First I want to start off by saying that, when I started my YouTube channel, I never had any intention of letting anyone know that I was ill. Then, when it became harder to maintain my channel, tweeting, Google+, Facebook, etc., I started to waver on that decision. After all, I'm a makeup artist, and I have a lot to offer, whether I'm ill or not, right? But ultimately, I decided to stick it out and continue to try to push myself, which is just the type of person I am. During EVERY video, I was in incredible pain, but was able to grin and bear it. Then, when I watched my "Valentines Day Collab Video," I saw something that really bothered me. I didn't look happy. For the first time, I wasn't able to cover up the fact that I was in a great deal of pain, but since none of you knew I was in pain, it came off as me just not being happy making my video, and that really bothered me! So, I knew that it was time now to just come clean and let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.
I had indicated in a few of my videos that I had closed my studio/shop down due to health reasons, then went to school to become a Medical Transcriptionist, but I was only able to do that for a little over a year before having to quit that job...again, due to health reasons. So, here it comes, and I don't want any pity, or for any of you to look at me differently than you have, if at all possible. I still want to just be "Teri, the Makeup Artist." I have a list of medical conditions, with more being handed down on what seems to be a regular basis, lol.
I'll start off by saying that right now, I'm recovering from surgery, which is harder than it used to be for me due to a few reasons.
I first became ill over 18 years ago, but the doctors couldn't find anything, so they passed down the all-too-commonly used diagnosis of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.) I knew that I didn't have CFS, because I did what most of us do when we are diagnosed with something we are unfamiliar with and looked it up online. From what I was reading, those were NOT my symptoms! I was in extreme pain, yes I became very fatigued, but it felt as though "something" was attacking my body. Unfortunately, all they would have had to do was run the right blood test, and it would have been caught right away, but instead, it was given YEARS to advance. I worked through the pain for as long as possible, as I've always been stubborn, and i wasn't ready to let my business go!
Finally, a little over a year ago, I was sent to a rheumatologist, and I found out that I had advanced AS (Ankylosing Spondylitis.) I had been living like an 80-year-old woman, unable to get out of bed most days. So, the only course of treatment was to start me on Remicade infusions. Remicade is a TNF-a (Tumor Necrosing Factor-alpha,) a form of chemotherapy. I was born with kidney disease, and I was in the hospital constantly my entire childhood, so my veins were not strong enough to handle the infusions, so I had a port placed in my chest. Well, our huge border collie decided to jump in the middle of me one night, and I felt the burn immediately. The port still seemed to work, although it was starting to have problems with blood return and flushing. Then, for some unknown reason, a few months later, he did it again, this time making me cry because it was so painful. The next time I went in for chemo, I found out that my port was useless. So, that's the surgery I am currently recovering from. The surgeon tried to place the new port in the same side, but my vessel was blown, so he had to put it on the other side. Now my chest looks like a serial killer came after me, lol. But, onto further health issues. I have cystitis cystica, chronic bursitis, MVP, hemiplegic migraine disorder, tachycardia, degenerative arthritis (which there is no treatment for other than pain management), and I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. We've also just learned that I have something wrong with my lungs, so I'm now being referred to a pulmonologist (lung doctor.)
On top of all of this, we are supposed to be moving soon, and I'm completely unable to prepare. I'm too weak to start packing. I'm too weak to even do the dishes these days, so this move is going to be hard on me.
I just wanted all of my friends and subscribers to understand that I haven't abandoned my channel, and I have every intention of returning as soon as I'm strong enough...however long that may be. So thank you so much to those of you whom have stood beside me, been patient with me and most of all, not given up on me.
Wednesday
L'Oreal Paris EXTRAORDINAIRE by Color Riche'
Well, in keeping with my resolution to incorporate more drugstore items in my collection, I was able to go to a CVS, and I did a nice little haul, but these are my stand-out products. They are new on the market, and I was so glad to be able to pick some up to try. So, here is a photo of the ones I picked up. I got 3 of them, and the colors I chose are 202 Coral Encore, 300 orange tempo and 304 Ruby Opera.
