There are times when we women just really want to step up our beauty game a notch. The BB creams, the chapstick, and the same tube of mascara we have used for 2 years just isn’t cutting it. We want more!!
I encounter this with my clients all of the time when I do makeup teaching sessions. They want to know what products they can use to really make a difference that can easily be added into either their daily routines or for a big night out.
Like I always say, makeup should be fun, not intimidating, and bring out the best in our features. I mean just look how much fun my client/friend interior decorator Alexa Stevenson (click the link to see her finished look!) and I are having in the above pic?!
Here are my current top 7 beauty products to consider when you want to take your personal look to the next level…
1. A SHOW STOPPING RED LIPSTICK. Nars Matte Velvet “Dragon Girl,”$25. If you aren’t comfortable with all that goes into contouring or doing a smokey eye, then just wear a red lipstick to grab some attention. It’s the quickest way to look put together and fabulous in an instant. Make it a cream or matte formula to look more sophisticated. Red glosses tend to look cheap and are hard to pull off.
2. Get yourself a SEXY NEUTRAL LIP PLUMPER if red lips just aren’t your thing or terrify you. I’m wearing BUXOM Lip Cream in “White Russian” , $19 & NYX retractable pencil in “natural,” $5. Chapstick is easy, but it doesn’t give your lips the attention they deserve. When I want my lips to look pillowy and full, I rely on lining my entire mouth with a neutral lip pencil just outside of it’s natural line (a shade darker than my natural lip color) then filling it in with a light pink lip gloss to give the illusion of a fuller pout.
3. BROW DRAMA. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz,” $21. If you have thin brows or sparse brows with patches and haven’t been doing anything about it, then you’re not doing your face any favors. You MUST fill in those brows!! This brow pencil by ABH is one of the best on the market and foolproof because of it’s formula that’s not too dry but just smooth enough to draw in tiny realistic brow hairs. And it has a spooly at the end which allows you to comb the product thru after application.
4. ADD LASH EXTENSIONS. Phyisican’s Formula Eye Boost Instant Lash Extension Kit, $15. No, not the kind you have to sit still for hours that cost an arm and a leg. See above photo for lash example (along with the ABH brow pencil.) Most of us are not gifted with fluttery lush lashes. And that’s okay, because you can fake it. This lash extension duo kit of fibers + a mascara is the easiest way to get fuller fringes without having to figure out lash glue and strip lashes. I didn’t say it wasn’t messy, but once you realize you have to put a kleenex or post it note under your eyes to catch the fallout, you’ll get the hang of it and love the results. See my YouTube video tutorial on how to use this product HERE.
5. An AIRBRUSH FOUNDATION. Pur Minerals 4 in 1 Liquid Veil Foundation, $39. I have recently gone back to using this specific foundation because it just gives the most beautiful skin outcome. BB creams and tinted moisturizers are fine, but they will not give you flawless Instagram-like looking skin. This bottle is way easier than a real airbrush machine. You don’t have to be a pro to pull it off, you just need a stippling brush like this one from Real Techniques, $10, to apply it. (Bonus – it covers up varicose veins on legs like I struggle with also!)
6. HIGHLIGHT & BRONZE. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, $68. The healthy look of bronzer around the perimeter of the face adds a bit of warmth we can all benefit from. And good bronzer that isn’t orange is hard to find. This one, knocks it out of the park in terms of color! Very easy to wear and you can even use it to add light contouring.
The champagne colored highlighter is perfection for the tops of those cheekbones, bridge of nose, and above the brows and cupids bow. A little goes a long way. Good thing because it is a pricey duo, but totally worth every penny. (Blog post here)
7. A GREAT MAKEUP MIRROR. You need to be able to see what you’re doing when it comes to applying your makeup correctly right?? This Simple Human Sensor Mirror, $199, with light up magnification, has changed my life. I can see exactly where I need to pluck every hair and perfectly place my eyeliner. It’s my must have. Not sure how I ever applied makeup without it.
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What are some products you rely on to step up your beauty look?
