Natural Dewy Makeup Look

This post is all about juicy-looking skin. Radiant. Dewy. Healthy.

As always, I begin every look with my eyes. I used Mac Paint Pot in the shade "Painterly" to even out my eyelid's skin tone. Paint Pots are not primers, contrary to what you have heard. They crease easily, so you should use the slightest amount. I applied it with my ring finger. 

I then applied Inglot #77 Gel Liner to my top lashline creating a flick; this creates the illusion of bigger eyes. I followed with three coats of mascara on my top lashes using Lancome Hypnose Drama and one coat on my bottom lashes.

I took my time with my eyebrows; more than usual. Brows is one of those things that may seem easy to "do" but I find it extremely difficult. I brushed my hairs up and filled any gaps with Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in the shade "Granite".

As you can see below, Lancome Hypnose Drama adds a good amount of thickness.

Prepping the complexion is always important. You should never, ever apply foundation to a un-moisturized face. My go-to day serum is Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Serum which not only quenches the skin, but also adds a believable healthy glow thanks to the 24-karat gold it contains.

Since I wanted minimal foundation on my skin, I blended a bit of concealer under my eyes -- my favorite, Bourjois Happy Light followed by half a pump of Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream. I applied it and blended it with my fingertips. I've talked about this BB Cream before. It is an ACTUAL BB Cream - not a simple tinted moisturizer. My skin always looks a lot better after I've used this. It also provides a good amount of hydration, and if I don't powder it, it will leave a luminous finish. 

The beautiful blush on the picture above is from Anna Sui, a Japanese brand and the shade is 300. 

A highlighter is a must for a dewy appearance to the skin. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade "Opal" on the top of the cheekbones adds the perfect glow while a bit of Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium creates the perfect contour.

As for the tools I used:

1. Spooly to brush my eyebrows up

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills #15 brush to fill in brows

3. Mac 210 to apply gel liner

4. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Blush to apply concealer

5. Real Techniques Contour Brush to apply highlighter

6. Mac 168 Brush to apply blush

7. Artdeco Foundation Brush to apply contour

For lipstick I went with Mac Ablaze which was limited edition. If anyone knows of a good dupe for this lipstick, please let me know! I rarely use it because I love it so much.

This is the only picture I edited on this post (PicsArt for anyone interested) because my bathroom objects were too obvious on the background #selfiefail.

Best of 2014

  I am so happy to be sharing with you my beauty favorites from 2014! It's been an amazing year full of discoveries I'm revealing today. Please keep in mind that every skin is different, so what works for me may not work for you. Also, I am not sponsored by anyone. These are my genuine thoughts and I'm recommending the crème de la crème. 

 

Skincare 

The cleanser: I raved on and on about Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly because it's that good. I even have two backups. I look forward to washing my face every morning and night just to use this. Yes, I use it in the morning. I find it's a great "skin" cleanser as it always leaves my skin feeling comfortable, nourished, cleansed but with a soft-focus glow. Bonus: the jelly-like consistency minimizes the risk of messiness and the plastic packaging makes it excellent for travel.

The skin transformer: Peel pads are a quick way of removing dead skin cells in a non-abrasive way revealing a more youthful appearance. After experimenting with several methods of exfoliation, I fell in love with Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. They do seem expensive at first, but considering you get sixty pads you only need to exfoliate once of twice a week, it's not a bad deal at all. I absolutely love the ingredient list; the blend of AHA's and BHA plus antioxidants provide visible results in weeks. They're also easy to use: just cleanse, tone and run the pad across your face and neck. Follow up with your eye cream, serum and moisturizer/oil.

Good Genes by Sunday Riley had to make it to the list to. It's a powerful serum (though it has a lotion-like consistency) that contains 40% lactic acid. Talk about glowy skin in a pump, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and minimized pores. I don't use it every single night because I do find it runs fast, but when I do, my skin looks noticeably better.

The skincare splurge: I had always wanted something by La Prairie because I grew up watching my mom use it. This year I graduated as a Psychologist and to reward myself, I decided to get something from the line. I knew I wanted a serum because I love them; they are potent, effective and you only need a small amount. I went for the Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex because it was on the lower end of the spectrum price-wise. I tried it at Bloomingdale's and fell in love with the immediate tightening effect. The best part is that you only need one drop and the packaging comes with a pump, so all you have to do is very lightly press it down - otherwise you'll get too much product and waste it. I reviewed it here.
 