I will start off by saying that I LOVE these! They are so pigmented that a quick swipe is all you need! They feel nice on my lips, not overly sticky or greasy feeling. I cannot STAND lip products that feel super slippery on my lips. I can handle a bit of stickiness, although these don't seem to be sticky! I even love the wand! It's oval shaped, and it feels very soft and spongy on your lips. The color payoff of these is intense! Here's a shot of these.
This was ONE swipe! I used the wand and drug the color sideways, which is why the swatches are so large. The wand is quite wide, but it's not going to cause the color to go all over your face. Here is a shot of this wonderfully, cloud-soft wand!
I purchased these for $9.99, and I feel that they were worth EVERY penny!! I would probably pay more actually, because these are quite high quality! I'm used to using mainly MAC lipglasses, and I LOVE those, but this might actually be a product that could at least compete with the lipglass!
I will be doing a haul on the items I picked up, but I'm not sure whether it will be on my blog or on my YouTube channel. For those of you who don't know, I'm a professional cosmetologist and Makeup Artist, so if you aren't subscribed to me on YouTube, and you would like to be, here is the link for you. :)
I hope that you will check me out and subscribe, if you enjoy my videos.
Here's to a beautiful 2014 and making our resolutions come true!
The Resolute Beauty Blogger-2014!
This will be the MOST important blog I do of 2014, for a number of reasons. I feel that it will help me to stay focused on my goals. I don't believe in dreaming, I believe in setting goals that you may or may not reach, but as long as you try your hardest, that's all that matters.
So on to the heart of this blog post: My resolutions for 2014. I wasn't one to generally make resolutions, as I always felt that we should work each day to strive to do better than the day before, or at the very least, our best. This year, I AM going to set some resolutions for myself. I know that it will help me to stay on track better. After all, I'm not just making these resolutions to myself. It's not like I'm telling myself that I will lose 20 pounds within 2 months, and then not being held accountable, because no one else would know. No, this will be different. I am making these resolutions, and I expect to be held accountable by ALL of my blog readers, as well as my YouTube subscribers, because my resolutions will have everything to do with both.
My first resolution is the most important, because without it, I couldn't possibly follow through with the others. I am going to start drinking green vegetable drinks and home-made fruit smoothies, which will be LOADED with vitamins and antioxidants, which will give me more energy to attain my other goals, or resolutions.
My next resolution is to get to reading more of your blogs and commenting. I know that I've kind of been a bit lax in that department, but this year is a new beginning and a chance to get things right. I'm also going to continue to watch YouTube videos as often as possible, and I will try very hard to stay caught up!
My third resolution is to post at LEAST one blog per week, as well as posting one or two YouTube videos per week. I am also going to be starting a "Quick Tips" playlist, which I hope will be helpful to many of you.
My fourth resolution is to do at least one product review per month on my blog, and I will be starting to review more drugstore brands, as well as the high-end products I also purchase. I will also be doing swatches on my blog for the products I review on my YouTube channel. I would like to really get the two working together.
My fifth resolution is to do some collab blogs. I've done one collab video, am in the process of doing another, and Glam Moms and I are also planning to do one soon, but I would LOVE to do more blog collabs!
My last resolution is to reach at least 100 bloglovin' followers, and I will try to have at least 2,000 YouTube subscribers by the end of this year. Yes, those are high goals, but I believe that I can, and will, make this all happen.
This is a new year! This is a chance for us to start fresh and accomplish those goals that we've set for ourselves. I believe in me, and I believe in you too!
