Makeup Goodies- Natasha Denona, MUG, Sugar Pill, M.A.C, NYX | The Painte...

The Painted Lip

Makeup Essentials

As a teenager I didn't really wear much, if any makeup. However, I started "collecting" makeup in my 20's, a little later than most, but I have made up for it, trust. In my day-to-day life,  I am asked quite often about the makeup basics - what are the essentials? I generally have to probe a little further and see their comfort level with makeup.

One doesn't need to spend an exorbitant amount on basics as the drugstore brands have some really great products. Honestly, unless you are willing to fork over $40 to $50 on a foundation, stick with the following:

Base:

This includes liquid foundation, cream,powder, BB Creams, tinted moisturizer. Depending on your skin type and desired look, a base is literally like your house's foundation. It is the base on which everything else relies and depends on. Be the pickiest with this and choose the proper colour, finish and type. 

For those with:

Normal to Combination-Oily

Revlon Colour Stay

Maybelline Fit Me stick

L'Oreal True Match

Marcelle BB Cream

Revlon ColorStay Whipped

Normal to Dry skin

Rimmel Wake Me Up

Marcelle BB Cream

L'Oreal Magic Lumi

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

 

If you want to "set" your base, which isn't always necessary and an extra step, I recommend Rimmel Stay Matte. 

Additionally, concealer is a girl's best friend. If you are blessed to have fabulous skin with minimal discolouration or spots, all you need is a concealer.

Rimmel Wake Me Up

Revlon Photo Ready - not under the eyes

Maybelline Age Rewind

Maybelline Fit Me

Mascara

Most makeup artists will tell you that mascara is the little black dress of makeup.While, I understand this, I didn't start wearing mascara until about 5 years ago. However, I believe if you want to draw attention to your eyes and wear the minimum, choose mascara.

Rimmel Sexy Lashes

L'oreal Voluminous

Maybelline The Falsies and Colossus

Drugstore mascaras are brilliant and they are so much cheaper than their high end counterparts. I do not like throwing away money and every 3 months, that mascara has got to go.

Cheeks

Once you use your base, you need to bring the colour back into the cheeks to give you some dimension. This is where the mass brands need work. Most do not carry cream blushers and the powder ones are chalky and not finely milled. However, NYX makes fantastic powder blushers as does Revlon. Most recently Marcelle brought out a Jelly Cheek Flush reminiscent of Givenchy's cheek product. Rimmel also makes a great matte bronzer.

Eyeshadow

I love eyeshadow and playing up my eyes. This is the easiest way to look "done". Cream shadows are so nice and new formulations make them easy to use and not crease. I personally love Maybelline Colour Tattoo shadows. Additionally, L'Oreal make fabulous loose powdered shadows that are smooth like butter.

Along with shadow, one can use eyeliners, but this is an accessory and therefore not necessary. Eyeshadows can be used as an eyeliner and they create a softer look than a kohl or liquid liners. However, you want to use an eyeliner, Rimmel ScandalEyes are better than most high end liners. 

Lips

Lest we forget the lips. Most brands have amazing lipsticks, glosses and balms. Honestly, depending on how sheer or opaque you want them, there is a product for you. Revlon's Lip butters are hugely popular and for good reason. They are sheer but still give you enough colour to be noticeable. Additionally, you don't need to fuss with them and they come in a variety of colours. Revlon also brought out the Kissable Lip Stains. They are long lasting without drying the lips. Another long lasting lip range are the Maybelline 24hr lip series- stains, lipsticks. Fantastic!

If you want a more lacquered and opaque look Rimmel just recently launched the Apocalips in Canada. I can't rave enough about them. 

L'Oreal and Revlon have always had great lipstick shades and formulations. However, I can't get over the fragrance. Therefore, it is hard for me to recommend them. With that said, they are trendy and smooth with some great classic colours.

Thanks for coming by

cheers,

xo Megs

Top 5...... Eyeshadow (companies)

With the plethora of eyeshadows out there and "must have" palettes, I feel overwhelmed as to where I should invest my hard earned money. I am sure I am not alone feeling this way, so I have thought long and hard about which companies make the best powdered eyeshadows.  Using criteria of pigment, textures, variety of colours, how long they last, and blending ability, here are my top 5 (in no particular order and keep in mind I haven't tried all eyeshadows out there)

MAC

They still remain the most popular and understandably so. They have so many colours and with all the different textures - matte2, frost, matte, satin, lustre, veluxe, veluxe pearl, velvet, not to mention the LE collections like Starflash, it remains a favourite of makeup artists. MAC knows what they are doing and whilst not every texture is fabulous...uh hmmmm Lustre I am talking to you, their Veluxe Pearls, Frost, and Matte 2 are fantastic. Most are a dream to blend, the pigmentation is fab and they last and last.

Urban Decay 

With their cheeky names and their success of the Naked Palette, this little company has come a long way. Their deluxe eyeshadows are gorge. The colours are well pigmented and they feel luxurious. Blending is never tricky and their variety of colours never disappoint. Not only are the aforementioned reasons enough, but their new packaging for palettes is a great idea and just plain smart.

Lancome

Yes, I am partial to these guys as I wrote about them in another blog post. The bias has merit. The range and amount of textures and hues are amazing. They last super long and they are fabulously pigmented. Their mattes are one of the best out there and never feel chalky.

Make Up For Ever

I don't hear much in the blogosphere regarding these guys and honestly I am a little perplexed. They have unique shades that have incredible pigmentation. Use them wet, use them dry.....just use them. You won't be sorry.

 

NYX

I remember when we received the trio palettes and couldn't believe the consistency and colour pay off of these. Amazing. This is one drugstore company that does colour well. They have an incredible range of brights and more subtle colours. If you want a trendy colour, these guys are definitely worth a look.

Honorable mentions:

L'Oreal- their line of eyeshadow has improved. The HIP range was a great start but too few colours and those were really saturated and intense. However, within the last year they launched the Infallible eyeshadows. These are lovely and velvety smooth, but again the colour range is limited.



Unfortunately you notice I don't have many drugstore/highstreet companies as I find this is where the mass makeup names need to desperately improve. I have never tried but have heard that UK brands like Sleek, MUA and a few others are definitely worth checking out.

Let me know about your favourite eyeshadow companies.
cheers,
xo Megs