Todays Face: Summer Skin

If you can't tell, I've become a little bit of a makeup addict. I'm always thinking about ways of perfecting things and color schemes. And I'm totally not one of those people who keeps all their beauty secrets to themselves, I think everyone should be given the opportunity to gain knowledge and I'm more than willing to share mine! I've been on a search to create the perfect summer glow, I'm really not one into the matte looks, and I've finally found something that satisfies me!

I've starting using some new products (the reviews for them can be found here). Although my skin is less than perfect at the moment (I'm in the process of fixing this) this new makeup regimen I've found is giving me the best results I've had so far. Be for warned, I like a really, and I mean really  dewy glowing face. So, if you're skin is oily you'll probably want to skip a step or two (I'll note which ones).

• Cleanse and pat dry (don't wipe) face. 
• Apply Dermologica or Skinceuticals moisturizer (any moisturizer you've found works for you will do). Let Soak into skin for a couple minutes.
• Massage whatever sunscreen you like, I use Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces SPF 30. It's oil free and has all this other good stuff for your skin. LOVE. *oily skin can just apply the sunscreen only, leaving out the other moisturizer.
• Apply two (2) parts Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 220 with one (1) part Revlon Colorstay in 240, and one (1) part illuminating lotion (Skinceuticals Emollience is the one I use) *oily skin, skip the lotion mix. Apply a layer with Real Techniques Foundation Brush (review coming soon). 
• Pick up M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl with fingers and pat onto apples of cheeks and cheek bones. You'll also want to give this a little bit of time to melt into your skin for a more natural finish.
• Lightly dust a peachy blush with shimmer from your cheeks swept up to a little past the outside of the eye and a little into the hollows of the face, I used M.A.C. Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Springsheen. 
• Apply M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl again down the bridge of nose, inner corners of eyes, and browbones. If you want even more glow you can pop it over where you first applied it as well. (this is okay to do over a powder blush, you just have to make sure to set everything when finished, I'll get to how I do that) 
• Using a powder brush, apply a mineral bronzer to the hollows of the face, temples, jaw bone, and anywhere else you'd like a veil of color.
• Set everything with a powder like Fit Me Pressed Powder in 220.
• Spray all over face with Fix + for a fresh finish and to really set the makeup (if you're more on the oily side, skip this step and use a setting powder). 
• Put a couple coats of Maybelline Full'n'Soft mascara, I used soft brown. 

And there you have it, summer fresh! If you have any other questions about this look or any of my other looks, just ask! (; I love getting comments!

XOX,

- Mj

My Favorite Summer Beauty Trends

LIPS
I'm not going to limit myself here my saying a few colors I like, instead I figured it'd be a bit more visually exciting and informative if I showed you! (although, at the moment I'm obsessing over corals, watermelon, and baby pinks, muted nudes and light pink!) Gosh, I can never just pick one.

(Note: The photos of the lovely ladies with fabulous lips were found on google, as for the rest, they are my photos. You are more then welcome to use them if need be, just be sure to site back here!)

NEUTRAL FACE
The way I do a neutral face is as follows. Refresh, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, refresh, light layer of sheer foundation, touch of bronzer, sweep of highlight, vaseline mixed with a bronze eyeshadow (or just wet it if your scared of the vaseline...idk it works for me so I like it) on the lids, black mascara, and gloss. Done and perfect. There's nothing better and faster than fresh beautiful makeup that looks effortless and this is one of those looks for me that just works with my skin and look. This is a routine that never fails me, even on my bad days!

SWEET CHEEKS
M.A.C. Springsheen keeps looking at me from my vanity, sending me telepathic love letters. And I'm doing it back. I've fell in love with this blush all too hard. I love everything about it. Here's a few different ways I play with my new best friend:

• Popping on a light wash then bronzing and contouring, this gives for a bronzed and brown based face with a pop of freshness. 
• Another look is using many layers for a shimmering perfectly peach flush. 
• Finally, putting it on my eyes, I LOVE using this color as an eyeshadow just by itself with some brown mascara and barely anything else, perfect beach makeup.

Also, pairing this, or rather any blush, with M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl makes for the perfect glow. I'm wearing this duo in most all of my photos!