Now for the questions of the month:
Why is being successful with your resolutions important to you? When I set a goal for myself, it's important to me that I be successful, because there are many things in my private life that I'm not in control of. Trying to perform at my highest possible level is my way of coping with such things. No worries, my marriage is completely intact, and I'm very happy, but to be completely honest, I have some health issues that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, and I'm not able to control that, but pushing myself to be the best that I can be is incredibly important to me. I've always been a woman who was very driven, and that hasn't changed. I have to recognize my limitations, but at the same time, I refuse to let them define me.
What would being successful with your resolutions mean to you? It would mean the world to me! It would help me to feel so much more in control of my life! We can't control everything, but we can certainly control how hard we push to reach our goals, and to me, that's just so important.
So on to the heart of this blog post: My resolutions for 2014. I wasn't one to generally make resolutions, as I always felt that we should work each day to strive to do better than the day before, or at the very least, our best. This year, I AM going to set some resolutions for myself. I know that it will help me to stay on track better. After all, I'm not just making these resolutions to myself. It's not like I'm telling myself that I will lose 20 pounds within 2 months, and then not being held accountable, because no one else would know. No, this will be different. I am making these resolutions, and I expect to be held accountable by ALL of my blog readers, as well as my YouTube subscribers, because my resolutions will have everything to do with both.
My first resolution is the most important, because without it, I couldn't possibly follow through with the others. I am going to start drinking green vegetable drinks and home-made fruit smoothies, which will be LOADED with vitamins and antioxidants, which will give me more energy to attain my other goals, or resolutions.
My next resolution is to get to reading more of your blogs and commenting. I know that I've kind of been a bit lax in that department, but this year is a new beginning and a chance to get things right. I'm also going to continue to watch YouTube videos as often as possible, and I will try very hard to stay caught up!
My third resolution is to post at LEAST one blog per week, as well as posting one or two YouTube videos per week. I am also going to be starting a "Quick Tips" playlist, which I hope will be helpful to many of you.
My fourth resolution is to do at least one product review per month on my blog, and I will be starting to review more drugstore brands, as well as the high-end products I also purchase. I will also be doing swatches on my blog for the products I review on my YouTube channel. I would like to really get the two working together.
My fifth resolution is to do some collab blogs. I've done one collab video, am in the process of doing another, and Glam Moms and I are also planning to do one soon, but I would LOVE to do more blog collabs!
My last resolution is to reach at least 100 bloglovin' followers, and I will try to have at least 2,000 YouTube subscribers by the end of this year. Yes, those are high goals, but I believe that I can, and will, make this all happen.
This is a new year! This is a chance for us to start fresh and accomplish those goals that we've set for ourselves. I believe in me, and I believe in you too!
Now for the questions of the month:
Why is being successful with your resolutions important to you? When I set a goal for myself, it's important to me that I be successful, because there are many things in my private life that I'm not in control of. Trying to perform at my highest possible level is my way of coping with such things. No worries, my marriage is completely intact, and I'm very happy, but to be completely honest, I have some health issues that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, and I'm not able to control that, but pushing myself to be the best that I can be is incredibly important to me. I've always been a woman who was very driven, and that hasn't changed. I have to recognize my limitations, but at the same time, I refuse to let them define me.
What would being successful with your resolutions mean to you? It would mean the world to me! It would help me to feel so much more in control of my life! We can't control everything, but we can certainly control how hard we push to reach our goals, and to me, that's just so important.
If you would like to participate in The Resolute Beauty Blogger, on January 15th simply post your resolutions, post your answers to our questions on your blog and leave the link to your post in the link tool, which will be available below on the 15th. Each month we will all revisit our resolutions to see how we are progressing and ask questions intended to help you stay focused on your resolutions and goals. Even if you aren't joining The Resolute Beauty Blogger, I'd love to know what you are doing to keep your beauty blog on track during 2014.
Here's to 2014 being the best year yet, with MANY more to come!!
Friday
The Resolute Beauty Blogger
January is a time for new beginnings. Typically this includes commitments to become better versions of ourselves. Since New Year's is right around the corner we are asking you to give special thought to your resolutions. We hope to encourage you to select some challenging, yet attainable, blogging resolutions and goals for 2014.