The brightening serum: Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum has an incredible lightweight feel to it, unlike serums that feel more like light lotions. Tatcha uses HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex (a blend of green tea, rice bran and red algae) and licorice to reduce hyperpigmentation and give the skin luminosity and  clarity. Just one pump is sufficient to cover my face and neck, gently pressing it into the skin. 

The moisturizer: Tatcha Moisture Rich Silk Cream has everything I look for in a moisturizer: it has a light, gel-texture that feels amazingly soft, I get a beautiful blend of ingredients, my makeup glides effortlessly over it yet it's nourishing enough for nighttime. It's never oily and never feels heavy. I highly recommend it to those with normal to combination skin.

The SPF: Second time in a row winner, Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42. You need to make sure you give it a good shake. This is superbly light and quite mattifying, so it's the perfect final step to your skincare routine. Even though I have normal to dry skin, I've never had any issues with it making my skin feel dry or tight because of all the layers of moisture underneath (toner, serum, moisturizer). If you hate sunscreen because it reminds you of oil, stickiness and the beach in an unpleasant way, give this a shot.

The mask: Another second-time winner! Arcona Tea Tree Mask is the perfect mask, in my opinion, due to its antimicrobial properties and its ability to quickly reduce inflammation while providing an invigorating, relaxing, cooling experience. It doesn't harden on your skin like most acne-fighting masks. And even if you don't have problematic skin: this mask just feels too delicious to pass. 

The brand: I tested a lot of skincare this year and playing with foreign ingredients can lead to unhappy skin. No matter what the problem was, Tatcha was there to solve it. I love it because it is such a balanced skincare line with only a few steps in its routine. Aside from that, the team behind is an incredible family that always makes their customers feel like friends -- they even include handwritten notes in every order, and its lush packaging makes you feel spoiled and pampered. No matter what my skin concern is, all I have to do is go back to Tatcha so my skin goes back to its prime state.

Makeup

The foundation: everyone raved about it but it took me a while to get it. Armani Luminous Silk makes skin look perfected and flawless. It photographs beautifully, making it a must have for special events. I do want to point out that this isn't a good foundation for you if you have oily skin. It's best for those with normal to dry skin.

Me (left) wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for my brother's wedding. It photographs so beautifully!

The concealer - high end: Second time winner, By Terry Touche Veloutee. I am still using the same one, so even though it's pricey, it lasts a long time. One pump is sufficient to dab this full, yet natural coverage concealer under my eyes to illuminate and conceal. I like to use my fingers to blend it out. The texture is absolutely lush.

The concealer - drugstore: I was lucky enough to discover Bourjois Happy Light Concealer this year thanks to my sister-from-another-mother, Anne. It immediately became my favorite after smoothing it under my eyes using my ring finger. It is so creamy, has excellent coverage and wears well. You also get a lot of product and you don't need a lot to do the job. I absolutely LOVE this concealer!

The brow product: Anastasia Beverly Hills has done it again for me this year. Brow Powder Duo features two long-wearing shades that can be used on their own or mixed together to fill in your brows. Another bonus is the variety of shades available -- there is something for everyone.

The blush: My friend Fenny introduced me to Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour. I was so impressed by the texture; despite their powder-formula, these go one so creamy on the cheeks. Just beautiful.

The highlighter: I could never get ahold of Mac Whisper of Gilt, which is such a beautiful gold-toned highlighter. I kept seeing Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in the shade Opal being compared to it so I decided to get it and oh-my-God. It is now my go-to highlighter, I never reach for anything else. It provides the most dewy, glowy highlight while being creamy and easy to blend. Note: be careful with your brush; you don't want to apply too much product as this is highly pigmented. Remember it's easy to add makeup than to remove it.

Wearing Becca "Opal" as my highlighter

The red lip: Now we have second time winner, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the shade "Beso". There's just something about this red that is so perfect. I always feel sexy when I wear it and I think it's a very universal red. I love how long-lasting it is and how pigmented it is.
 

The mascara: My eyelashes are straight and very stubborn. The majority of the mascaras I've used have failed to impress me, but Hypnose Drama by Lancome is awesome. It's buildable, so you can go from natural looking eyes to thick, dramatic lashes. It isn't as volumizing as Too Faced Better Than Sex, but at least Hypnose Drama doesn't flake.

