Updated Daily Makeup Routine

Hi, there! My makeup routine has changed a bit from the last one that I posted, so I figure it’s time to post a new one! My skin is fairly normal, with the exception of having a pretty oily t-zone. Most days I tend to be gone for more than 12 hours, so long-wearing makeup is a must for me. If you’re looking to update your routine I hope this is helpful to you!

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel http://www.clinique.com/product/1687/5047/Skincare/Moisturizers/Dramatically-Different-Moisturizing-Gel/index.tmpl

I use this in the morning right after I cleanse my face–I disperse one pump onto my index finger and then dot it all over my face and rub it into my skin. This moisturizer is great for people who have oily t-zones or oily skin in general (there is a Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for those who have normal to dry skin). When it’s time for me to replenish my supply I try to buy it at Macy’s during Clinique gift time so I can get some extra goodies!

2.CoverGirl Stay Fabulous Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation http://www.covergirl.com/beauty-products/face-makeup/foundation-makeup/outlast-stay-fabulous-foundation

This makeup does last pretty well on my skin (even on my t-zone) for the long days that I have during the week. I don’t use a primer with this at all and it still lasts really well (my shade is in Golden Tan). I dab the foundation onto my face and then blend it out with a Real Techniques stippling brush (http://realtechniques.com/shop-collection/your-finish-perfected/stippling-brush) and it gives my face a really flawless look. What I like best about this foundation is that it covers up all of the freckles that pop up on my face in the spring and summer.

3. Maybelline Instant AgeRewind Dark Circles Concealer http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Face-Makeup/Concealer/Instant-Age-Rewind-Eraser-Dark-Circles-Concealer-Treatment.aspx

After I pop my foundation onto my face and blend it out, I apply this product to my under eye area (I usually go a shade lighter than my foundation to give a brighter look to my eye are). After I apply this product I use the same stippling brush that I used for my foundation and use that to blend this product out.

4. Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Face/Powder/Revlon-Nearly-Naked-Pressed-Powder.aspx

After my foundation and concealer have been applied and blended I use this powder with a big fluffy brush to set the foundation/concealer. This powder gives a tiny bit of coverage, so apply with a light hand to avoid having a cakey look to your face.

5. E.L.F. Essential Eyelid Primer

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/eyes/concealers_and_primers/eyelid_primer

I think my favorite thing about this product is that it only costs $1.00! In the past I used UD Primer Potion, but when I ran out of it and needed to pick something up quickly, I got the E.L.F. primer at Target and was pleased to find out that it works just as well as the UD primer potion. At this point in time, this is the only eyelid primer that I use. For me, it’s essential that I prime my eyelids otherwise my shadow will crease and slip and slide all over my lids.

6. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

http://www.urbandecay.com/naked-basics-eyeshadow-by-urban-decay/355,default,pd.html

This is my go-to eyeshadow palette (especially for traveling) because it has everything I need in one place. One of the best things about this palette is that you can go for a very natural and casual look or you can go for a really smoked out eye without even opening another palette. For a typical day I pop WOS onto my lid, Naked 2 to my crease, Faint to my outer “v,” and Venus as my browbone highlight. Most of the time I’ll take a liner brush and drag Faint underneath my bottom lash-line as well. If I want to add a little pop of color I’ll go to my Urban Decay Ammo Palette and apply the shade Grifter to my lower lash-line.

7. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

http://www.urbandecay.com/24-7-glide-on-eye-pencil/122,default,pd.html

I line my top lash-line with this pencil in the shade Perversion. It applies smoothly, doesn’t tug at all on my lid, and stays put all day.

8. Maybelline MegaPlush Mascara

http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Eye-Makeup/Mascara/Volum-Express-the-Mega-Plush-Mascara.aspx

After my eyeshadow and eyeliner have been applied I pop this gel mascara onto my lashes (in the shade Blackest Black).

9. MAC Cremesheen Lipstick http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Lipstick/index.tmpl

Most days I finish off my look by applying the MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in the shade Creme Cup to my lips. This shade is a very wearable light pink and I highly recommend it!