El from Glossy Glam Blog and Shalunya from Shalunya & Boyet have created The Resolute Beauty Blogger. The Resolute Beauty Blogger is a year-long program designed for you to create, stay focused on and achieve your 2014 beauty and blogging resolutions. Our goal is to make 2014 a year of success and achievements. We believe that we can help encourage each other to stretch out of our comfort zone and reach new heights. It's time to conquer our insecurities in order to step into our greatest potential. Through participating in The Resolute Beauty Blogger, we hope you will gain greater confidence, create more collaborations, stay focused on your goals, reach a larger audience, make new connections and grow as a blogger.
So how does a blogger participate in "The Resolute Beauty Blogger" you might ask? Simply start by indicating your interest by commenting below. On January 8, your hosts and cohosts will publish our resolutions, along with thought-provoking questions. You will publish your resolutions and your answer to the questions on January 15. Every month on the 8th the hosts and cohosts will publish an update on our resolutions and ask another question. You will publish your update and answer on the 15th. We would like to see all of our participants celebrate goals achieved and create solutions to overcome obstacles.
We are certain that together we can witness some amazing achievements. However, we need to remember,the only way we can reach great heights is to try lots of new things, some of which may not work. Trust us when we say there's still beauty in learning to fail graciously. All success stories are littered with opportunities that fell flat. This is where we can lift each other up to try again.
We sincerely hope you will join us for The Resolute Beauty Blogger. We believe that together we will enjoy watching our fellow bloggers achieve their goals while we soar to our own new heights. Feel free to include any personal goals in addition to your beauty and blogging goals. The more motivation the better.
Jan 8, 2014 - Resolutions and Question - Hosts & Cohosts Only
Jan 15, 2014 - Resolutions and Answers to Question - Participants
Begin thinking about the things you would like to achieve with your blog in 2014. Maybe you would like to create your own tag. You might want to achieve a specific number of followers on G+ or Bloglovin. Maybe you'd thought about doing YouTube videos in addition to blogging. Include some smaller goals and some larger goals. If you achieve the smaller ones you can always add new goals to your list. The possibilities are endless. Let's support and encourage others to visualize our potential and reach our goals. Together we can make 2014 a year of successes for all of us.
Wednesday
The Gift of Glam Tag!!
In the beginning, this was meant to be a video, but as we all know, cold and flu season has arrived, especially around here. So, since I wasn't able to film this, I decided to get it out there as a blog post, because I feel SO strongly about this, and I urge each of you to do whatever you can with this, even if all you can afford to do is pass on the tag videos or share this blog.
It's truly something when you have time to sit back, step away from your own problems in life and realize that there are people who have it FAR worse than you. People are in more pain, hungry, homeless, cold, sick, dying...and the list goes ON and ON. It's pretty easy to get wrapped up in our own self-pity, and I'm not saying that we don't have the right to feel bad when things aren't going well for us, regardless of the reason, but trying to always realize that there are people who have it even harder than you do, might somehow help you to handle your own struggles with as much courage and grace as you can muster.
This tag was started by Rochelle and Jenn, aka +Glam Moms . Many times during this time of year we DO think of giving to those in need. We send food, clothing, monetary donations, etc. to either local charity organizations or national ones. It wasn't until these awesome gals came out with this tag that I realized, while I too had donated other items, it had NEVER occurred to me to give the gift of being able to feel beautiful. I haven't tried to hide, in any way, that I was an abused wife a very LONG time ago. Luckily, I didn't end up in a battered women's shelter. I had a family that wrapped me and my children in their love and protection. So many women "out there" have nowhere and/or no one to turn to, so they have to seek out shelters for protection, both for themselves and the precious children who are caught in the middle of the violence.
