my makeup must-haves

i hope you are all enjoying this glorious tuesday!

so, i have a confession to make. i used to be a makeup whore.

i've gotten a lot better in the past year or so, but i used to buy makeup like it was going out of style.

over the past couple of months, i streamlined my roster and came up with a list of mvp's to share with you:

~the stash~



please excuse how terrible my brushes look..



~face~

mac prep + prime foundation primer. on the off chance i forget to put this on my face before i start my foundation, i feel like the whole world is spinning upside down! this helps foundation and concealer apply smoothly and evenly. get it here.

mac studio finish concealer. this is quite literally the best concealer i have ever used. i use the lightest color (nc15) and it erases all traces of blemishes and uneven-ness (while providing spf 35 coverage). plus the pigmentation is great, so one pot lasts a long time. get it here.

my foundation: mac pro longwear spf 10 foundation. they aren't lying about this one - it really is long-wearing. obviously it's not indestructable, but you definitely have to submerge your face in water to get enough of it off to make a noticable difference. i have tried makeup forever's mat velvet plus before, but i didn't like the way it applied. this applies like a dream, and also help cut down on facial oils. get it here.

if you buy one face powder in your whole life, it should be mac mineralize skinfinish natural. this powder perfectly sets foundation while adding a touch more coverage. i literally wear this every day and have gone through 5 or 6 compacts. get it here.

~eyes~

if you have an issue with eyeshadow creasing, try too faced shadow insurance. i have also tried the infamous urban decay primer potion, but it made my eyelids dry and flaky, which is not cute. shadow insurance it moisturizing for the lids, but helps keep shadows in place so they don't end up in the crease of your eyelid. get it here.

when i want a natural look on my eyes, i always start with my mac paint pot in painterly. it erases all veins and lid discoloration. most people can get away with using this instead of a primer (like shadow insurance), but i have to use it over a primer or else it is a big creasy mess by the end of the day. get it here.

i am the biggest fan of eyeshadow palettes because they're super easy to use. there's no need to pull out 3 or 4 individual eyeshadow pots to creat your look - it's all in one place! i love my too faced naked eye palette because the colors can create essentially any look from natural/daytime to smoky eye. see their selection of eyeshadow palettes here.

i was a typical black eyeliner girl, until i found the urban decay 24/7 liner in rockstar. this color is perfect if you want to experiment with bolder eyeliner colors, but are still a little scared to step outside your comfort zone. sephora describes this color as a 'dark purple,' but it's got a little bit of a copper-y-ness to it also. click here to see all the urban decay 24/7 liners.

i'm a little bit bipolar when it comes to mascaras. i go through phases of hating a mascara one minute, and worshiping it the next. lately i've been loving the fresh supernova mascara. this mascara thickens the lashes really well. but you only need a light hand - this can clump if you apply too many coats. get it here.

even though most of my must-haves have been department store picks, i still visit my local drug store for makeup essentials. the drugstore has some of the best mascaras at really affordable prices. rimmel makes some really good ones, like the max volume flash mascara. visit your local drugstore to get your hands on this puppy.

 ~cheeks~

i'm really minimal when it comes to cheeks - all i do is a light contour with some bronzer and a little blush on my cheeks. i recently got the nars bronzer in laguna - this bronzer has been nationally acclaimed by makeup artists and lovers, so it's kind of a big deal. the coloring is perfect if you're fair-skinned like myself. it's dark enough that it makes a difference on your face, but not in an "eew, she's wearing 10 pounds of bronzer" kind of way. get yours here.

ever since i got the tarte amazonian clay 12-hour blush, i haven't used another cheek product. i wouldn't say this will be on your cheeks for 12 hours necessarily, but the color payoff is beautiful and it is definitely long-wearing and will last through your work day. i have it in the color blissful, but i can't wait to get my paws on some of the other colors. check them out here.

let me know if you love these products as much as i do!

until next time..

<3 alaina



today i admire: kandee johnson

today i wanted to write a post about a person i deeply admire: kandee johnson.

kandee is a makeup artist that has worked in los angeles and new york and also hosts makeup 'conferences' that teach people new tips and tricks of the makeup community. kandee also posts videos on youtube about makeup tips & tutorials, fashion, hair.. anything under the sun that's related to beauty.

aside from her talents in the beauty world, kandee has a wonderful spirit. she is always encouraging her 'fans' to reach for the stars and to dream big. it's really refreshing to see someone who takes time out of her life (she just had a baby about a month ago and has 3 other children, so you know she's a busy gal!) to tell people how special they are.

kandee posted this video on valentine's day, and i think it's message is something to really think about:

if you want to know more about kandee, you can visit her makeup blog or her personal blog.

no matter how scary the world can seem sometimes, never give up on your dreams!!!

also: i have some exciting news for you guys coming up!!!! i have made kind of an impromptu decision to take a little trip this weekend (part of my whole welcoming new experiences mantra). check back in the next day or two to find out where i'm going!

until next time..

<3 alaina