So, there you have it–my daily makeup routine! If I’m not in a total rush I’ll also fill in my eyebrows a bit (but I don’t do it every day) and I do that by taking a brown brush and tapping the shade Faint from the UD Naked Basics Palette into my brows and then using the Maybelline clear mascara to gel them into place. I hope this was helfpul and I’d love it if you posted your daily makeup routine in a comment or you linked me to your post! Thanks for reading

Tag–Would You Rather: Beauty Edition

Hi, everyone! Before I forget to mention it, I saw this tag on Olivia’s blog over at http://classygirlwithcurls.wordpress.com so if you get a chance you should go check her blog out!

1. Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
-This is a really tough question, but I suppose I’d rather lose all of my palettes and eyeshadows because there are some things like blushes and highlighters that can double as eyeshadows.

2. Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?
-This is another tough question because I have really curly hair which doesn’t work out well if it’s too long or too short, so I guess I’d have to go with never cutting it again. If my hair is too short I begin to resemble one of those Chia Pet things, haha.

3. Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
-I’d prefer to have a pink cheek. It works well for me whether I’m pale or whether I’m tan.

4. If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?
-I’d definitely use the $1,000 to spend on clothes because my makeup collection is already quite out-of-control.

5. Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?
-Either way is kind of gross, but I guess if I HAD to choose I’d rather use eyeliner as lipstick…but I’d rather not do either lol.

6. Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
-Definitely Sephora because it offers many more options than shopping just one brand.

7. Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?
-I’d be okay using just one eyecolor for the rest of my life because I tend to stick more to neutrals anyway!

8. Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
-I guess winter clothes in summer.

9. Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?
-Bright! Hot pink is great any time of year, in my opinion.

10. Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?
-I’d rather give up my favorite lip product because I have a good collection of back-ups to my favorite product.

11. Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?
-Messy bun!

12. Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?
-I’d rather never be able to paint my nails again. Lipgloss is an essential in my life!

13. Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?
-I’d never sharpie my eyebrows in. I suppose I’d choose shaving them off and then I could pencil them in.

14. Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?
-I’d rather live without nail polish.

I tag all of my followers to complete this and either post a blog or respond in a comment! Thanks so much for reading

Sweet Summer Swap

Hi, everyone! A couple of weeks ago I participated in the “Sweet Summer Swap” which was facilitated by Beauty Expressions by Luchessa (http://luchessa.wordpress.com) and Polish Aholic (http://polishalcoholic.com/). After I entered my name to participate in the swap I was matched up with another beauty blogger, Pascha, from The Posh Blog (http://theposhblog.com). Before we purchased items for the swap we e-mailed each other to make sure we didn’t have to worry about allergies, etc. All I knew about Pascha is that she liked the color blue so it was fun to try and guess at what she might like! The rules of the swap set a $20 limit and a 4 item minimum. Below is a picture of the lovely goodies that I received from Pascha (minus the box of Swedish fish she sent because I, ummm, ate them ASAP haha).

I loved all of the goodies that Pascha sent me and I was super excited about the soap, candle, and nail polish (I will be using that color on my toes tonight!). In the past year I’ve participated in a few swaps with other beauty bloggers and I have to say that this is one of the best packages that I’ve gotten, so I need to give a big thank you to Pascha!

Please head over to Pascha’s blog and check out her post on our swap: http://theposhblog.com/2013/06/03/sweet-summer-swap/

Thanks so much for reading

Which lipsticks/glosses do I have in my purse?

