My Go-To Products...Revisited!!

Alright, so the last time I did this tag was almost exactly a year ago today. If you want to read that post click here.

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Primer: To be honest, I really don't wear a primer on my face every day. I do use Urban Decay Primer Potion or MAC Bare Study Paint Pot on my eyes daily, though.

Foundation: I've recently been trying out a sample of Makeup Forever HD Foundation. I love it, I'm going to try MUFE Mat Velvet + next. But my go-to foundation has been a mixture of Revlon PhotoReady and Revlon ColorStay. Whew...that's a lot of foundations.


Concealer: Hands down the best concealer for under eyes is Bobbi Brown Corrector. My shade is in light bisque. If I really look tired, I'll throw some MAC Select Cover-Up in NW20 over that, with Bare Escentuals Well-Rested to set. For blemishes, I usually grab Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Concealer.


Setting Powder: I always use my NYX Twin Cake Powder in Natural.


Blush: One of my favorite combos lately is MAC Ladyblush Creme Blush with NARS Sex Appeal Blush over top. I also reach for Physician's Formula Happy Booster in Natural often. It's cute, it smells good, and it has cute hearts all over it.


Bronzer/Contour: I use Physician's Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer. It's very subtle and light.


Highlight: My favorite highlight for this time of the year is (and has been for a long time) MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping. Love!


Mascara: I absolutely LOVE Makeup Forever Smoky Lash. It's the best mascara I've ever used. But I don't want to waste [all $22 of it] at work so I use LOReal Voluminous daily. It's a great mascara but it does tend to transfer on me.


Eyeshadow: I have been trying to use up my Ulta Truffle Eyeshadow for...well ever now. It's on my P10P list so I'm dying to get done with it. It's pretty, I'm just becoming bored of it quickly. I also wear MAC Brule everyday. And I like to throw a Bare Minerals shimmery shadow like Nude Beach or Queen Tiffany, on top once in a while.


Eyeliner: Again with the P10P, I'm trying to use up my Urban Decay Bourbon pencil as well as my Rimmel Black Magic liner. But I do find myself reaching for MAC Dipdown Fluidline a lot.


Lipstick: I use a lot of different lipsticks, usually whatever is in my purse. I like MAC Viva Glam Gaga II, MAC Creme Cup, MAC Shy Girl, Revlon ColorBurst in Baby Pink...just to name a few.


Lip Liner: The only one I use throughout the week is Jordana Easy Liner in Rock 'n Rose.


Lip Gloss: Oh geez...MAC Viva Glam Gaga II, Revlon ColorBurst in Crystal Lilac, NYX Sweetheart, Revlon Super Lustrous in Lilac Pastelle and Peach Petal...the list goes on.


Brows: Now that I'm blond, nothing.


Brushes: Sigma ss217, Sigma ss239, Sigma ss187, Sigma sswhatever-the-straight-eyeliner-brush-is-called, Elf Blush Brush, Elf Angled Eyeshadow Brush, Elf Powder Brush, Alicia Silverstone for Eco Tools Powder Brush...


Nail Polish: I wear all of my nail polishes...which is a list way too long to list. Some of my favorites include Essie Nice is Nice, OPI Melon of Troy, China Glaze for Audrey, Rimmel Steel Grey, OPI Sweetheart, Essie Playa del Platinum, Essie Topless and Barefoot...I guess I'm into nudes right now...there's about a gazillion more. I love my CND Stickey Base Coat, too.


I decided to add Perfume: Vera Wang princess is always a favorite, SJPNYC is a good spring scent, I love the VS Pink Body Mists in Bold & Playful and Warm & Cozy...and I can't forget my favorite, Viva La Juicy!


Well, that's all, and it's a lot.


What are some of your go-to or favorite products?


-Liz


collage from my polyvore :)

Day 30 — Your favorite nail polish

Wow, I made to the final day! And with only one slip-up! 30 Days worth of [mostly] Beauty Questions.

Anyway, what's my favorite nail polish? This is so hard for me. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a bit of an obsession with nail polish. Nail polish is the one thing in the store that draws my attention. I think it's because it's so easy to change your polish, and your nails are like an accessory. It totally changes my mood when I look at my nails and see a pretty color. So what's my favorite? For now, I'd have to say one of those muddy taupe colors that usually have a purple undertones. I really love Rimmel Steel Grey, OPI You Don't Know Jacques, ELF Smokey Brown, any of those types of colors. (And I wouldn't dare paint my nails without my trusty CND Stickey Base Coat and Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat.) That's one trend that I hopped on about a year ago and never got off. I think these colors look great on everyone.

