much.
I am currently still afraid to try those lashes. I will try them sometime this year and report back.
The point: you can still look super hot without false lashes, and this is definitely the kind of makeup blog that doesn’t know everything.
Beauty Tips: DRY SKIN
I’ve been getting a buttload of questions about moisturizer lately, because we’re all cold and grumpy and angry and VERY DRY. Here are some tips on preventing dry skin throughout the day so we can all live in relative peace:
1. If your skin is dry, stay away from foundations that promise completely matte skin as they might cling onto dry patches. I use those in the summer, but stick to foundations that are made for dry/combo skin or promote a dewy finish. I go for the Infallible foundation from L’Oréal which might make you scream “you IDIOT that says PRO-MATTE” and YEAH but in fact, the package promotes a “demi-matte” finish, which is like, also demi-shiny. It works for me!
2. Use powder only on the places that might crease or get oily. My nose always gets oily and my under eyes crease, so I limit powder to those areas and keep away from my cheeks
3. After powder, use a setting spray to bring some moisture back to the skin and keep from getting that dry cake look.
4. Moisturize your face ten minutes before you put on your makeup, and let it really sink into the face. For this, I love using a gel formula such as Clinique Moisture Surge. Gels are great for pre-makeup moisture because they dry to a tacky finish, much like a primer, and help me get a cleaner look to foundation.
5. If you are having a particularly dry skin day, mix some of your moisturizer with foundation and make your own BB cream!
6. I’m not a beauty doctor or whatever, but honestly this gets me out of a pinch: If you have some dry skin that just won’t budge, try lifting it off with some regular ole tape. Yeah, it’s not the BEST solution, but it’s gotten me out of a bind when I’m already late and don’t have time to remove my foundation and start buffing with an exfoliator.
7. BTW Exfoliate twice a week, or use a sugar scrub such as this mask from Freeman’s to get rid of dead skin.
8. Seriously, try oil! I love the Argan oil Light from Josie Maran, which is very gentle since I am prone to breakouts, but of course some people swear by straight up coconut oil. I do not do well with coconut oil. It makes my face a tad too greasy, but it’s always good to explore and test out products if you’re looking for a solution you don’t have in your cabinet.
9. Before you sleep, moisturize with something heavier than your day cream. I swear by FAB Ultra Repair cream, but also have used Origins Night Cream to nice results.
10. DO NOT FORGET TO MOISTURIZE YOUR NECK AND UNDER YOUR EYES
What are your tips for sun protection? I use topical cream that makes me more sensitive and I do field work for my job. I can't find very many makeup formulas with sunscreen that are good and inexpensive. Is there a secret to layering products to achieve desired results?
So when I’m going to be out in the sun all day, but still want to put a little makeup on, I take a 3-pronged approach to layering sunscreen:
1. Starting off with a thin layer of face sunscreen or a primer with SPF. I love the Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen because it doesn’t break me out, but Tarte also makes a fantastic (and expensive one). If you want to go for a primer, most of them only have an SPF of 15 or 30, but Neutrogena Healthy Skin or Clinique both make nice products.
2. Instead of foundation, if I’m going to be in the sun all day, I go BB cream. Maybelline Dream Fresh has an SPF of 30, but very light coverage. IT Cosmetics has medium coverage, but a lot more money. However, I just make the Maybelline Cream work with concealer.
3. THIS SPF SUNSCREEN POWDER FROM ELF: It’s out of stock right now, but keep your eye open because they do restock often, and it’s the best. It saved my life during the summer and I wanted to stay outside all day at say, but also wanted to have makeup on. Put it on top of your makeup and then you can keep it in your bag for touchups that won’t mess up the foundation. Love it!
Current: Favorite Wintery Lipsticks
5. NYX Instense Butter Gloss in Black Cherry Tart
Alllll right. I feel like this is a stupid thing to wear in the winter because it IS gloss and therefore your hair DOES get stuck on it sometimes, but I’m an idiot who drinks wine before she gets on the subway and has to pee the whole ride... so let’s just say I’m not BIG on foresight. Anyway, this formula is so pigmented, so dark, and so comfortable (a wonderful break from the drying matte lippies of Instagram) that I love it and have been wearing it a lot regardless of the hair sticking. But: the formula is not SO sticky that it reeks of eighth grade. It’s opaque. And it looks really good on a bare face, so I slap this, some BB cream, and mascara on when I’m in my pajamas on a Saturday night and somebody forces me to go out and face the world.
4. Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus
My lips are chapped AF in the winter, especially after dousing them in dry liquid lipsticks like there is no tomorrow. But there IS a tomorrow and it’s a dry one. This adds a nice hint of color (think like barely any shine and a sheer wash) with that classic Burt’s Bees waxy goodness. You’ll feel like you’re in high school again, pulling it out of your LL Bean backpack!
3. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita
I tried it, I loved it, it’s totally worth the hype. I already loved the formula of Kat Von D’s liquid lipsticks, but found this brown rose color actually applied smoother and lasted longer. I hated Lolita, the book, by the way, so this is the first Lolita I’ve enjoyed.
2. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned Gotta love this long-lasting, lowkey lip pencil. Goes on well without lip liner (although I always put lip liner on, but have gifted this to makeup newbies who have no lipliner and it still doesn’t run), has a nice “I drank a bottle of wine” berry color that wine only enhances, is super moisturizing and subtle for me and pretty and I’m just digging it. Makes me feel kinda sophisticated, probably because I spent 26.00 on it, which is enormously irresponsible.
1. Kiko Milano Luscious Creamy Lipstick in 500 Shell Rose While every part of me doesn’t want to wear a lipstick that has the word Luscious in it, I can’t help but love this brown-nude as my perfect nude lipstick. It’s not pale in that “I’m on True Life in 2007″ weirdo peach pink way, it’s comfortable (obviously I’m into comfort at the moment), and it makes me feel like I’ve almost showered.
No matter what I do the mascara on my lower lashes eventually smears and gives me a black eye look. Help!
1. Go full on with the look and tell people you’re only happy when it’s raining or that you are waiting for the black parade or i’m just a notch on your headboard but you’re just a line in this song
2. Try using a mascara with a small brush that’s meant for lower lashes, such as Lash Discovery or Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. Sometimes I get smudges under my eyes when I use a big fat brush and it clumps up at the waterline and eventually smudges out.
3. Use a waterproof, drier mascara, such as Maybelline Great Lash. Wet formulas (like my favorite Better Than Sex) are just so much harder to apply underneath there.
4. Make sure you’re applying a translucent powder (or any kind of powder, really) underneath your eyes before you apply mascara. Keeping the under eye area matte and not oily will help with mascara smears.
Whenever I wear a bold lip colour it wears off on my inner lips (?!) real fast so I'm left with what looks like a thick lip liner. It looks ridiculous. Please halp! How can I make lip colour last all over my lips??
1. Layer a matching/close enough lipliner underneath your lip product
2. Drink through a straw and also don’t eat (IMPOSSIBLE)
3. Set it by placing a tissue over your lips and patting translucent powder with a fluffy eyeshadow brush
4. Be like ME: bring your lip color and a small mirror everywhere. Keep layering your lip color on over the course of the night and keep reapplying until there are so many layers on your lips, you could a be a fucking croissant. Or as the French say “CRAWR SAHN”
5. I find exfoliating the lips about 20 minutes before applying helps in some way, at the very least to keep you busy.
Hey! Any tips for using highlighter?! I feel like I'm a little kid lost in my mothers makeup bag haha
To be real here, I have a very love/fuck me gently with a chainsaw attitude about highlighter.
I follow a lot of beauty gurus (dopey term) on youtube and Instagram (either those or food blogs) and they all put a dot of highlighter on and look like they’re putting their face directly on a candle or something. I pile on the highlighter and look like I’m about to go dance squad 1985.
But! sometimes, I think it adds a subtle, pretty glow and I can fucks with it. Here are my HIGHLIGHTING TIPS:
1. Brand Recommendations: The Becca Highlighter, any champagne eyeshadow, Laura Gellar Gilded Honey, I repeat: do you have a champagne eyeshadow? Because most of the time I fuck with CoverGirl eye enhancers in Champagne.
2 Brush: I think fan brushes (lay the brush flat side down on the highlighter and gently fan it across the areas of our face you want to highlight, like you are a pie crust and the highlighter is a pastry brush full of egg wash) or a small fluffy brush work the best.
3. Brush it on your cupid’s bow, the tip of your nose, and the high points of your cheeks (basically the top/hard part of your cheeks, like almost where your eyesockets in your skull would start)
4. BLEND that shit in with a powder brush.
5. If highlighter seems too scary, try using a blush that has some shimmer, like NARS Orgasm or Milani’s Blush in Luminoso. It adds a nice glow without being space alien glow
5. If that don’t work, edit your photos on INSTA fo real
Highlighter can make you look dewy, glowy, healthy, shiny, and pretty. Try it out with a simple face look or a heavy look, really---I think shining from WITHIN is always an appropriate look.
Ask Me Your Beauty Questions!
ASK me Makeup Questions today! I’m starting to plan the content I’m going to put on this blog in a bigger way, so ask me little questions, product questions, general questions, and anything makeup/skincare related that you would like to know! Some I might answer right away, and some I will make larger posts about as the days and weeks go on!
So I've always been lucky to have pretty good skin and as a result I've totally neglected it. I remove my makeup and wash my face with gentle soap and water and that's about it. Suddenly at 25 I've started getting occasional breakouts and blackheads. I know I need to do something different but I don't know where to start. There are toners, wipes, exfoliating things, pore strips - help!
Things I do to prevent adult (non-cystic, occasional breakout) acne:
- Wash and change my pillow cases once a week
- Drink a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar with water. Read about that here.
