Face Base!

In my opinion, the MOST important part of my makeup routine is all the stuff I do to even out my skin and create a nice base for the exciting stuff like eyeshadow, lipstick, and more!

My typical routine involves a few steps including primer, foundation, and powder. Regardless of the look I'm going for, these steps stay constant and I never leave the apartment without at least these basics. 

I call these steps the "base" because it is the base of the rest of your cosmetics. Afterward I apply all the color. I've been using the same base products for a while and I find that once you discover which ones work for you, you'll never want to stray outside of them! 

So I start with a primer. I use the Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier which I've posted about in the past. This can work in leu of foundation, however I find that the coverage is much nicer with a little foundation on top! The magic skin beautifier is a Beauty Balm and is BY FAR the best one I've used (and I've used a bunch!). For more information, feel free to check out my earlier post about beauty balms!

NEXT: time for some foundation! I've been using the same foundation for at LEAST 3-4 years (maybe longer? I can't even remember when I started using this stuff!) A friends recomended it and there has been no turning back since. The Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse is everything you could want from a foundation. It is thick and creamy, has a pump applicator, and doesn't give a greasy gross feeling. I have very sensative skin to the point where i can't use certain primers without breaking out...so you'd think a thick, moussey foundation would wreck havoc on my skin. Maybe its because I've been using this stuff for so long, so my skin is used to it, but for some reason I do not break out from using this! I'm slightly obsessed! A little goes a long way and the pump applicator is insanely easy to use. I don't think I will ever stray from this stuff!!

The LAST step for my base is powder. This helps set the foundation, and creates for more of a matte finish. I don't like for my skin to look moist or dewy so I love powder. I have friends who hate it though, so it really is a preference type of thing! My absolutely favorite Powder is another Maybelline product. It is the FIT me powder. They make a foundation as well, which I've never tried, but I've heard bad things about it (plus I'm already sold on the one mentioned above!). This powder is awesome. I hate the applicator it came with, so I bought my own pack of cosmetic sponges and they help apply the powder evenly and absorb any unwanted moisture. 

So I highly recommend ALL of this stuff. I seriously don't know how I lived without them! What are some of your favorite products?

healthy beauty!

So we all want beautiful soft silky hair, but we blow dry, straighten, curl it on a daily basis! Its silly and contradictory and yet I still continue to do it. If my hair was reallllly long I'd be happy to wear it curly...but because its only just past my shoulders when curly, I insist on styling it with heated tools every day. Of course, it wont grow much longer because I'm constantly needing to cut off the dead ends.

viscous cycle! So here are some of the products I've added to my beauty routines that I'm loving! They promote health and quality and I've noticed a difference!

First of all, I take biotin daily. This is a tiny vitamin supplement that promotes healthier hair, skin, and nails. My hair stylest even said she noticed a difference in the quality of my hair after I had been taking it for about 2 months. I was ecstatic! My hair seems slightly healthier, and seems to be growing a bit quicker.  You can get biotin literally anywhere. I think I got mine at bed bath and beyond!!

Next is Dove heat defense. I spritz a little of this stuff on my hair while its drying if I know I'm going to be applying heat to it. This not only makes my hairstyle last longer, but it really seems to keep my hair protected. I noticed a massive change after using this product and used up the entire bottle! I need to buy more! It also smells really nice!

I've been using DDF brightening cleanser for about 2 weeks now. My skin feels SOOO nice after using this! It does an awesome job of cleansing! It also is amazing because it is meant to get rid of dark spots, acne scaring, and overall create a more even complexion. I have been really enjoying this product! It smells like black licorice but it doesn't leave a strong scent after I wash it off so I don't mind too much! Totally worth the $38 a bottle!

Lastly I am having a love affair with nailtiques formula two! I apply a coat of this protein to my clean nails (every day that I don't have polish on!) and use it as a base coat. I'm not sure if this is how its meant to be used, but I have noticed that my nails seem a bit less brittle and have been breaking way less! They are getting back to a really nice length so I am insanely excited!

Loreal Youth Code BB cream

This is my first negative review and I'm so upset to be posting....
I am not loving the Loreal Youth Code BB cream!!! I posted about loving the other Loreal BB cream (magic skin beautifier) and said I'd write a review after trying the other one. I've been using the Youth Code for about 2 weeks and it has been BAD (at least for me!)

I have been breaking out like CRAZY. Normally this time of month my skin is at its clearest, but my skin has been horrible since switching to the youth code. I haven't changed anything else in my life drastically so I'm thinking it must be that. I haven't been using concealer or any other product but its still clogging my pores like crazy.

It also doesn't cover nearly as well as the magic skin beautifier. Maybe I'm just spoiled and that one is amazing but youth code barely hides any redness. If I'm going to be clogging my pores with this it better damn well cover my gross skin!

Whenever I buy products I don't like, I rough it out and use it until I finish and just figure I wont buy it again. With this...I really think I'm going to just throw it away. Its a shame because I spent like $10 on it and its still pretty much full but I just can't destroy my skin anymore.

sad, sad day.

L'oreal Magic Skin Beautifier

So this is my new obsession. After receiving a sample of the Stila beauty balm in my July Birchbox, I knew I needed to try some more brands! I thought the Stila one worked well, but I couldn't justify spending $38 on a bottle when there are SO many other (cheaper) brands.

I found this little gem in a Harmons. The women working there overheard a friend and I trying to discuss which brand we should get since we were overwhelmed with options, and she recommended this one! I am so glad she did because it is BALM!

This BB cream is much different from the others I've tried (stila, garnier, and dr. Jarts). This BB cream goes on WHITE. Not only is it white...it has these weird black speckles in it. I was grossed out at first, I thought the product I picked up was either expired or needed a good shake. But then I realized the black dots were part of the charm. After rubbing in the product, the specks blend into the white cream and form to your skin tone (or a close match). It was weird...but amazing. 

Beauty Balms are great because they are SO good for your skin. While this one does not contain SPF, it does work to minimize redness and the appearance of pores. It also hydrates and corrects without clogging pores. I've never had the best skin, I tend to break out especially one particular week out of each month. So I would cover these imperfections with a ton of concealer and foundation and powder...which lead to more clogged pores and more breakouts. Since purchasing this product, I have not used foundation or concealer. I have just applied this and sealed it with powder. for me this combination covers just as well as my heavy makeup did, without being as harmful. I've noticed my skin seems a bit healthier and its  a much easier routine!! 

Overall, I really enjoy this BB cream. I wish it was a little less watery because it just feels unnatural rubbing something so liquidy onto my face. I also feel like had it been more of a cream, it would be easier to rub in and would work slightly better. Overall though, it covers nicely, it feels like my skins a bit healthier, and my skin looks way nicer. I've purchased L'oreals youth code BB cream for when this finishes because I'm really interested to see the difference, so I'll be sure to post a review on that once I try it!!