The eyeliner: Most of my eye looks include eyeliner. I feel "weird" without a wing. I found an intense black gel liner this year, but unfortunately, it can have the tendency to smudge a bit. Inglot #77 Gel Liner is an opaque creamy black that goes on smooth.  

Using Inglot # 77 Gel Liner + Mac 210 brush

Contouring and highlighting: When I want to sculpt dramatically, my go-to is the Mac Prep+Prime Radiant Rose Highlighting Pen set with the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light which is lighter than my skin tone. I then bronze my skin with any matte bronzer and then contour with Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium. This combo photographs beautifully, too!  

Heavy sculpting + Stila "Beso" liquid lipstick

Body 

The smoothest legs: 2014 was the year I stopped using shaving gels/cream. Yes, they are cheap, but after using an oil in the shower, I have not looked back. L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is a thick oil that warms up as you massage it on your skin and makes a great base for shaving. My legs are never irritated afterwards but rather smooth to the touch. I also love the Almond Supple Skin Oil. It's very nourishing and makes my legs glossy and look sexy - great if you're wearing shorts or a dress! If you don't like oils and prefer cream textures, their Almond Milk Concentrate is absolutely lush and has great slip to it providing intense moisture without needing to use too much product.

Hair

Calling all curly-hair gals:

"I cannot even count how many hair products I've gone through in my lifetime trying to find the one product that keeps my curls looking hydrated, soft, bouncy, yet not crunchy or wet looking. Moroccan Oil not only smells divine, their Curl Defining Cream works. It is my HG curl product. I love how much product you get for the price you pay (a whooping 250 ml for $33.60!). All you need is a pump -- massage it between your hands and run it down your towel-dried hair. I personally always let it air dry. I'm left with soft, voluminous, frizz free curls. I have received tons, believe me, tons of compliments on my curly hair. Thank you, Moroccan Oil." (December 2013)

This is my favorite product for curly-hair gals once again. I agree with everything I mentioned last year, only that now I use two pumps instead of one because my hair is a lot longer. Everyone always compliments me on my curls and it's all due to this gem!

I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and New Year's Eve and that 2014. From the bottom of my heart, thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my posts. Your support was one of my biggest highlights of the year. 

Much love,

Patricia

25th Birthday Skincare + Makeup

First of all, I want to thank everyone who congratulated me on Instagram and Twitter. I was overwhelmed by the amount of kind comments. I feel truly blessed to have such sweet followers and friends. 

July 13 was my birthday and I wanted to share with you the beauty products I used. 

I had been feeling under the weather the last couple of days and my eyes were showing it. I popped some Tatcha Eye Masks and let them sit for a good forty minutes (though you're supposed to leave them on for a lot less). I enjoy its cooling cooling sensation and it immediately hydrates my under-eye area while at the same time getting rid of puffiness. I then used the Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Serum as it plumps my skin, leaving a beautiful radiant finish. I love using this serum for special occasions. Makeup sits so well on top of it. You can read more about both of them here.

I finished off the "prep" phase by spraying some of her Dewy Mist - my favorite hydrating mist - all over my skin. It's so lightweight yet provides the perfect amount of moisture. As you can see, lots of Tatcha. It was my birthday! I wanted to use the very best.

I used the Lorac Palette on my eyes - by far my favorite neutral palette and it has been for over a year. Sable and Espresso on the crease, Cream as a browbone highlight and the gold shade on my lid. I created a subtle flick using my Estee Lauder Gel Liner and the Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Perversion on my waterline. I wanted my lashes to look thick and long, so I used the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara which I've talked about here.

For brows, I went with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo, as always. 

I used two Bobbi Brown Foundation Sticks - one to even out my skin tone and another one to contour. I absolutely adore them and I've raved enough about them. I concealed my dark circles with the By Terry Touche Veloutee and then highlighted using the Mac Prep + Prime Highlighting Pen in Radiant Rose, set with Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in the shade Light. I set my contours with Benefit Hoola. To add a pop of color on the cheeks I used Illamasqua Excite Powder Blush. To give a glow to my face, I used the Too Faced Candlelight Highlighting Powder Duo.

Lastly, I wanted a flattering lipstick and coral is my favorite color, especially on the lids. Peach Club Velvet Matte Lipstick from Bourjois was a no brainer.

