FAVOURITE CONCEALERS FOR HIGHLIGHTING

In the last few months I have added highlighting to my every day routine. I noticed that this makes a huge difference with my makeup. It gives my face a lot of dimension, giving me a bright and awake look. I use these products under my eyes, down the center of my nose, my cupid’s bow, and the middle of my forehead. It gives my face that extra bit of light and I have really been enjoying this process! Below is a review of highlighters I have been using to achieve that glow.

MAYBELLINE FIT ME – 25 MEDIUM

This is my everyday highlighter and I have to say I am quite impressed with it. The formulation is creamy, lightweight, and does not crease. It keeps my under eyes hydrated and smooth throughout the day. It doesn’t provide heavy-duty coverage, but it does just enough to brighten up those specific areas for everyday wear. It comes with a doe foot applicator, which allows for an easy effortless application.

Purchase: $7.96 for 0.23 at Walmart

NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER – BISCUIT

I use this highlighter for days where I am going for a full face of makeup. It is creamy and has good coverage to achieve that flawless look. This also has a doe foot applicator for easy application. The great thing about this line is that they have a ton of colours for every skin tone! If you are having a hard time finding a good concealer for your skin tone, this is worth trying!

Purchase: $36 for 0.22 oz at Sephora

MAKE UP FOREVER ULTRA HD CONCEALER- Y31

This is more of a heavy-duty concealer, again for those days where I am going for a full face of makeup. It has great coverage but doesn’t feel heavy or cakey at all. This concealer comes in a tube, so to apply just dab little dots where you want to highlight. You only need the smallest amount of product, as a little goes a long way. I purchased this at Sephora for $32.

Purchase: $32 for 0.23oz at Sephora

 

APPLICATION

I use the applicators and create a triangle shape under my eyes and on my forehead, as well as a line down my nose and Cupid’s bow. I then use a damp beauty blender to blend the product into my skin. This allows for a seamless transition and also soaks up any excess product that’s not necessary. I set my highlighter using the Sephora Bright Set Pressed Finishing Powder. This will ensure the concealer stays put all day and does not crease.

Highlighting is great technique to use whether you want to do some dramatic highlighting and contouring, or to simply brighten up the face. It’s really up to you! Let me know if these products give you that glow you were looking for!

 

MAKEUP STARTER KIT

If you are someone looking to start wearing makeup, you may find it intimidating. There are so many products and techniques out there, which can be overwhelming for someone just starting out. Here are a few products that will help you get the ball rolling! These will help you achieve a simple, everyday makeup look.

CONCEALER / FOUNDATION

I suggest starting off with a concealer if you are not used to wearing any makeup at all. This will provide coverage for those troubled areas without it being too heavy. Once you are comfortable with that, you can work your way up to a foundation. Finding a good foundation to work with your skin type is really about trial and error, so don’t fret if you don’t get it right in the first attempt!

POWDER

This will lock in your foundation and concealer. If you choose to stick with only applying concealer, this is a great lightweight option to add some extra coverage.

BLUSH / BRONZER

Now that you have a flawless base, you want to add life back into your face. Blush or bronzer will give you some colour and definition. Bronzer will help you achieve that sun-kissed glow whilst blush will give you that pretty, rosy cheek.

MASCARA

This has to be my favourite part! Adding mascara will open up your eyes and make you look awake. To enhance this process, you can start off by curling your lashes to lift them up and out. Then apply your favourite mascara. When mascara is the only product on my eyes, I apply a few coats to make sure they are as long and as full as I can get them.

There you go! A simple everyday look anyone can surely pull off. Take a trip to your local drugstore and scope out the products. There are a ton of great products you can find, especially if you are just starting out. Be warned, this post may be the first steps towards a very unhealthy obsession with makeup. It is inevitable.

CLASSIC & FLIRTY: VALENTINES DAY LOOK

This is a classic and timeless look, perfect for Valentines Day! It’s clean and simple, but definitely makes a statement when paired with a bold lip. I wanted to do a neutral eye with long lashes for a super girly and flirty effect. For the lips, one can never go wrong with a daring red, which pairs perfectly with this eye makeup. This look is super easy to recreate and you’ll surely impress your date!

STEPS:

1. Prime your eyelids to give the eye shadow a nice base.
2. Apply a matte brown eye shadow in the crease and pat on a cream colour shadow to the lid. Go into the crease and blend the colours to create a seamless transition.
3. Draw a line along the lash line and flick out to create a cat eye effect. I prefer a thicker line for a bolder look.
4. Apply black liner to the bottom waterline starting from the middle to the outer corner and blend out. To brighten up the eye, use a shimmery pearl colour and apply to the tear duct and brow bone. Lastly to get those eyes looking really flirty, pop on a pair of long wispy lashes! If you prefer mascara, grab something that will lengthen the lashes. Don’t forget to put mascara on the bottom lashes as well!

Use your favourite face products to complete the rest of your makeup. To finish off the look, apply your go-to red lip! This is a natural look so you can definitely pair it with any lip colour.

I’ve listed all the products I used below for your reference. Remember, you don’t have to use the exact same products I did. Find similar ones that work for you to recreate this look! Hope you guys enjoyed!

