Makeup Tips and Products I Love

I have been working on this post for about a week now, and I have to say I have had a ton of fun talking about makeup! I am not a professional by any means, but I thought I would share a few makeup tips I’ve learned along the way and also some products that I have found to be the best.

I thought I would start with my regular beauty routine and add the tips in-between. I don’t wear makeup every day, because I like to give my face a break, but on the days I do wear makeup, here is what I do…

1. Moisturizer
After I have showered, washed my face, and used toner, I use moisturizer. I have had so much trouble in the past trying to find the perfect moisturizer, because my face can at times be both oily and dry. I don’t want my face to be dry, but at the same time I really dislike moisturizers that make your face feel oily and gross. I started using a product from Avon, that I loved and used for years, but sadly they don’t sell that product anymore. I still use Avon moisturizers though, because personally I have found them to be the best for my skin.

Currently, I use Avon’s Nurtura Replenishing Cream. I would highly recommend any other moisturizing products from Avon as well. I like that they are cheap, and they have always worked well for me. You can see a list of their moisturizers here: moisturizers.

Tip: After letting your moisturizer soak in, I pat baby powder underneath my eyes and on my eye lids. I tend to have oily skin and the powder soaks up any oils so that my eyeliner does not stick to my lids. I have always had that problem, and baby powder solves it! You can get a travel size baby powder at Wal-Mart.

2. Foundation 

Tip: I usually try to let my moisturizer set for a few minutes before applying makeup. I also have heard of a tip that includes help for those who use liquid foundation: You can mix a small amount of moisturizer into your portioned foundation for the day and you get the best of both worlds. Your foundation can be drying to the skin, so why not mix a little something to help out in there?

I have had really bad acne for as long as I can remember, probably since I was about 13 years old. I have acne scarring on my face, and really bad acne scarring on my back. One summer my mom felt bad for me, especially since I was going to be wearing a bathing suit a lot. She bought me this special cover-up makeup that was supposed to cover almost anything up. It was expensive (now $34.), but oh so worth it! It seems to last for every long time too. I still use this foundation today, and will never ever switch to anything else, because I have never found the coverage I can get with this in any other foundation.

Makeup Sponge

Tip:  For dark circles, I pat my foundation gently underneath my eyes or wherever it looks dark.

3. Eyeliner

Tip: Before I put on my eyeliner, I use a shimmery powder or shimmery eyeshadow to highlight my eyes, and draw away from any dark circles. I only put it in the corners. Right in the little pocket where the corners of my eyes meet my nose and on the other side where the corners meet from the outside near the ear. Right now I use a shimmery eyeshadow pencil, but the brand name has worn off and I can’t remember what it was. The picture to the left is close to what it looks like in a tan color. But you can use any kind of shimmery eye shadow to highlight those areas. I also use the same stuff, to highlight right above my lips in the little crease. It draws attention again to those areas instead of the acne or redness I might have on  my face.

I have tried so many different eyeliners. I have used the pencils that have to be sharpened, and I have also used the retractable eyeliners that supposedly sharpen themselves. The only kind I have not used is liquid eyeliner. I do not think I have good steady hand for that, and my eyes would end up looking very scary I’m sure.

I have tried several different brands, but I have not found one that is the best yet. Right now, I currently use Rimmel London’s Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil. Color name: Black Magic. It works pretty good for now but if you have any suggestions for something better, let me know!

I usually wear eyeliner on the top lid, and then on the rim of the bottom lid. I sometimes don’t do the whole bottom lid, but just to the middle of my eye, I think it opens up your eyes more.
Tip: My college roommates taught me a neat little trick for putting eyeliner on. You take your finger and gently pull the corner of your eye closest to your ear, toward your ear. It flattens your eyelid more so that you can get a better line closer to your eyelashes.

4. Mascara
Unlike eyeliner, I have tried tons of different mascaras. I have tried different brands and different wands, but still one has always been the best for me. I use Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in blackest black. I like how dark it is, because then it definitely makes your eyes pop! It draws the eye to the lashes. I also like that it does not clump, and that it not only highlights your lashes, but it lengthens them as well.

The best thing about this mascara, is that the wand is smaller so that you can get in areas that may not get reached with the bigger wands. I especially like drawing out the ends so that the corners of my lashes closest to my ears are the longest.

Tip: When putting on mascara use a little pocket mirror instead of your big bathroom mirror. It helps you see your eyes up close, and helps you get into those small spots! Always pull the wand out to the right or left instead of straight when applying it, it makes your lashes look longer. Also, I highly recommend using a lash comb, it helps separate the lashes and makes everything look better!

5. Lip Gloss
I am not a lipstick fan. It drys out my lips, and makes me look like I got into my mom’s makeup kit while trying to play dress-up! Instead, I choose to wear lip gloss, and not just any lip gloss, I love the clear gloss. I love it because if you can wear it plain and it dresses up your lips or you can wear it over your favorite lip color, either lipstick or something else.

This stuff doesn’t dry out your lips and seems to last quite awhile which I love. Again the brand name has rubbed off, but I know you can get it at walgreens or any local drugstore. The picture on the left is what it looks like.  I like to wear it over a tiny bit of lipstick, that way you get the color you want and you get the gloss and shine!

As far as what to use if your lips are dry, I recommend using C.O. Bigelow Mentha cinnamin Lip Shine. I got mine at Bath & Body Works. I absolutely love it! It gives you shine, it helps your dry lips, and it has a cinnamon minty taste that makes your lips tingle (also great for kissing)! I also recommend Clinique Superbalm lip treatment. I got it with a giftcard I got a long time ago, and I just love it. Again, it’s glossy, but it really treats your dry lips, and helps heal them.

6. Makeup Remover

Now that I have told you all about makeup, you are probably wondering how to take all this stuff off! For the longest time I have used Equate Facial Towelettes. You can get them pretty cheap at Wal-mart. They work really well, and I like that they aren’t soapy like other brands. The only con is that when removing my eye makeup sometimes my eyes get irritated from all the rubbing. So I started using something else on top of the wipes to help with my eyes.

I now use Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover. I didn’t like it at first cause I am not big on liquidy products coming near my eyes, but this works really well, and doesn’t irritate my eyes.

Tip: This tip I found on Pinterest, and ever since I saw it I have been using it to help take off my eye makeup, it works really well! Wycee from Nerdy Girl Makeup came up with the clever idea to use your moisturizer to help take off your eye makeup.

She says on her post, “If you still have leftover eye liner or mascara (especially waterproof ones) on or around your eye area, get a Q-tip and place a small amount of your everyday face moisturizer (or your eye makeup remover) on your finger. Roll one end of your Q-tip on the moisturizer. Gently rub the end of the Q-tip to remove the remaining makeup. Be careful not to get any moisturizer in your eye — if you don’t completely soak your Q-tip with moisturizer, then it will be less likely that you will get any in your eye.”

For More Tips & Tutorials…
Check out the Beauty Ideas I’ve saved to Pinterest. I have found some really cool ideas around the web! What are your favorite make tips and tricks? I would love to hear!

I like makeup because I like to dress up and look nice and because I like to feel beautiful. I think every girl does! And just for fun, I decided to take before and after photos of me with and without makeup. I think it really does make a huge difference!