Everyday Essentials: Face

Keeping with the theme of routines that has occurred this week, today I’m going to share the first part of my everyday makeup look. Again, I am a self-proclaimed makeup junkie so there are a lot of products here but I’ve got it down to a science now and it only takes me about fifteen minutes for both my face and my eyes in the morning. Fifteen minutes you say?! That seems like a lot of time but I love makeup so for me, those fifteen minutes fly by! Brace yourselves, here we go!

Sigma, MAC, and Real Techniques brushes

These are the brushes I use everyday. Side note, I keep my brushes in an empty candle jar with coffee beans to keep them standing up straight and they smell like coffee! From right to left we have a Sigma P82 – Precision Round top brush for blending my concealer under my eyes (I use my ring finger to blend concealer onto spots). I like this brush because it is small enough to fit under my eyes perfectly and the bristles are densely packed and cover beautifully. It’s synthetic too so the bristles don’t absorb any of my concealer. The white angled brush is the MAC 168 brush. I use this one for applying blush to the apples and backs of my cheeks. The angle fits with the angle I apply it with on my cheeks and its just a lot easier than a traditional blush brush (I think so anyways). Next  is the Real Techniques Powder Brush. This brush line is made by a YouTuber named Samantha Chapman. I like this HUGE brush for applying setting powder all over my face. The next brush is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This is hands down the best foundation brush I have ever tried. I find myself using less product because the bristles are synthetic so they don’t absorb any foundation. The bristles are also tightly packed that it blends foundation flawlessly too. Next is my contour brush: the MAC 109. The first thing I will say about this brush is that it sheds a ton! I do love it though so they little hairs left on my face don’t bother me too much but some might not like it. Last, I use the Real Techniques Setting brush to set concealer under my eyes to make sure it stays all day.

Products I use every day

Now let’s move on to the products. First, I use the POREfessional primer by benefit before I do anything else. Next, I go in with the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + foundation in the color 30. I have really come around to like this foundation and notice that it makes my face look healthy while still mattifying throughout the day. Concealer time! The benefit Erase Paste in fair is perfect for under my eyes while the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 is perfect for spots and problem areas. Setting time! I use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Meduim. I use the big fluffy brush for all over my face, then get a little more on the smaller, pink fluffy brush to set the concealer under my eyes so I don’t get any weird lines under my eyes. Remember my friend Hoola? I use this with the small dome brush to apply it under my cheekbones, along the sides of my nose, and under my chin to slim down my face. Then comes blush. I use Pink Swoon by MAC with the angled brush an apply it to the backs of my cheekbones and a little to the apples of my cheekes. Finally, most days, I use a simple gloss like NYX Beige (which is not beige at all but rather a nice pink).

Phew! That’s all! It took a lot of practice to be able to apply these items without looking like I am wearing a mask. What are your everyday essentials? Comment below and don’t forget to subscribe!

–Sam

Benefit’s Hoola: Hit or Miss?

Benefit’s Hoola bronzer

Happy Friday! This post is for all the pale girls out there like me who can’t seem to find a good bronzer that doesn’t make me look like I rolled around in a bag of Doritos. I have pale skin that doesn’t tan well so I need the help of bronzer. Enter Hoola. This little baby dropped into my Sephora basket back in my junior year of high school. I heard about it on YouTube and thought I’d give it a try. I was new to the idea that a contour could create cheek bones and add definition as well as add some color to my complexion. As you can see, the box is pretty beat up because I’ve had it for a little over four years. Hoola is pretty pigmented so I don’t need a lot on my brush which is why after four years of just about daily use, there is still a ton of product left. I hit pan (the metal part the makeup is in) this spring so this bronzer lasts FOREVER. Hoola is also completely matte which means that it can be used as a contour and a bronzer and won’t make your face look like a disco ball if you accidentally apply too much. It comes with a little brush that I have used probably twice when I was in a pinch and didn’t have a rounded fluffy brush (I like to use a MAC 109). I apply it under my cheekbones to create more prominent ones as well as take some up my temples and under my jaw line making sure to blend really well. Just remember to use a light hand as it is always easier to add more but it is difficult to take it off without removing all the makeup underneath. Basically, this product is a huge hit for anyone that needs a new bronzer or wants to try a cult favorite in the beauty community. I know that when I run out (which won’t be any time soon) I will be running to my closest Sephora to pick up a new one!

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–Sam