 

Well, that's the last of these posts, I guess now I'll have time to write more posts, just not every day!

Talk at you soon!

-Liz

TAG!!

At the risk of blog overload, I'm going to do another tag. I want to do all the tags I can without having to make a video of them.

My Go To Products. Go to products are not necessarily your all time favorite products, but products you reach for on a day-to-day basis. For instance, I love NYX black eyeshadow but its not practical for going to class at 8 am...

My Go To Products

Primer

The easiest one to grab when I'm in a hurry is Revlon Age Defying Primer. I heard it has a weird smell but I don't smell it, I think it works great.

Foundation

Revlon PhotoReady is my everyday foundation. It blends into my skin so nicely. All I have to do is dot it all over my face and then blend in with my brush.

Concealer

Clinique Advanced Concealer. A little on the yellow side but it helps to cancel out dark purple/blue circles under my eyes. Dries almost like a powder and you need the littlest bit...I think it will last me forever! Its completely matte and doesn't move after you apply it. Love it!

Setting Powder

For this I also have to say Revlon PhotoReady Translucent Setting Powder. It looks very white in the pan but on your face, applied with a kabuki, it looks so nice. Your face looks soft but not dull. I already hit pan on this so I'm going to be a little sad if it runs out before May!

Blush

Now this is one of those "this isn't my absolute favorite, but it's what I reach for everyday..." My go to blush is NYX Powder Blush in Dusty Rose. Nice, taupe-y pink color that leaves you looking natural and not too dramatic for everyday. I like it better for winter time, I switch on and off between that and the same blush in Natural. So cute. I usually put my blush and bronzer/contour on a little heavy and then blend them all in with a MAC MSF.

Contour/Bronzer

This has got to be N.Y.C. Bronzer in Sunny. Its a perfect bronzer because you don't have to be careful with it like other bronzers...you can just slap this on and blend. I love it because its Matte so I can wear it everyday and it looks natural. The best part about this bronzer is that its like $3.00! I had heard that it was being discontinued but in EmilyNoel83's latest video (love her by the way) she said that it wasn't so...yay for that!!

Highlight

Most of the time I jut run my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Perfect Topping over the top of my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. But...if I remember, I will use Wet n Wild Mega Glo Powder Illuminator, I just swipe the two lightest shades with an angled brush and put it on the highest part of my cheek bones and my nose. You really can't beat it for the price.

Mascara

Definitely Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash, I can't say enough good things about this mascara. I just adore it.

Eyeshadow

My go to eyeshadow combination for everyday is Ulta Truffle on the lid, MAC Satin Taupe in the crease and one of the lightest colors from the Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette. So easy to do and is very neutral. And, if I want to go to dinner or something after work, all I have to do is put a little black in the outer v and voila!

Eyeliner

I think this one will have to be Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in Deep Brown. Sometimes black eyeliner can be a little harsh for the daytime, at least on me. I love this particular eyeliner from Ulta. The purple one that I thought would be amazing, Raisin, actually makes my eyes water until it wears off. The brown one is fabulous for everyday though and you don't have to worry about sharpening it or for that matter getting poked in the eye. I used to swear by Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil but for some reason, lately, it seems to be smearing down my face when I wear it and that's no fun for anyone.

Lipstick

It's going to have to be Viva Glam Gaga. This is one of those lipsticks that you can put on without a mirror. One layer and it looks so pretty and dainty and if you want it to be more opaque you can apply more. I always have this one in my purse.

Lipgloss

I really don't have a go to lip gloss. I like lip gloss and everything I just don't put it on every morning because I am probably going to eat breakfast and I'm only going to work. If I had to pick one it would be Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lipgloss in Cherry Bomb. It looks good and smells a hundred times better. But, for the sake of this tag, every night and every morning I put on Nivea Kiss of Moisture lip balm/stick. I don't necessarily hate the natural color of my lips so as long as they are smooth and moisturized, I'm alright. And since last week, I've been using Smith's Rosebud Salve religiously. So I guess that is considered "go to." It gives your lips a "I just ate a red Popsicle about an hour ago" look...which, if you're wondering, is cute.

Brows

I usually put ELF Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara on my eyebrows to help them stay put throughout the day. I know, very exciting.

