a quick make-up look for the working girl

If its not too obvious already, I am no makeup guru. But, like a lot of you girls out there, I love makeup and beauty products. It feels amazing to find the right combination of products that just work with you. It’s even more amazing when this combo of products gets you from looking dead in the morning to looking semi decent and ready for work!

I’ve always had issues with acne and dark spots. Oh my gosh I look back at old pictures sometimes and I cringe at how noticeable the dark spots were, specially around my forehead! A few years ago, probably around the time I got engaged, I had a serious talk with myself about my beauty regime, or lack there of.  In the spirit of being out of college and having a big girl job, I told myself, you need to act like a big girl. It’s time to invest in yourself and get some good beauty products. Maybe even visit a dermatologist. So long story short, after months of trial and error with a few cleansers, moisturizers, and foundations, I found a few key brands that I fell in love with and have been using biblically ever since. So that (finally) brings me to why we’re here.. the list of beauty products I swear by every morning.

The moisturizer

In the midst of my deep research a few years ago, I read about the importance of having a good SPF moisturizer. The higher the number, the better. The problem is finding a good one for cheap.. for me there wasn’t. Even a $12 Neutrogena bottle didn’t do the trick. It was breaking me out. In fact, all of the ones I tried (which by the way were all drugstore brands) were giving me skin issues. So with my fingers crossed, I ordered the $40 Dr. Dennis Gross Dark Spot Defense SPF 50. I started using it every single day on a clean face and I felt a difference right away. My face was happy and not breaking out. Now, I am in no way saying this was the miracle product that cured all of my dark spots. It took so much more. I learned how important it is to never go to sleep with a full face of makeup on. I make sure to wash my face every day, use a toner and basically not put anything on my face unless it is squeaky clean.

The bb/cc cream/tinted moisturizer

Yes, there’s a difference but we’re not here to talk about that. I have tried all sorts of bb and cc creams and have ended up falling in love with a few. They’re not cheap but they last months even when you’re using them on a daily basis like me. I love using a bb cream because it’s so light and I just put it on with my *clean* hands like I do a moisturizer. No need to use a beauty blender or brush. I love using this because my face also happens to have an uneven skin tone, so basically I look really dead in the morning. I need color on my face! I’m listing my favorites below but the one I’m currently in love with is Laura Geller’s Quench & Tint. It does say it’s a foundation, but it feels like a tinted moisturizer! It’s not too thick, so it’s safe to put it on using your finger tips (another reason why I love it).

The blush 

There’s not too much to say here.. except that it literally completes my daily effortless look. Without the blush, I just look like I don’t have anything on my face. I look bland. I love using Laura Geller’s Bronze & Brighten in it’s medium shade. It works as a bronzer so it quickly contours my cheek bones. It’s my favorite thing!

The mascara

There are a million and one mascaras out there, but only a few work for me. I’m blessed with long lashes so the mascara I usually gravitate towards is one that gives my lashes volume. The problem is the residue it leaves behind. I guess because my lashes are so long, the ends hit my under eyes and eye lids, which leaves black marks. Sometimes the marks are so dark under my eyes that it looks like I haven’t slept in months! I recently started using the L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes and love it! It’s not a super expensive mascara so it’s perfect for daily use. The only con I see is that at the very end of the day there’s a little residue around my eyes. I really don’t mind it if it means my eyes will be dark-circle-free for most of the day!

Favorite products

(click each image to enlarge)

When I have time I use the eyebrow pencil and lipstick. hah! I love using IT Cosmetics Brow Power Pencil to quickly fill in my eye brows and Mac lipsticks for long lasting lip color. I’m in search of a good tinted lip balm, so if you have any recommendations please send them my way!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

LOVE