#so i’m not using and bronzer or highlighter

[dragonanon]

Attempted applying makeup again this morning, and the results are FAR better this time around. Primarily because I stuck to ONLY using eyeliner on my upper eyelids, instead of doing both my upper and lower eyelids. But most importantly I didn’t fuck it up this time either. (I also followed some advice online that said to start with your eye makeup first, because then if you fuck up you can just clean your eyes are start over without having to redo everything, and my GOD it’s probably the best makeup advice I’ve gotten so far)

[thegirlguide]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ building her into you˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

blair waldorf

hey loves! i took a long break but i’m back with a new series about building our fav it girls into ourselves! today we are doing my all time favourite queen b! so here are four tips on how to become like her!

୨୧ looks ୨୧. blair always looks put together, she has a classy look. you would never catch her in a messy bun and sweats outside of her bedroom! queen b wouldn’t be caught dead with cakey makeup! to achieve her look do a lightweight foundation, a concealer that matches your skin tone, bronzer but only on your cheeks to highlight the apples, a rosy red blush, some light eyeshadow and mascara. for hair opt for some tight curls or a blowout look. never be caught out not looking your best, you don’t know when gossip girl is watching!

୨୧ outfits ୨୧ blair has a classy and girly look. she always is wearing simple jewellery, such as pearl necklaces and simple silver earrings. her outfits are always put together and never too flashy. for inspo i recommend looking into the academia and coquette style! B would never wear big flashy logos, neon colours or sequins. to embody her look pleated skirts, stockings or tights, cute blouses and of course a headband are your go to!

୨୧ personality ୨୧ blair is a loving, loyal friend, when you’re on her good side. she wouldn’t let anyone wrong her. she stands up for herself and even though it isn’t always right she does what she thinks is right, but takes responsibility when she’s in the wrong (sometimes..). she takes inspiration from her queens grace kelly and audrey hepburn. she is well read, so she uses a wide vocabulary and would never let anyone believe that she is dumb, how is she supposed to get into yale doing that! she has confidence and walks around as if there is a golden haze around her. she is determined to achieve all her goals and keeps all of them in tact. she is a hard worker and knows what she wants!

୨୧ lifestyle ୨୧ blair of course has her lavish lifestyle. laudree macrons, la mer, invitations to the hottest parties and all of the most luxurious brands are the norm! even though all of us can’t embody this, we can all agree that she is the queen of self care! after a long day she will take a bubble bath, she will lock herself up in her room and read her fav book, she won’t move on sundays and she will indulge in all her favourite sweet treats whenever she needs it! she never neglects studying to keep up her beauty and brains! so make time for both. enjoy the little things in life and don’t forget to treat yourself! queen b would never neglect her needs!

thank you all so much for reading, please don’t take all these tips to heart as you shouldn’t change yourself but rather if you want to be like her adapt some of these traits while keeping all of her own! request some of your fav it girls that you would like to see in the next part!

XOXO, A

[thepastisalreadywritten]

From the bee-stung red lips to her trademark platinum curls, Marilyn Monroe was – and still is – the ultimate bombshell and beauty icon, who had a penchant for glamour that resonates with so many of us today.

On what would have been her 97th birthday, we take a look at the star’s Old Hollywood beauty routine.

She stayed out of the sun

“I’m personally opposed to a deep tan because I like to feel blonde all over,” explained Monroe of why she stayed out of the sun – despite the fact it was in “vogue in California.”

Forget the bronzers and fake tans many of us swear by today, she was all about the alabaster look.

She liked a very specific shade of blonde

If you’ve ever wondered what hair hue Monroe requested when she graced the colourist’s chair, you probably wouldn’t guess it was “pillow case white.”

According to the author Pamela Keogh, Monroe had her hair bleached every three weeks with a roster of hairstylists including Pearl Porterfield (who also tended to Jean Harlow’s pale blonde hair) and Kenneth Battelle.

To avoid washing it too much (which can affect the color), she swore by a makeshift dry shampoo – Johnson’s Baby Powder – applying every two days to keep her hair looking fresh.

A nifty makeup artist’s trick for plump lips

How to create the full, pouty lips Marilyn was so well known for? A clever use of lipsticks, no less.

Her make-up artist would apply up to five different red hues – darker, plummy reds on the outside, and lighter towards the inside – to create the illusion of dimension and plumpness.

A clever tip that many makeup artists still use today.

She knew the importance of sleep

A woman who enjoyed her sleep, Monroe took between five and 10 hours of shut-eye a night in a wide single bed.

"On Sunday? It’s my one day of total leisure. I sometimes take two hours to wake up, luxuriating in every last moment of drowsiness,” she said in an interview with Pageant magazine.

What she wore to bed

Monroe famously wore five drops of Chanel No.5 to bed, a perfume that she is also said to have added into her ice baths.

Yes… ice baths

While Wim Hof and numerous athletes have since popularized ice-cold showers and baths, Marilyn was well ahead of the curve.

It is said that she used to take ice-cold baths to keep her skin firm and tight.

How she looked after her skin

Monroe joined the likes of Audrey Hepburn in regularly seeing Hungarian dermatologist, Erno Laszlo.

Suffering from dry skin (she is rumored to have obsessively washed her face up to five times a day to ward off breakouts), Laszlo prescribed the actor a rigorous skincare routine, which differed depending on the time of day and occasion.

Her evening skincare routine began with an oil cleanse, using the Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Oil, then she applied the Active Phelityl Cream and washed it off.

She finished with the Controlling Lotion.

All of these products are still available today.

Get the Monroe glow

While today we go wild for highlighter, Monroe got her glow in another, perhaps less tempting, way.

Deploying the K-beauty trend for “slugging,” she would apply layers of Vaseline under her foundation to help skin catch the light.

She was also a fan of cold cream, like Pond’s, and other iconic products we still use today, including Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream and Nivea Creme, and even olive oil, which she also reportedly applied to her skin to offset dryness.

She wasn’t a natural exercise fanatic

“I don’t count rhythmically like the exercise people on the radio; I couldn’t stand exercise if I had to feel regimented about it,” said Monroe about her approach to working out.

Many of us will relate. Instead, she enjoyed a “simple bust-firming routine,” which involved lifting two, five-pound weights above her head 15 times, moving from a “spread-eagle arm position.”

She would do it bedside until she was tired each morning.

Originally published in Vogue.co.uk

[cupidfilmed]

FRIDAY GAME DAYS

in my small town dr !

heavily heavily inspired by @laylasverse

◞ a (very in-depth) rundown of my regular friday football game day as a junior year cheer captain for my high schools cheer team !