Brushes

Honestly all but 5 of my brushes are ELF. I have a bent eyeliner brush and an angled eyeliner brush from Sonia Kashuk, 2 eye shadow brushes from Studio Tools and an angled blush brush from some unknown brand...I just remember it is pink and works well. I use a kabuki, a foundation brush, a flat top powder brush, a blush brush, a million angled eyeshadow brushes, flat shader eye shadow brushes, crease brushes, some fluffy blending brushes and a lip brush that I use to put shadow underneath lower lash line.

Pictures coming soon, I promise!!

40 BEAUTY QUESTIONS TAG!!

I'm just gonna say I was tagged by someone who tagged everyone :) Yay for my first tag!

SKINCARE

How many times do you wash your face daily?
I want to say twice...but it's usually only once. I usually take a shower at night, so I was my face in the shower and then I put my lotion and eye cream on and some spot treatment if needed and then when I wake up in the morning, unless my face feels really greasy I normally just use toner and start my makeup process from there. I don't want to wash it too much and risk my face drying out.

What type of skin do you have?
I have combination/oily and acne prone skin :-/

What is your current facial wash?
I use Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub. I have a thing about face washes. I refuse to use one that is just a foaming cleanser. I feel like they don't really get the makeup off all the way or get really into my pores unless it's slightly abrasive. I think the Aveeno scrub has a good balance of cleansing power and just enough "gritty-ness." I have noticed my skin tone is has evened itself out, which is one of the claims. I want to try the Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Scrub but I already have 2 extra bottles of the Skin Brightening Scrub because I bought them for about half price in the short-lived bulk section at Target.

Do you exfoliate?
I kind of look at my cleanser/scrub as a daily exfoliator. But once or twice a week, I use St. Ive's Blemish and Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub. I feel like this would be way too abrasive to use everyday but it's good especially if you've been gardening or sweating all day. You can use it on your body too, you feel so fresh after. I've been using that product for years, like before I even cared about makeup. Highly recommended :)

What brand do you use?
See above! I really should learn to read all the questions first...

What moisturizer do you use?
I used to use the Clean & Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer and it worked really well. It didn't cause me to break out and it moisturized enough without feeling greasy. When my bottle ran out I decided to try something new, my face was clear and I was looking more to illuminate my skin. So I tried Clean & Clear Morning Glow Moisturizer. I loved how it looked and felt but who was I kidding? The only reason my skin looked good was because of the products I was using before. So then came the breakouts...I needed to switch back to the Dual Action but I opted for the CVS brand instead. Seems to be doing a great job for about $2 less. Score.

Do you have freckles?
More in the summertime all over my nose. I kind of like them.

Do you use eye cream?
Yes, I'm trying to be better at using it nightly. I use Clinique All About Eyes.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Yes, I have sensitive skin that is acne prone, especially if I don't stick to a routine.

Did you ever have to use Proactiv?
Yes I did use it for a few months. I was desperate to clear my skin and my mom bought it for me. The moisturizer was the smallest bottle yet I always had so much of that left over. The toner was extremely drying. Not for me.

MAKEUP

What foundation do you use?
I use Revlon PhotoReady. I know there is a lot of controversy about this product but I really like it. I don't find it too shimmery. I just wish it had a little fuller coverage. But I love the pump!

How about concealer?
I LOVE my Clinique Advanced Concealer. I love how it dries into almost a powder like finish. It sets itself and doesn't budge. Terrific concealer.

Do you know your undertone color?
I've never had anyone at MAC tell me what my shade is but I know I have pink undertones. I don't even get tan, I just get pink. Plus my veins are blue.

What do you think of false eyelashes?
I don't know how to apply them, I don't really think they're worth it unless you're going to a really special event of some sort. I've never even used an eyelash curler. I'm fortunate to already have thick, long lashes so I'm grateful for that.

Did you know you're supposed to change your mascara every three months?
Yes, I've heard that. I go by how the mascara feels. If it is still fine with no clumps I'll let it go a little longer, especially since I'm the only one who uses it. If it starts to dry out, I'll throw it out early.

What brand mascara do you use?
Honestly, the only high end mascara I've tried is Clinique. My current favorite is Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash. It really does add volume. If I'm going out somewhere at night, or I want to be a little more fancy, I'll use the Rimmel mascara first and then I'll use Rimmel Glam 'Eyes Lash Flirt on the ends of my lashes. It really separates and lengthens. Ta Daa...perfect lashes!

Sephora or MAC?
Oh that's a tough one. It's hard to even compare. Sephora carries all kinds of wonderful brand name products and MAC only carries one. A better question would have been Sephora or Ulta...but stop, Biz, that wasn't the case. I really don't think I can choose. Both!

