Ah, the no-makeup look…  Nothing quite as elusive as that fabulous makeup look that gives the illusion of having naturally flawless, glowing skin while still balancing the look by not making your use of makeup overally obvious.  I wanted to try this look out today and I decided to use my airbrush to attempt the subtle look. Applying the airbrush foundation gives a great canvas, and applying the blush and contour by airbrush allows for a much lighter application, so the colors come out looking much more natural on the skin.  On the eyes I used very little shadow for slight definition.  I have to say I think I did pretty well – three people approached me today at work and said ‘you’re not wearing makeup today!’ or ‘you should never wear makeup – you look great!’.  I think this is a look I will go for more often.  It does take more effort and attention to get my skin looking so even, but I think the result was worth it.

Face:

• Benefit Erase Paste in Fair under eyes
• Amazing Cosmetics concealer in fair on blemishes
• OCC Skin Foundation in Y1
• OCC Blush in Hush
• OCC Crush to contour
• OCC Lustre Highlighter
• MAC Prep and Prime Powder
• By Candelight MSF

Eyes:

• TFSI
• Painterly p/p
• Brule e/s on lid
• Shroom e/s on center of lid
• Soft Brown e/s in crease
• By Candelight MSF on browbone
• Naked Lunch e/s on inner corner
• Fascinating Eye Kohl on waterline
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes waterproof mascara
• Omega e/s on brows

Lips:

• Long Stem Rose Slimshine l/s

I just got my hair touched up and some lighter blonde highlights… I feel like my complexion brightens up so much right after I get my color done! Anyway, I felt like this FOTD complemented both my eye color and my hair well. These pictures were taken on my new Samsung Captivate. Not bad for a phone right!?

Face:

• Benefit Erase Paste Concealer in Fair under eyes
• Amazing Concealer in Fair on blemishes
• MUFE HD Foundation in 110
• MAC Prep & Prime Powder
• Emote Blush to contour
• Illamasqua Blush in Unrequited
• By Candelight MSF

Eyes:

• TFSI
• Painterly p/p
• Amberlights e/s
• Mulch e/s
• Embark e/s
• Soft Brown e/s
• Blanc Type e/s
• Nylon e/s
• Smolder Eye Kohl
• Stila 24 Hour Liquid Liner in Black
• MUFE Smoky Lash mascara

Lips:

• Hot Gossip l/s
• Love Nectar l/g

Skincare

1)How many times do you wash your face daily? I use Murad Clarifying Cleanser twice a day, and I precleanse my skin at night with Boscia’s Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil to remove my makeup.

2)What skin type do you have? Dry with a moderately oil tzone!

3)What is your current facial wash? Oops I said this earlier!  Murad Clarifying Cleanser

4)Do you exfoliate? Yes!  I think it’s important to smooth out my skin once or twice a week – however I prefer smooth microscrubs like Dr. Brandt Microexfoliating Cream to scratchy, large particled products.

5)What brand do you use? Dr. Brandt Microexfolating Cream

6)What moisturizer do you use? Dermalogica Active Moist

7)Do you have freckles? Yes

8)Do you use eye cream? Yes – I use it everyday.  I use Kinerase C8 Peptide Eye and Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm

9)Do you or did you have acne prone skin? Unfortunately yes – I’m hitting my adolescence in my mid-twenties apparently…

10)Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ? No

Make-up

11)What foundation do you use? Depending on my mood/the look I’m going for, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, OCD Airbrush Foundation, or Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Foundation

12)How about concealer? Benefit Erase Paste under my eyes and Amazing Cosmetics Concealer on blemishes

13)Do you know your undertone color? I’m neutral – I can wear pink or yellow tones (as long as they are not ORANGE!)

14)What do you think of fake eyelashes? I love them but wish I was better at application!

15)Did you know you were supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? Yea!

