What's in My Makeup Bag?

I'm sure many of us gals have a couple free-bee Clinique bags filled with products we think we may some day use, but we never do. And, for some reason, we hold onto these makeup products that are probably expired because we feel wasteful just throwing them away.

Well, I have finally consolidated to one makeup bag that I can grab and know that I have what I need for any occasion. So, what's inside? Here are the main ingredients...

What is all this? Well, it's the basics: foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick, powder, eye shadow, eye liner, blush and some bronzer. Granted, I don't always use everything all of the time, but when I do have my "full face" on, I use these.

Probably the most significant product in here is Lorac's Eye Shadow Palette. Unfortunately the palette that is shown here is no longer available, but there is one that is similar at Sephora. I can create a day look with the lighter shades and an evening look with the darker shades. I don't really use the blush too much because it's pretty dark.  Instead, I use NARS blush in "orgasm."

NARS blushes are known as being the best of the best, and the color "orgasm," though risque, has been voted the best color for ALL skin types. It goes on skin best with a liquid foundation. If you use mineral foundation, try using their cream blush.

Which brings me to my favorite liquid foundation, Lorac's Natural Performance Foundation. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, this is a great product. It's water based and is long lasting. Apply this with a foundation brush.

Along with my foundation, I use Benefit's Boi-ing concealer. I have talked about this product in the past because it's the best concealer I have EVER used. It's highly pigmented so it covers scars and red marks well. It's also very creamy, which makes application easy with your finger.

Another Benefit product I enjoy is their bronzer in the color "Hoola." I just lightly dust it all over my face to give my skin a bit of a tan since I haven't been outside much this winter.

To eliminate any shine, I stick with Almay's Nearly Naked Loose Powder. Almay products are hypoallergenic. There's no need to spend a ton of money on powder. I've never experienced a major difference between high end makeup lines and those that you find in drugstores when it comes to powder.

MAC's Technakohl Eye Liner in "Brown Border" rocks! You can apply this liner on the inner part of your lid without irritating your eye AND it stays! This liner is retractable and doesn't need to be sharpened. Plus, it's very creamy and goes on smoothly.

MAC's Zoom Lash mascara is alright. I wrote a review about this product awhile ago. I will say that this mascara washes off easily with soap and water. That's a huge plus for me.

BUT, MAC's Paint Pots are AMAZING! I have also written a post about these little wonders in a pot. I highly recommend that everyone purchase these. They are a great base for eye shadows because they keep your shadow looking fantastic ALL day long.

Lastly, I have been using Lancome's lipsticks lately because my awesome sister-in-law, Nicky, gave me her freebies. I'm really enjoying the shade, "Trendy Mauve." It give my lips a very natural look. I definitely recommend it for olive skin tones. In general, I find their lipsticks very creamy and long-lasting.

If I put all this makeup on, it usually takes me 15 minutes.

Menswear Monday - SPF

This post is short and sweet.

Guys, please wear sunscreen every day! Don't let being embarrassed about moisturizing your skin stop you from protecting your skin against UV rays. Whether you are in a cloudy climate or the desert, UV rays are always present during the day. So, fight against skin damage and prolong signs of aging by considering these products...

Anthony Logistics for Men Oil Free Facial Lotion - This product is oil free AND fragrance free. Provides UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 15. $31.00 and can be found at Sephora. (Shown above)

Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 - Contains potent antioxidants and vitamins such as certified organic Edelweiss and Plantago Leaf Extracts, and offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection to help shield skin from premature aging due to sun. exposure. $26.00 and can be found at Sephora.

Neutrogena Men Sensitive Oil-Free Moisture SPF 30 - This is an oil-free, hypoallergenic product for those with sensitive skin. SPF 30. $6.99 at Walgreens.

Embracing My Curl

I have naturally curly, fine, unruly hair. My mom has straight hair and doesn't know the first thing about managing frizz and volume, so most of my life I've tried to brush out my curls, straighten, smooth and hide my crazy hair.

It wasn't until I met my old roommate, Emma, who has hair like mine did I see that my locks could be tamed. However, even after watching her go through her beauty routine and trying her hair products, I couldn't get the hang of it.

For some reason, in these past couple of weeks I have just decided to embrace my curly hair for what it is and attempt to bring out the best in it. I'm happy to report that I now love my hair and find getting ready in the morning much, MUCH easier. I owe my embrace to a couple of products...

Bed Head Ego Boost - This is a great leave-in conditioner that Emma introduced me to. Curly hair tends to be dry, so moisture is key. After you have scrunched the excess water out of your hair (never towel dry), squirt a couple of pumps into your hands, rub and scrunch your hair with your hands. Never comb your locks after you shower and never comb your finger through if you want soft, full, natural curls. Leave the finger combing until your hair is completely dry.

Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid - A couple pumps of this baby and your hair will be shiny and without frizz. I sometimes combine this with Ego Boost before I scrunch the product into my hair, or I gently sweep my hands through my dry curls at the very end to add some shine.

KMS CurlUp Hot Spiral Spray - This product not only smells delightful, but it helps keep your curls intact without making them crunchy. I cannot stand to have crunch curls! Just spray this all over your wet hair after you have applied the previous two products and scrunch your curls. This product works best when used with heat from a diffuser.

Diffuser - You absolutely MUST have a diffuser if you have curly hair and you want to make your curls defined and tamed. If you don't want to go out and buy a new hair dryer, just grab a diffuser attachment from any Ulta or Sally Beauty Supply. Flip your head upside down, use medium-low heat and the low air flow setting. Gently cup yours curls and point your hair dryer up towards your hair. Never blow the air back and forth or scrunch too hard. Treat your curls gently and delicately. It takes awhile to get them completely dry because of the amount of product and the fact that you didn't towel dry your hair, but it's worth it. I sometimes stop half way, put on my makeup and finish when my hair is most of the way dry.

M.A.C. Zoom Lash Mascara

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I ventured out of my comfort zone and tried CoverGirl Lashblast Length Mascara and was horribly disappointed. This left me needing a new mascara, and since I've been enjoying MAC's Paint Pots, I decided to try MAC Zoom Lash Mascara.

To sum up my feelings about it...

It's okay. Nothing spectacular. Gets the job done.

Good things...

1. Smooth formula

2. Strong pigment. Blackest black I've used so far.

3. Conditions my lashes.

4. Washes off easily

Not so great things...

1. Does not separate lashes well.

2. The wands tends to get too much formula on it and causes clumps.

3. Costs $13.00

M.A.C. Paint Pot

A while ago I did a beauty product review of the M.A.C. Shadestick, and I have been an evangelist for that product since I tried it. Well, I decided to forgo the Shadestick this time and give the Paint Pot a whirl.

It's the same product as the stick but you use either your finger or a brush to apply it. Well, ladies, the pot has won me over. Why?....

After awhile the Shadestick would get hard and not apply the product smoothly on my eyelid. The pot, however, maintains a creamy texture.

What these products do: The paint pot and shadestick are best known for keeping your eye shadow from creasing and helping the color stay vibrant throughout the day.

Application: Gently swirl your finger inside the pot and apply the creamy shadow all over your lids with your finger. Brush your eyeshadow over the base like normal.

You will want to choose a nude or pale color for a base if you want your eye shadow's color to stay true. Obviously, you can have a lot of fun blending and creating new colors when combining deeper bases and lighter shadows. If you need to rush out the door but want long lasting shimmer on your eyes, just sweep this across your lids and jet.

Cost: $16.50

Lifespan: Should last you at least three months if you use the product once a day.