Last week I wrote about my appreciation for drugstore eyeshadow palettes. As long as you’ve got your hands on a good eye primer, you can create some amazing eye looks for a fraction of the price. I received a few questions about my favorite eye primers so today I’m sharing with you my picks. Although, a crease-proof finish definitely trumps my list, there are a few other qualities that I look for in a primer. Check out the best eye primers I rotate on a a frequent basis.
Ever since I tried a sample of theNARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base, I was hooked. If you tend to have oily lids, this also does a good job of absorbing it and keeping your shadow looking fresh all day.
Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen has been my go-to for a while. It covers up any redness or discoloration seamlessly. If I don’t have time to put on eyeshadow, this is an easy alternative.
These Urban Decay Primer Potions was one of the many deals I scored back on Black Friday at Ulta. Both are decent eyeshadow primers. Sin has achampagne shimmer finish while Eden has a matte finish. I use these when I’m using my Naked 3 Palette.
Make Up For Ever Eye Prime used to be my favorite primer… until my mom got a hold of it. While the packaging makes the primer look tinted, it’s not. I actually think this enhances the eyeshadow I layer on top. Note to self: take back my eye primer from Mom.
When we were kids, we’re taught to always color inside the lines, a task that I usually failed at. The good news was, my ability to be creative and color outside the lines totally paid off in makeup application. Granted when it comes to liquid liner, my hand is anything but steady, but that’s exactly why I succeed in applying eyeshadow. Even if color extends outside the crease, as long you blend, it’s still a masterpiece.
Lately, I’ve been spotting tons of eye pencils that double as eyeshadow sticks and here’s why they’re perfect for the holiday season: instant color, easy application, portability, and you won’t spend any extra time dealing with excess shadow on your lower lash line. I’ve rounded up a handful of eyeshadow pencils including a couple of my tried and true favorites (NARS and Make Up For Ever). Whether you’re looking for a double duty liner and shadow or some sparkle for your eyes, all of these options offer exactly what you want for just the right price. Finally, some crayons for grown-ups!
“The beauty routine that I obsess over is styling my hair, I have a very specific system to achieving my ‘big hair is closer to God’ quote. I can spend a good hour arranging…and rearranging it. I work at the QVC Channel as a model for several beauty companies, but one of my favorites is WEN by Chaz Dean. Chaz also happens to be the official hair care sponsor for the Miss Americaprogram! As a “WEN girl,” I don’t use anything on my hair except the WEN cleansing conditioner (I use the Fig scent, which is the most moisturizing) and their line of styling products. I cleanse, rinse and repeat and leave a dime size amount in my hair as a leave-in conditioner. I also use the WEN body cleansing cream as my shave cream – once you try WEN, you will never go back! I have turned all of my friends and family onto his line; as Chaz says, “friends don’t let friends use shampoo!”
When styling my hair, my daily look is a soft blow-out. I use the WEN styling cream and WEN medium boar bristle brush and blow out my hair with the H2pro Ultra Light Nano Hairdryer 2500 Watts…in Pink! I finish is off with the WEN smoothing cream for a nice finish and shine.
Most women wash their face at the sink every night, but I do not. I never feel like my face gets clean unless I wash it in the shower. I use Neova Purifying Cleanser, which is great for dry, acne prone skin. It gives you a deep clean without being too astringent. About once a week, I get a deeper clean with my Clarisonic Mia…also in pink [laughs]. After the shower, I moisturize withSkin Medica Ultra Sheer. I have dry skin, but I am also acne prone, so finding something that helped combat my dry skin, while not clogging my pores was difficult, but Skin Medica did the trick! From time to time, if I am feeling extra dry (especially during the harsh winter months), I will add the Skin Medica Vitamin C & E Complex, which is like a serum, and leaves a velvety finish to your skin.
I’ve always had acne, like your normal young adult, but it wasn’t until my senior year of college that I really knew how bad it could be. I began developing cystic acne, which turned into intense hyper pigmentation and my face was covered in scars. Now, I was faced with scarred skin and acne on top of those scars; I was not a happy girl. This went on for about 6 months until I ran into my sister-in-law, Kelly, who happens to be an esthetician at Hela Spa in Georgetown. She immediately came to my rescue and with the incredibly generous staff at Hela, I was able to completely transform my skin. A combination of light surface peels, IPL laser treatments and Kelly’s tutelage, my skin is now more radiant than ever. I wake up feeling beautiful every day and I owe that to Kelly and Hela Spa. I continue IPL treatments once every month or two to combat my acne and any residual scarring that I may have.
Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara is one of my favorites for competition or all day wear, it is a littttle too much for me on a daily basis because I do find it drying, but for a girl on the go, it WILL last all day. For everyday use, I stick with the tried and true, L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara– cheap and works great! Again, Tarte comes out of top – their EmphasEYES Amazonian clay waterproof liner stands the test of time – you can even put it on the inside line and it doesn’t come off. I use a combination of Make Up For Ever eyeshadow colors in light and dark brown, gold and cream shimmer to get my favorite sexy smokey eye.
Eyebrows are important! They can completely shape the look of your face and emphasize your eyes. I swear by Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencilin Ash Blonde. It’s so difficult to find a color that works on a blonde as light as I, but this one does the trick! If I’m on air, hands down, I use RCMA foundation– it’s great for a flawless finish. For daily use, I use Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. I cheat. I don’t use a contour powder, but rather the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Finish foundation in a dark ebony color. The love of my life is Make Up For Ever Duo Mat powder, great for walking down the street and strutting your stuff on stage.
It’s not just for grandmas anymore! I love lip liner, sometimes I get away with coloring my lips with liner and topping it with Chapstick! A nice touch of color and some moisture. My favorite is Rain Cosmetics, it stays on all day and most importantly, it doesn’t bleed! Can’t go wrong with a MAC lipstick in Modesty. Take note- this color works on everyone. I don’t know who sold their soul to the devil for this amazing product, but NARS Blush in Orgasm is… orgasmic!”
Beauty 101: “The best beauty advice that I’ve ever received is pluck your eyebrows in the car…not while driving, of course. But the natural light that you have when you are outside is the best for spotting those renegade hairs that we might miss in the light of our bathroom or vanity. I keep a set of tweezers in the car and when I have a second before a meeting or a casting, I pluck away.”
Allyn Rose (@allynrose) is an American beauty pageant titleholder and model/actress from DC. Rose currently works as a paralegal for a criminal defense practice.
I like to keep it pretty simple during the day, and if I have an event to attend, will apply more coverage (I’m loving Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation), thicker eyeliner (obsessed with a winged look), and a bolder lip. The lipstick I’m currently using is NARS in Schiap, but my long-time love is Chanel Rouge Coco Shinein Chance.
I have sensitive/combination skin and worry about acne, so a lot of my routine revolves around keeping that under control. I’m pretty loyal to Dr. Dennis Gross and Kate Somerville skincare products because they seem to help the most without irritating my skin. I love Clinique’s Superbalanced foundation. It’s always been very good to my skin – the coverage I need without excess oil.”
Beauty 101: “When I watched this video on how to clean your makeup brushes, it was eye-opening. I knew washing your brushes was important, but I didn’t do it that often. Now I wash them every week. It also took me a while to realize I needed to use an eyebrow pencil. I don’t know why I never thought of it before! A perfectly groomed brow really does create such a put-together look.”
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Liz Fassbender (@ejfass) is owner and editor of the fabulous DC fashion and lifestyle blog, So Much to Smile About.
Want to nominate a DC notable to be featured on Politics of Pretty’s weekly AM to PM series? E-mail Kara[at]politicsofpretty.com
“I’ve recently switched up my beauty routine by returning to an old stand-by: Clinique. After using a combination of products over the past few years, from Bliss to DDF, I decided that, simply said, there is a reason why I used Clinique products in high school. I recently scooped up the entire line and now use Clinique Liquid Facial Soap for cleansing. In the morning, I follow-up with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and, at night, I useClinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer before lathering my lips with Vaseline (since I wear lipstick daily, it’s important to recharge my lips as well as skin at night!).
With oily skin, I try to keep my make-up light and have settled on Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude in lieu of a foundation, followed by Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 in Classic Beige. I have been using these picks for several years and appreciate the way my skin shines through and the added SPF. I typically transition from a lotion to gel when the temperature starts to heat up in DC. In order to keep my eye make-up in place, it’s imperative to apply a base first, and I swear by Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube. The primer has some shimmer, so it can even be worn without shadow over top for a natural eye.
Lipstick is my staple, and I wear many different brands. Often, I mix colors and have recently loved the technique of applying one color on the top lip and a different on the bottom. A couple of tubes in regular rotation include MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo, NARS Heat Wave and Revlon in Hot Coral. I’ve recently discovered a lovely pink for spring, MAC Impassioned. I pair each lipstick with a liner (the secret to keeping color in place throughout long days!).
On Kristin’s vanity:
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Kristin Guiter is the Vice President of Communications and Marketing at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design.
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