Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Foundation of Beauty: Collaboration With Marieta A. 8/20/14

Hi everyone!  The lovely and talented Marieta A. thought it would be a great idea for us to share a special post with you all.  On her blog, she shares her thoughts on fashion, art and life.  I have enjoyed reading what she has to say.  She is very creative and artistic.  If you guys want to see more about her, in case you haven't checked out her blog already, you are welcome to click on the link and check it out for yourselves.

A little about me...  I have been makeup and beauty obsessed since elementary school and have been blogging since April 2013.  I do have professional training in cosmetology and did graduate high school with my license.  Makeup and beauty is something I never get tired/bored of for many reasons.  1) It will always fit.  2) It makes me feel good and allows me to make others feel good about themselves.  3) There are no limits and the possibilities are endless.  4) It's constantly changing and there is always something new to check out and explore.  5) It allows me to explore different aspects of my personality... Plus many more.

There are so many beauty products.  Some are good, some bad and some ugly.  When you wear makeup, for the most part, you want to look natural, like a more enhanced version of yourself.  Where do you start and what do you use?  It is easy to become overwhelmed with all that is available.  So, let's start from the beginning.

The foundation to great makeup is great skin.  The first thing you need to know is your skin type.  You can have normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive combined with any of these.  Depending on which type you have will determine which products will best suit your needs.  What do we use to take care of our skin?  Regardless of the skin type, skin care routines help to ensure we take the best possible care of what we have.  Be sure to thoroughly cleanse and moisturize your skin daily.  Don't choose harsh cleansers that will strip your skin from all of its natural oils.  If you do so, your skin will try to compensate for the loss with added oil.  My favorite facial cleanser is Olay Foaming Face Wash.  The cleanser removes all dirt, makeup and impurities from my skin without causing any imbalances.  As for moisturizers, I recommend having a couple to choose from and including at least one with an SPF.  If you know you will be spending time outdoors, it is always best to use an SPF to protect your skin from unwanted sun damage.  My favorite moisturizers are the Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Cream and Sephora Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen.  Recently, I have also been loving Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture For Eyes, and Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture mixed with Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil for the face.  I, also, recommend routinely exfoliating your skin to keep your skin looking fresh, soft and smooth.  Toners and/or astringent also benefit your skin.  Be sure to select one that will be compatible with your skin type.  Even after doing all this, there is still another thing you must do to help take care of your skin:  Drink a lot of water.  Water will flush out toxins from your body and prevent them from trying to come out through your skin.  The less you drink, the drier your skin will be and you will be vulnerable to premature aging and damage.

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Primers can play a critical role in your overall makeup routine.  They can mean the difference between smooth, long-lasting looks and melting off, creasing and fading looks, if you know what I mean.  What does a primer do? They are formulas created to prepare the skin for makeup application.  They aid in minimizing fine lines, pores and allow makeup to better adhere to the skin.  Plus, primers can make colors appear brighter and last longer.  Not all makeup requires the use of a primer.  However, if you notice that your foundation melts off in the heat, or that your eye shadows crease and/or fade, you probably need a primer if you aren't using one.  There are many different primers.  For the face, my favorite so far is MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance.  For the eyes, my favorite so far is Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Next up for discussion are foundation and powder.  A great foundation can set the tone of the look you will be wearing.  They come in endless colors, as well as several finishes and levels of coverage.  The most important thing to look at when choosing a foundation is color.  You want the color to blend seamlessly with your skin.  You more than likely have a different skin color on your face than your neck.  You are going to want to pick something that doesn't make your skin look too light in photos or in person compared to your neck.  Be sure to test out several different brands to see what you like the most.  My absolute favorite foundation is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.  The finished look is matte, provides great coverage and looks natural.  It blends beautifully and makes me feel great every time I wear it.  Foundation should be blended out so there are no visible lines anywhere on your face.  It can be applied with your hands, sponges, brushes or air-brushed.  I, personally, do not recommend using your hands for many reasons, though.  Powders are used to set your cream products in place.  You want a powder that applies smooth, that blurs imperfections, has some coverage and looks natural.  My favorite is the Guerlain Les Violettes Translucent Compact Powder Mattifying Veil.  This powder smells great, gives a flawless finish and lasts all day.

Eye shadows are what will give your look an extra pop and will set the mood in your overall look.  For example, if you are wearing more natural looking, skin tone colored shadows, your overall look will be a more natural look.  However, if you pick out dark shades, your look will go from natural to more intense and smoky, depending on placement.  Brighter, colorful shades can add a completely different twist to your look.  They draw attention to that area of your eye and keep the focus there.  Bringing different colors together can create an infinite number of looks to draw attention to and enhance your eyes.  Eye shadow placement is crucial in achieving various looks.  Different eye shapes require different placement of the shadows.  There are methods of application to make your eyes appear larger or smaller, closer together or farther apart.  Plus, the different shadow finishes, such as matte, shimmer, satin, etc., will also make a large impact in the look you will create.  I encourage you to get your makeup done at least once by a makeup artist who can not only create a look, but can show you techniques that will bring out the best in your eyes.  I recommend purchasing a palette that has various colors ranging from natural, bright and dark to experiment and practice with.  The Lorac Pro Palettes and the Smashbox Master Class Palettes have great varieties in the color selection and I do recommend you check them out if they're available to you.

Blush and contour both can create different shapes to your face.  Again, placement is what will determine the overall effect of the colors you choose. Some may want to emphasize their cheeks and others may want to minimize them.  Placing blush on the apples of the cheeks will emphasize, while placing blush along the side of your cheeks will minimize them.  The Becca Mineral Blushes are amazing!  They all add color and are easily blended out, as well as long-lasting.  Contour can be placed on different areas of the the face to shape and define your features.  Usually, what is contoured are the forehead, cheek bones, nose and jawline.  Whenever contouring, remember to blend out the color you are using.  Harsh lines are in no way flattering or natural.  I highly recommend the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit.

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Lastly, lip products will complete your look.  The range of colors is infinite and can enhance or minimize your lips depending on placement.  Pick colors that go with your look.  What I mean by that is if you have heavy, dark eye makeup, your lips should be a more natural shade.  That being said, if your eye makeup is on the lighter side, your choices in color are open-ended.  Bite Beauty has some really fantastic lip products that I really recommend you trying out.

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This is in no way all that you can use in makeup.  There is much more.  I will give you one bit of advice in regards to makeup: Stay true to yourself.  They say the colors you are drawn to the most are the ones that will be most flattering on you.  So be sure and listen to what your instincts are telling you.

Thanks again to Marieta A. for inviting me to do this collaboration.  I really enjoyed writing this post and I truly hope you all were able to learn a little more about makeup and get some ideas on some fantastic products.  You are welcome to check out my blog for makeup products, ideas, tips and tricks.

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