Face Primers:
Benefit Porefessional Primer -$31(0.75 oz)
I love this primer mainly because it's not a silicone base and it doesn't feel heavy. This product really evens out your skin and diminishes the appearance of pores and it feels silky smooth. This keeps me oil- free and this makes my makeup last longer, and my foundation applies more smoothly and evenly.
Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer- $52 (1 oz)
I love this primer as well because it's not a silicone base and it is really lightweight, great for all skin types. A little goes a long way and this is water resistant and sweat resistant. When I was training at Sephora, the representative for Hourglass put some product on the back of his hand and then poured some ice cold water from the pitcher and the water bounced back and didn't do anything to the primer. I thought that it was really amazing. The only thing with this product is it's kind of pricey. It is worth it for me because it lasts for a long time because you only need 2 pea-sized pumps and it will cover the whole face.
Foundations:
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Syracuse- $45 (1oz)
I love how this makes my face look glowy and healthy! It looks really natural on and it has a medium to full coverage, doesn't feel cakey on my combo skin. This product is suggested to be applied with your fingers (like most Nars products) but it's just too messy for me that way so I apply it with my Sephora Pro Airbrush Foundation Brush. I use the beauty blender after to smooth the edges and blend the streaky lines. I had to buy the pump for $6 unfortunately because it doesn't come with the foundation, on the other hand the pump can be twisted to the right to lock the pump, which is great for traveling! On the Sephora website this is recommended for people that has normal-to-dry skin, dry skin. I have a combination skin type and it works fine to me as long as I set it with a setting powder. If you have oily skin I would suggest using the matte version of this foundation. It has 17 shades each for sheer glow and sheer matte finish.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation in #90 Warm Beige-$12.49 (1 oz)
I have gone through 3 bottles of this foundation for the last 3 years. I love this product because it makes my skin blowy without having to add any liquid illuminators with my foundation. This product contains white chamomile which calms and soothes the skin, natural soy, and vitamin e to defend the skin. This product doesn't make my face feel dry or cakey, it's lightweight, it contains spf 20, and comes in 20 shades which is a pretty wide selection. I always bought it at Ulta and I always waited for they BOGO sale and use their $3.50 off coupon if you spend $10 or more (attached on their monthly catalogs if you have their rewards card).
Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush Foundation #55- $34
This brush has been my only go to foundation brush I love this brush than any other foundation brush that I've tried, it has longer bristles and is round (because most of foundation brushes are flat). I love that all the Sephora Pro Collection Brushes comes with a travel brush head protector which I keep on my brushes after every time I use them so it wouldn't collect dust and dirt which can cause me to break out.
Beauty Blender- $20
I love my beauty blender! it is big enough to blend out my foundation and small enough to fit around my eyes and the sides of my nose. I love using it damp or dry. When it's damp, it makes your foundation look more natural and dewy with that airbrush effect. When it's dry, it's a tool that just blends your foundation well (sometimes better than a foundation brush, it leaves streaky brush strokes on my face and have to blend even more, which takes more time). I also use this for any liquid highlighters and my concealers. I wash the beauty blender with Sephora's Solid Brush Cleaner. This product is also great for traveling and you can wash it as new and one beauty blender can last you a while!
Concealers:
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer- $29 (0.22 oz)
Custard (left), Ginger (right)
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealers in Custard and Ginger.
I mainly use Custard to highlight my under eye area and Ginger for my blemishes. The formulation on this product is so blendable and easy to work with. They are creamy and light weight.
