What’s In My Makeup Bag

Dude.  Brace yourself for a makeover unlike any you’ve ever seen before on this blog.  For once, I did something very out of the ordinary and traded in my paint brush for my makeup brush… for just a day anyway.

(If you’re holding out for a big home makeover though, Robert and I just put the finishing touches on the kitchen this week and it’s ready for its grand reveal very very soon! Ahh!)

But back to the girly stuff for a sec… Don’t hold out for a gnarly just-rolled-out-of-bed before shot of my face though.

Credit: Brandywine Photography

I’ve never ever talked about makeup or fashion or anything with y’all before, but I have to admit… playing with makeup has always been a guilty pleasure of mine since I was a teenager.  I even did my own wedding day makeup.

Credit: Brandywine Photography

So I thought I’d share some of my go-to favorites currently in my makeup bag just for fun.

I’m certainly not a makeup artist by any means, but I’ve tried and tested A LOT over the years.  My skin is very fair and I’ve had little freckles all my life, and up until my 20s, I had fairly clear skin until after my pregnancy… then I was blessed with adult acne triggered by whacky hormones.  Yay.

It took a year of trying different things until I finally was able to get it under control and get my clear skin back.  I have combination skin (oily in some places, dry in others) and it’s sensitive, so finding makeup and a skincare routine that worked was tricky.  But I love the way my skin looks and feels now!

How much makeup I wear varies- I get dolled up for special occasions and date nights with the pricier stuff, I wear the cheaper pharmacy brands for everyday around town, and days at home I wear only moisturizer. (‘Cause seriously… the 3 year-old could not care less and ain’t nobody got time for that. )

On My Face:

Primer – Stila One Step Correct Primer – I love this primer for oil control, minimizing pores, and reducing redness.  But I only wear it on special outings since it is definitely not cheap.

Liquid Foundation (Special Occasion)- Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation – This is my absolute favorite foundation if I’m getting my pictures taken or have a special occasion. It lasts all day long and has great coverage.  It’s formulated for photos too.

Liquid Foundation (Everyday) – L’Oreal True Match Lumi – This foundation is great for every day and I swear my skin has had fewer breakouts since I started using it.

Setting Powder- CoverGirl TruBlend Minerals Loose Powder –  I’ve used this loose power to set my liquid foundation for well over 10 years!  Still my fave.

Concealer – Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer – I used several different concealers before discovering this one.  It blends really well and covers up dark circles beautifully.

Contouring – Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit – I only just recently started using this contour kit but so far, I’m a fan.  My face is round, so I’ll take as much help as I can to get defined cheekbones.

Brush Set – Makeup is only as good as the tools you work with, so a nice brush set can do a world of good.  The set I linked above is only $11.00, which is hard to beat.

On My Eyes:

Primer – Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer – Whenever I need my makeup to last through a long day, I apply this primer before my eyeshadow.  It doesn’t budge for hours.

Eyeshadow- Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette – I always stick to neutrals and the Urban Decay Naked Pallets are my favorite for shading, and they have great pigmentation so a little goes a long way, and they last for quite a while.  For daytime, I use the lighter shades, and for evening, I layer the darker shadows on the outside of my lids and in the creases.

Eyeliner – Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner – This stuff glides on beautifully and the brush is really easy to control.  It’s waterproof too.  I never thought I could do a decent cat-eye look before but this liner makes it possible.

Mascara – Maybelline Volum’ Express Falsies Mascara – This mascara rocks!  I’ve been using it for years and even though I’ve tried others every now and then, I always come back to this one.  It’s great at separating lashes while creating volume but not being super clumpy.

Eyebrow Shaper – Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Define and Fill Duo – I have blonde hair and eyebrows, so it’s hard filling brows without going too dark.  The blonde shade of this brow filler is great though, and it’s easy to apply so that there’s not a harsh pencil line.

On My Lips:

Lipgloss- NYC 8HR City Proof Lip Gloss in Everlasting Blossom – I pick up a tube of this lip gloss at Walmart all the time because it lasts a long time but isn’t drying.

Lipstick – MAC Lipstick in Creme de la Femme and Angel – If I want more of a matte look, MAC lipsticks are my go-to.  A tube will last a long time for me since they have great pigmentation.

Credit: Alisha Rudd Photography

Skincare:

Facewash – Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash – This face wash was a huge part of my skin saver when I hit a major breakout period after Olivia was born.  I use a little on a damp washcloth and lather in a circular motion to gently exfoliate in the mornings.

Acne Control – Acne Free Cleanser – At night, I use this cleanser to keep breakouts in check and it works!  I can only use it once a day though or my skin will become too dry.

Eye Cream – L’Oreal Revitalift Eye Cream – I started using eye cream when I started noticing fine lines after my pregnancy (at the ripe old age of 26… total sarcasm, I know that’s not old) and this one did the best job at reducing lines, puffiness, and circles without feeling greasy.

Face Cream – L’Oreal Revitalift Face & Neck Day Cream – I’ve had to wear moisturizer ever since high school for dry patches around my nose and chin and I love how this one makes my skin look and feel without feeling oily.  It’s cheaper than a lot of other day creams I’ve seen out there too.

My Little Hair Secret:

DIY Hair Color and Highlights – L’Oreal Couleur Experte 8.2 – I splurge on some of my “fancy” makeup, but I skimp on paying for the salon to color my hair.  I can never find the time or handle the price tag of getting my hair professionally colored and highlighted by a professional, but my natural color is a dull dirty blonde.  I’ve used this color/highlighter kit for years and LOVE IT!  I really hope L’Oreal never discontinues it or I’m in big trouble.

Hair Color Maintenance – L’Oreal Root Rescue – I only use the Couleur Experte every 6-8 weeks, but I use the Root Rescue in between all over colorings to give my roots a refresh and give the rest of my hair length a break from the chemicals.

It’s A 10 Miracle Conditioner – To keep my hair from looking damaged and straw-like, I use this conditioner every day and my hair is suuuuper silky smooth.  It’s on the pricey side but worth the damage control.

 

 

Whew!  This post was way longer than I’d planned.  Have you used any of these before?  Or have any favorite makeup bag staples of your own?  I’m always game to try others!

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