BOLD LASHES
I've always been a fan of lashes. The bigger the better is how I feel. Even when I go to the beach and wear no makeup at all, I still have at least 3 coats of thick mascara slathered on my lashes. Why? Because I like it, and that's that. Though I am not a fake lashes advocate for a number of reasons, those being, too much work, too artificial, and not to mention I just suck at applying. So, unless I'm going to an event or creating a dramatic look I'll never waste my money on false eyelashes. Plus, I just love my faithful black lashes, they take mascara perfectly and pretty much always are on their best behavior. (yes, I am referring to my lashes as an entity) 

PURPLE PEEPERS
From lavenders, to violet, to grapes and wines...purple eyeshadow has made its mark on my makeup love list. How do I like to wear it, you ask?

• Using deeper hues for a sexy, refreshed smokey 
• Lining the whole of the eye with a vibrant violet 
• Perfectly innocent periwinkle lids. 

Pairing any of these with huge black drama queen lashes just takes the cake for me! They're all lovely, and versatile (if you've got the colors!) My advice, start purchasing all different shades of purples and play with them. I promise you'll find one at least one color you fall in love with. *Always go drugstore first (even though I'm an advocate of almost ALL makeup being drugstore) when trying new colors, you can also pop over to your high end counters or Sephora and ask a beauty rep to give you a go around with your new squeeze. Hopefully these people know enough about makeup to provide you with a range of swatches where you'll find at least one love of your life.

MONOCHROMATIC MAKEUP
I say this really  meaning natural "naked" makeup. But since I hate saying naked makeup, cause if it were naked, we wouldn't be having to have this conversation...about makeup, I'm calling it monochromatic. There's only a few monochrom looks I would do personally and they're all relatively similar. Peach, coral, pink, brown, beige. That's it (YES, I know you can create other monochrome looks using bright not natural colors, but that's not what I'm talking about here). BUT the beauty you can create with these colors are amazing. I think using one color throughout the look gives a feeling of effortlessness and a light natural vibe. For my next FOTD I'll play around with a few monochromatic looks. I have no idea how they'll turn out but I hope I like them, and you too of course!

Here's leading lady Rachel Bilson in a bronzed monochrome look.

And another favorite of mine, Mila Kunis. This makeup seems to allow you to peer into her soul through her amazing eyes. Then again though, her eyes always intrigue me to create beautiful looks.

I know these aren't the only things everyone's loving at the moment, but I'm not one to follow on the tail of the latest trends. I like what I love and that's that! (; I am finding some trend of my own here for summer and that comes down to one word, effortlessness. Sexy, subdued, naturally gorgeous makeup will make anyone feel like a goddess of the sun.

What looks are you loving for this season, or any season rather!?

XOX
- Mj

Sweet Sun

Hello lovelies! So, I've taken a short break from the interweb and headed out to soak up the sun and spend some quality time with my sweetheart. I'll be back to blogging as usual tomorrow, I've got a lot of NYX swatches, more e.l.f. and some other great things coming up! <3

Talk to ya soon!
XOX,
- Mj

Todays Face

Todays face was a request by a few fellow MUAers. The told me I would look lovely with a pinup styled makeup (red lips, cat liner), so last night before bed I gave it a try and I really liked it. This type of look for me definitely will take some confidence to actually wear it out in public because I feel like it's too harsh. Or maybe I could find a way of toning things down a bit. I always love doing request looks for some reason, so if anyone has any other ideas in mind let me know! Anyway, onto Todays Face!

Products Used:
(all other makeup other than the eyes and lips were from earlier in the day so it's all worn off and old. Therefore, I won't mention it, unless you guys ask then I'd be happy to)
- Wet'n'Wild MEGA LINER [Black]
- M.A.C. Lippie [Russian Red]
- Revlon Eye Palette [White]

I find it takes some time and practice to get a good cat eye down, I'm still in the process of learning this so forgive me if it's a little messy /: If you guys know of any tips or tricks for the liquid liner, I'd love to know!

I really like these lips, I was wondering what other eye looks might be good with them. Any ideas?

XOX,

- Mj

Todays Face

The Kardashian sisters were behind todays face I always (almost) adore their makeup, they wear everything so well from sexy smokey eyes to fresh pink lips. Here are some photos I used for inspiration, and how I created my own Kardashian look!