I know. The cake. My aunt makes the best Nutella cakes. 

Current Go-To Makeup

Lately I've been reaching for the Missha Perfect BB Cover SPF 42 +++. I love how quick it is to apply and I find that blending it with my fingers gives the most natural, beautiful finish. The Bourjois Happy Light Concealer was a favorite since the first time I used it. It's creamy, easy to use (I apply it with my ring finger) yet stays put and covers my dark circles like no one's business. I always like to set my concealer with my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light which is lighter than my skintone because I also use it to highlight. I love it because it never looks cakey. Benefit Hoola is something I always come back to to add shading and dimension to my face - though the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder is on my wishlist as a proper contour product. These days I've been opting for a fuss-free pink shade, and Blissful from Tarte seems to go well with any eye-makeup I wear. No matter what, I always use a highlighter at the top of my cheekbones. I'm still using this Benefit Watts Up deluxe sample which I've had for over a year yet it's still going strong. 

On my eyes I've been loving this combo: Mac Passionate, Saddle, Rule and Blanc Type. I like using a Mac 224 to blend out Passionate and Saddle on my crease, Rule from outer to center of the lid and Blanc Type underneath my browbone and inner to center of the lid. I love this look because not only is it quick and easy to achieve since I'm just buffing out a bunch of colors, but it actually ends up looking effortlessly beautiful - like you spent much more time working colors in. I so wish I had a camera so I could film a tutorial wearing them! 

And of course no eye look is complete for me without winged liner. My go-to is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Gel Liner in Stay Onyx. I've tried many gels liners but always come back to this one. Even though it's not the richest black, I love the fact that it stays creamy on my brush allowing precision instead of drying up in seconds resulting in a harder application. I also find the L'oreal Butterfly Lash Out Mascara to be pretty darn good for a drugstore mascara. It thickens and lengthens - I just wish it held a curl better. 

I am currently trying to grow out my eyebrows as I was told at Benefit Brow Bar they are naturally thicker and I've been over-plucking on some areas - shame on me. The hard thing about growing them out is going through that "awkward" phase of having stubborn hairs on stubborn areas and not knowing what to do with them #firstworldproblems. Despite this, I always fill in my eyebrows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder in the shade Granite - the perfect shade for gals with literally black eyebrow hairs. 

On my lips I've been constantly opting for the Bourjois Velvet Rouge Edition Matte Lipstick in Peach Club - a must for coralish lovers. Even though it leans on the warmer side, it instantly brightens up one's complexion. I also love the formula as I find it to be very comfortable and long-wearing.

Orange Eyes With Gold Glitter Tutorial

#nofilter

Hi my lovelies! If you are an old follower then you already know I never plan out my makeup looks. Makeup for me totally depends on my mood that day. I never really know what I am going to come up with. I was inclined towards orange hues today and wanted to add a bit of sparkle since I was going to film my last (camera died) a YouTube video. This was the end result. If you like what you see and would like to know which products I used, keep on reading.

Tag: All About Eyes

I recently watched Tayler and Hannah do the "All About Eyes" tag. I don't know who initiated it, but I was so enthralled by it! Hence, I'm doing it myself.

My Summer Vacation Ramble

Hi everyone! Welcome back. I haven't been here in forever. This post will summarize my summer vacation, which has been great. I'm currently in Michigan visiting my family. I'll be going back home to Venezuela in a few days. This post is also somewhat a goodbye? I am going to be so busy when I get back, I don't think I'll have much time to blog as I used to before. I will though, continue to read all of your great blogs. Always feel free to leave your links below.

I'll be sharing with you some of my Instagram pictures and write a bit about each of them. You can follow me if you'd like -- due to the fact that it's such a quick way to share info, I'm always posting random beauty things. 

Make Up For Ever shade 99 is a gorgeous apple red. I don't have a shade like this in my collection, which is what originally caught my attention. If you want true color pay-off, I recommend the MUFE eyeshadows. Yes, they are a bit pricier than lets say - your traditional MAC eyeshadow, but the quality is definitely a lot better. 

Another gorgeous eye product to look after is Stila's Cobalt Liquid Eyeliner. Oh-my-God. I saw this on Stila's Instagram and I immediately fell in love. This blue is so gorgeous! And Stila's eyeliners are super easy to apply. It's a felt tip pen, giving you precision and control. Color pay off = incredible. 

