Make-Up Essentials

Make-up is something we, as ladies have the privilege of wearing, or at least I see it that way. We have the choice to hide blemishes without it being taken as something socially not okay, in most cases. But, we also get to struggle to find the right make-up for our skin and face without spending a fortune on it. I for one know it has taken me years to get my look to where it is now. I’m comfortable with it on, which for me was the biggest struggle when I first was introduced to the idea of wearing make-up. I used to find lipstick and foundation so stinky I would gag. I thought people were always sending a disapproving glare my way when I put on the tiniest amount of eye liner. And not to mention how heavy my face felt with make-up on it. Was it really worth it?

Yes, the answer is yes all the way! I’ve become a make-up lover. It’s the easiest way to completely change my look. I can go from noncommittal day strolling through the park to a fierce lad just by changing the make-up on my face. It’s such a power we women hold.

This Spring I am going for a lighter everyday look though and here are some of my essentials. All of these items are a cheaper alternative to expensive brands.

1. First and most importantly is a foundation. I’ve always gone for liquid for the simple reason that it was what my mom used so I bought it too. Nuetrogena makes all my favorite skin care products and my foundation is no exception. This is found at most drug stores. I shop at Target so that’s where I got it.

$8-9 Neutrogena shine control foundation oil-free

20 Natural Ivory  

2. I am a fan of using bronzer as my powder, even in the winter. Of course, not nearly as much in the winter, just to add some color to my face. At the beginning of last summer I got a Victoria's Secret bronzer that I loved but it went by very fast. Now I have a Sephora bronzer, which is also much cheaper than the VS bronzer. Neither are cheap though because bronzer is one of the more expsenisive make-up products. 

$17 Sephora Collection Bronzer
5 Bora Bora

3. The eyes are the most influential part of a person's face and I love using make-up as a way to entice everyone that I come across in my day. I find that the most important part of eyes is eyeliner and finding the right one for you. I like pencils and have been using this pencil for about 3 years. I laugh whenever I view my purchase history on my Sephora card because it's almost all my eyeliner. I especially like this kind because it is easy to smudge but also easy to wipe up with my finger if I make a mistake with it. And they last pretty long.

$5 Sephora Collection Nano Eyeliner

 01 Midnight Black

4. Another helpful component of the eyes is using eyeshadow. I prefer using nuetral colors and a shimer to really accentuate the sparkle in my eyes. My favorite colors are a pearl white, gold, and a lighter brown. I first used the L'Oreal pots which are amazing and last longer but since I travel a lot those are a pain to carry around. Luckily, I came across an Elf pallet with the same colors. The quality is not as great as the L'Oreal eye shadows. Creasing shows if you don't use a primer and it doesn't last as long. I've had these for maybe 3 months and I'm already seeing the bottom of the pearl colored one. Overall though they are not a bad alternative especially since the L'Oreal cost more and are sold individualy. Elf products are carried at T.J. Maxx and Target.

$5 Elf Eye Pallet

6. A Pinterest trick I foudn to make eyes look bigger is putting a blue liner on your lower lash line. A lighter shade is best but I went for a more royal blue and I love the look it creates. Personally, I don't like to have a lot of vibrant colors on my eyes but this blue is so subtle that it creates a pop that sneaks up on whoever you encounter. I hadn't used a Covergirl eyeliner before this but I am loving this liner for a lower lash line product. It goes on easy and lasts an entire day, even though this is best as a night look.

$5-8 Covergirl Liquiline Blast

7.  And finally my personal favorite, mascara. This is the best finishing touch to any look and finding the perfect product is hard. Right now I am loving a sample I got from Sephora. It gives my lashes a full look that stays all day. Downside is that it is almost impossible to get off in the shower. I come out looking like a raccoon everytime since I don't remove my make-up before I get in the shower. But overall it's a great product. 

$10 benefit They're Real! 0.14 oz

These are some of my favorites, what are yours? Thanks for reading.