EYE PRODUCTS:

• Base:Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Crease:Mac Eye Shadow in Saddle
• Lid:Morphe’s 35W Palette Cream Eye Shadow (1^st row, 4^th from the left)
• Winged Liner:L’oreal Felt Tip Liquid Eye Liner
• Water line: Maybelline Eye Shadow Stick in Blackmai
• Brow Bone: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Eye Shadow in Bootycall
• Tear Duct: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Eye Shadow in Bootycall
• Lashes: Ardell Lashes in Wispies

FACE PRODUCTS:

• Foundation:Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC45
• Concealer:Mac Pro Longwear in NC45
• Powder:Mac Pressed Powder in Medium Dark
• Blush:Morphe’s 9B Blush Palette (1^st in 3^rd row)
• Highlight:Mac Global Glow
• Lip Liner: Anabelle in Cherry
• Lip Stick: Bite Beauty Crème lipstick in VIB ROUGE

CHOCOLATE KISS MAKEUP LOOK

I was rummaging through the aisles of Sephora when I came across the Cognac Matte Crème Lip Crayon from Bite Beauty. I didn’t have any similar lip colours and I adore dark lipsticks, so I decided to pick it up. It is a deep brown with reddish undertones. It is definitely a unique lip colour but I think a lot of people can pull it off. It gives off that 90’s vibe and I’m completely obsessed! I wanted to create a brown smouldering eye look to pair with this rich vampy lip. Follow the steps below if you want to learn how to get this delicious chocolatey look!

STEPS:

1. Prime your eyelids to give the eye shadow a nice base.
2. Apply a matte brown eye shadow in the crease.
3. Use a bronze colour and pat all over the lid. Go back into the crease and blend the colours to create a seamless transition.
4. Draw a line along the lash line and flick out to create a cat eye effect. Apply black eye liner at the upper waterline as well as the lower waterline.
5. Add a little black eye shadow just at the outer corner of the eyelid to create some depth. Smoke out the bottom waterline with the same matte colour used in the crease.
6. Apply a soft champagne colour as a highlight under the brow bone. Add your favourite mascara or lashes, and your done!

Use your favourite face products to complete the rest of your makeup. I like to do my eye makeup first so I can touch up the edges using my concealer. Also if there is any fall out from the eye shadow you can simply brush it away. Of course the last step is to apply this chocolatey lip colour. I used Mac’s Chestnut lip liner and then applied the lipstick overtop.

I’ve listed all the products I used below for your reference. Remember, you don’t have to use the exact same products I did. Find similar ones that work for you to recreate this look! Hope you guys enjoyed!

EYE PRODUCTS:

• Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Crease: Makeup Geek Eye Shadow in Chocoa Bear
• Lid: Morphe’s 35W Palette Bronze Eye Shadow (4^th row, 3^rd from the left)
• Winged Liner: L’oreal Felt Tip Liquid Eye Liner
• Water line: Maybelline Eye Shadow Stick in Blackmail
• Outer Corner: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Eye Shadow in Blackout
• Brow Bone: Mac Global Glow Highlighter
• Lashes: House of Lashes in Iconic

FACE PRODUCTS:

• Foundation: Makeup Forever HD Foundation in 173 Amber
• Concealer: Mac Pro Longwear in NC45
• Powder: Mac Pressed Powder in Medium Dark
• Cheek Contour: Mac Blush in Blunt (Matte)
• Bronzer: Mac Blush in Format
• Blush: Mac Blush Plum Foolery
• Highlight: Mac Global Glow

FAVOURITE DRUGSTORE MASCARAS: REVIEW

If there’s anything you want to add to your makeup kit, it’s mascara! It is a staple product to complete any look, whether you are going for simple and natural, or bold and dramatic. Mascara instantly opens up your eyes to make you look fresh and awake! I’ve definitely tried a few high-end mascaras but I always seem to come back to these three drugstore products. The quality is great, not to mention they are super inexpensive and get the job done right!

1. L’OREAL VOLUMINOUS BUTTERFLY

Overview: This has been my everyday mascara since it first came out! I love how it lengthens my otherwise short lashes giving them that long and wispy look.

Formulation: This formula has tiny fibers to get your lashes extra long. It applies nice and evenly without any clumps. The formula also has a nice silky consistency. I find that some mascaras are way too wet and get all over the place. This formula is just right, not too wet and not too dry.

Applicator: The applicator for this product is quite unique; it has an asymmetrical arched brush, which seems to work perfectly with the shape of your eye. The bristles start at the tip and flare out following the shape of the brush. It really defines every single lash, starting from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner. The design of this brush is flawless!

Purchase: $9.96 from Walmart

2. MAYBELLINE THE FALSIES FLARED

Overview: Maybelline definitely has some of the best mascaras out there. I have been using this one for a few years now and I still can’t get enough of it. I love the flared, flirty look it gives my lashes!

Formulation: This formula also has a nice smooth consistency. You can definitely apply a few coats to build the volume without it getting too clumpy or flakey.

Applicator: The brush for this product has more of a traditional design. What gives it that extra flare is its slight curve, and its ability to bend and flex with your lashes as you apply. It helps build volume from the roots to the ends, to create that voluminous, flared look.

Purchase: $6.96 from Walmart

3. MAYBELLINE THE ROCKET

Overview: I came across this product about a year ago, and it is my go to mascara to create that bombshell look!

Formulation: A lot of mascaras that claim to add volume to your lashes, really just end up getting clumpy. This formula gives your lashes a bold and defined look.

Applicator: This brush helps to really get those lashes voluminous. It has short bristles at the tip that gradually get larger towards the end. The soft and evenly placed bristles allow for the application to start right from the roots all the way to the ends, building up volume.

Purchase: $6.96 from Walmart

I actually enjoy pairing up these mascaras to create a more dramatic look. I usually start off with the L’oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara to get those lashes defined, and then go in with any of the two Maybelline mascaras to add more volume. Also, don’t forget to curl your lashes before you apply mascara to complete the look! What are your favourite drugstore mascaras?