Ooooh! And what about my August Favorites? 

Yes, I'm a big Ojon fan, and I'm also a big fan of Desert Essence's Curl Cream which I have raved about numerous times (get gorgeous curls without silicones or nasties!). But I tend to get bored of using the same products all the time and like to switch things up. So I went back to Moroccan Oil products which I used around five years ago. The combination of their oil and Curl Cream smells divine - of course - but also leave my curls bouncy and soft without any crunchiness. It was very, very humid in Detroit a few days ago, and my curls survived. 

The Lorac Pro to Go is a fabulous palette and in my opinion, highly worth it. You get six eyeshadows, two blushes, a bronzer and two small brushes. The quality of the makeup is superb (yet it doesn't surprise me, it's Lorac!) but the brushes are OK. 

The Ojon Rare Blend Tamer is a product that hasn't had a lot of mention. It's available on Ojon's website, not on Sephora (online nor stores) although I got mine at an Origins store. Yep, it seemed weird to me as well! I asked the ladies why they were carrying another brand and they said that Ojon shares their same philosophy. I dunno. Anyway - a must have as well! I always carry it in my purse. It immediately gets rid of any flyaways. I love using this whenever I'm wearing a ponytail or bun. Much better than adding water (to further enhance the annoying little curls) or gel (nobody likes that sticky, wet look). 

Stila's Liquid Lipstick in the shade Beso is another product I've raved about before. Opaque, matte, gorgeous... 

The By Terry Touchee Veloutee concealer won the battle against the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer (I wanted to get a new concealer and was in between those two). I like the coverage and love the fact that it does not crease at all. 

Anastasia Brow Whiz. Yes, she's the queen of eyebrows. 

I'm in love with REN. I really am. That rhymes. It's hard to find nowadays brands that are genuinely clean yet good. REN does it. I learned on this trip that my skin is actually normal. The combination aspect of it has more to due with my skin's response to weather (heat, humidity) and not using the appropriate products. The REN Vita-Mineral Day Cream is lovely. A little goes a long way and it skin drinks it up quickly. (PS: I've been using the REN Frankincense Night Cream [sample] and it is divine! And the Glycolactic Mask is worth the hype.)

Talking about skin - my skin has never looked this good before!

I had a skin consultation with a Sephora beauty advisor who gave me samples of what she tried/recommended. I give credit to Perricone MD Blue Plasma and Ole Henrikesen Truth Serum. I'll actually be getting the full sizes. All I can say is: Wow. Thank you Mr. Perricone and Mr. Henriksen. 

Best part of having better skin? Makeup goes on better, and you use less of it!

My sister-in-law, my sister and I. 

My mom, my sister-in-law, my sister and I

To end things on a sweet note, if you're ever in the US and you're a chocoholic like myself, go to Cold Stone and order the following:

"Chocolate Devotion, but Reese's Butter Cups instead of chocolate chips."

Chocolate ice cream, fudge, brownie and Reese's Butter Cups. You're welcome.

Have a beautiful week everyone! xoxo

Weekend Pop of Color

If you read yesterday's post, you know I've been pulling out my bright colors lately. I've been really inspired lately which I tend to reflect on the makeup I wear. 

I did my makeup while listening to one of my current favorite songs: Titanium (cover) by the band The Piano Guys which I discovered about a week ago. I've always wished I knew how to play the cello, violin or piano, so I fell in love with these guys. Enjoy the music video and read more to find out which products I used to achieve this colorful look!

Friday Night Makeup

I wanted to go for a pop of green today, so I used my trusty Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box paired with some Sephora Waterproof Jumbo Liners. If you're interested in my review of the liners, click here. 

My Birthday Makeup

Hi dolls! My birthday was yesterday (July 13th), and I would like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who congratulated me on Instagram. I was in shock to see how many of you wrote some kind words. So really, thank you.

This will be a quick post just showing you which makeup products I used. Enjoy!

Friday Night Makeup: Lorac Pro Palette Smokey Eyes

Hi dolls! Quick post tonight to talk about last night's makeup which I loved. I was aiming for a dark, grungy-smokey eye. Enjoy!

Foundation Series: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

I'll say it right away. This is hands down my favorite foundation. I call this my little pot of gold. Continue reading, you're gonna wanna!