16)What brand of mascara do you use? Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash – it is AMAZING and I haven’t used anything else since I tried it! 17)Sephora or Mac? I like having the option of both but I find myself gravitating towards Sephora more often these days

18)Do you have a Mac Pro card? Yes

19)What makeup tools do you use in makeup application? I use MAC brushes and a few good dupes that I got from Coastal Scents

20)Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes? I normally use two – Too Faced Shadow Insurance and a MAC Paintpot

21)For the face? I use Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion to prime my skin

22)What is your favourite eyeshadow?colour or shade? Favorite???  How do you choose?  I would probably say that my MAC Satin Taupe is one of my favorites because it’s so easy to pop on and get a great look everytime.

23)Do you use pencil or liquid liner? Liquid liner on the upper lashes and pencil on the lower lashline and waterline.

24)How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? Haven’t we all?  Isn’t that one of the supreme joys of applying makeup?

25)What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? Pigment eyeshadows?  Is this supposed to mean loose pigments?  If so, I do have quite a few but they don’t get a lot of use – I’m not sure why – maybe I’m’ just too lazy to open that drawer and maybe they do take a bit more effort to work into a look.

26)Do you use mineral makeup? I have but I don’t feel they have enough coverage

27)What is your favourite lipstick? MAC Nude Pink, Viva Glam Gaga, and Blankety

28?How about lipgloss? Not a huge gloss girl…

29)What is your favourite blush to use? MAC Instant Chic or Melba

30)Do you buy your makeup on Ebay? I have bought some limited edition items there but I don’t make a habit of it

31)Do you like drugstore makeup? No.

32)Do you go to CCO’s?Cosmetic Company Outlet? I have never been but I would like to!

33)Did you ever consider taking makeup classes? Yes I have considered it.

34)Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? No I wouldn’t say that… I’m probably more meticulous at my makeup application than anything else I do.

35)Name a makeup crime that you hate? Orangey overdosed bronzer, under eye concealer that is five shades lighter than the rest of the face, and pencil eyeliner that is weirdly placed only on the lower lash line!

36)Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick or eyeshadow) or neutral ones? I do mainly neutral looks, but I try to switch it up!  And bright lipstick of course.

37)Which celebrity always has great makeup? Kim Kardashian

38)If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use? Omg, ONE item??  I guess I would choose foundation.

39)Could you leave the house without any makeup on? I really don’t – I just don’t feel confident unless I have at least minimal makeup (tinted moisturizer, eyebrows, mascara).

40)Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? I don’t think I look like a monster but I definitely prefer to be out with something on

41)In your opinion what is the BEST makeup line? Make Up For Ever and MAC

42)What do you think of makeup? I think it’s a form of art – and something that has changed my life and allowed me to express myself daily.  I think makeup can make you feel confident and beautiful on the worst days and completely transform your look.

I’m wearing my airbrush makeup again today… It really is amazing how flawless airbrushing makes your face appear… I would have to show you my bare face with all of its current blemishes at the moment in order to show you just what a difference it makes!

Face:

• Tarte Primer
• Amazing Cosmetics concealer in Fair
• OCC Skin Airbrush Foundation in Y1
• Blot Powder in Medium
• Prism blush for contour
• Melba blush
• MSF in Soft and Gentle

Eyes:

• TFSI
• Painterly p/p
• Blanc Type e/s
• Satin Taupe e/s
• UD Perversion e/s
• UD Sellout e/s
• Ben Nye cake liner in black
• Fascinating Eye Kohl
• MUFE Smokey Lash
• Omega and Espresso e/s on brows

Nothing on lips atm…

My first polish post!  I love nail polishes, but I simply don’t have the money to devote as much of myself to them as I do my other two passions – makeup and skincare.  I bought two of Milani’s Holographic polishes today at CVS, and I was so in love with the color of Hi-Tech that I just had to do a post about it!  Hi-Tech is an acid green with a density of holographic glitter.  The holo is very noticeable under my indoor lighting, so I can’t wait to see what it looks like in the sun!  I’m psyched that these only cost me $4.99 a piece!  Here are a few pics.

Warning – I do not have the prettiest hands or nails, and this is my first go at nail swatching pictures (and of course I chose a difficult to photograph polish) – so you have been forewarned!

A good close up shot of the holo effect