Building self confidence – Makeup tips

So a few months ago I talked about building self confidence since falling into a lull in my life.  So I made the goal to get dressed every day, instead of hanging out in my PJ’s and while I still have PJ day’s (today) it has totally helped get me get out of my rut.  So next up was to add makeup back into my routine.

I love make up, and I have always had it around for like date night.  BUT I hadn’t bought myself something new or exciting in awhile, it was boring and I was still feeling BLAH.  Remember how I mentioned I got called a MAN 3 times in one month?  I was feeling pretty UN pretty and non feminine so wearing make up changes all that.  You just can’t put on make up and not feel more feminine and confident!  It’s all about bringing out your natural beauty!  SO I invested in some new make up and it’s amazing what a difference it makes.  Just 15 mins of make up and I just feel better!

Now my way of doing makeup isn’t like “the only way” in fact it’s just what works for me.  BUT a few of these new products might rock your world like they did mine!  Seriously the under eye concealer is a MIRACLE worker (I get 6 hours of sleep on average, sometimes less, so I really put it to work) I’m linking to Amazon because that’s where I do pretty much all of my shopping, but they are affiliate links so if you click on them and buy something I will make a few pennies!

So here is my make up bag for you, I will say quality make up is worth every penny and so are quality brushes.  Brushes that don’t get misshaped or leave bristles all over your face. Rather than buy a full set I just buy brushes as I need them, good quality brushes last forever.  About once a week I wash them with my face wash and let them dry and they are as good as new.

So brushes, moisturizer, light foundation, primer, under eye concealer, HD finishing powder, contouring kit, paint pot, eye shadow, blush, eye liner, mascara, lipstick and tweezers (and if you prefer a make up sponge instead of a brush I love the shape of this one)

Eyebrows, I follow the simple nose-eye rule for my brows.  The outside of your nose through the inside corner of you eye is where it should start (we don’t love uni-brows, but we don’t want to over pluck either).  The outside of your nose through your pupil (looking straight on) and that’s where your arch should be.  And finally the outside of your nose to the outside of your eye and that’s where your brow should end! (mine end a little short because they just don’t GROW there)

Once I get my strays plucked (including the hairs that grow in the mole on my chin – blech).  I love love LOVE this Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream SO much! It feels AMAZING. It’s light, so I don’t feel all greasy. I seriously love it and won’t every use anything else. I’ve had this container for 6 months now and It’s barely gone, a little goes a long way.

Then my skin tone is really light but I have these bright red splotches, BAH, no one wants that!  So I knew I needed a primer of some sort to even out my skin tone. I have tried about 5 brands over the years and my favorite is this Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer.  It’s super light (sensing a theme? I like light make up over heavy) and the nice thing about quality make up is a little goes a long way.

And carrying on with the quality light make up theme this MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation is rockin.  See how LITTLE I use?  Mine is Warm Ivory, cause I’m pale as pale can be…  You can use your fingers to put it on, but I decided to try out this foundation brush… DUDE, I love how evenly it goes on, not necessary, just a splurge!

ALRIGHT, if you have dark circles under your eyes like me this Eve Pearl Concealer Trio with CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!  Seriously!  SERIOUSLY! I get the light/Medium (cause I’m pale, like ghost).  You start by brushing a little of the darkest shade into the darkest area of your under eye area, then tapping it (not rubbing) until it’s spread into place

Then go the shade lighter, I tap it into place (rather than brush it over what you just did) and blot/tap it again.  AND if you still have circles then go to the final shade (I only use it in the winter when I go from pale to translucent).  I like using he brush to get it into place because a small brush can get into place easier than trying to only use my finger.

Before and after under eye’s – because the light is so good it’s hard to REALLY tell what a difference it makes but I look half dead without it.  It’s amazing how something so simple can make such a big difference in how you look!  Even when I do a rush job on make up, and only do the basic’s I ALWAYS do this!