Hi–hope everyone is having a great week! I’ve watched several “what’s in my bag” videos on YouTube recently and decided that instead of showing you all the useless garbage that’s usually stuffed in my bag, I’d talk about the different lipsticks and glosses that I keep in my bag. Now, I don’t know how many lip products most people carry with them, but I seem to have more of them than I probably need to carry with me, haha. Before I continue rambling aimlessly, I’ll just jump right into what I keep with me:

1. Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss in Pink Diamonds
-This gloss is very sheer pink with the tiniest hint of shimmer in it. It works nicely on its own to give your lips a bit of a shine and a slight tint of color, but it also works nicely on top of a pink lipstick or even over a nude lipstick to keep your lips from being too muted out. The scent of this product reminds me a bit of the scent of the MAC lipsticks (slight vanilla scent), which is really pleasant. The gloss doesn’t have a super tacky consistency, but it does have some decent lasting power. I had this lip gloss for a while and never used it until I shopped my makeup stash and pulled out some things that I’d totally forgotten about. After looking at the website it seems as though this line of lip gloss was discontinued, but they do have a Nourishine Plus gloss now available for $14 and I’ve heard it’s similar to the original Nourishine formula.

http://www.marykay.com/en-US/Mary-Kay-NouriShine-Plus-Lip-Gloss/Pink-Luster/140511.partId

2. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish Devotion
-I really love the shade of this product because if applied lightly it gives a lovely wash of pink to the lips, but if applied with a heavier hand it gives the lips a more bold shade of pink. The lasting power on this is fantastic and will stick with you most of the day, but I do find that it is drying to the lips so I try not to use it too often. It’s great, though, if you need to make sure your lip color stays put without needing to reapply often.

http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Lips/lipstain/Just-Bitten-Kissable-Balm-Stain.aspx

3. MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme d’Nude
-I would venture to say that this is one of MAC’s most popular shades since it’s raved about constantly in blogs and on YouTube. When I use this particular shade I always pair it with a light pink lip gloss to keep my lips from looking exactly the same as my skin. A nude lip is great when you’re going with a bold eye look or even with a more neutral look to keep everything looking understated. Lately I’ve been pairing this with the Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss that I mentioned above.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Lipstick/index.tmpl

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It
-First, I have to say that I LOVE this lipstick (it’s really similar to MAC’s Angel, but I actually like this much better). This lipstick applies so smoothly, doesn’t dry the lips, the color payoff is amazing, and it has decent lasting power. This looks good on its own or with a bit of gloss to give it a bit of shine. I highly recommend picking this up if you’ve been looking for a nice pale pink.

http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Lip-Makeup/Lip-Color/Color-Sensational-Lipcolor.aspx

5. Mally High-Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen in Punch
-This is a great product if you like the look of lipstick with a lip gloss over it because it gives you both in one product. I have this in the shade Punch which is a beautiful coral/peach color. I have a couple other shades at home and I’ve been really pleased with this line of lip color.

http://www.mallybeauty.com/high-shine-liquid-lipstick-pens

6. MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup
-What can I say? This is a staple in many people’s lipstick collection and its one in mine. I use this product constantly and love the beautiful shade of pale pink. I recommend this for both people with tan skin or fair skin.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Lipstick/index.tmpl

7. Maybelline Color Whispers in Pink Possibilities
-This is somewhere between a lip balm and a lipstick and is great to apply on the run (it doesn’t need a lot of precision). I love this on days when I’m going casual, but just want to add a slight pop of color to my lips. This formula is very lightweight and comfortable to wear.

http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Lip-Makeup/Lip-Color/Color-Whisper-by-Color-Sensational.aspx

8. Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss
-This is a very wearable nude shade that, like the Color Whispers, doesn’t need much precision because it only gives a slight wash of color to you lips. It’s really more of an oversized chapstick style product, but it feels so amazing on your lips. I love this product because it gives my lips a little color and I feel like it makes them look a bit more plump. I think I have this in almost every shade that’s been made and I have one with me wherever I go, haha.

http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Lip-Makeup/Lip-Balm/Baby-Lips.aspx

So, those are the lip products that I keep in my bag . I’d love to know what your go-to lip products are, so please leave a comment and let me know! Thanks so much for reading

Spring 2013 Favorites

Hi, everyone! I’m back again today with my Spring 2013 Favorites! There are several things that I’ve been enjoying in April and May (and now early June!) and I thought I’d share them with you

1. Urban Decay Ammo Palette
Urban Decay eyeshadows are always a nice quality with a great color payoff and this palette doesn’t disappoint (although, I could due without some of the glitter fallout). My personal favorites from this palette are the shades Sin, Grifter, and Shattered. I use Sin as an inner corner color and I use Grifter and/or Shattered as a pop of color on my lower lash line. I purchased this for $16 on sale at Ulta, but it’s on sale until tomorrow (June 5) on http://www.hautelook.com for $12!

2. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation
In the past I haven’t been a big fan of CoverGirl foundation because it would either break me out or last 3 hours before getting all patchy and oily. I’d heard a lot of good things about this product, so I decided to give it a try. In my opinion, this foundation offers the coverage, look, and staying power of a high-end foundation, but at a fraction of the cost. This foundation gives a satin finish and is medium coverage, but is buildable. My only gripe is that the company claims that you don’t need a concealer with this, but I’ve found that if I have a glaring red blemish or my under eye circles are out of control, I still need concealer. On the whole, though, this is a great product and it might just take over for the Clinique Stay Matte foundation as being my Holy Grail foundation! This product retails at stores like Target for around $9.

http://www.target.com/p/covergirl-outlast-stay-fabulous-3-in-1-foundation/-/A-14323591

3. Vera Bradley Braided Headband and Change Purse
Now, I need to preface this by saying that I am not really a huge fan of Vera Bradley designs because I think many of them look a bit diaper bagg-ish to me. However, I was recently at an event and was told with my event badge that I could go to the Vera Bradley store and receive a free ID holder/change purse…so of course I went down to the store because I can’t pass up a free item! While in the store I noticed a bin of headbands and picked one out to match the print on my change purse (the style is called Va Va Bloom…cute name). The headband and change purse both retail for $12, which is pricey for a headband, but the size of the band is just right and doesn’t slide off of my head at all. Headband: http://www.verabradley.com/product/Category/Fashion-Accessories/Braided-Headband/1001877/defaultColor/Go%2BWild/pc/638/c/0/sc/949/p/1001877.uts
ID Holder/Change Purse: http://www.verabradley.com/product/Category/Wallets-and-Wristlets/Zip-ID-Case/154781/defaultColorVariantId/179960/c/638/sc/890/p/154781.uts?fromSearch=1

4. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Oil Treatment
As a curly haired girl I’m always looking for different products that can tame the frizz when I wear my hair curly or help it look sleek when I straighten. Of course, since I have really thick hair and a lot of it, I’m also usually on the hunt for products that are affordable. For the past couple of months I’ve been using this Garnier Moroccan Oil and I have to say it works just as well as salon brands that I’ve tried and it’s a mere fraction of the cost, retailing for about $5 at stores like Walmart. After I wash and towel dry, I squeeze a nickel sized amount of the oil in my hand and finger comb it through my hair. This product doesn’t weight my hair down or make it look super greasy, which are two really important things when you’re putting an oil into your hair. Also, this product has over 3 oz. in it, so it’s a really great value.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garnier-Fructis-Sleek-Shine-Moroccan-Oil-Treatment-3.75-oz/20701266

5. L’Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Power Moisture Moisture Rush Mask
Again, because I have curly/frizzy hair and heat style frequently, it’s really important that I keep my hair nourished and conditioned. A couple of months ago I discovered this L’Oreal hair mask and I’m so pleased that I did because it smells amazing and leaves my hair soft and manageable. Just a little heads up: L’Oreal and Kerastase are part of the same company and if you’ve tried the really pricey Kerastase products, you should give some of the L’Oreal ones a try. The L’Oreal Power Moisture Rush Mask has the same effect on my hair as several of the Kerastase products (many of the ingredients are the same). Retailing for around $6, the L’Oreal product is a steal in comparison to the $60 Kerastase products!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/L-Oreal-Paris-Hyaluronic-Power-Moisture-Moisture-Rush-Mask-8.5-fl-oz/22218739?_mm=

So, there you have my top 5 favorites of Spring 2013. What are some of your favorite products this Spring? Please share in a comment or link me to your blog post/video in a comment! As always, thank you for reading

Urban Decay on Haute Look

Hi, again! I just wanted to let all of you makeup lovers know that Urban Decay is on Haute Look until Wednesday, June 5, 8am PST. If you are not a member on this website, please feel free to e-mail me at missdebgee@gmail.com and I will send you my personal referral link (I didn’t include it on here because it contains my last name, haha).