Make sure to do as I did and call before donating. Some shelters will accept only new, unopened items, while others will accept "lightly used," as our local one will. I spoke to them and told them how to disinfect the shadows or any other type of powder product. If you aren't sure how to do that, feel free to ask me. I'm sure it's probably available online, if you google it, or it might even be on YouTube.
So, on with the show. ;) This is what I've gotten prepared so far, and my daughter will be taking the items to town, the shelter is in a town about 20 miles from here and so is shopping, and she will be picking up some Wet N Wild kits to add to this collection, as well as a few toiletries, as the shelter is low on things like that as well. Oh, and I finally have a reason to be grateful for my forgetfulness too! I had visited Sephora's website twice, within two days of one another. I always start out by checking my "LOVES" section. Well, I had found that Stila had an eye shadow palette on sale for $10, and Anastasia Beverly Hills had 3 separate glosses on sale for the same price as the Stila palette. Being me, and never wanting to miss out on a great deal, I actually ordered those items TWICE!! At first I was annoyed, because I wanted to cancel my order, but those of you who have tried to cancel an order an hour or so after clicking the submit button will know, that the items "go to the warehouse for shipping" almost immediately. Then, the next day, I saw Jenn's "Giving the Gift of Glam Tag!" So that ended up working out great! I also had a huge tin, which was about half full of samples that I had been saving up, and 3 makeup bags. I also had the 144 color ELF shadow palette, which I had never used only swatched, that came as a gift for ordering more than a certain amount of products. I'm not sure what that set price was, but now I'm really glad I had gotten it.
It's truly something when you have time to sit back, step away from your own problems in life and realize that there are people who have it FAR worse than you. People are in more pain, hungry, homeless, cold, sick, dying...and the list goes ON and ON. It's pretty easy to get wrapped up in our own self-pity, and I'm not saying that we don't have the right to feel bad when things aren't going well for us, regardless of the reason, but trying to always realize that there are people who have it even harder than you do, might somehow help you to handle your own struggles with as much courage and grace as you can muster.
This tag was started by Rochelle and Jenn, aka +Glam Moms . Many times during this time of year we DO think of giving to those in need. We send food, clothing, monetary donations, etc. to either local charity organizations or national ones. It wasn't until these awesome gals came out with this tag that I realized, while I too had donated other items, it had NEVER occurred to me to give the gift of being able to feel beautiful. I haven't tried to hide, in any way, that I was an abused wife a very LONG time ago. Luckily, I didn't end up in a battered women's shelter. I had a family that wrapped me and my children in their love and protection. So many women "out there" have nowhere and/or no one to turn to, so they have to seek out shelters for protection, both for themselves and the precious children who are caught in the middle of the violence.
Make sure to do as I did and call before donating. Some shelters will accept only new, unopened items, while others will accept "lightly used," as our local one will. I spoke to them and told them how to disinfect the shadows or any other type of powder product. If you aren't sure how to do that, feel free to ask me. I'm sure it's probably available online, if you google it, or it might even be on YouTube.
So, on with the show. ;) This is what I've gotten prepared so far, and my daughter will be taking the items to town, the shelter is in a town about 20 miles from here and so is shopping, and she will be picking up some Wet N Wild kits to add to this collection, as well as a few toiletries, as the shelter is low on things like that as well. Oh, and I finally have a reason to be grateful for my forgetfulness too! I had visited Sephora's website twice, within two days of one another. I always start out by checking my "LOVES" section. Well, I had found that Stila had an eye shadow palette on sale for $10, and Anastasia Beverly Hills had 3 separate glosses on sale for the same price as the Stila palette. Being me, and never wanting to miss out on a great deal, I actually ordered those items TWICE!! At first I was annoyed, because I wanted to cancel my order, but those of you who have tried to cancel an order an hour or so after clicking the submit button will know, that the items "go to the warehouse for shipping" almost immediately. Then, the next day, I saw Jenn's "Giving the Gift of Glam Tag!" So that ended up working out great! I also had a huge tin, which was about half full of samples that I had been saving up, and 3 makeup bags. I also had the 144 color ELF shadow palette, which I had never used only swatched, that came as a gift for ordering more than a certain amount of products. I'm not sure what that set price was, but now I'm really glad I had gotten it.
