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What’s in My Makeup Bag
This week I’m heading to Miami for my full-time job. And then when I get back, I’m moving into a new apartment, so I’ve got quite a bit of packing to do! I’m trying to keep things minimal for my work trip—including makeup. Difficult, I know. But I’m determined to fit everything in a carry-on. I even went on a little beauty shopping binge at Origins where I picked up some travel-size friendly skin products so I’m feeling very optimistic.
Here’s a look at what’s in my makeup bag for this week:
Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Sticks—These are my go-to for a daytime eye look and so easy to apply, not to mention has great staying power.
Chanel Eyelash Curler—My must-have beauty tool of the trade that keeps my lashes looking primped and curled.
Benefit They’re Real Mascara—my holy grail of lengthening mascara.
Glossier Boy Brow—I don’t spend much time on my brows and I swear this was made for lazy girls like me who just need a little product to fill in and tame.
Scorch Lip Crème in Pink Smoke—I wrote about their lipsticks on my blog and I’m a huge fan. Plus, pink lips are a must when you’re in Miami.
Bobbi Brown To Go Palette (similar here)—I love these mauvy hues and work perfectly for nights on the town.
What’s in your makeup bag?
Lash Primer: The Secret to Long Lashes
I never understood the purpose of lash primer until I started using Benefit They’re Real Tinted Lash Primer. Yes, it’s an added step in my beauty routine but well worth it because my lashes look that much more noticeable. I’ve been devoted to Benefit mascaras since I was 16. I’ll never forget my first splurge purchase on Bad Gal. Right now I’ve been wearing They’re Real Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara (in black and beyond blue), but I’ve also been a longtime fan of their Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara. I’ve worn the primer under both wands but I even enjoying wearing it alone—my lazy weekend beauty routine. The formula is water-resistant and packed with conditioning agents to keep your lashes feeling soft and feathery. I haven’t experienced ‘raccoon eyes’ since I started using it and I noticed it makes my mascara last longer and feel less flaky. Consider this primer your best kept secret to mighty long lashes.
Shop this primer and more of my favorite mascaras below!
This is 27: Birthday Makeup Picks
Yesterday was my 27th birthday and it felt like any other ordinary day. My evening was special though—my fiancé surprised me with fresh pink roses, dangly gold earrings from BaubleBar and a rollerball of my favorite fragrance—Beach by Bobbi Brown.
My birthday makeup on the other hand, was far from ordinary—I wanted to look fresh faced. I’ve been religiously taking care of my skin (read: consistently applying day/night moisturizer, eye cream and exfoliating) in hopes it would require little effort with everything else. I test drove NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Oaxaca (available July 15th on Nars.com) on my lids. I love how smooth the cream shadow stick is and it lasted the entire day without creasing. I’ve been on a blue mascara kick (read my earlier post) but I decided to opt for a more classic eye look and coat my lashes in Benefit Roller Lash for defined length and curl.
I’ve been living off my NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30—it’s light, effective and gives me a good amount of coverage that doesn’t leave me feeling bare. I’ve never really been in to contouring but now that strobing is the new makeup technique, I’m all about it! So until I put aside some time to watch a tutorial, I’ve been stroking my cheekbones with NARS Copacabana Illuminator.
I’ve been lining my upper lash line with Benefit They’re Real! Push-up Gel Liner in Beyond Brown—the custom-angled tip makes it easy to apply and not screw up. I finished with my favorite cream blush, Stila Convertible Color in Sweat Pea.
Shop my birthday makeup picks below!
9 to 5 Beauty: How to Wear Colored Mascara
The thought of wearing colorful mascara in the office seems tacky and unprofessional but I swear it can look chic if you do it right. Here’s how to wear colored mascara at your 9 to 5 gig:
First, start with your basic black mascara. By layering colored mascara on top of your go-to, it helps mute the color for a less intense look.
Next, pick your poison. Blue mascara looks flattering on every eye color, plus it makes the white of your eyes look whiter. If you have green or blue eyes, purple is also another colored hue worth trying. Stick to two or three coats for your top lashes… and if you’re feeling really daring, you can wear it on your lower lashes too.
Personally, I have a new obsession with Benefit They’re Real! Mascara in Beyond Blue. I took They’re Real for a test drive this past weekend and it really gave my eye makeup that extra pop. I’ve always been a fan of Benefit mascaras but They’re Real is my go-to for smudge-proof and long-wear (although it can be difficult to remove at night, just make sure you have a trusty makeup remover in reach).
Now, don’t overdo it with the rest of your eye makeup. I like to wear a champagne shadow or go completely bare (it makes the rest of my beauty routine so simple). Keep the focus on your eyes and avoid bright blush, contouring and bold lipstick.
Backstage at Stella McCartney Image via Imaxtree