4:56 AM ..

i would usually never get up this early, unless it’s one of my various sports game days ( cheer, tennis, ballet ). but to wake up, i immediately go to my bathroom and wash my face, followed by brushing my teeth.

5:19 AM ..

i start my routine by turning on my playlist, full of old music, taylor swift, and a bit of jazz. i do my hair first, using my curling iron to curl the ends of my hair, tying it up in a mid-high pony, slicking back the top, and finishing it off with an excessive amount of hairspray.

once my hair is done, i start on my makeup. i always keep my makeup simple for school game days, light concealing, bit of blush, brown mascara, and pink lipgloss to top it off.

6:20 AM ..

today i decided to wear one of my schools sweatshirts with the cheer logo and my last name on the back, and a pair of loose baggy jeans. i finish off getting ready by putting on my gold jewelry and lacing up my white converse.

6:39 AM ..

i leave my room and go downstairs, following the scent of eggs, toast, and fresh fruits. now, don’t get too ahead of yourself, my mom will usually just make me cereal for school mornings, but she tries to make a healthy and energizing breakfast for my game days.

once i’m done eating, i pack my backpack and my cheer bag, do any quick touch ups, hop in my moms van, and then my mom drops me off at school.

2:30 PM ..

schools out! and my friend rory, and i decided to walk to a nearby cafe to get some work done before the game later. we wanted to check out their new summer drink menu. i got the sparkling strawberry lemonade and a sprinkled vanilla cake pop, and rory got a mango fruit smoothie and a frosted sugar cookie.

i finished my chem homework and started an essay for my AP english class.

3:24 PM ..

my mom picks us up from the cafe and drops rory off before taking us home. i grab a granola bar from the kitchen on the way to my bedroom to get ready.

i first wash my makeup off, put a sheet face mask on, and put a curl roller in my curtain bangs. i spend about 15 minutes scrolling on my phone and watching youtube until i have to actually start getting ready.

4:28 PM ..

i take my face mask off and start on my makeup. for football games, i do a full coverage makeup look. i start with elf primer, then halo glow foundation, concealer, bronzer, contour, rare beauty blush, elf highlighter, eyeliner, black mascara, and a pinkish reddish lipstick. i take the roller out of my bangs and touch up my ponytail/curls, then choose my uni.

i decide to go with a long sleeve blue liner, my white cheer shell, white cheer skirt, white socks, and my tennis shoes. i pack my cheer bag with my warm up jacket, two water bottles, pom poms, bobby pins, hairspray, ankle wrap, gel stick, deodorant, perfume, setting spray, and a granola bar.

5:12 PM ..

i sent a vote on the pre-game team dinner to the cheer group chat a few days ago and we settled on chipotle, so me and my mom drive to chipotle and eat dinner with the whole team

6:06 PM ..

we finally make it to the field and start warming up and matt shows up early to surprise me with flowers! he always comes to my games and only sometimes shows up early, so i was very excited to see him.

once i decide that the cheerleaders are done warming up, i hang out in the bleachers with matt to wait for the game to start. we order pretzels, well he does, i eat my granola bar, and yap while watching tiktoks.

7:30 PM ..

when people start showing up, i go back to the team for last minute touch ups. i fix my loose hairs, apply more lipstick, powder, and mascara, then huddle up with the team. we do some last minute stretches and our chant.

8:00 PM ..

the game has started! we spend the entirety of the game doing our rehearsed cheers and trying to ‘hype’ up the crowd from the sidelines. i spot my parents, friends, and matt ofc in the crowd and wave.

9:00 PM ..

halftime! i go up in the bleachers to talk to my parents for a bit, then me, matt, and our friends walk to get snacks. nick would not stop complaining about wanting pretzels, so he got them. me and matt ended up slipping away from our friends for a bit without them noticing. we were talking near the bleachers, until rory comes up and tells me halftime is almost over and i, unfortunately, have to leave.

9:20 PM ..

throughout the game, the team continues to cheer (without messing up ofc, cus we’re amazing). we occasionally stop for water breaks or talk to friends.

9:45 PM ..

touchdown !!! our team was loosing by a few points until we scored a touchdown! we do our touchdown cheer and our mascot sprays the student section with blue and white silly string.

10:00 PM ..

the game is over and i managed to convince my parents to let me hang out with matt for a few hours before coming home. i am absolutely not the kind of student or daughter to be rebellious or go past curfew, but on game days, my parents let me just because me and matt haven’t talked most of the day.

matt opens his car door for me and i get in, ‘where do u wanna eat’ he asks. we simultaneously agree on late night waffle house. i get a large stack of chocolate chip pancakes and layer them with large amounts of syrup, and he gets a plate of bacon and eggs, how boring.

11:57 PM ..

the rocking feeling of his car driving along the road slowly drifts me into sleep. the next thing i know, he’s carrying me into my house. my parents were already in bed and left a goodnight note for me on the coffee table. i rub my eyes and he notices i’m awake, he kisses my forehead and lays me down on my bed, then opens my closet. i lean up against my shoulders as he brings me pjs to wear.

we talk a little while i change and after i change, until he has to leave and go back to his parents house, which is only across the street, but it feels like he’s going off to war.

we exchanged hugs and kisses, and more, and more, until he really needs to leave. once matt’s gone, i unwillingly take off my makeup, brush my teeth, and head to bed.

— i highkey just assume that nobody reads this far, but im still gonna yap ! this was actually so fun to write, laylasverse’s was much much better LOL but this is kinda my first time writing something like this sooo 😜 but anyway if anyone read this so far tysm i will give u a big fat kiss 😚😚

[colesterstrudel]

Okay, bestie I am thinking of starting to do my own makeup again and getting serious with it but I am a little stuck. It has been years since I did my makeup and I need some guidance. Like, I know everyone has their own ways of doing it. I am looking for a more natural look and don't wanna overdo it with the makeup. So, I am going to experiment with different concealers and foundations (first) so I can find the right one that works for me. But when it comes to concealer and foundation do you think one is more necessary than the other? When it comes to wanting natural-looking makeup? Or do you think that is something I should decide for myself? And when it comes to a natural look is there any makeup product that I should look into more? And is setting spray necessary or not? What about using primer?

Okay so I don’t use concealer ever unless I’m using it as an eyeshadow base underneath an eyeshadow primer (bc my eyes are sensitive to glitter so I gotta have a lot of layers up there for a cute shimmery eyeshadow look) so for my everyday makeup, concealer isn’t important to me at all. I much prefer a full coverage foundation over a slightly less coverage foundation supplemented with concealer, but that’s definitely personal preference and you’d have to play around with it a bit to see what’s your preference. The same goes for any product that you think would supplement your natural look more. Like some people use highlighter a lot for their natural looks, and some don’t. I personally only use blush and bronzer and stay away from highlight for my everyday looks, but that’s definitely also a personal preference. A lot of makeup is just messing around and seeing what you like best on your face and what really gives you the look you’re going for.