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil-Free Review

Hello gorgeous!

If you have combination to oily to very oily skin, you'll love this foundation. Why? Hourglass Immaculate is literally a liquid to powder foundation. If you're interested in it, continue reading!

Face of the Day (16.05.13): Teal and Gold

Hey gorgeous! 

I've been waking up pretty early these days, so I have been experimenting with makeup before going to school. Today I created a look inspired by lots of pictures I have seen on Instagram lately. Basically, you pick two colors-- one added on the inner and outer corner, and the second color should pop on the center. I chose to work with teal and gold. If you're interested in finding out how I achieved this look and which products I used, please continue reading.

Plum Smokey Eyes

I barely wore any makeup last week. It was one of those "blah" weeks, you know? So starting on Monday (yesterday) I decided I would begin the week trying out some make-up looks that had inspired me. I recently started following Little Kiva on YouTube and fell in love with her tutorials and her taste in make-up. One of the looks I liked the most was her Pink and Burgundy Make-Up Look, so I decided to create my own look inspired on it.

If you're interested in seeing the final results and a list of pictures of the products I used, continue reading!

Face of the Day (03.05.13)

Hola muñecas! (That means "hi dolls" in Spanish).

So my instagram seems to have a bug because whenever I try to upload a picture, it comes out as a gray 

box. I've read online several users experiencing the same thing-- so I'm guessing it is a bug. 

Anyway, just a quick post today to show you my "face of the Early Morning". I got up at six am and quickly got ready for some errands I had to do this morning.

I kept my look soft, subtle and simple. It was raining really hard when I woke up (which is the worst weather to get up in-- I find the rain so relaxing). The skies were gray, there was a lot of thunder and the day was...blah. So I went with a quickie.

On my eyes I used Chanel Illusion D'ombre in the shade Emerville because it is so fast to put on... you just literally dab some with your fingers. After curling my lashes, I applied two coats of Benefit They're Real Mascara. I used Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in the shade Nude to get rid of any redness on my waterline. I groomed my brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Brunette. 

Anytime I'm looking for great coverage and a luminous finish in little time, I pick my trusty Dior Hydralife BB Cream. The formula melts into my skin and matches me perfectly. Another plus is the high (30) SPF. I buffed that in with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush (my favorite brush to apply foundation with) and then I applied some under-eye concealer-- Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in the shade 3. I set everything in place with some loose powder-- L'oreal Translucide Luminous Loose Powder in the shade Translucent. For dewy cheeks, I went with Stila Convertible Color in the shade Lillium, followed by Benefit Girl Meets Peal lightly patted on the top of my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. 

To finish of the look, I went for a shimmery rosy lip color-- Bourjois Lipstick in Rose Pare. 

Video: Faking A Good Night's Sleep

I don't do YouTube very often, but I slept terribly last night, woke up with a zombie face and reached for specific products to make my face look more...awake.

I also mentioned my favorite dry shampoo. It's fantastic.

As you can tell, I have 0 editing skills. I cut the intro a bit too much. Whoops!

Sweat-Proof Makeup

I typed that title and then I was like ugh.. eek...gross.. why throw in sweat in there? Here's the thing, I'm about to go to a little cousin's birthday party/pool party and it is currently:

Thank you, Wunderground.com. Yes, it's that hot here. We have no seasons in Maracaibo. It is simply, always ridiculous hot. Although I dislike the snow... so.

I'm not getting in the water by the way, I'm just attending. I would not wear any makeup if I was getting in the water. I don't understand why some people do that. 

Anyway! Onto what this post is really about. I want to show you which products I used to guarantee my makeup is not smudging/moving/caking.

I suggest you use as little makeup as possible. Just use it where you really need it. Luckily my skin is pretty clear right now, so I skipped foundation and just applied some concealer where I needed it (undereye, redness around my face).

1. Sunscreen: the most important product of all. I used a two-in-one for this. A moisturizer with SPF. My Vichy Aqualia Thermal Moisturizer which I've reviewed here.

2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 in NC30: I picked this because it's not only great for covering my under-eye discoloration, but it's also water resistant and it has SPF.

3. Benefit Boiing Concealer: I dabbed this anywhere else on my face where I needed a bit of coverage. I like it because it's a cream-to-powder formula. 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush shade blissful: it lasts a long time. Great for people with oily skin, or people that are going to be out in the sun. 