Once I’m done with all the “wet” make up I use this Extreme CloseUp HD Finishing Powder.  It says its a 90 day supply but I’ve had mine for over 6 months and BARELY used any.  It’s super fine and feels like SILK. I actually use tape to close up most of the holes so when I shake some out even less comes so I don’t feel like I’m WASTING any.  It sets up all the “wet” make up and now I can add all the powders without anything sticking or catching.

If I’m in a hurry I totally drop the contouring, BUT I do like that little bit that it add’s.  There are a ton of different brands out there, I would get something matte, not glittery, and it’s mostly about getting the right SHADES for you. You want it to be subtle, not change your coloring or be to extreme. I start with the darker shade with an angled brush and do it in the hallow of my cheeks, the sides of my nose, under my jaw and around my hair line by my forehead.

Shake off the brush and use the lighter shade on the bridge of my nose, the center of my forehead, my jaw and cheek bones and my chin.  It just helps bring out the awesome shape of your face (or create some shape to your face).  I use the MAKE UP FOR EVER sculpting kit but there are a few good brands out there.

Now for the FUN PART!!! COLOR.  Finding the right shade of blush can be tough, pink blushes tend to turn orange on my skin, but peach colors turn pink and look amazing.  I used to buy super cheap blush, but I ended up using a ton of it and was never happy.  SO on the advice of someone wiser than me I bought more expensive blush, Marc Jacobs Shameless bold blush.  DUDE, it’s been 6 monsh and I still have the ridge marks across most of the top cause I’ve used so little.  QUALITY IS WORTH IT!  When applying blush is simple, smile and spread the blush from the apple of your cheeks back a bit.  NOT 80’s back to your hair line, and NOT too close to your nose, like 2 finger widths away.

Another optional item is this MAC Paint Pot Soft Ochre.  It goes across your eye lids and holds your eye shadow, it also make the colors stronger and bolder.  BUT you can’t blend the colors quite as well.  It also helps your eye shadows last ALL day!  BUT sometimes you want a lighter look, or sometimes you just don’t want to bother.

EYE SHADOW!  I stick with the same thing for all my other make up, but eye shadow is so much FUN!  I own a TON of different eye shadows.   I stick with purple because it brings out the GREEN in my eyes.  What is the favorite shade in your eyes, and how do you bring it out, stick with THOSE colors!  Like green shadow brings out the honey color in brown eyes, purple brings out green, etc…  I love color, the color wheel and complimentary colors.  It’s amazing what an extreme difference changing your eye shadow color can be for your eyes.  I also love neutral browns for more relaxed days.

Your eye shape will determine the best places on your eyelid’s to put different shades.  I’m big into the darkest shade in the crease, spreading out a bit on my outer eyelid.  Then medium shades on the lids and my lighter shades in the brow area.  Just play with it!

Eyeliner and mascara!  Top right no eyeliner, top left eye liner (purple).  Eyeliner can help change your eye shape and help open up your eyes a lot.  Play with starting at the outer edge and bringing it in just a bit, middle, over the middle, all the way to the inside and decide where it looks best on your eye! I taper it off in the center just above the pupil.  For the lower eyelid I just add a little of the eyeliner just PART way in the inner part of the lid, NOT outside eyelashes.

Mascara… GAH there could be a book just on mascara’s.  As long as it doesn’t clump I’m happy.  Because Mascara needs to be replaced more often I tend to stick with a slightly cheaper brand, BUT I’m happy to try anything you guys love and recommend.

Add the lipstick or stain and I’m DONE!  Before and after,  Like I said before I like my make up light, so you still see all of ME moles and everything, just me boosted.  If I stuck with the neutral browns for my eye shadows it really wouldn’t look to crazy! I like having the focus on my eyes, obviously!

It takes me about 15 mins or less to do my make up, esp since I do the same thing every day so I’m used to it.  What are your favorite makeup tips? And the product you couldn’t live without?