As for setting spray, I’m a firm believer in setting powder AND spray. And I powder the FUCK outta my face before I hit it with a mattifying setting spray but that’s bc I prefer a matte look and it’s hot and humid where I live so I like to ensure my makeup is really set. However, you may be more into a dewy look, so you could get a hydrating setting spray and powder less. That’s definitely up to you, but regardless, I would say setting spray is a definite need. Just see if you like dewy or matte finishes and play around with it a little, see which suits you best.

I’m also big on primer. I LOVEEE a good pore minimizing one (elf poreless putty primer is good if you’re wanting a cheaper one than a luxury brand) bc it makes my makeup sit better on my skin and wears better. And it doesn’t make my pores look bad.

But also, you have to keep in mind that like some people on tiktok/YouTube do their makeup and use filters and their faces look overly smooth with no texture but skin does have texture, even if it’s clear. So if your makeup doesn’t look exactly like theirs, it’s not bc you’re bad at it or anything, you’re just seeing your actual skin. Which is even better than it being overly smooth, I think!

[bitchinbarzal]

PLS i went in with our bf to get a new highlighter bc mine broke and maybe summer fridays bc im seeing it everywhere and i was looking at the drunk elephant bronzer drops or whatever they’re called (too lazy to get up to look at it) bc i never stick to my shopping list and this little girl comes up to me and tries to snatch the one im holding OUT OF MY HANDS and my bf moved my hand away and im like whoa kid wtf and she goes “give that to me” and im like shocked bc wtf little girl go to claire’s and i’m like “um, where is your mother?” and she’s like “none of your business old lady” and luna MY JAW DROPPED BC IM STILL A TEENAGER and THEN SHE TRIED TO SNATCH IT AGAIN, so i hand it to my boyfriend and she’s like “give it to me, it’s mine. that’s the last one” and i wasn’t even set on buying it until this little bitch tried snatching it from me and i was like “no, it’s mine now.” and yk what this brat did? SHE FUCKING KICKED ME and it fucking HURT, and it took me a second to register what she just did and i was like “ did you really kick me?” and she was like all smug n shit like “yeah, and i’m gonna keep kicking you until you give it to me” and she tried to again but my bf moved me back towards him and THEN SHE TRIED SNATCHING THE FUCKING THING AGAIN so atp so i don’t bitch slap a child, i grab my bf and we walk away and she starts screaming but i honestly don’t care so we just leave her to her temper tantrum,, well guess who came back while i was looking at the summer fridays butter balm?? THAT LITTLE BRAT, this time i just grabbed one of each of the ones they had and went to checkout, i wasn’t dealing with her again. so my bf paid and we left and her and her mom stopped us in the parking lot and basically tried getting me to give her everything my bf bought me bc she’s “just a kid” and i basically told her that she and her demon spawn can go back to hell and that she needs to do a better job at raising her bratty daughter BC YOU DONT KICK PEOPLE AND THROW TEMPER TANTRUMS IN PUBLIC BC YOURE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT,, my mama woulda beat my ass black and blue if i ever even thought of stomping my foot in public

then we went and saw anyone but you again and i gave my bf a haul of what he got me when we got home (even tho he was there with me)

- sex tape anon

what the fuck are they feeding these kids

[kittysdiary]

tips on getting ready for vacation? 💅🏼🗺️

Kitty’s Guide To A Perfect Vacay:

Summer is just around the corner so I’m sure many of you have your vacations planned out which means we have to make sure that we’re ready to enjoy ourselves and look good doing it. This also means having a set plan and staying organized. It’s so easy to get sidetracked and wrapped up in the views of our destination that we may forget things or feel rushed throughout the vacation. But not this time!

Preparation & Organization:

Use a checklist

Do your research

Keep a travel journal to document where you want to go, hotel names, restaurants, travel inspiration ideas + activities

Download important apps ex.) GPS or Translating apps

Designate a place for everything

Make sure you have good quality suitcases and bags

Put your personal items away after using them

Stage each outfit you plan on wearing

Use packing organizers

Keep up on your laundry

Schedule out your day + try to time your activities the best you can

Save your receipts

Restock toiletries

Know your budget

Clothes & Accessories:

Pack the day before your vacation and make sure you keep track of the weather to plan your outfit accordingly!

Maxi, midi and mini tube dresses

Bikinis

Light weight tops + tank tops

Low rise pants

Shorts + mini skirts

Tube tops

Sundresses + maxi skirt

A jacket just in case of sudden weather change

Gold jewelry think anklets + toe rings

Mini bags + clutches

A cute beach bag

Tortoise sunglasses

Bottega Veneta & Jaquemus inspired shoes + purses

Flared pants

Strappy heels or sandals

Flip flops

Crop tops

Comfy shoes for sight seeing or hiking

Satin robes + pajamas

Linen fabric or airy fabric

Whites, soft earth tones and pastels

Beauty:

No makeup makeup

Light weight foundations + tinted moisturizers

Liquid blush, highlight + bronzer

Wispy lashes or babydoll lash extensions

Golden highlighter + body glitter

Fruity scented perfumes (Tom Ford Electric Cherry, Burberry Her Intense, YSL Mon Paris)

Juicy lipglosses

Body mist

Long lasting setting spray

Blotting powders or tissue

Sunscreen infused powders

Hairstyles: bohemian braids, bantu knots, waves, crimps, sleek high ponytails + tight buns

Essentials:

SPF!!!!!!

Deodorant

Travel water bottles

Disposable camera

ID, Passport + extra cash

Travel size clothes hamper

Mini fan or mister

Bug spray

Medication organizer + contact list

[justthisgirlsworld]

do you have any makeup advice?

Hi sweetheart! Thank you so much for your question!

Ah makeup, trust me when I say, it takes time.

Experimentation is the key, honestly. I look back on how I did my makeup, even a year ago, and cringe heavily. But that’s the point, it’s a form of self expression. It’s to fit your features and to make you feel happy and confident! At the end of the day, if you end up feeling happy and confident, you’re doing it right.

I think I only really started to become “good” at makeup after breaking up with my ex, lmao? I’m very competitive, so, it was this urge to look better than he was. And he got into a relationship straight away anyway with a weirdo who spits on the floor, so we’re good.

Always put on moisturiser if you’re doing anything to your skin. I like washing my face with a cleanser, Cera Ve, and then going in with their spf morning moisturiser. It just helps your makeup stick a little better, and makes it look less crusty.

