Bronzed Makeup Tutorial!

As much as I would like to, I haven’t been filming many videos for my YouTube channel lately. I’m frustrated because I have the vision in my mind of what I want, then I’m unable to do it with the technology I have (a phone and natural lighting…). I’m glad I’m able to do at least something, but it’s still a wee bit annoying. However, I recently received a video request on Instagram and it’s inspired me to make not only that one, but another as well! I’m back in it! Haha

This one is a look I did last week that I thought turned out really pretty. I’ve been self-tanning lately, so my face and body aren’t matching up anymore and I used bronzer to compensate. This is also partly inspired by a look one of my favorite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge, has on her YouTube channel. It’s a very natural, laid-back, summer look. Let’s get started!

As usual, I started with washed and moisturized skin and clean hands. I skipped primer and applied L’Oreal True Match Foundation in “Soft Ivory N1” all over my face with a BeautyBlender. Then I did some spot concealing with my Cover FX Cream Concealer in “N X-LIGHT”, using fingers to pat the product onto blemishes.  Using a fluffy brush, I set that all with a pressed powder that matches my skintone (Maybelline Fit Me in “115 Ivory”) to prevent fading and add a bit of extra coverage. Going back in with a lighter concealer, Maybelline Dream Lumi in “Ivory”, and a flat Crown Concealer brush, I concealed dark circles, then set that with the same powder and a Lancome Blending Shadow Brush to prevent creasing.

With a BareEscentuals Flawless Face brush, I swept Too Faced’s Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer onto temples, my forehead, cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, jawline, and neck, making sure to blend fully. These are the areas that get touched by the sun naturally, so applying bronzer to them makes the look believable and flattering. This was the most important step for the look because it would help my face match my body and add that summer feel to my look! (Unfortunately…because of the lighting, I feel like you can’t really see the color too well on my face even though I added quite a bit. I’m definitely gonna have to find some different lighting for these videos…!) After bronzing and blending, I used an ELF Blush Brush to apply Covergirl Cheekers Blush in “Rose Silk” to the apples of my cheeks, blending it into the bronzer. This step isn’t necessary, just something I like to do to add a little more color to my face and make the bronzer a little less stark. Then, using a RealTechniques Setting Brush, I applied MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish highlighter in “Soft & Gentle” to the high points of my face to add a bit of a glow and enhance the slight contour of the bronzer.

For eyes, I first set my lids with Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance Primer. Using the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, I used the soft, shimmery peach shade “Marzipan” all over lids, applying with a MAC 217 Brush. Then, using the same brush, I went in with “Triple Fudge”, a matte dark brown, from the same palette and emphasized the crease and the Outer-V. With the same color, I used an ELF Smudge Brush to dot the lower lashline for subtle emphasis, then used a Tarte liner brush to smooth the color onto the upper lashlines. With everything blended well, I moved on to lashes by first curling them with my Revlon curler, then applying a light coat of L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Black Brown”. I chose a lighter mascara than usual because I didn’t want anything to look too obvious, and a mascara with brown in it is more naturally enhancing than just straight black. I also only applied enough to create a little definition so the whole look would come across as more effortless than “done”.

For the finishing touches, I applied IT Cosmetics Brow Power to brows using short, feathery strokes to fill them in and subtly shape them. For this look, I think just about any lip color would look great from a bright red to a cool melon, however, for the surfer-girl-just-back-from-the-beach vibe I was going for, I didn’t want to stray too far from my natural lip color. I chose Tarte’s LipSurgence gloss in “Exposed” to just lightly add a little shine and hydration as well as enhance the color that was already in my lips. Feel free to alter this to your own color of course, or try something completely different!

And that’s the look!

I think this works well for just about any summer occasion, and can be easily dramatized by either changing the lip color, adding a cat eye, or even just adding more mascara!

I hope you enjoyed 🙂

XO

A (Late) St. Paddy’s Look!

Hello, hello!

I know this is a bit of a #tbt, but I wanted to share the outfit I wore for St. Patrick’s Day!

It takes holidays like St. Patrick’s Day for me to realize how much I don’t have of certain colors…like green! I also was feeling a little more pulled-together that day, and the green tank top I have just seemed too casual. To find a balance, I paired some dark skinnies with my new peach blouse from H&M. To celebrate the nice weather, I chose easy tan cutout heels. So I wouldn’t get pinched, I wore my dramatic (and very green!) statement earrings from Baublebar and added some simple silver jewelry to complement the look, including my Claddagh ring. To finish, my bright pink satchel added some definite punch!

And I didn’t get pinched! 🙂

XO

Jeans: American Eagle

Blouse: H&M

Sandals: BCBGeneration (from Ross!)

Earrings: Baublebar

Bracelets: American Eagle

Rings: One World

Bag: Target

Benefit Look!

Benefit is one of my absolute favorite brands, as you can tell by the picture above, so I’m excited to share this look! This look is very easy, natural, and a bit similar to the Victoria’s Secret inspired look I shared – this one is just a bit more “daytime”.