5. Make Up For Ever HD Powder: to set everything in place and get rid of shine.

6. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Powder shade 15 Taupe: a beautiful wash of color. I've swatched it here. 

I took a quick pic to show you how it looks on the lids:

7. Rimmel London Lash Lycra Extender Mascara: not a fan of it, meh. Just grabbed it because I didn't want anything too special.

8. Mac eyeshadow shade Blanc Type: I applied this below my brows.

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Shade Brunette: doesn't smudge! And it's a powder.

10. Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray: a setting spray for combination/oily skin that reduces shine and makes makeup last longer. 

11. Dior Creme De Rose Lip Balm: I forgot to include this in the picture, but I like it because it's very moisturizing and creamy and it has SPF10. 

Time to go! I hope this was helpful x

All Matte using the Lorac Pro Palette

Gotta love the Lorac Pro Palette. Pigmented, buttery, easy to blend, and the versatility of having two different types of textures: matte and shimmer. The possibilities of creating looks with this palette are endless. 

I've created a look that looks natural when the eyes are open, yet sexy when the lids are down using only matte shades. I hope you enjoy it!

Eyes/Eyeshadows from the Lorac Pro Palette

Shades used: White, Taupe, LT. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Espresso, Black (all matte)

1. Prime the eyes using Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. 

2. Apply Taupe on the crease, blending upwards.

3. Apply Sable on the crease and blending towards the tear duct. This will create depth. 

4. To intensify the depth even further, apply Espresso on the crease blending downwards. 

We want to create depth right on the crease and make the colors "fade" as they move up, which is why the lighter shades of brown are used first. 

Tips

- Apply minimal product, then build. These shades are very pigmented. Remember: it's easy to add then to remove. Especially when it comes to eye products.

2. Always blend with a clean brush. Never blend with the same brush you apply product with. The result can be a muddy look. 

4. Apply Black on the outer corners of the eyes, drawing an outer V. Blend. Re-apply and continue to blend until you're satisfied with the strength of the crease.

5. Apply White on the first part of the lid. Blend.

6. Apply LT. Pink on the center of the lid. Blend.

7. Apply Mauve on the outer last 1/3 part of the lid. Blend.

Yes, I did mention the word blend a lot. But that is the key to this look: a very blended, soft and elegant smokey eye. 

8. Apply White below the brows. 

Eyes: The Rest 

1. Apply gel liner on the top lashline. I used Mac Fluidline in the shade Blacktrack.

2. Curl the lashes and apply mascara. I used L'oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Black.

3. Groom eyebrows. I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Brunette to fill in any gaps. 

Face

1. Prime. I used Smashbox Photo Finish Light. 

2. Apply foundation. I chose Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact Foundation in the shade 30 Beige.

3. I used the Mac Studio Finish Concealer in the shade NC30 to conceal my dark circles. I then concealed my blemishes using the Benefit Boiing Concealer in the shade 02. 

3. I contoured my face using the Mac Pro Sculpting Cream in the shade Richly Honed. 

4. Apply blush. I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Blissful. 

5. I highlighted the top of my cheekbones using the Dior Amber Diamond Powder. 

6. I set my T-zone using Make Up For Ever HD Powder. 

Lips

Dior Addict shade 578

The Result

Thanks for reading! Goodnight everyone xx

Face of the Day (02.03.13)

Happy Saturday everyone!

Earlier today, I posted a couple of pictures on Instagram showing the eyeshadows I used for today and today's Eye of the Day. 

From left to right: Mac Sunny Spot, Lucky Green, Espresso

Sunny Spot blended along the crease, Espresso blended on the outer crease, Lucky Green pressed on the eyelid.

Onto the whole look now!

Face

Primer: Benefit Porefessional

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation shade 56 Light Bronze

Concealer: Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer shade 53 Dark Radiance 

Contouring: Mac Pro Sculpting Cream shade Richly Honed 

Blush: Illamasqua Cream Blush shade Brazen

Eyes

Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadows: Mac Sunny Spot, Lucky Green and Espresso

Eyeliner: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Gel Eye Liner shade Onyx

Mascara: Rimmel London Lycra Lash Extender

Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder shade Dark Brown

Lips

Buxom Lip Tarnish shade Busted