Then, I don’t quite like how heavy foundation feels? So I will use concealer in its place. It makes it look a little less natural, and it’s a bit lighter. I’ll put it over any blemishes, and usually a little bit over my eyes. Then with a beauty blender (which you wet beforehand and squeeze out the water, to make it expand. I didn’t know this at first until my mum told me I was doing it wrong lol,) you just lightly dab and blend everything out. Try to press the foundation/concealer into your skin, it makes it seemingly last a bit longer.

When it comes to eye makeup, it look me a while to get it right. Especially eyeliner. Yes, I fell victim to the 2020 chunky wings, I don’t want to talk about it.

I started going in with a nude colour, slightly darker than my skin. I would then slide on some iridescent eyeshadow, and wipe off any excess, just to give it a bit of depth and shimmer. Then, I go in with an eyeliner pencil. I do this on my bottom waterline, as well as very lightly going over my lash line. I’ll then go in with liquid eyeliner. Now, depending on the day, this can either go right first try, or I sit getting incredibly frustrated, attempting to get it right.

So, in the event that it’s the latter, micellar water actually removes liquid eyeliner really well. I’d you get a bit of it on a cotton pad, or even a bit of toilet roll, it just wipes it straight off so you can try again. Make sure to dab your skin dry though, or it can dry out the liquid eyeliner if there’s any excess micellar water left on the skin.

I don’t do any bronzer or anything, because I am ridiculously pale and would end up looking MENTAL. But, if you suit it, then there are many really good tutorials over on TikTok.

As for blush, I’m a bit of a weirdo with it? Again, I’m super pale, but I also love how Sabrina Carpenter’s blush looks. She always looks really dewey and youthful. So I started using a big, fluffy brush, and using shimmery pink eyeshadow as blush. I felt it matched how pale I was more, whilst also giving me some extra shine and light to my face. It doubles as highlighter and blush in one.

Lips are a struggle for me. Sometimes, very occasionally, I’ll put a bit of red lipstick on. But it only works for me sometimes. I find just a simple clear gloss is so effective. It looks classy and sophisticated. However, there are so many tutorials over on TikTok for different lip types, skin tones and other factors that might make you want to consider an alternative.

I really hope any of this helps! Have lovey day.

[crosseyedcricketart]

Sephora 2024 Spring Sale

The spring Sephora sale is upon us! This one is always fun for me since my birthday tends to fall in this sale, so I get a sale and a birthday present for me. So, this is my own little wishlist I have for Sephora, and what I’d really like to get during this sale.

my little wishlist:

saie,

dew blush liquid blush in spicy, baby, chilly

sun melt natural cream bronzer in fair bronze

slip tint concealer in 1

glow sculpt cream highlighting blush in pink glow

slip tint tinted moisturizer in 1

glossybounce lip gloss oil in bounce, push, dip

merit,

flush balm cream blush in rouge, stockholm

the minimalist complexion stick in silk

bronze balm bronzer

signature lip satin lipstick in millennial, l’avenue, 1990

signature lip matte lipstick in vermillion, power, maison, classic

day glow dewy highlight in cava

shade slick tinted lip oil in sangria, pink beet, falcon, taupe, bel air

I have really been wanting to try out merit and saie beauty recently; I have absolutely loved their branding and philosophies so it’s only a matter of time before i get some of their products for myself. I am someone who doesn’t really like traveling with powder products since they are more likely to shatter; i’d rather have cream products, where even if they break, i can use them in a different container instead of having powder everywhere. All of these formulas are creams or liquids that are perfect for me to travel with. Plus, all of these products would be what I would reach for when I wanted a little pick me up, not so much full glam full cover makeup. I think the last time I did that was for my high school senior pictures. Because I was being professionally photographed.

I do have a larger beauty wishlist, but these are my want-wants, really, as opposed to what i would like to try and use daily.

makeup

yves saint laurent couture mini clutch eyeshadow palette in 100, 400

rare beauty soft pinch luminous powder blush in happy

rare beauty positive light silky touch highlighter in enlighten

tom ford eye color quad in nude dip, rose topaz, sous le sable

tom ford shade and illuminate contour duo in 0.5 intensity

tom ford eye defining pen eyeliner

huda beauty creamy obsessions eyeshadow palette in natural brown

patrick ta major headlines blush duo in just enough

patrick ta major dimension III matte eyeshadow palette

huda beauty rose quartz eyeshadow palette

mango people dewy glow cream highlighter

mango people cream blush & lip stick in cherry

tower 28 all-over hydrating concealer

natasha denona my mini dream eyeshadow palette

tower 28 shineOn lip jelly gloss in xoxo

natasha Denona glam eyeshadow palette

skincare

alpyn beauty super peptide & ghostberry moisturizer

farmacy lip smoothie lip balm

saint jane beauty luxury sun ritual sunscreen

mara sea silk lip balm

mara algae + moringa sea sculpt body oil

chia + moringa algae enzyme cleansing oil

mara seadream crème moisturizer

soft services speed soak gel body moisturizer

soft services buffing bar exfoliating body bar

soft services carea cream moisturizing + softening body lotion

merit great skin instant glow serum

oui the people hydrating body oil in orange blossom

summer fridays rich cushion cream moisturizer

Most of my skincare wants are just more rich moisturizers. I tend to have dry skin, unless it’s peak summer when it feels like I’m in a rice cooker, since that is super humid.

No matter how much I love beauty products, I do not wish to have the 2016 makeup collections, where there is so much that it is useless. If I ever get there in my career, I fully intend to give that surplus to someone who could use the bulk of it, like a makeup artist. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but I know I don’t want 80 foundations just rolling around in a drawer. That goes for skincare too; I do not want the skincare tiktoker collection that will expire in 6 months. I think, in a small thought, the best way to actually review that much product without wasting it would be to keep notes on the different products and how they worked, and how they compare to other products as a frame of reference, then use the product. I know for me that if I really need to use a skincare product before it goes bad, I’ll use it on my body. But that also would take more effort than a lot of people want to put into something, and I’m aware of that.

That is my little Sephora round up here for this spring and summer, and if you’d like, you can share with me what you’re looking at for this sale, or what you’re not looking at. Knowing me, I’ll end up just getting two products from this sale.

[vivfics]

18th Birthday Party (Chris Sturniolo) - Pt.1

Prologue

You and your twin brother Asher had been planning your guy's 18th birthday party. You wanted something grand and luxurious, while your brother preferred keeping it small. Of course, you always got what you wanted, so the party would take place in an elegant courtyard that was a fortune. Luckily for you guys, your dad had come up with a brilliant business idea years ago. Once he met your mother, her ideas helped enhance the company, leading it to success and billions. On the day of the party, you invited your best friend, Aurora Everly, since middle school, over to get ready.