Review: Forever 21 Green Tea Cleansing Tissues

Hi, everyone!  First, I must apologize for having let my blog go for so long without any new posts–it’s been such a busy time for me the past few months, so I took a bit of a vacation from blogging.  As my work commitments ease up with the end of the school year approaching I will blog more regularly and let you all know what my summer blog posting schedule will be!

It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted a product review, so I thought I’d jump back into my blog with a review of the Forever 21 Green Tea Cleansing Tissues.  In general, I absolutely love makeup cleansing towelettes because they’re so much more convenient to use than other forms of makeup removers.  A few of my favorites are the Ponds and Neutrogena towelettes and the CVS brand duplicates of them (recently scored some CVS brand towelettes on sale for around $2).  While waiting in a rather long line at Forever 21 I spied a bin full of different types of makeup cleansing wipes and chose to pick up the green tea infused wipes because I’ve heard that green tea can add to your skin looking brighter and more alive–also, they were just $2.80!

The product description on the Forever 21 says:

Hydrate your skin and remove makeup easily with these green tea extract cleansing tissues. Features 30 pre-moistened tissues. DETAILS: Not tested on animals Imported

Now the questions is–do these makeup cleansing wipes actually work?  The short answer: not really.  When I used these I had to really scrub at my eye makeup, which is something I try to avoid doing because the skin on and around the eyes is so fragile (and I’d really rather not give myself wrinkles, haha).  It did just an okay job of removing my powder and foundation–it took 2 or 3 wipes to fully remove my makeup, whereas with Ponds/Neutrogena/CVS wipes it would take just 1.

Even though these makeup wipes don’t do the job for which they’re intended, I did find another use for them that is actually pretty good.  Anyone who knows me knows that in the warm weather I am found either lying by the pool or at the beach where it can get really hot.  This past weekend the temperatures were up past 90 degrees Farenheit in my area, so I tossed the green tea makeup wipes in my bag and brought them out to the pool with me.  When I felt my face begin to feel overly sweaty and hot, I pulled out a wipe and patted my face down before re-applying my sunscreen (fyi, I use the Ocean Potion face stick…fantastic product).

So, to make a long story a bit longer…if you’re looking for makeup wipes that work well, this product is not for you.  If you are looking for a refreshing face wipe for the hot summer weather, I suggest picking this product up because the green tea is very refreshing and at just $2.80 for 30 wipes, it’s a great addition to your beach bag for the summer!

Thank you all so much for reading and for being patient with my extended break from blogging.  Be on the lookout in the coming days for a post on a Summer Swap that I participated in!  Hope you all have a wonderful day

Ipsy!

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hb8e9odopnn1eqn

Ulta Sale: Urban Decay Ammo Palette

Hi, everyone! In case you didn’t know, the Urban Decay Ammo palette is on sale at Ulta for $16 right now (such a steal)! I picked the palette up yesterday and, if you’re a fan of UD, eyeshadow you should pick it up, too! Below is a picture of the palette:

Thanks so much for reading my blog–if you enjoy it, please subscribe

April Ipsy Glam Bag

Hi, everyone! I jut wanted to put up a quick post about my April Glam Bag because I thought it was a great value! Glam Bag is a monthly subscription put out by Ipsy. The subscription is $10 per month and you receive a small makeup bag filled with deluxe samples and a full-size product. Unlike other subscription services you won’t find any foil packets as a sample, which is nice. Some months are better than others, but the bags are always pretty good! Below you will find a video that shows the products in this Monty’s bag. If you have a Glam Bag subscription or another monthly subscription, let me know in a comment! Thanks so much for checking out my blog