Products Used:

- MAC Select SPF 15 [NC37]

- Fit Me Foundation [220]

- MAC Cream Colour Base [Pearl]

- bareMinerals Contour [Fresh]

- MAC Sheertone Blush [Springsheen]

- bareMinerals [Mineral Veil]

- Sephora Palette (stars * are over the colors used, they have no names)

- NYX Black Kohl Liner

- L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

- MAC Lipstick [Myth]

For this look, I concentrated mostly on perfecting my cheeks and skin, because that is what I always find myself envying when seeing the Kardashians. I wanted to go for a pinky peach cheek with lots of sheen to provide that glamour glow we all know I can't get enough of.

Step 1 FACE:  Always make sure to properly prep your face for makeup. For me, this includes, cleansing, and moisturizing and using Fix +. Give this about ten (10) minutes to set and dry properly. Now, I was looking for a smooth sheer coverage foundation so I went with M.A.C. Select SPF 15 in NC37, for definition, I applied a darker foundation (Fit Me in 220) to the frame of my face. This is a technique that allows light to reflect from the center of your face and it gives a really beautiful effect. Just make sure the darker color isn't too  dark and also be sure to blend, blend, blend! Next, I patted M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl onto the apples of my cheeks, cheekbones and bridge of my nose. I like to use my fingers for this because it gives a glow, but a real natural one. Finally, I used bareMinerals Fresh into the hollows of my cheeks and all around my face.

Step 2 CHEEKS: Again, this is where I wanted the most focus to be so I use a few different products to create a one-of-a-kind blush that's perfect for my skin tone. First I popped on a layer of M.A.C Sheertone Blush in Springsheen, after that I whipped out my new Sephora palette and used the creamy peach / orange to provide the real color. After this I used the lightest color in the palette for extra highlight. I ran it over the blush I already applied and right above my cheekbones. Don't forget when you're finished with your face makeup to set it with a powder, I used bareMinerals Mineral Veil.

Step 3 EYES: It's NECESSARY when applying eyeshadow to use a primer as your base. Find one that works for you and use the heck out of it! I use MICABELLA's eye primer and apply it with a concealer brush. Using a medium shadow brush I applied a light shimmery champagne color all over my lid up to the brow bone, just a thin wash of color, nothing dramatic. I also popped this into my inner corner to brighten and open my eye. I used a similar shade but it's a tad darker for an all over lid color. Then, I applied a matte brown to my outer corner and a little into my crease, using a M.A.C. 217 brush. To enhance this I blended a bronze brown into my crease and beneath my lower lid. I used an NYX kohl liner to line my upper lashline, as well as in both my top and bottom waterlines. I feel like the dark black against the whites of my eyes really makes them pop. And finally popped on a few coats of L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara.

Step 4 LIPS: I mixed two lipglosses to create an earthy nude pink that I frequently see Kim Kardashian rockin'. Before I put the gloss on I ran M.A.C. lipstick in Myth over my lips to lighten them up a bit so the true color of the glosses would pop through better. I applied the gloss with a drugstore lip brush.

*NOTE: I put stars (*) over the products I used in the Sephora palette so you could color match if you don't have that exact one.

Final Look

Notice the glow radiating out from my cheeks, this isn't from the flash, it's a result of the Cream Colour Base layered beneath the blush, and then a powder highlighter over that. I really love using this technique.

When applying eyeshadow, another layering technique gives great results. If you use a white shadow pencil (like NYX Milk, or Urban Decay Yeyo) in the inner corners of your eyes and blend them with a liner brush. Apply your shadow as usual and then go over the areas where you put the pencil liner with a light shimmery shadow. This will guide lots of light to that area, brightening it up a thousand fold. It makes the eyes look very lovely.

These side shots showcase the face makeup at it's best. Notice the deeper, darker contour blending into the peach blush blending into the highlighter. 

If you guys have any other questions, just ask! 