Present

“Hey, babe!” I squeal after opening the front door, letting her in. “Hey, pretty girl, happy birthday!” She hugs me tight before pulling away to look at me, “I can’t believe you’re already 18,” She fakes, wiping a tear. I giggle. “I know, right? I feel so old.” I also pretend to wipe a tear from my eye. “Alright, stop being dramatic and get ready before we’re late to your party." Aurora squeals before we rush up the stairs and barge into my room.

We immediately start doing our makeup. “Where’s your brother?” She smirks at me as she primes her face. “Shut up!” I laugh, “He’s in his room with the Sturniolos.” I finally say, “They’re already here? How come they aren’t causing chaos?” She looks at me, shocked. I shrug and start concealing my under eyes. We continue doing our makeup. She uses concealer on her blemishes, and after, we both look on Pinterest on my iPad to get ideas for our eyeshadow. As we scroll on Pinterest for ideas, I start with my blush, bronzer, and highlighter, and she does so too, “OO look at this one,” I click on the pin, “That’s cute. That would match your dress so much!” She grabs an eyeshadow pallet, and I grab my choice of eyeliner and mascara and set it on the vanity. Once we finish on my eye look, we start searching for hers.

The boys shoved the door open, ran into my room, and started shooting us with Nerf guns, “WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GUYS GET THOSE!” Aurora screams as she shields herself from the plastic bullets, “GET OUT! YOU'RE GOING TO RUIN OUR MAKEUP!” I scream at them as they start laughing. I get up from the little vanity bench we were sitting on and push Asher, who probably initiated all this, out of my room. “GROW UP! YOU’RE 18!” I roll my eyes. Matt and Chirs scurry out while Nick stays and sits on the floor as I continue Aurora’s makeup. “How dare you partake in that,” I turned my head to look at Nick, who was on his phone. “Sorry! You gotta admit it was a little funny.” I laugh. “Okay, maybe a little.” “You guys are still assholes.” Aurora crosses her arms, “Keep your eyes shut!” I add some last touches to Aurora’s eyeshadow, then put mascara on her lashes. After we do our eyebrows, I shout, “Lippy time!” We finish our looks with a lipliner, lipgloss, and setting spray. “Gorgeous.” Aurora blows me a kiss, “You,” I wink at her, “Just kiss already, gosh,” Asher says as he enters the room again with his minions on the side, Matt and Chris. “Literally,” Chris laughs. “That would be cheating on you, Ash,” Aurora smiles at Asher, and he winks at her. “Oh my gosh.” I shake my head as I get up and grab my dress hanging in my closet.

“You look beautiful,” Matt winks at me, “Thank you,” I say, unamused, before leaving the room and changing into my dress. Chris glares at Matt. Once I come out of the bathroom, Aurora goes in. “What are you guys still doing here.” I sit on the vanity’s bench, “We have nothing better to do. Plus, it’s entertaining watching you guys get ready.” Chris says, “I’m so glad I’m not a girl.” Matt launches himself on my bed next to Asher. Nick is in his world as he scrolls through edits of himself on TikTok.

I start doing my hair, and Chris sits beside me, “You need help?” He asks, “You don’t even know how to do your hair!” I laugh, “That’s not true!” “Mhm,” I smile at him as I part my hair in different sections. Aurora comes out of the bathroom, “Where the fuck am I supposed to sit now!” She tries pushing Chris off “MOVE FATASS!” Aurora struggles, “Ay!” Chris gets off, “You look so fricken good in that dress,” I vocalize, “Thanks, babe, you do too. And I did such a great job on that eyeshadow.” Aurora wraps an arm around me as I add heat protectant to my hair, “I know, right? You’re the next James Charles.” I start curling my hair carefully. Asher gets up from my bed and walks towards us, “Aurora, come with me to get a drink,” He winks, “K.” Aurora smirks, “Gross.” I mumble. The boys start hyping Asher up. “You could do so much better, Aurora,” I laugh. “Ay, Asher is a handsome dude,” Matt scoffs, “I’m saying personality-wise, Asher is stupid as fuck, and we’re twins. I can’t diss him like that.” Chris takes a seat next to me once Aurora leaves with Asher.

Once I finish with my hair, I turn my body to look at Chris, “You look stunning, Y/n,” Chris tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. I can't help but smile, “Thank you, Chris." He leans in a bit, but then Matt speaks up. “Let’s go get ready, guys.” They all leave. I roll my eyes. Of course, Matt had to ruin everything.

The sounds of my brother and Aurora echo from his room. I slam my door shut and start blasting Lana Del Rey. To finish my outfit, I put my white Christian Louboutin heels on and put my favorite earrings in. I then stack my fingers with rings and a necklace that Chris had bought me last birthday.

Aurora finally opens my bedroom door and walks in, and I turn the music off, “You guys couldn’t wait for the party?” I roll my eyes jokingly, “No.” She smiles as she starts doing her hair. I spritz myself with perfume and start packing my purse. Aurora puts her hair in a slick ponytail. She then puts her heels and jewelry on. “You smell good,” She says, “I’m wearing the new perfume my parents got me. You want some?” I grab it off my vanity, handing it to her, “Yes, please,” she takes it and spritzs herself.

We exit my bedroom and walk downstairs to see that all the boys are in their suits, “The Limo should be arriving shortly,” Asher says, “Okay.” I sit next to Chris on the couch. Once Asher gets the text message that the limo has arrived, we all exit the house and enter the limo. We sit in two separate sections of the limo. Asher, Matt, and Chris sit on one side while Aurora, Nick, and I sit on the other. “I got you something,” Aurora pulls a small box out of her purse, and my face brightens up, “You’re so sweet,” I squeal as she hands it to me. I open it, and it’s the matching sun and moon Pandora rings, “AW,” I wrap my arm around her, “It’s something small for now. I dropped off your actual gift at the venue earlier.” She puts the sun ring on my finger, and I put the moon one on hers. I tear up a little. “Don’t ruin your makeup,” She hugs me, “I love you,” I sniffle. “Don’t cry,” Nick comforts me. “You’re so fucking dramatic” Asher looks over to us and rolls his eyes. “Shut up,” Aurora gives him a dirty look, “I love you too, babe,” She pulls away from the hug.

Nick plays music and the mood shifts. “This party is bout to be so lit,” Nick pumps the music up. Once we arrive…

Follow up for part 2

AU

lowk could be better and nick didn't talk that much but i'll try to fix that in the future i also could've added more detail but again i will for sure fix that some other time.