- Exfoliate twice a week with either Purity The Microdelivery or whatever exfoliant I have that doesn’t have microbeads
- Use a clay mask such as Freeman’s or Origins at least twice the week before my period
- Have a spot treatment that works for me (I love Neutrogena creams for this) around in case I do break out.
- Make sure I wash my face every night and every morning, which goes without saying but okay.
- Try to eat as many veggies and healthy food as I can, but still make time for potato chips.
Winter Basic Face Routine
Note: I’m BACK, baby! Hit me up with any makeup questions.
Winter is GREAT for a number of reasons. 1) I can make hot chocolate with whiskey in it 2) I can stay in and 3) drink two sips of the hot chocolate with whiskey and then feel like it’s too sweet and not making me drunk.
But winter is NOT good for 1) people who like to say winter is coming and 2) dry skin.
My skin can get super dry (and I’ll be updating you on my winter face routine next week), but I’ve found makeup products that work around that. I look for things that don’t irritate my skin, don’t stick to dry flaky patches, and keep my skin looking moisturized. When I’m doing my makeup in the winter, I usually keep it to these products, and only switch out my eyeshadows and lipsticks.
Here are my recs:
12/1 Sale, Though
I’m usually meh on beauty sales during the holiday season, but today only Target is doing 25% off on it’s beauty department, and it’s all stuff I ordinarily buy, so it’s a pretty excellent deal. Just wanted to offer y’all some recommendations in case you’re looking for a good deal. These are some of my tried and true products that I think people should try/love
BRUSHES:
FOUNDATIONS/CONCEALERS:
BLUSH/BRONZER:
EYESHADOW/MASCARA/LINER:
L’Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow in Glistening Garnet (terrible photo, it’s definitely more of a cranberry)
Covergirl Eye Enhancers in Champagne (my favorite drugstore highlighter)
LIPS LIPS LIPS LIPS
There’s more, but you get the point. Happy shopping!
Hey hey! I saw you mention the Philosophy face wash on your frenemy blog. What were your overall thoughts on it? Also, as we're heading into the winter months, do you have any recs for keeping your skin moisturized and flake-free (and still clear)? Thanks! :)
Hey! My face, if not coddled and pampered within an inch of its life, will become a piece of sandpaper in the winter. However, with a little bit of (money, wahhhhh) patience and trial and error, I found a skincare routine that works for me.
OF COURSE, this skincare routine doesn’t work for everyone, but I can say I have relatively sensitive and flaky skin in the winter, and this is what I use to survive:
Philosophy Purity Made Simple: My OG cleanser. I won’t use anything else, because it takes off the rest of my makeup (I use Simple Micellar Water for the rest), keeps my skin hydrated and soft, and doesn’t dry me out. Literally every other cleanser I use has dried me out. So I recommend this, if not just because I think it smells like the milk in the bowl left after eating Froot Loops.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads: I do like exfoliating my face every once in a while, and this has glycolic acid, which is supposed to safely remove the outer layer of dead skin cells from your skin and keep you from getting those flakes all over your skin. If this is a little out of your price range, this step for me has some room to substitute: use an Aveeno exfoliator, or the Freeman’s Black Sugar mask once a week to keep flakes away.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This is my OG, ride or die facial cream. You get a huuuuge tub of it for 30 bucks, it works great for sensitive skin, smells like the lobby of Soul Cycle, is good for eczema, and has absolutely saved my skin in the winter.
Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream: I have used a little bit of this that I got as a sample for about a month now every night because I don’t need a lot of eye cream, but just don’t forget your undereyes during the winter. They dry out fassssst. See if you have a Sephora sample lying around, or try the Burt’s Bees one for under 20.
Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Fight & Fade Gel: I use this around my hormonal breakout time, and it works pretty well...one of the only acne products I use that doesn’t leave red marks on me or burns my face.
NOTE: I know these products aren’t cheap, but they are just my recommendations and what works for my skin. If I had to recommend one, I would recommend the cleanser or the cream, but also: I buy all of these products at the MOST twice a year. I purchase a big bottle of the purity Facewash twice a year (during the Sephora sale or at TJ Maxx), one ultra repair cream, and I tend to only use the wipes in the winter. So that’s about $125 for products I use throughout the year or half a year, which is what fits into my budget.
Tip: Cleaning A Beauty Blender
I really hate cleaning makeup brushes, but I especially hate cleaning makeup sponges. I felt like as much baby shampoo (usually what I use, sometimes with a little dot of olive oil) I used, still nothing happened. Like, jackshit. No matter how hard I squeeze, the stupid sponge is still brown with my foundation.
Until! I had read this on the Internet somewhere, but never tried it.
Bar Soap.
I hear Dr. Bronner’s works best, but I just bough Dove Beauty Bar soap at my local 99 cent store and holy cow. I rubbed the sponge on the bar soap and after about 1 minute, it a) smelled not like a towel and b) was completely clean. NO foundation whatsoever.
I am so sold on this, especially because I don’t want to use my Sephora money on damn beautyblender solid.