This is the ELF palette, along with some other shadows that have been only swatched. On the left is a NYX Trio (TS27-Platinum pink/Salmon/Jazzy bronze.) In the middle is a quad from Coastal Scents, but I'm not sure what the colors are, because the labels are not on the bottom of the little hotpots. On the right is a Cover Girl Single shadow in 440 Shimmering Onyx.
Here, I've laid out the 3 makeup bags, along with the products going into each bag.
Makeup Bag 1: In this bag, I have included the Cover Girl single shadow in 440 Shimmering Onyx, a sample of Smashbox Photo Finish primer, LORAC Tantalizer Body Bronzing Luminizer, Amorefacic Future Response Age Defense cream, NYX Trio palette, Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum foundation sample, Benefit Total moisture facial cream deluxe sample, Benefit It's Potent! Eye cream deluxe sample, Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull gloss in Sangria, 2 perfume samples; Justin Bieber's Girlfriend and Juicy Couture-Couture La La, and Stila Double Duty Beauty/Convertible color dual (lip & cheek) cream.
Makeup Bag 2: In this bag, I've included Boscia Green Tea blotting linens, Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream, Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, Coastal Scents hotpot quad (white, bronze, royal blue and dark navy,) Glamglow Youthmud, Ojon color sustain pro shampoo, Anthony Instant Fix oil control, L'Oreal Magic Skin beautifier BB cream, L'Occitane milk concentrate body cream, Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull Gloss in Sorbet, Ren Hydra-calm cleansing milk, Perfumes; Especially Escada and Dolce & Gabbana light blue, Tarte bronzer in Park Ave. Princess, and Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara.
Makeup Bag 3: In this bag, I've included Givenchy Mister Light in Mister Macaroon, First Aid Beauty ultra repair cream, Smashbox Photo Finish foundation primer, Amorefacific Future Response Age Defense Cream, Boscia Oil-free Nightly Hydration, Philosophy Miracle Worker miraculous anti-aging retinoid eye repair, Cream Soda soothing cream drybar, Benefit the POREfessional primer, Stila Artful eye collector's edition Vol III, Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull gloss in Bellini, Smashbox camera ready CC cream, Lancome Definicils mascara, and perfumes; Flora by Gucci and Down Town by Calvin Klein.
And...here it all is, bagged up and ready to go! Please, even if you aren't able to buy anything, at least consider either doing a blog or a video to spread the word about this. You never know who you might really touch by giving her the gift to feel pretty again. Also, please try to never judge anyone or say that you would do things differently, because saying it and DOING it are 2 separate things. I always said it would NEVER happen to me, and if it did, it would only be ONCE!...I was wrong. I just thank God for helping my children and me out of that situation, and I believe I came out a MUCH stronger woman, not because of it, but despite it! PLEASE, if you are suffering at the hands of an abuser, get out of that situation. If I could do it, believe me, YOU CAN TOO!!
Thursday
My most recent guest blog for www.hairstyle-blog.com
Here is my newest guest blog that I do for another blog site. I hope you enjoy! I plan to share these each time I do one, if you all would be interested in something like this. Just give me your feedback. :) Just click on the link right below.
This is my most recent guest post that I do as a side job.
Make sure you let me know what you think~
This is my most recent guest post that I do as a side job.
Make sure you let me know what you think~
Monday
Beauty Crown Picks: Face
The Beauty Crown Awards are a yearly favorites collaborative effort including beauty bloggers around the globe. The Beauty Crown Awards were created by Lily from Beauty with Lily Liz from My Pretty Obsessions, Jackie from Five Two Certified, and Shalunya from Shalunya & Boyet. We felt that a collaborative effort from a large number of beauty bloggers would be much more interesting to our readers and would garner more attention. The Beauty Crown Awards are a 5 week event with each week covering types of products.