Mac Pro Longwear Concealer in N25- $20 (0.30 oz)
My Mac shade is N40 but since I use this concealer under my eyes, it has to be a little lighter than my skin tone to brighten up my tired eyes. The formula is really pigmented, it is a little heavy and you only need a little pea size for each eye. I would recommend setting it with a powder like I would for any concealer that I put under my eyes. FYI be really careful because a full pump will be too much for both eyes. I pump it halfway and it's enough for both eyes. This concealer is in a glass container so be really careful of dropping it! This concealer comes in 16 matte shades, oil-free, talc free, paraben free, no spf, and comes with warm and cool undertones. I recently just found out that there's 8 cool tones (NC) and 8 warms tones (NW). The neutral cool (NC) is meant to be for the complementary color which would be the warm skin tones, and neutral warm (NW) is meant for people that has cool skin tones. I and the Make Up Forever Full Coverage concealer
Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer #8- $32 (0.5 oz)
This concealer is waterproof, full coverage, matte finish, and oil-free, need I say more? A little bit goes a long way. I use my beauty blender and my fingers and apply with a tapping motion. I don't swipe left and right because I'm basically moving product back and forth and not setting on my under eye area. I usually blend this concealer with my Nars Radiant concealer or my Cover Fx Concealer in N-light. This product is great alone or mixed with other concealers.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Medium-$6.99 (0.2 oz)
I have probably gone though 2-3 of these concealers! I really love them they instantly brighten my under eye and they are so affordable. I love using this alone and I sometimes blend it with other concealers. This is a twistable concealer that has a sponge applicator
Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer in Buff- $5.59 (0.05 oz)
This is really one of the most brightening concealers that I have ever tried! I went throughout 2-3 of this just like my Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer because I most of the time use them together, and they are both really affordable and no one will mind paying less than $10 for something that will last you 4-6 months!
Brows:
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Mousse in Medium Brown-$28 (0.12 oz)
I was really in love with this product before I neglected this and found the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade. I love that this is waterproof and it comes with a duo angled line brush and a spoolie on the other end. I loved the brushes as well, and the spoolie is really soft. The big difference with this and the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade, Tarte's gives a more natural look whereas Anastasia's was a bolder look, which I'm into now, and Tarte has a drier consistency than Anastasia's. I have improved in how I do my brows and I haven't tried the Tarte with the new techniques that I have now. I would start rotating between this and the Dip Brow just because I love both of them!
Anastasia Brow Primer- $21(0.09 oz)
This product is the first thing I apply on my eyebrows, it's a wax to set and flatten my eyebrow hairs, it makes my Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade last longer! It's also easier to work with your eyebrows after applying this. I definitely recommend this and would keep repurchasing.
Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Auburn-$21 (0.003 oz)
This is probably my 4th time buying this for this year alone! Beginning of this year this was the only thing that I was using on my eyebrows along with Maybelline Clear Mascara. I used small strokes and build up the intensity, to make the illusion of eyebrow hairs. My eyebrows looked defined and natural. After getting the Dip Brow Pomade, I mainly use this product to outline the top and bottom of my eyebrows from the front to the tip. I love the spoolie on the other end! It's really gentle on my eyebrows and it blends out any harsh lines. The formulation on this is really blendable!
Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in Auburn- $18 (0.14 oz)
My eyebrow game has changed! This product made it possible for me! I was really having a hard time with my eyebrows from then til I discovered this product! I basically take my angled liner and take some product to the cap of the container drag it back and forth and putting product on both sides of the brush. This is very important to distribute it evenly on the brush, so it wouldn't look harsh on your eyebrows. Most people didn't know how to use it until I showed them how to do it, this product can really intimidate people, I was too until a Sephora Cast Member showed me how to do it.
I sometimes use this to outline my eyebrows when I'm not using the Brow Wiz. I start applying it to the middle part of my brows to the tip and I use the left over to the fronts of my eyebrows and to fill in my brows. This product is waterproof and long-lasting. The consistency is a gel like eyeliner, it's really blendable. This is and will be the only product that I would keep repurchasing over and over again. You can say this is my holy grail product for my eyebrows.
Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel in Auburn- $22 (0.32 oz)
This is basically my finishing touch for my eyebrows. I again, start in the middle and brush it to the tip and use the left over to the fronts of my eyebrows. I don't find the need to dip it back for both my eyebrows. I always set my eyebrows so the product would stay on longer. I do use all 4 products from Anastasia on a daily basis. If I was just running errands I would just use the Anastasia Brow Wiz and this tinted brow gel.