[georgiapeach30513]

Jen hi I’m new to your blog so I’m sorry if this question has been asked before.

My skin is very weird. It can go from oily to dry to normal to oily. It’s safe to say that I have a complicated skin.

What type of setting powder would you recommend for me to use? I like a matt finish but don’t want to look too cakey. I’ve tried like a couple of powders but nothing seems to work for me. My makeup seems to break out and start to become flakey on my chin and it doesn’t stay all day long.

Help a sister out please😓

Regulating your skin can be a pain in the ass! Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water! Sometimes regulating starts from the inside out. Even with oily skin do not skip hydrating and moisturizing your skin.

As far as powder I do tend to use several different kinds. MAC Studio Fix, RCMA, Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath, Milk (this is what I use in my kit because it works with most people), Rimmel Stay Matte, Maybelline Fit Me, Hourglass, and that’s just what I can think of on the top of my head. My powder drawer is filled with products. And I do rotate them because I have them, so why not.

To be the biggest thing is I layer. Again, moisturize very well. Powder, and then I do a spray (MAC Fix+), and go on with a few more powder products (Bronzer, contour, blush) and I spray again, and then I do highlighter, and lastly spray with a finishing mist (MAC Stay Over).

I find that powders tend to look a bit flat on the skin, so I moisten them with spray. I also finish everything with bouncing my beauty blender on the skin.

[mountttmase]

If we are on the same topic 😌😂, which products you use for your makeup and what brands??

Stop I love this question so much 🤭 gonna add in skincare cause I’m really trying to sort my face out 😂

i’ve sort of stopped wearing makeup everyday, there was a time I’d never go without it but now it’s just too much for my skin but if you like I’ll do you a list of my faves of each product or what I do use if I’m wearing it. I’ll warn you I’m an affordable girly so not much of it is fun hahaha also don’t come for me it’s just what I’ve found works for my skin 😂

Primer - primerizer/nyx plump right back primer

Foundation - maybelline skin tint

Concealer - colour pop pretty fresh

Powder - collection invisible pressed powder

Brows - just any skinny eyebrow pencil. Mine look like caterpillars no matter what I do

Bronzer - catrice clean ID bronzer

Blush - the beauty crop blush duo pink lady

Highlight - colour pop super shock in on the cusp

Eyeshadow - mainly use bh hanging in Hawaii but anything brown and bronzy I’ll wear

Mascara - maybelline lash sensational

Lips - browny pink liner and a clear gloss

Face wash - Superdrug b. Cleansing balm and creamy face wash. I normally use a soft face brush to exfoliate

Moisturiser - currently the revolution miracle cream but anything really moisturising will do

Serum - skincyclopedia polyglutamic acid

Toner/spray - fata & co hyaluronic acid and prickly pear toner mist

[cynthesiscult]

make up tutorial

I was so so excited to receive this message

Imma write everything down for u <3 I used to struggle so much with makeup because nothing seemed to work for me for a long time

skin prep

— CeraVe cleanser and moisturiser

— Neutrogena eye cream

makeup products

— Dior Backstage foundation shade N1

— Seventeen concealer shade IVORY (03)

— Kiko Milano contouring palette 01

— Kiko Milano Unlimited blush 01

— Technic eyeshadow palette for eyes and lips !

— Essence eye pencil ‘kajal’ 04

— Essence extreme shine clear lip gloss

— Essence Glam & Doll, Sculpt & Volume mascara

— Sixteen lip pencil shade 147

this is the process…

1 𓆩♡𓆪 apply foundation all over the face & then concealer under the eyes, around the eyebrows and on the chin

2 𓆩♡𓆪 proceed with the bronzer (cheekbones, jawline, forehead) I also use this bronzer to contour my nose and under my lips

3 𓆩♡𓆪 then I use the highlighter from the same palette on my nose and cheeks

4 𓆩♡𓆪 essence pencil under the eyebrows — blend it with a highlighter brush

5 𓆩♡𓆪 a lot of blush on the cheeks

halfway done !

time to use the eyeshadow palette

6 𓆩♡𓆪 I take the darkest shadow (looks like it’s black) and use it as an eyeliner, then I blend with a brush

7 𓆩♡𓆪 white shade for my eye crease and the inner corner of the eyes

8 𓆩♡𓆪 curl those lashes and apply mascara

9 𓆩♡𓆪 I use brown eyeshadow as a lip liner and then apply lip gloss

10 𓆩♡𓆪 finishing touches using the dark red lip pencil (use it softly so its colour will look more like a dark pink, it matches perfectly with the brown eyeshadow)

and this is it!

a lot of people have asked me what I use for the glow on my face but this happens because of my oily skin whether I wear makeup or not so I don’t got any tips for that

if u got oily skin I believe that these products will flatter u so much, if not u could give them a try anyway !

as u can see I don’t use any setting powder etc. every setting powder I’ve ever used didn’t sit right even tho they say it’s essential for oily skin. I love my glow and I’m trying to embrace it with my makeup routine.

a word of advice from me to u is to find a routine & products for your skin, texture etc. and use them according to your features. I’ve stopped trying viral products ever since I realised that.

don’t be afraid to experiment! put on your favourite music and do ur thing, makeup is empowering, beautiful and magical

it is art

[cleverhottubmiracle]