XOX,

- Mj

New Stuff for Cool Girls: Hard Candy & Revlon

I've had my eye on these two products (not the colors I picked out specifically but just the brand) for quite some time now. Typically, before I buy something, I'm one to research as much as I can to ensure that I'll be satisfied with my purchase. This is especially true if what I'm buying is from a drugstore, where you usually can't test things and returns are a pain in everyones butt. Today, however while at Wal-Mart in the beauty section (duh) I decided to give these a go. As you can see they're in a similar color family, coral / peachy / orange. It's the start of summer and these colors are one of my favorites for this season. My other favorite is super bright teal / turquoise slapped beneath the lash line, but we'll get to that another day. Anyway, I ended up purchasing Hard Candy's Fox in a Box in Skinny Dipping and Revlons Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef. And here's what I thought of them:

• Hard Candy Fox in a Box [ Skinny Dipping ]: "A highly pigmented multi-color powder compact that will surely bring out your inner foxy lady. Each box contains coordinated shades that blend together perfectly and a custom Hard Candy applicator brush. Sweep across chin, cheeks, forehead, and unleash the foxiness in you!"
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss [ Coral Reef ]: "Silky...Sexy...Brilliant. Glossy formula combines sheer color and intense moisture with light reflecting spheres to create amazing shine. SPF 15."

Thoughts so far
Hard Candy Fox in a Box [Skinny Dippin']. Okay, let me begin this by saying this "custom brush" sucks at life. No hard feelings hard candy (no pun intended, hehehe) but really? You call that a brush? Well, it's hardly. I don't even know what I can use it for. It's cute as a button, but no real purpose. Now, back to the makeup... this product comes in the cutest packaging I've seen in a while. And I'm a sucker for all things cute so this caught my eye the moment I saw it. However, it's a little impractical because of it's bulkiness and seems like it could be damaged easily. I definitely wouldn't feel safe keeping this in my purse, it's reserved for the vanity only. As for the actual makeup, it's cut 50 / 50 down the middle. On one side is the bronzer which is a slightly shimmery muted brown with some pink undertones. As for the other, it's a coral peach with pink and orange in there too, (I guess coral and peach both come from pink and orange mixing anyway). This side has also got a little shimmer. It says these are meant to be swirled together and applied but I prefer using them separately as a contour and blush. Or both blushes (at different times, of course), I say this because the brown is a little too pink for me, I like my contours and bronzers to be rather matte and brown / tan.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss [Coral Reef]. I'd like to note that this particular color is more opaque than sheer, but that's what I love about it. Like I said before, this is the perfect summer color. It's a perfect peachy pink that, combined with the natural pigment of my lips, makes me fall in love. The SPF makes it even more desirable for summer too! If you're into more opaque colors all I did to achieve this was put a little bit of M.A.C. lipstick in Myth on before I applied the gloss. The nude, muted tones of the Myth make the coral and pink really pop, it's lovely. When I see this lipgloss, it makes me want to pair it with perfectly bronzed skin and some gold eye shadow...perfection.

Swatches

In order from left to right:
M.A.C. Sheertone Shimmer [Springsheen]
A seperate review for this can be found here. I swatched this because it the review I did for it, I didn't provide the viewers with a swatch so here it is. It's a pinky peach with gold shimmer, really beautiful and sheer if you only apply one layer. But it's also quite buildable and can give you a nice pop of color if that's what you're looking for.
Fox in a Box [Skinny Dippin']
The colored side: A very orange peach with shimmer. Definitely one of my go-to shades for summer. Gives a beautiful peachy flush.
The bronzer side: I really hate calling this a bronzer because it has such pink undertones. As you can see in the photo it almost creates a purpley / pinky / peachy. I just feel eh about this color, but we'll see what time brings...
*NOTE: All 3 of the swatches were used with M.A.C. Cream Colour Base [Pearl] before applying because it allows the true colors to show.

Outside, No Flash

Outside, Flash
In order from left to right:
M.A.C. Lipstick [Myth]
This is a muted nude color that is good to use when you want a normally sheer lipgloss (such as Coral Reef) to appear more opaque and bright. I used this as color reference and to show the difference of the color with and without a base.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss [Coral Reef]
The thing I'm most in love with about this product is the formula. It's very similar, but better in my opinion, to Avon's Glazewear. Which is one of my favorite lines of glosses. So smooth and it feels really hydrating. It does wipe off easily so reapplication would be needed after eating / drinking. The packaging is very sleek and seems quite high end for a drugstore product. The color is very true to it's name, coral. Just pure coral. Though, I've done some research and as you know people have different pigmentation in their lips, this can change the color of the gloss. I really love this product and I'll definitely be buying a backup Coral Reef and see if there are any other colors that tickle my fancy.

