MAKE-UP TIPS PLZ
i have to be completely honest with something- i am addicted to make-up. i can spend hours in a sephora and M.A.C playing with the displays of endless colours and pigments and cute packaging. it probably has something to do with my love of art, but i can't help but see a face as a gorgeous natural canvas i can paint and paint on to my heart's content. now it is no secret to any artist that a very important part of creating a piece of art is the quality of the materials you use. no matter what your choice of palette is or what kind of end product you hope to achieve, as a painter, i share the love for the luxuriously soft sable brushes and rich globs of winsor and newton artist' oil colour (i made the switch from winton and it is basically impossible to go back).
when it comes to make-up the same rules apply, except it is probably more important because it is your face we're talking about. There are a billion concerns to worry about when it comes to the right products for make-up, we're looking at whether it would damage your natural beauty (bad make-up = awful for the skin),whether you can achieve the right look or whether it would even stay on when you finally do. however, no matter how expensive or fantastic the product, you have to make sure the canvas itself isn't ripped or marred in any way. therefore, moisturizing before you apply any make-up and carefully washing it off before going to bed is essential.
i am forever curious about what products out there are the best - trying the products on myself is a great way to experiment but it isn't exactly wallet-friendly. therefore, a lot of the tips and recommendations i get are from friends and the internet. these are the must-have products that are in my makeup bag now:
1. urban decay 24/7 eyeliner - these are intensely amazing. eyeliner is really essential to me; it's basically the first thing i put on the moment i get my contacts on. despite my love of cosmetics, i rarely put on too much makeup on a daily basis mainly because i'm 1. lazy and 2. lazy (i like to sleep in until the very last minute) however, i refuse to leave my room without liner and a gloss/balm. this is why the urban decay eyeliners are like lifesavers - they do not smudge and the creamy colours glide on smoothly without pulling at the skin.
2. M.A.C pressed powder - this powder is pretty good when i wake up in the morning and i feel really gross. i am lucky enough to be blessed with good skin. i don't own foundation or concealer and i have never felt the need to. in fact, most of the compliments i get from people are on my skin, so it isn't one of my major worries for now ( until several years later anyway) i rarely get blemishes and pimples and my skin tone is even, but i do get the slight ruddy redness on the nose sometimes and the shininess on the t-zone. therefore, the light pressed powder from M.A.C is a nice friend to have when you want a smoother more velvety finish to your skin.
3. fresh supernova mascara - ok, a major splurge on the high-end brand - but i couldn't help it! the tube is adorable and stylish and it makes my basically non-existent eyelashes look amazing. my eye lashes always look so lush and long after i apply this mascara, but it's mainly a party/look-super-hot-for-a-date thing for me because i'm too lazy with mascara. generally, it's messy (especially with short straight eyelashes like me), it's tough to wipe off, and i have dark hair anyway so i usually go without. this is also why after this bottle finishes (or more likely dries out), i'm planning on going for some basic drugstore brands instead.
4. M.A.C eyeshadow - is the best out there. enough said.
5. NARS blush - everyone who knows blushes knows that NARS is pretty much the best out there on that turf, especially with their apparently universally flattering 'orgasm' shade (which i have, but im contemplating the much darker 'torrid'). NARS always holds my respect for sleek minimalist packaging and guaranteed high-quality (as well as prices) but honestly, once you buy one of their products, you understand that it is well worth shelling out the extra cash. i haven't exactly gone beyond the blushes yet but i always play with their shadows whenever i pass by; plus i hear their glosses are fantastic too!
6. tarte cheek stain - i actually bought the set because i fell in love with the adorable plush purple box they came in, but these things live up to the hype. a good lasting stain that i actually end up using on my lips more than anything (with gloss on top) because i find they look a bit too streaky on my cheeks.
7. last but not least- LIPWEAR!!!!
a. M.A.C slimshine lipstick - i love the slimshines because i still haven't gotten over my childish fear of lipsticks- they always seem much too dark and rich. considering i've always preferred a nice nude or a simple clear gloss, the transition into those daring darker matte shades is very intimidating. this is why i love the slimshine lipstick because while it is CALLED a lipstick, it works more like a gloss than anything else. it's much more sheer, moisturizing and glossy and you can layer it on for higher intensity.
b. M.A.C tinted lip conditioner - this is a lovely tinted lip balm that moisturizes and softens your lips while providing for nice subtle colour. it is great for the daytime, i use it on its own whenever my lips feel a bit dry and it isn't sticky like other glosses.
c. fresh sugar lip gloss - another impulse expensive buy that was relatively satisfying (still a bit too pricey in my opinion) but the cute packaging won me over. this stuff is shiny but surprisingly non-sticky, a definite rarity in the world of glosses and a best friend to any girl who's suffered the constant hair-stuck-on-lip phenomenon.
Stuff i'd like to buy/look into:
1. Balmshell lipgloss - any Toronto-ian would be proud of the blond bombshell twins who created the new lipgloss. the tube is the most creative and adorable thing i've ever come across with the detachable keychain side. i see it at holt renfrew and sephora everytime i pass by and i always itch to fork out 25 dollars for it.
2. primers primers primers - ok, this is actually something i've never looked into because it seems like an unnecessary extra step in make-up, but now i'm hearing that it is an ESSENTIAL extra step and it really makes a difference. my next sephora purchase will probably be the famous urban decay eyeshadow primer and possibly the smashbox foundation primer (which is so expensive but does this miraculous job of filling in all the wrinkles you didn't even know you had to make your skin feel like satin)
getting back feedback would be awesome! i'd love to find out what everyone else is a fan of and get recommendations too! :)