When many women hear the words “contour” and “highlight,” they immediately think of an intimidating process! But it doesn’t have to be if you know exactly the “why” + “how “ behind both of them.  As we celebrate more and more birthdays past 40, there is a noticeable shift in our facial appearance as things start to wrinkle (skin), sink in (eye sockets), flatten out (cheeks), and sag (jowls). Yes, these shifts are natural and will happen to all of us, it’s fine. It’s better than the latter… So if staring at these changes in the mirror doesn’t bother you one bit, then you go girl! But if you feel anything like me, and like to have options to be able to make those changes appear “softer” and “less obvious” then this tutorial is for you! Being able to confidently use these techniques of contour and highlight, can be to our benefit because they can provide an instant mini-face lift by restoring lost dimension…without invasive surgery, knives, or needles!  Using dark (contour) and light (highlight) are ways to alter the way our natural bone structure appears. Placement of both is important because it’s basically where you want to direct eye traffic. If you’ve been hesitant to try contouring and highlighting, this guide will walk you through it step by step with easy-to-use products.  And I’m going to show you how I did my face makeup WITHOUT the use of a traditional foundation. We will ONLY be using contour + highlight products! It will look a bit like paint by number once until I’m finished, but hang in there with me, Ha! Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 1: Prep Your Skin Step 2: Choose the Right Contour and Highlight Products As a rule of thumb, if you want to push back something, you contour, and if you want to accentuate it and bring it forward, you highlight. • Contour: Opt for a cream or powder contour 2 shades darker than your skin tone. Creams work well for dry or mature skin, while powders suit oily or combination skin. I highly recommend the super easy Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, $28, if you’re new to contouring. This is one of the better cream sticks I’ve used.  I chose the shade “Happy Sol,” which is a light brown with cool tones, so it doesn’t go too orange, which is key when contouring. • Highlight: Use a luminous (not glittery) highlighter to brighten specific areas. I love the finish of the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands, $42, a little goes a long way! I’m using the shade “Spotlight” today which is a champagne with a hint of rose gold feel to it. These don’t look cheap on the skin if you know what I mean, they look like a true elegant highlight coming through on the skin. • Concealer:  Concealer is to also brighten specific areas but without the use of any shimmer in areas that can’t handle the shimmer (like the under eyes that are sunken in). You know by now I trust the Natasha Denona HyGlam concealers, $30, with my life! I’m wearing shade R2 today.  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 3: Map Out Your Contour Remember, not everyone will need to add contour to all of these places if you don’t want to or if you’re happy with some of these features! I’m going to show all of them however so you can get the full picture!* Note my images below to see visuals of where my contour stick was placed. • Cheekbones: Apply contour just right on top of the cheekbones (not below because that will drag the face down) and blend upward to the temples for a lifted effect.  • Jawline/Jowls: Lightly define your jawline to add structure and shadow by placing the contour right under the jawline area right beside your chin where jowls start to head south. Remember, with dark, we are trying to recede these. • Nose: Our noses will get larger and spread as we age, so if desired, apply a short line of contour along either side of your nose to slim and right under the tip to shorten. • Forehead: Blend contour along the hairline to shorten larger foreheads. Step 4: Highlight Key Areas with Highlighter • Cheekbones: Dab a touch of highlighter onto the tops of your cheekbones above the contour line. • Bridge of Nose: Lightly highlight just the center bridge and then the tip of the nose. Do not create a long straight line of highlighter – you need to break up this highlight. • Brow Bone: By putting a touch of highlight right under the arch of the brow, it adds a subtle glow and lift to the eye beds. Step 5: Highlight Key Areas with Concealer • Under Eyes: To lift and refresh tired eyes, add concealer right into the hollows only under the eyes near the tear duct and inner nose area, and a touch on the outer side of the eye. • In Between the Brows. I do a few strips of light wispy concealer here to lift this area that can tend to look angry!  • Chin + Sides of Mouth. If you add a bit of light just in the center of the chin it brings it forward. Then I drag a light amount of concealer in a line from the outside of the middle of my mouth back towards my middle ear. Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 6: Blend, Blend, Blend! • Tools you’ll need to do this well (I don’t suggest fingers, it will get too streaky) is a great concealer brush like the Angled Anisa Beauty Concealer brush, $28, and a tapered cheek brush for the contour and highlight, like this Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, $8. • I recommend blending the products in stages, so either do all contour first or all of the concealer/highlighter first. If you end up needing to add more of anything, you can do it after you have completed all of the blending. I always end up adding more highlighter 🙂 Step 7: Set and Finish • Finished with a swipe of my Merit Beauty Shade Slick tinted lip oil, in “Sangria,” $24, which is a sheer but deep warm berry shade. This is a gorgeous light and hydrating formula for upcoming spring and summer lips and is a clean beauty product. The Rest of My Look Details The rest of my look details: A simple lightweight v-neck sweater goes with everything! This Banana Republic one comes in many other color options, $42. // My golden eyeshadow look was achieved with this Natasha Denona My Dream Palette, $69. // Similar delicate lariat necklace from Uncommon James, $134 (they’ve got free shipping sitewide right now for Valentine’s!) // Sideways cross choker necklace similar, $10 // Still loving the Free People barrel denim jeans, $98, so many color options!  If you missed my Full Face Of Drugstore Makeup Faves post from last week, be sure to check it out to get some new affordable makeup ideas! I love all of you taking the time to comment when you feel guided by my posts and for keeping things positive, whether you agree with ALL of my makeup recommendations or not! Different strokes for different folks, am I right?!  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Closing Thoughts Contouring and highlighting don’t have to be about drastic transformation – in fact, when you’re done, it shouldn’t be super obvious what you’ve done – it’s about enhancing and bringing out your best features. Give it a try and see how a little contour and highlight can make a big difference! Have you tried doing either of these techniques before? Share your experiences in the comments below! About The Author Jennifer Duvall Jennifer is our beauty & makeup contributor. She posts a weekly column on Saturdays She also runs her own website & YouTube channel, which you can find by clicking below. Source link

[norajworld]