If you've found any "New Stuff for Cool Girls", share it with us! (:

XOX,
- Mj

PSA: Prime to Prep

This is a Public Service Announcement from HerBeautyMark, sharing the importance of makeup primers!

Admittedly, I am new to face primer, but after my continuous time spent on makeupalley.com I've learned the importance of it and I am here to share that knowledge with you. If you are a primer virgin this post will help you in understanding what primer is, how to use it, the many types that are available and finding which one is right for you.

What is it?
A makeup primer most likely contains waxes, polymers, and silicones. These substances are made to virtually attach themselves to your foundation and face, therefore extending the longevity of your makeup. It is important to understand that, although you may think purchasing makeup primer is just another thing you'll have to spend money on it will actually allow you to use less foundation while still achieving the same results. Primer is used to smooth out the complexion and make for a soft canvas for makeup to be applied to. It is intended to be applied after moisturizer but before foundation.

Why you need it?
If you're fortunate enough to have perfectly flawless skin then primer will be of no use to you. However, if you're skin needs a little extra help look no further! Primer does two main jobs for you. First, it makes your skin ready for foundation to be applied by smoothing out texture and filling any fine lines. Second, it acts as a barrier between your skin and your foundation. This is important because naturally, our skin breathes. It does this by action of the pores and if your wearing makeup with a barrier (primer) between your skin and foundation your pores will "breath" in the makeup, causing it to not last as long. This same concept should be considered when understanding that some ingredients in makeup aren't very good for out skin to be breathing in and to prevent this, all we have to do is use a primer!

What kind do I get?
This is probably the trickiest part...you might have to try out a couple different kinds to find which best suits you. But I'll do my best in creating a easier experience by letting you know all the information I can find! (; The first step is figuring out whether you need an oil-reducing primer, or a hydrating one. Most primers are labeled by their function and where they are intended to be applied. There are also water based and oil based primers, this decision will depend on whether your foundation is water or oil based. Let's go back in time to 5th grade science for a moment so we can get a clear understanding of this. As we all know, oil and water do not mix well. This is especially true when it comes to face products. Have you ever taken two magnets and tried to put them together on their opposing sides? It's like they have a forcefield pushing them away from one another, right? This concept is similar to if you were to apply an oil based primer beneath a water based foundation. They oppose one another, therefore they would try to separate and this would leave you with makeup that doesn't last very long at all. Next, you'll find that there are all types of primers, age rewind, extra moisture, oil control, wrinkle fillers, and tone correctors. All you have to do is identify what your skin needs. This is actually a key component in everything you apply to your face, know what your body needs and finding the right items should become very easy. This step can be tricky since there are so many types and brands and prices so I always find that reading reviews of people with similar skin types and needs as me is most helpful. You can find this information at makeupalley.com and typing in the search bar "primers". You'll get tons of results, just click and start reading!

How do I put it on?
Before applying primer, make sure your face is cleansed and moisturized. You can use your fingers to put primer on, or a sponge, whatever works for you. You'll want to give the primer about 2-3 minutes to set into your skin before moving forward in your makeup routine. It is said to apply primer a bit heavier (and with your fingertips) to any areas where there are an abundance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, scars or large pores. The primer will fill these places and help create an even base for your foundation to be applied to.

So now that you're equipped with knowledge of the vast world of primers you're ready to go out and find one that works for you! Below, I've created a shorter list of things you want to consider / remember when choosing your primer.

- Know your skins needs (dry, oily, large pores, wrinkles, etc.)
- Do your research / read reviews
- Know whether to get an oil or water based type primer
- If you buy something and it doesn't work for you, that doesn't mean primers don't work for you, just try a different one!

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer is a personal favorite of mine.

 Laura Mercier's Oil Free Foundation Primer is before for people with oily skin.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer has had great reviews from people with dry skin.

I hope this helped you guys in finding a primer that works for you, if you have any other questions just ask!
XOX,
- Mj




*(Source(s): http://health.howstuffworks.com; http://wisegeek.com)