Do you have a MAC Pro Card?
Nope :( One day.

What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
I use a ton of brushes and Q-Tips.

Do you use a makeup base/primer for the eyes?
Yes. I use Urban Decay Primer Potion first-always. Then if I feel like I need a base I'll use a MAC Paint Pot or a NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil. Creasing makes me cringe.

For the face?
The first primer I owned was a Revlon Age Defying one that I got on clearance for about 2 bucks and I happened to love it. But I'm currently in love with the LOREAL Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base. It makes your skin feel so soft and also mattifies it immediately. Lovely.

What is your favorite eye shadow (color or shade)?
Oh I have so many favorites. But it ultimately boils down to Truffle by Ulta and Satin Taupe by MAC. I'm also currently loving Garnet by Lorac (which I bought for a steal!!) Lorac has such good texture, perfect for blending. And I've always liked coppery shades to go with my blue eyes.

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
I normally use pencil just because it's faster but if I have time I like to use a gel eyeliner. Rarely ever liquid.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner?
Rarely. Its normally the mascara that gets me.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
Ok, here we go. I love the color payoff of pigments. They are gorgeous. I just think they make such a mess. I need to try and press my pigments when i get a chance. My sister uses nothing but loose shadows. I just hate fallout and find them time consuming. It feels like they weren't finished when i bought them or something. I don't know, I really need to just press them and get over myself.

Do you use mineral makeup?
Rarely. I used to use Bare Minerals and then I swore by the Maybelline Mineral Power but I've just been trying so many different things, I stopped using them. I do love a good mineral veil though.

What is your favorite lipstick?
That's another hard question. I've really been into Viva Glam Gaga-I know overhyped, overrated, whatever, I love it. I also frequently use E.L.F. Natural Nymph and Revlon Baby Pink.

What about lipgloss?
MAC Little Vi and Maybelline Born with It.

What's your favorite blush to use?
My all time favorite blush is Physician's Formula Baked Blush in Baked Berry. When the ban is up I need to buy backups on Amazon. I also love NYX Powder Blush in Natural.

Do you buy your makeup on Ebay?
I never have before, no. It's a lot of work to make sure they aren't fakes.

Do you like drugstore makeup?
I love it. Just like with high end makeup, there are things that are fabulous and things that are nothing special. A lot of products that I have a drugstore version and a high end version of, I like the drugstore just as much or more than the high end version. Of course, for collection reasons, I love all the pretty packages of MAC, Urban Decay and other more expensive brands ;)

Do you go to CCO's? (Cosmetic Company Outlets)
Yes! I hit up my CCO as much as I can. Unfortunately, the closest one to me is almost 2 hours away. But you can't beat the deals and the products that are discontinued at the MAC or Clinique counters. I remember the first time I watched a CCO haul video on YouTube. I was like, "Wait...wait...what? How could I have not known about this?"

Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?
Yes, I think I may still. There's always more to learn and I think I have a knack for it.

Are you clumsy putting on makeup?
I try not to be. And once you have a standard everyday routine down, everything pretty much falls into place. I also have a touch of OCD so...that helps. But then again sometimes I'll get into the car and look in the daylight and it's like "what happened?"

Name a makeup crime that you hate.
Ughhh, when someone's foundation ends at their chin and it's not blended into their neck at all! Like they have a mask on or something.

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipsticks, eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I really want to love colorful stuff but it's just not me. For night I might use purple eyeshadow or something but I like light lips, nudes, pinks and for eyes I like taupes, tans, greens, browns. You can't go wrong that way.

Which celebrity always has good makeup?
Kim Kardashian! I'm working on some tutorials of hers. She is absolutely gorgeous. I love her nude lips and dark eyes with defined cheeks.

If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
Ahh, this makes me nervous just thinking about it! I'd have to say foundation. But I think I'd need concealer and eyeliner and mascara as well. Alright, foundation. Final answer.

Could you ever leave the house with no makeup on?
Yes, and, sorry to say, I have before. To the drugstore or gas station. But I just feel more confident with makeup on, even if its mineral.

Do you think you look good without makeup on?
I think I'm ok without it. Its just my dark circles and imperfections that bother me.

In your opinion, what's the BEST makeup line?
That's too hard to pick but if I had to, I guess I'd say MAC. But I love drugstore lines as well.

What do you think of makeup?
I love it! Its such a fun way to express yourself!