Sephora Collection Pro Flat liner #25
Inglot Creamy Concealer #67
After setting my eyebrows, I always highlight my brow bone. For as long as I can remember I've been using this concealer from Inglot for the longest time, it's creamy and it's easy to blend. I use my flat liner brush from Sephora and I put it right on the bottom of my eyebrows. I use this brush because it's really precise and it gives a clean sweep and this is hands down the perfect brush. I then, blend the product with my fingers and my beauty blender. I also set the concealer with my Laura Mercier Translucent Powder so it doesn't crease throughout the day.
Setting Powders:
Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder
I love this powder so much! This has been the only powder other than my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder that I use to set my concealer under my eyes, on my brow bone, and all over the face. I noticed that I'm not as oily throughout the day and my concealer doesn't crease. This product really seals everything in and makes my makeup last longer. I always use the Real Techniques Setting Powder Brush to set my under eye and my concealer on my brow bone and also my t-zone.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
I have been really impressed with this powder! It blurs any imperfections and blemishes on my face, making it look flawless! I use this every day sometimes after my Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder, this also works well alone. I also love using this whenever I applied way too much blush or bronzer, it magically removes the extra product and it looks very natural. I really don't mind the price because of how great this product is!
Ben Nye Banana Powder- $15 (1.5 oz)
This product is also very famous thanks to Kim Kardashian and her makeup artist. I jumped on the bandwagon to see what everyone was raving about and I use this sometimes to set my concealer under my eyes and you can basically use this throughout your face, this is really affordable, and it comes in different sizes. This product is great for people that have yellow (warm) under tone such as myself. This product color corrects, reduce redness, and neutralizes bluish under eye circles. A little goes a long way and this mattifies my face, and if you don't have a warm or a yellow under tone no worries! Ben Nye has different shades for different kinds of skin tone. You can buy this online, but I found it at
http://lmakeupinstitute.com and I didn't have to pay for shipping and wait for it to arrive.
Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in #80 Medium Buff
I was mostly using this beginning of last year. I haven't been able to use this as much as I did but it doesn't mean that I didn't love it! I love this product mainly because it has less talc and it's less powdery feeling. This product kept my face from being oily and it was an extra coverage on top my my foundation but it doesn't feel heavy. I hit pan a long time ago and I would probably start using this again just because I remember how much I loved it.
Real Tenchniques Setting Powder Brush
My favorite brush for setting my powder under my eyes and on my lids, the size is perfect to get in between hard to reach places, this brush is also synthetic.
Highlighters:
The Balm Mary Lou Manizer
I have not only been using this product in 2014 but also in 2012 and 2013 and that is saying a lot. This is probably the only highlighter that you'll ever need. I've been using the same pan for a couple of years already and I still haven't hit pan. This product has been giving my face that instant healthy glow and wakens up my complexion, especially when I feel like I look dull. I apply this on top of my cheekbone and the bridge of my nose. This product can also be used as an eyeshadow and I sometimes put it on my tear ducts. I also got this at Tj Maxx in a kit for around $12-$15 a few years ago, this was my only highlighter until 2014, this product is also available on The Balm's website for $24.
Mac Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle- $32 (0.35 oz)
This highlighter from Mac has bigger shimmers than The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer or Maybelline's Master Hi-light in Nude but this is sill great. I basically rotate between my top 3 highlighters and I love them equally.
Maybelline Master Hi-Light in #10 Nude
This highlighter has a more subtle glow to it which is why it will never look too much on the face. This is the only highlighter from the drugstore that I really enjoy using. I love applying all my highlighter with Elf's Studio Small Tapered Brush
Blushes:
Tea Rose (left), Tangerine Tease (right)
Sephora Collection MicroSmooth Baked Blush Duo in Tea Rose and Tangerine Tease- $17 (0.12 oz)
These blushes from Sephora are so pigmented and they are really affordable. I love deep berry and peach colors for my cheeks, they really compliment my complexion, especially peachy colors they also give my face a healthy glow.
