Today I want to talk to all of you who might just be getting into makeup! It seems extremely terrifying at first, I remember when I decided to start wearing makeup and I had no idea what I was doing, and I thought everything just looked wrong. I made a list of the nine products that I feel make a great foundation for building makeup skills and to begin your collection. I call these products "The Beauty Basics" and they're both simple to use and almost universally flattering. So let's get started!
1. This is the Cover Girl Clean Whipped Foundation and it was one of my favorite products of 2013. It applies incredibly easily, much like a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer would, except I feel like this product gives more coverage and is easily buildable. I typically apply this product with just my fingers, and it gives my skin a glowing complexion, which is perfect for me, as my skin tends to be on the dry side.
2. For a liquid foundation alternative to the previous product, if you're looking for more coverage I turn to the Rimmel London Match Perfection foundation, I apply this product with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush all over my skin, this is an extremely inexpensive product and it comes in a wide range of colors, and applies very easily. If you don't want to use a makeup brush, a damp sponge would work just as well.
3. My favorite drugstore undereye concealer is the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch and this product can also be used on the tops of your cheekbones as a highlighter. Concealing your under eyes makes a huge difference in how your face looks, and is one of the few things I never leave the house without doing, especially during finals week when I'm running on two hours of sleep.
4. For a blemish concealer I'm currently loving the Physicians Formula Conceal RX it blends easily with a finger into your skin and gives decent coverage of blemishes. I tend to only use this in spots where I really need help, as most of the time foundation does a good job of diminishing redness and covering small blemishes.
5. For a start eyeshadow palette you'll want something neutral that works for all occasions. And my personal favorite, which is also a less expensive dupe for the Urbandecay naked palettes, is the Stila In The Light palette. The colors in this palette can be used for a daytime or nighttime look and blend easily. A personal favorite in the palette is the champagne "Kitten".
6. For mascara I tend to prefer drugstore brands to high end versions. My favorite is the Maybelline The Falsies Flared I prefer the flared version of the original because I like the brush shape better as it focuses on the outer lashes. The formula adds a lot of volume and length to your lashes and doesn't clump easily.
7. For eyeliner, if you're just starting in makeup, I would suggest a dark brown or purple as opposed to black, which can come off harshly on certain complexions. The best eyeliner currently on the market is hands down the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil I personally love the color "Demolition" with my eyes. The pencil is extremely easy to use and gives amazing pigment, much like a gel eyeliner would, but it the pencil form makes it easier to use. Though it's on the more expensive side, it is well worth the price, especially if you're just starting to build a makeup collection.
8. For blush, I turn to no other than the Milani Baked Blushes for fall and winter "Berry Amore" is th perfect shade, it mixes the pink pigments with a bit of bronzer that makes your cheeks glow. In summer and spring "Luminoso" is a must-have. It's the perfect peachy flush to your cheeks and is an amazing dupe for Nars Orgasm. Don't be worried by the packages or the product in them, it can look extremely sparkly in the container, but on your skin it gives the softest glow without any of the sparkle.
9. For lips a good starter is the Maybelline Baby Lips these balms are incredibly soft on the lips, and give a slight tint of color that can be really flattering for daytime looks. My favorite is "Peach Kiss" which smells and tastes amazing and creates an extremely flattering nude shade on the lips.
And that's all for my Beauty Basics! I hope everyone out there just starting learned something new, or found a product they'd like to try. All of these are easy to use and can be used in many different scenarios. I wish you all good luck with your makeup exploration!
xoxo
Emily
