My Foundation Collection

I take foundations pretty seriously - I don't buy them impulsively because I am very meticulous about what I look for. So this isn't your ordinary collection post. I love all these foundations for various reasons and on this post I am sharing with you why. Hope you enjoy. 

Chanel Joues Contraste Plum Attraction

Hi beauties!

I want to take a moment and talk about a blush I rarely come across on a beauty blog, yet I love. It's the Chanel Joues Contraste in Plum Attraction.

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. 

Face of the Day (26.04.13)

I am still in awe over the quality of the Wet N Wild eyeshadows. For $4, you get eight, yes, eight ultra pigmented eyeshadows. Today I used the left column in palette called "Comfort Zone" .

EYES

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion

2. Wet N Wild "Comfort Zone" Palette

3. Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner shade "Deep Black"

4. L'oreal Voluminous Original Mascara shade "Black"

5. Clinique Super Fine Liner for Brows shade "Soft Brown"

6. Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Kohl Pencil shade "Nude"

FACE

1. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

2. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact Foundation shade 30 Beige

3. Estee Lauder Stay In Place Concealer shade Warm Light Medium

4. Benefit Hoola Bronzer

5. Nars Orgasm Blush

6. Nars Orgasm Illuminator

7. Make Up For Ever HD Powder

LIPS

1. Nars "New Lover" Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

Don't Be Afraid of Red Blushers

I posted this picture on Instagram about a month ago when I found the Real Techniques Stippling Brush at my local drugstore. 

I have an obvious adoration for my Illamasqua Cream Blusher in the shade Brazen because you see it in almost every post. It is such a great product. First of all, it does look scary in the pan! It is a bright red and it is extremely, I mean extremely pigmented, which can be hard to work with. 

Many women stick to traditional pink-toned blushers, not knowing that red can look absolutely fabulous when applied the right way - a color similar to the natural shade on your cheeks after a long run our after a day out during winter. 

I'm sharing this post with you today because the Real Techniques Stippling Brush works amazingly well when paired with the Illamasqua Cream Blush. The bristles need to barely touch the product, and simply tap the brush onto your cheeks, then blend. Trust me, you need the tiniest amount. This product will last you ages, making it a product of good value. 

Here is a picture of today's Face of the Day where I'm wearing the blusher. 

Full List of Products

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light/Medium

2. Illamasqua Cream Blush in the shade Brazen

3. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer shade 3

4. Dior Amber Diamond 

5. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerville

6. Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows shade Soft Brown

7. Bourjois Ultra Black Volumizer Mascara

8. Tarte LipSurgence in the shade Envy

PS: The Tarte Lip stain is amazing. It has a matte finish and it is definitely plumping...as you can see!

I'm off to the US tomorrow to visit my family. But I will take my laptop with me to continue blogging. Have a great day everyone!

Face of the Day (26.03.13)

Hi beauties! I was feeling a little bit experimental yesterday. I hadn't done a pop of color on the eyes in a while, especially using greens. If you're interested in finding out which products I used to achieve this look, continue reading.

Makeup Products for Busy Moms

There are plenty of women out there I admire, and a lot of them are busy moms. Wonder-women who suddenly develop an amazing way of multi-tasking and keeping home in order. 

I wanted to help those busy moms out there by suggesting specific makeup products to look feel more confident and look presentable in little time. NO brushes are needed to apply these products.

Interested? Keep reading!

Get Ready With Me!: Dewy Skin

Hi gorgeous!

I've been asking and coming up with different ideas myself for my blog and Instagram. Please feel free to leave any suggestions on the comment section down below. 

I've always thought that healthy looking skin is what stands out the most. Whether you're good or mediocre with your eye makeup skills, what matters is a flawless looking base. It makes no sense to have beautiful eye makeup if your skin looks cakey or dull. 

Which is why I have a pictorial for you on how to get flawless-looking skin. Dewy skin. Yep, even for combination skin! If you're interested, keep reading!

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

Where Have I Been? Sunday Ramble!

Hi beauties!

I'm currently reading and taking notes for class, but I wanted to write a quick post because I feel terrible I have been neglecting my blog this week. So I have a few things to say...

1) I was given the opportunity to reintegrate psychoanalysis classes in my hometown, which I am extremely happy about. 

I dropped out of school about a year and a half ago due to personal reasons but I will be back soon. I have a year left in Uni but I've been busy this week taking psych tests and I also had an interview. Don't ask me why they make us do this to students who left and were about to finish....anyway, the results of the people that will be able to go back to school will be published on May 2. If everything goes well, I'd be back in Uni this May, Psychology Major.

The psychoanalysis courses I'm currently taking are at another place. So I'm really enjoying being busy and feeling productive nowadays!

2) I've been spending a lot of time with my family. 

Family is a big thing in South America. We're known for being incredibly welcoming, warm and close to those whom we love. It was recently decided that my sister will be going to school outside of Venezuela, so we have been spending more time together. This is us last night. We went out on a "date" to a Japanese restaurant.

3) Onto Makeup

- I have been loving a dewy, fresh look.

I'm wearing the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in the picture above, with the Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder on the areas where the sun would naturally hit my face (which gave me a radiant look) and Benefit's High Beam on the top of my cheekbones. 