The Balm Hot Mama Blush
I got this blush from a Tj Maxx around 2 years ago in a kit for about $12 when this blush alone is $20 on The Balm's website! This has been my holy grail blush since then and I haven't even hit pan on this and this has been my most used blush. In my opinion, this is more pigmented than the Nars Orgasm Blush, and this is a little darker than Nars' Orgasm which is great for medium to dark skin tones.
Mac Powder Blush in Peachykeen-$22 (0.21 oz)
This blush also has a peachy tone that's really close to Nars' Orgasm and The Balm's Hot Mama. I just rotate all of my peach blushes and I love all of them because they are all shades of peach which really compliments my skin tone and gives me a nice glow. This blush is pigmented and you can also de-pot these and put them into Z palettes!
Maybelline Master Hi-Light #30 Coral
I would say that this is a pretty good alternative to The Balm's Hot Mama Blush. I love the subtle shimmer. I'm just obsessed with peach blushes and this is one of my favorites.
Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
This blush from Milani is also highly pigmented and has some shimmer that would give you a nice glow, great alternative for any high-end peach blushes!
Contour Powders (Matte Bronzers):
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer
First thing's first, I just love how it smells like chocolate! I get really excited to apply this bronzer just because of the smell! This product is made with real cocoa, a warm brown color, and it has a matte finish which is great for contouring. I apply it with my Sephora Contour Brush #74. I apply the bronzer starting near my ears, halfway down my ears on my cheekbone. I apply my bronzer 2-3 inches slanted going towards my lip, be careful not to put it too close to your lips, it will make you look funny! I just keep blending it upwards and sideways just to make sure it blended well and there are no harsh lines.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This is the most famous bronzer of all time because Kim Kardashian's makeup artist uses this on her! I was kind of late in the bandwagon but this product is great! This looks nice for any skin tones and it doesn't look really dark but it is buildable depending on how intense you want your contour to look like. This product is matte, and very neutral which is great for anyone that has either pink or yellow undertone/skintone.
NYC- Sunny Bronzer
This is the very first bronzer that I started using to get into contouring this year. NYC Sunny Bronzer also has a matte finish and a warm tone color that is great for contouring! I love all of the three contouring powders that I've mentioned but this is the most affordable one of all and it works just as great!
Sephora Collection Pro Contour Blush Contour #74
All year I was struggling to look for the perfect brush for contouring and I finally found it! The bristles are not too long and not too short and has the perfect density and flexibility to apply my bronzers. I love this brush and I don't see myself using another contour brush than this one. Not to mention this brush is synthetic which is really hygienic and it doesn't grab as much product as natural bristles will.
Setting Sprays/Blotting:
Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender
This product is better than any blotting sheet I've ever tried in my life! I have combination skin and I get oily in my t-zone throughout the day. This is an invisible silicone/wax that takes away any excess oil on my face. I don't like using powder foundation on just because my face feel cakey and heavy. I don't like using any finish powder or setting powder as much as I would use this! The Mally Poreless Face Defender doesn't feel like an extra layer on top of my makeup, it makes my face look like I just applied my makeup on! It is great for summer time and for any season!
Urban Decay All Nighter and De Slick Setting Sprays
I love using the De Slick before I put my face primer on and after I set my foundation with a powder just to make sure that I don't get really oily throughout the day. I love this product especially during the summer, it keeps me oil-free and my makeup lasts longer and given the fact that Vegas weather can melt down your face on a 100 degree weather outside! I have probably gone through 2 full size bottles of the De Slick. I started using the All Nighter Setting Spray around September when the weather outside was getting better. I don't get as oily and I don't sweat as much as I do in the summer. I have stopped using the De Slick Setting Spray because it a perfect product during the summer. I have started to use the All Nighter Spray around fall and I love it as much as I love my De Slick Setting Spray it makes my makeup last longer. I use my Mally Everlasting Poreless Defender occasionally when I get oily around my t-zone which I always have in my purse with a small travel size bottle that I got from Nordstrom Rack of either the de slick or the all nighted spray in my purse.These makeup setting sprays from Urban Decay are made by Skindinavia (a brand that is really famous for their best-selling makeup setting sprays. All Skindinavia products are tested for sensitive skin and are oil, paraben, and sulfate free.
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