My Everyday Makeup Routine & Makeup Tips

  Hello!

   Maybe it's just a teenage girl thing, but I love to do my makeup. I love watching YouTube videos and reading Bobbi Brown books and shopping for the perfect lipgloss. So it's probably not a surprise I do my makeup every morning (and actually look forward to it. I'm such a stereotypical girl.).
     I wear a lot of products, but I don't wear a lot of them on my face 'cause that totally makes sense right. Through all my reading and watching and learning about techniques, I think I'm able to do my makeup without it looking caked-on. I use the same group of techniques and products nearly everyday, so I figured I might as well share them! Skip to the bottom for a makeup-tip "cheat sheet". :)
    By the way, I don't use brands like L'Oreal or Maybelline or Covergirl, even though at times it would be more convenient. These brands test on animals, and I'm not into that. Check this out for a full list of animal-testing brands.

1) Eyes & Brows

2) Face

3) Lips

 

Eyes 

Products & Order Applied

1) E.L.F. Eyelid Primer 2) Ulta Eyeshadow in "Trendsetter" 3) Revlon Colorstay Brown Eyeliner 4) Mary Kay Eyelash Curler 5) Benefit "Bad Gal" Mascara 6) Ulta Eye Crayon in "Birthday Girl"

 

Eye Makeup Tips

~ Eyelid primer is perfect for oily eyelids (case in point: me)

~To keep from "raccoon eyes", I only apply eyeliner on my top lids

~ Before I apply liquid eyeliner, I "carve a path" with standard pencil liner, also helping the liquid to stay put

~ Curl eyelashes before applying mascara to prevent eyelashes from falling out

~ Use a creamy-colored eye crayon on the inner corners of your eyes to look more awake

 

Trivia: Your eyelashes stop growing back when you're about forty.

 

Brows

Products & Order Applied

1) Eyebrow brush 2) Eyebrow shadow brush 3) Urban Decay Brow Box in "Honey Pot"

 

Eyebrow Tips

~ Your eyebrows can make or break your entire look, so filling in is vital. Try to find a pencil or shadow a shade lighter than your brow color to do so

~ Use clear mascara to set your brows

Face

Products & Order Applied

1) Almay Clear Complexion Foundation in 120 "Ivory" 2) E.L.F. Concealer 3) Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 003 "Natural" 4) Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in 20 "Raspberry" 5) Physician's Formula Bronze Gems Light Bronzer

 

Face Tips

~ A little foundation goes a very long way; using a little gets the job done without looking caked on

~ Use fingers for more precise foundation application

~ Dot concealer over blemishes and under eyes and stipple/pat for maximum effect

~ Set concealer with powder using a small-tipped brush

~ Apply "pot" cream blush with fingers, stippling/patting

~ Make a fish face when applying bronzer to most accurately fill in (your now sucked-in) cheeks

 

Trivia: Young skin reflects light. (So if you want to look young, don't use a lot of powder!)

 

Lips

Products & Order Applied

1) NYC lipstain in "Spice" 2) Revlon Colorburst lipgloss in 008 "Peony" 3) Ulta lipliner

 

Lip Tips

~ Lipstain does the job of lipstick but is lighter and lasts longer

~ Lipliner goes on lips, not on the skin around them (probably obvious, but I've seen too many clown lips to exclude this)

 

Favorite: my favorite lipstick is Revlon Lipbutter in "Peach Parfait".

 

 

 

 

    Welp, that's my core routine. Some days I use different colors of blush or eyeshadow, or don't wear anything on my face except Benefit Porefessional (hey, weekends), but using all these products every school day is the habit I've fallen in to.

 

Do you wear makeup everyday? What are your favorite products?

 

    xoxo,

        Zoe 

Nail Tips & Tricks

   Hello!



  As promised in my basic manicure post, here are some of my mani/pedi tips! Read on below for more.

Why wash hands first? This removes any dirt and grime from your nails, as well as softens them slightly (for softer nails, try dipping them in rose water). Don't forget to follow with polish remover!

Why clip before polishing? I thought this one was kind of obvious: so you can see where you're clipping! Also, this way your nails won't break underneath your polish.

Use remover to thin out chunky nail polish? What? Yep, pouring a tiny bit of nail polish remover into a bottle of old/thick/chunky polish will thin it out and get it back to normal! Credit to my mom for her worldy wisdom.

Why do I need a high-quality top coat? I used to have a low-quality, Dollar General brand of clear polish as my top coat, and it was crazy chunky and sticky! After two or three uses, it barely applied at all. Oh, and I'm pretty much super positive the fumes got me sick. Well, maybe not. But probably.

Why should I apply a top coat throughout the week? I want to say to do it every other day, because that will ensure your manicure lasts at least all week, but I never have time to do that myself. Try top-coating mid-week, at least, to avoid chipping (or more chipping) and anything else that could compromise your hardwork.

Why can't I file back and forth? This is important: Filing back-and-forth actually weakens nail fibers and cuticles! I know, mind-blowing. Try filing all one way.

Why can't I apply my next coat when my base coat is still wet? Oh, come on. :)

What do you mean, 'leave your bottle open'? I mean, when you're applying, say, your top coat, leave the original polish bottle open, in case it's actually still wet. That way, if you've gotta redo your entire nail for some reason, you won't ruin the rest of your polish in the act of opening the top coat bottle.

Not on the list...

  For shatter coats, I've found less is more. Don't glop the shatter polish, use only a light coat for the full effect.

To make sure your nails are dry, tap two together. If there's any resistance, then they're not fully dry. If they don't stick at all, you're ready to roll.

  Do you have any nail tips and tricks of your own?

  xoxo,

     Zoe