I was happy to find out that the Healthy Mix range won't be discontinued. It was actually re-formulated to be even more moisturizing. 

Another look I loved from earlier this week: Dior Forever foundation which gives great coverage paired with the Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Plum and a hint of natural radiance using Lorac Perfectly Lit Highlighter in the shade Spotlight on top of my cheeks. The lipstick worn on this picture is the Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple. 

After using a lot of neutrals for most part of the week, I wanted to use some color. The main focus for this look was supposed to be the Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in the shade 17 (Plum), but I added some turquoise over my black liner using another Aqua Cream, this time, the shade 21. 

Which brings me to another point I wanted to mention in this point:

An Instagram follower asked me how she can use these cream shadows. 

The following tips are for the Aqua Creams:

- Use your finger or a synthetic hair brush to apply. I like to apply it using the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush that comes in the "Starter Set". 

- Work on one eye at a time. These creams dry fast (approx 10-15 seconds) and once they set, they set. They are waterproof. 

- You can wear them alone for a wash of color, they can be applied to the eyelids in conjunction with powder eyeshadows, or can be used as eyeliners. 

I blended a lilac shade above the Aqua Cream #17 (Plum) for the look featured above.

Also, remember to tightly close the lids so the product doesn't dry out.

I have nothing negative to say about the Aqua Creams.

I have to continue my date with Freud, but I promise to catch up on Blog-Reading soon. If you are a reader and have a personal blog you would like to share, leave your link below. Thank you so much for reading. I hope you are all doing well! xx

Face of the Night: Bronzy-Glowing Skin and Smokey Golden Eyes

Hello!

I was doing my makeup for tonight and I felt like raving about a combination.

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that today's beauty tip was: matching your primer to your foundation. For instance, I used Smashbox Photo Finish Light (water-based) and then Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (water-based). The results = flawless finish. 

Now on to what the post is about: Face of the Night. If you're interested, keep reading!

My Valentine's Day Look Tutorial

Hi beauties!

I'm doing a daily challenge on Instagram and I noticed that day 14 is Valentine's Day. I'm not a Valentine's Day person, I've never been and I'm Valentine's-less, but I still wanted to create a look inspired by it.

I'm doing day 14 today, and I hope you like it!

Continue reading if you're interested.

Face of the Day (01.02.13)

Happy February everyone!

Today's Face of the Day is very simple. I have noticed I've been going for very neutral/minimal makeup. I am currently very happy with my skincare regime and I'm embracing my clear skin days. 

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light/Medium
2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC 30
3. Illamasqua Cream Blushes in Brazen
4. L'oreal Translucent Loose Powder
5. Make Up For Ever Lipstick in N45
6. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerville

Quick and Simple Day Look: Tutorial

Due to the positive feedback I received on Instagram after posting a picture for Face of the Day, I decided to share it with you guys on a video!

@makeupbypatricia

I only got about four hours of sleep, so I looked ridiculously tired when I woke up. I also had very little time to get ready.

This is a great look for when you're in a hurry and you want to look bright. Something as simple as a BB cream can immediately make you look a whole lot better by evening the skin tone and giving it a nice-dewy look.

I also recommend using a good eye serum/cream first thing after you wash your face and before you do your makeup. It really makes a difference. I have an excellent one I'm going to review soon. 

I recorded the video when I got back after six hours, and my makeup still looked pretty good considering the fact that I have combination skin and the city where I live in is very hot and humid. 

I "touched-up" half of my face to show you exactly what I did.

PS: And I terribly messed up my pretty liner.

I know I have to work on better timing, and cropping down the videos. Remember, I'm new! 

Quick Face of the Day + YouTube Video

Welcome back my lovely followers/readers!

I am very excited because I have finally lost my YouTube fear/shyness and not only do I have a video for you right now, but there is another one loading on the way :) be patient with the crappy internet service we have in Venezuela...

Please feel free to subscribe on YouTube. I have no experience/knowledge in video editing whatsoever, so please bear that in mind when you watch my first videos (I hope to get better with time). 

I barely had time to get ready, so this video down below is super quick, just mentioning the products that I used. 

Thank you so much for watching. It means a lot to me. 

Face of the day (11.01.13)

Brights!

Those are the colors I've been into recently. A pop of color. It never really felt like winter to me anyway because Venezuela is really warm.

So if you're either watching the snow fall or enjoying the sunshine, let these colors remind you that spring is just around the corner!

Interested in seeing which colors I used? Continue reading!

My New Year's Eve Look

Hi everyone! I haven't been here in a while. I want to start off this post by wishing everyone a happy 2013 - may this year be better than the last.

Due to the amount of positive feed back I received on Instagram on my New Year's Eve look (thank you!), I decided to share with you what I used and how I used it to achieve the look.

Originally, I was thinking on doing a simple gold-toned look, but I was feeling inspired and I started experimenting/playing with blues and the result was a blue smokey eye which really made my already-big-dark-eyes pop even more.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

I wanted to make my skin look fresh and dewy, even though I live in a ridiculously tropical place.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

Want to see how I achieved this look? If so, keep reading!

Face of the Day

Hello everyone!

I woke up at 4am wide awake - feeling somewhat creative. So my Face of the Day is somewhat different - a little bit more colorful than usual.

Hope you enjoy!