Week 1 - Personal Care Products - Dec 2 - Dec 8, 2013
Week 2 - Facial Products - Dec 9 - Dec 15, 2013
Week 3 - Lip & Nail Products - Dec 16 - Dec 22, 2013
Week 4 - Eye & Misc Products - Dec 23 - Dec 29, 2013
Week 5 - Facial Care Products & Tools - Dec 30 - Jan 4, 2014
Week 2 of the Beauty Crown Awards covers Face Products. Below are my Week 2 selections:
FACE
Primer
When it comes to primers, I generally grab for either the Laura Geller Spackle Under make-up primer or the Tarte Clean Slate poreless primer. Which one I use depends on the weather, as well as what foundation I'm going to be using that particular day. Regardless of which one I choose, I ALWAYS use the Clinique Pore Refining solutions along with it, as it really makes pores disappear, and it also helps with those fine lines.
BB Cream
This was an easy one. I love my Smashbox camera ready BB cream, but since this one is too light for me, I will use it as a primer at times. I plan to order this a shade or two deeper as soon as possible.
Foundation
Again, I have two foundations that I've chosen. The reason is, it depends on what the weather is like, whether I will be needing a full-coverage and long lasting one or only wearing it for a short time. The Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hr full coverage foundation is TRULY a full-coverage foundation, but in the winter time, I enjoy the Estee Lauder Futurist foundation. My skin tends to get a bit dry in the winter, so this or my MAC Mineralize Moisture SPF 15 is what I usually grab for. In the summer though, I really use my Tarte a lot. I even have a backup of that one waiting for me.
Powder
Once again, I have chosen two powders. The reason is that I choose my powder depending on what foundation I'm wearing, and/or if I'm only wearing a BB cream. Lorac leaves your skin silky, and it is also designed to help hide the pores, but this one, once again, is a shade too light, so I use it when I'm using a foundation that is a bit dark on me, now that summer's over and I've lost my color. (Yes, I use SPF products, but being, in large part, Cherokee Indian, I tend to tan anyway. The MAC is actually a powder foundation, but I never use it as one. It also leaves my skin feeling and looking soft and silky.
Concealer
and
and
Brightener
Well, since I was a dork and took a picture of these together, I lumped them together. :) I use the Benefit Erase Paste to conceal, as my dark circles tend to have a bluish undertone to them, and this is a pinkish colored cream, and it goes on so smoothly. I use Estee Lauder Ideal Light brush pen, and I think it's fabulous, although I might try the Givenchy one when I run out of this. Maybe I can get a sample size to see if I like it better first, because I really do love the Estee Lauder one.
Blush
This Amazonian Clay blush from Tarte filmed quite a lot darker than what it actually is. The color is Natural Beauty. Now, it definitely can look clownish if you don't use a light hand when applying this, but that is with all of Tarte's Amazonian clay blushes. Their color payoff is insane!
Bronzer
The reason I have two in this picture is because I use them together. I use the NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep/Tan to contour and the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil in Medium/Deep to warm up the rest of my face.
Highlighter
I have a TON of highlighters, but I couldn't choose just one. On the left is MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Adored, and it is so incredibly beautiful! It's a mix of cream and coral colors, and with a coral lip, it looks fabulous! The next one is in Soft and Gentle, and it's great to use no matter what else you have on your face. It's definitely a staple for me.
Palette
Again, I couldn't pick just one. Maybe it's the newness of them, but I am in LOVE with my Lorac PRO palette, we all know about that one. The next one was the palette that came in the Tarte of Giving gift set from Sephora, and there are so many gorgeous colors in there! Tarte isn't well-known for their eye shadows, but I think they are fabulous! They have great color payoff, and there is a nice selection of shimmers and mattes!
So, I hope you enjoyed reading about my facial product picks, and I hope you have a beautiful week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)