My Everyday Makeup Routine

April 16, 2017 by Melissa in beauty

So my sister asked me to do an "on camera" makeup routine. I thought she said "everyday" so I sat in my house taking all these photos only to realize, too late, that I was doing the wrong thing. Thus, this post. I didn't want it to go to waste so I am posting here because I've always wanted to do one. This is also a pretty courageous move on my part so I'm patting myself on the back here. You may notice that I'm just holding the eyebrow product with no "demonstration"..those pics were weird.

And now... Melissa's Everyday Makeup Routine a la all the beauty books that I would buy back in the early 00's like: Tyra's Beauty Inside & Out and Bobbi Brown Beauty. #classics

Okay. This is my face on its own:

base: drunk elephant c-firma day serum, lush cosmetcs' celestial moisturizer, kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado.

STEP 1: CONCEALER

Cover dark areas, undereye, and forehead. Use fingers or Beauty Blender to blend out.

STEP 2: EYEBROWS

brush eyebrows into shape and fill with Benefit's Ka-Brow! Shade 4

STEP 3: CHEEKS

Apply to apple of cheeks and lightly pull color toward temple.

STEP 4: FACE

The biggest trick to bronzer that I've learned is making the number 3 shape. 1. starts at the side forehead.

2. ends near and just below the apple of the cheek.

3. ends underneath the jaw line directly below the second ending spot.

STEP 3: HIGHLIGHT

Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Bronze Glow

I apply highlighter just above my blush, to the tip of my nose, lightly down the bridge, cupid's bow, and chin, and a light brush across the temples.

STEP 6: MASCARA

STEP 7: SET

light spray, 1-3 pumps because this spray finishes "dewy".

FINALE:

That's it, that's all! I have a wacky complexion like most people, but I don't try to cover it because I want to feel comfortable and look real/effortless. I have been playing around with foundations for a few months to find a sheer and breathable blend that makes me look even all over. Otherwise, working in the wellness industry, I don't feel the need to get a flawless look because I could end up in the gym at any minute--and it's a gauge of my food and water intake.

I hope this helps someone and at least brings a laugh. I don't "do" self-deprecation, but the pic of me putting on mascara is laughable. My face while holding the highlighter is me laughing because I was looking so serious and could also see my reflection in the casing.

In the end, I actually am in love with my everyday look (I also realized that I didn't put on a lip: it's usually Bobbi Brown Nourishing Lip Color in Suntan Pink with Lune + Aster Vitamin C & E Lip Gloss in Teacher on top). This is years of working and editing here. It's still imperfect but it's reliable and easy to do. Sometimes I'll choose from the other two blushes I have (Nars Exhibit A or MAC Limited Edition) to match my outfit, the weather, or add drama. I really don't think that anyone can pull off an authentic everyday look without putting in the legwork at the counters and in the makeup aisle. Makeup is a fun way to express yourself and reflect your mood--or the mood that you want to have. I say that that's no place to cut corners, nah mean?

Happy discovering!

Melissa

September Faves

October 03, 2016 by Melissa in beauty, eats, monthly faves

September was a fun month. I got to visit a new city, cheered on my boyfriend in his first triathlon, and took on some fun projects at work. I personally am obsessed with YouTube videos by beauty gurus who display their monthly faves. I am going to start doing them here every month to highlight the beauty products and other things, that just light my life up for the month. Since this is my first, I wanted to keep it simple and boiled down to the brand new items that really blew me away.

1. Curate Snacks' Curate Bars:

My favorite of three that I tried is the Salted Decadence, hence, it's not in the photo--because I ate them all. I walked in to work one day and grabbed one as a snack and fell in love immediately. Salted Decadence has: hemp seed, marcona almonds, dark chocolate, California sea salt, almond butter, and quinoa (among other ingredients). These are available at Target, Walmart, and amazon.com

2. Black Opal's Deluxe Finishing Powder:

So, I like to keep things simple when it comes to my beauty regimen. I love how much work women put in to their makeup, but it just does not work for my lifestyle. For a while, I've been wanting to try a translucent powder and was concerned about there being a lot of ash being left behind after removing. When I was in Pittsburgh, I realized that I accidentally left my NARS concealer at home, ran to Rite Aid, and stumbled upon this while I scanned the selection for darker skin tones. I like it a lot and am going to purchase a new face brush soon so I can leave my bronzer brush for bronzers only.

3. L.A. Girl's HD Pro Concealer Corrector:

Just like I mentioned above, I have a deep appreciation for women who do a whole face beat down to get the look they love. I tried a Smashbox corrector a while ago and it really wasn't user friendly for me. On that same concealer hunt in Pittsburgh, I wandered in to a beauty supply story and was finally able to get my hands on lots of shades of L.A. Girl concealers, including this one. I love that there's a brush attached to the tube and suggest that you have your Beauty Blender dampened and ready to go because, unlike a NARS concealer, I don't think that the heat from the face helps to prep the color. Instead, it seems to dry faster and be more challenging to spead the longer you wait.

4. Patchology's Smartmud No Mess Mud Masque:

You guys. I have a favorite makeup and skincare shop here in Chicago called Blue Mercury. It's my luxury Walgreen's and I get all of my goodies there to try or refill. One evening I had to run down to grab my favorite makeup remover miceller water, I spotted this mud sheet mask and threw it on the counter. I have done mud masks before, but it was such a task (seriously, the beauty routine simplicity story is a running theme here). To have the mix prepared and easy to use on a sheet mask is everything. And my skin felt and looked so energized after! I am going to do them 1-2 times a month to keep my skin cleared up from all the makeup and handling it experiences day-to-day.

5. Benefit Cosmetics' Goof Proof Brow Pencil:

Surprise! I was looking for an easy way to fill my brows pre- and post-sweat for my makeup kit. I was carrying around my Browzings and a brush and a.) it was stressful worrying about misplacing my brush, b.) it was kinda gross to have my makeup brush in studio bathrooms (in my mind). This guy deposits great color, is truly goof proof for a former tomboy like me, and travels well daily. Mine is in shade 5.

Try these products out and let me know what you think! See you with a fresh list for next month.

Melissa

Calcium Bentonite Clay

November 06, 2014 by Melissa

Have you heard of this Bentonite Clay?

I bought a tub of it from the Southtown Health Foods the other day.

I like to keep things simple and a DIY-style mask that costs like seven bucks and lasts a long time makes sense to me.

Apparently this stuff is great to clear the pores.

First round (me in black) was weird. It felt tingly on my face. So of course I had to Google it. Turns out it's normal. #falseALARM

During the hunt I found a likeable recipe. This one said to use apple cider vinegar (ACV) and coconut oil. First round I did just water.

I'm actually typing this while this new version is in my face and it's 10x less icky on my skin. Doesn't seem to be drying as..dry, but that's okay with me! (I have pretty cool skin so I'm not looking to clear up tons of problems.)

I'm going to do this regularly over the month and report back with a full analysis. An analysis you may not need because you may have heard about CBC by now and if you haven't then you will probably Google it on your own.

Let's talk Bentonite clay in a few weeks shall we?

Tata!

Melissa