For foundation, I used my new L’Oreal True Match foundation which is great. I applied it with a foundation brush over my Smashbox primer and followed it with my MAC Pro Longwear concealer for blemishes. I then powdered my face with my Make Up For Ever HD Powder (which I think I’ll stop using considering what happens to it when flash is on… Google it!). You may be wondering why I didn’t use Benefit products for this. I would’ve used my Porefessional, my Big Easy BB Cream, Boi-ing to conceal, and the Hello Flawless powder to set, but I struggle with those products. 😦 The Porefessional is my favorite primer – I love the texture, the scent, and how it really does smooth out my pores – but I think it breaks me out! I know it’s oil-free, so I don’t know why it would break me out, but I feel every time I use it, I get a handful of pimples in the places I’ve put it. Then there’s the Big Easy… I loved this when I first bought it, but now I feel like it’s a tacky consistency that just seems to settle into my pores and dry skin and look horrible! It’s almost drying for me now, no matter how I apply it or what primer I use. I don’t know what happened! It’s all very frustrating because I love Benefit…! Lastly, I don’t have Boi-ing or the Hello Flawless powder, but I’d use them if I did! Haha

Once my non-Benefit complexion was done, I moved on to my under-eyes where I used FakeUp Concealer. I have this in the sample size, and it’s lasted me for months. I used the shade “light” and just swipe some product onto a concealer brush and dab it under my eyes. You can apply this directly from the tube, but this is a hydrating concealer, so I keep it to just my immediate under-eye area to avoid breakouts. It leaves a very natural finish which I really like.

I then applied Stay Don’t Stray to my eyelids and blended it out with a clean finger. I love this eyeshadow primer because it really keeps your shadow on all day while also providing sheer coverage and acting like a concealer. Sometimes I’ll put this on even when I don’t plan on wearing shadow just to conceal slightly without having any annoying creasing later in the day (or night!).

I then moved on to cheeks, and applied Hoola Bronzer to just under cheekbones, temples, forehead, jawline, and neck with the brush it comes with. Hoola is a great bronzer because it’s matte and a little goes a long way. I use this contour sometimes, though it is a bronzer, because it turns out pretty natural looking thanks to the matte formula and universally flattering shade. I blended all this out with my Mally powder brush, making sure there weren’t any harsh lines, and applied Dandelion blush to the apples of my cheeks, and a little to my forehead with an E.l.f. Blush Brush. Dandelion is a new favorite – it’s the perfect pink blush. It always looks natural and isn’t as harsh as some other pinks. I blend some onto my forehead just to help it look more like a natural flush than a swipe of makeup. (Benefit had a similar product called Georgia Peach a while back that did the same thing but with a gorgeous peach color – I wish they’d bring it back! Mine’s pretty old…lol)

Next, I swiped a line of High Beam highlighter across my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and on my Cupid’s Bow and blended it out with a clean finger. Normally, I am opposed to liquid highlighters on top of powders, but I didn’t have enough powder on my cheekbones to mess with the consistency, so, in this instance, it’s okay – just be mindful of layering! This highlighter is one of my all-time favorites. It’s easy to apply, blends well, and gives just enough silver-y sheen to catch the light without looking obvious. I love it. It’s especially beautiful on fair skin, and/or anyone with cool or neutral toned skin.

Turning to my She’s So Jetset! Kit, I applied the shadow “Champagne Please” from lashlines to browbones with a flat eyeshadow brush from Target (I don’t remember the brand!). I then blended “Pretty in Mink” from the same kit into creases with a MAC 217 Brush for subtle definition. I love these shadows for their high-level of shimmer and velvety texture, but the whole kit is just as great. If you can find it (eBay maybe?), I recommend it highly, especially if you’re new to Benefit because it gives you a lot to work with for a reasonable price. I’ve had mine forever, and it’s still going strong!

After shadow, it was time for lashes! I curled mine with my Revlon curler and then applied one coat of They’re Real! Mascara. This mascara really is as great as everyone and their moms say. The only problem I ever had with it was how difficult it was to remove, but now I use the They’re Real! Remover and it works great. The mascara lengthens, curls, and really gets every lash, and has a jet-black, almost leather, look to the formula that stays that way on lashes for hours.

Next, I filled in my brows with my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown (I know, not Benefit 😦 ) using my angled liner brush from Ulta. Though this is what I use, Benefit is known for really great brow products. I highly recommend checking out their selection of pencils, gels, and compacts – I’ve been wanting a pencil and setting gel from them for a little while now. I just fill in sparse areas on my brows, and define their shape a bit more. Then I run a spoolie (mine’s from Mally) through my brows to comb out any splotches and make them neat.

I then sprayed my face with my MAC Charged Water to set everything and melt any noticeable powder into my skin, and applied a layer of Sugarbomb gloss onto my lips to finish the look.

And there you have it! A naturally pretty look from Benefit! There will be more to come 😉

XO

Products Used:

Fake Up Concealer in “Light”
Stay Don’t Stray shadow primer
Hoola Bronzer
Dandelion blush
High Beam highlighter
“Champagne Please” and “Pretty in Mink” eyeshadows from the “She’s So Jetset!” kit
They’re Real! Mascara
Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss
(All by Benefit)
+
Hard Candy Shadow Brush
Mally Powder Brush
E.l.f. Blush Brush
Shadow Brush from Target
MAC 217 Brush
Revlon Lash Curler
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown
Ulta Angled Brush
Mally Angled/Spoolie Brush
MAC Charged Water Setting Spray