When many women hear the words “contour” and “highlight,” they immediately think of an intimidating process! But it doesn’t have to be if you know exactly the “why” + “how “ behind both of them.  As we celebrate more and more birthdays past 40, there is a noticeable shift in our facial appearance as things start to wrinkle (skin), sink in (eye sockets), flatten out (cheeks), and sag (jowls). Yes, these shifts are natural and will happen to all of us, it’s fine. It’s better than the latter… So if staring at these changes in the mirror doesn’t bother you one bit, then you go girl! But if you feel anything like me, and like to have options to be able to make those changes appear “softer” and “less obvious” then this tutorial is for you! Being able to confidently use these techniques of contour and highlight, can be to our benefit because they can provide an instant mini-face lift by restoring lost dimension…without invasive surgery, knives, or needles!  Using dark (contour) and light (highlight) are ways to alter the way our natural bone structure appears. Placement of both is important because it’s basically where you want to direct eye traffic. If you’ve been hesitant to try contouring and highlighting, this guide will walk you through it step by step with easy-to-use products.  And I’m going to show you how I did my face makeup WITHOUT the use of a traditional foundation. We will ONLY be using contour + highlight products! It will look a bit like paint by number once until I’m finished, but hang in there with me, Ha! Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 1: Prep Your Skin Step 2: Choose the Right Contour and Highlight Products As a rule of thumb, if you want to push back something, you contour, and if you want to accentuate it and bring it forward, you highlight. • Contour: Opt for a cream or powder contour 2 shades darker than your skin tone. Creams work well for dry or mature skin, while powders suit oily or combination skin. I highly recommend the super easy Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, $28, if you’re new to contouring. This is one of the better cream sticks I’ve used.  I chose the shade “Happy Sol,” which is a light brown with cool tones, so it doesn’t go too orange, which is key when contouring. • Highlight: Use a luminous (not glittery) highlighter to brighten specific areas. I love the finish of the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands, $42, a little goes a long way! I’m using the shade “Spotlight” today which is a champagne with a hint of rose gold feel to it. These don’t look cheap on the skin if you know what I mean, they look like a true elegant highlight coming through on the skin. • Concealer:  Concealer is to also brighten specific areas but without the use of any shimmer in areas that can’t handle the shimmer (like the under eyes that are sunken in). You know by now I trust the Natasha Denona HyGlam concealers, $30, with my life! I’m wearing shade R2 today.  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 3: Map Out Your Contour Remember, not everyone will need to add contour to all of these places if you don’t want to or if you’re happy with some of these features! I’m going to show all of them however so you can get the full picture!* Note my images below to see visuals of where my contour stick was placed. • Cheekbones: Apply contour just right on top of the cheekbones (not below because that will drag the face down) and blend upward to the temples for a lifted effect.  • Jawline/Jowls: Lightly define your jawline to add structure and shadow by placing the contour right under the jawline area right beside your chin where jowls start to head south. Remember, with dark, we are trying to recede these. • Nose: Our noses will get larger and spread as we age, so if desired, apply a short line of contour along either side of your nose to slim and right under the tip to shorten. • Forehead: Blend contour along the hairline to shorten larger foreheads. Step 4: Highlight Key Areas with Highlighter • Cheekbones: Dab a touch of highlighter onto the tops of your cheekbones above the contour line. • Bridge of Nose: Lightly highlight just the center bridge and then the tip of the nose. Do not create a long straight line of highlighter – you need to break up this highlight. • Brow Bone: By putting a touch of highlight right under the arch of the brow, it adds a subtle glow and lift to the eye beds. Step 5: Highlight Key Areas with Concealer • Under Eyes: To lift and refresh tired eyes, add concealer right into the hollows only under the eyes near the tear duct and inner nose area, and a touch on the outer side of the eye. • In Between the Brows. I do a few strips of light wispy concealer here to lift this area that can tend to look angry!  • Chin + Sides of Mouth. If you add a bit of light just in the center of the chin it brings it forward. Then I drag a light amount of concealer in a line from the outside of the middle of my mouth back towards my middle ear. Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 6: Blend, Blend, Blend! • Tools you’ll need to do this well (I don’t suggest fingers, it will get too streaky) is a great concealer brush like the Angled Anisa Beauty Concealer brush, $28, and a tapered cheek brush for the contour and highlight, like this Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, $8. • I recommend blending the products in stages, so either do all contour first or all of the concealer/highlighter first. If you end up needing to add more of anything, you can do it after you have completed all of the blending. I always end up adding more highlighter 🙂 Step 7: Set and Finish • Finished with a swipe of my Merit Beauty Shade Slick tinted lip oil, in “Sangria,” $24, which is a sheer but deep warm berry shade. This is a gorgeous light and hydrating formula for upcoming spring and summer lips and is a clean beauty product. The Rest of My Look Details The rest of my look details: A simple lightweight v-neck sweater goes with everything! This Banana Republic one comes in many other color options, $42. // My golden eyeshadow look was achieved with this Natasha Denona My Dream Palette, $69. // Similar delicate lariat necklace from Uncommon James, $134 (they’ve got free shipping sitewide right now for Valentine’s!) // Sideways cross choker necklace similar, $10 // Still loving the Free People barrel denim jeans, $98, so many color options!  If you missed my Full Face Of Drugstore Makeup Faves post from last week, be sure to check it out to get some new affordable makeup ideas! I love all of you taking the time to comment when you feel guided by my posts and for keeping things positive, whether you agree with ALL of my makeup recommendations or not! Different strokes for different folks, am I right?!  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Closing Thoughts Contouring and highlighting don’t have to be about drastic transformation – in fact, when you’re done, it shouldn’t be super obvious what you’ve done – it’s about enhancing and bringing out your best features. Give it a try and see how a little contour and highlight can make a big difference! Have you tried doing either of these techniques before? Share your experiences in the comments below! About The Author Jennifer Duvall Jennifer is our beauty & makeup contributor. She posts a weekly column on Saturdays She also runs her own website & YouTube channel, which you can find by clicking below. Source link

[ellajme0]

When many women hear the words “contour” and “highlight,” they immediately think of an intimidating process! But it doesn’t have to be if you know exactly the “why” + “how “ behind both of them.  As we celebrate more and more birthdays past 40, there is a noticeable shift in our facial appearance as things start to wrinkle (skin), sink in (eye sockets), flatten out (cheeks), and sag (jowls). Yes, these shifts are natural and will happen to all of us, it’s fine. It’s better than the latter… So if staring at these changes in the mirror doesn’t bother you one bit, then you go girl! But if you feel anything like me, and like to have options to be able to make those changes appear “softer” and “less obvious” then this tutorial is for you! Being able to confidently use these techniques of contour and highlight, can be to our benefit because they can provide an instant mini-face lift by restoring lost dimension…without invasive surgery, knives, or needles!  Using dark (contour) and light (highlight) are ways to alter the way our natural bone structure appears. Placement of both is important because it’s basically where you want to direct eye traffic. If you’ve been hesitant to try contouring and highlighting, this guide will walk you through it step by step with easy-to-use products.  And I’m going to show you how I did my face makeup WITHOUT the use of a traditional foundation. We will ONLY be using contour + highlight products! It will look a bit like paint by number once until I’m finished, but hang in there with me, Ha! Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 1: Prep Your Skin Step 2: Choose the Right Contour and Highlight Products As a rule of thumb, if you want to push back something, you contour, and if you want to accentuate it and bring it forward, you highlight. • Contour: Opt for a cream or powder contour 2 shades darker than your skin tone. Creams work well for dry or mature skin, while powders suit oily or combination skin. I highly recommend the super easy Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, $28, if you’re new to contouring. This is one of the better cream sticks I’ve used.  I chose the shade “Happy Sol,” which is a light brown with cool tones, so it doesn’t go too orange, which is key when contouring. • Highlight: Use a luminous (not glittery) highlighter to brighten specific areas. I love the finish of the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands, $42, a little goes a long way! I’m using the shade “Spotlight” today which is a champagne with a hint of rose gold feel to it. These don’t look cheap on the skin if you know what I mean, they look like a true elegant highlight coming through on the skin. • Concealer:  Concealer is to also brighten specific areas but without the use of any shimmer in areas that can’t handle the shimmer (like the under eyes that are sunken in). You know by now I trust the Natasha Denona HyGlam concealers, $30, with my life! I’m wearing shade R2 today.  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 3: Map Out Your Contour Remember, not everyone will need to add contour to all of these places if you don’t want to or if you’re happy with some of these features! I’m going to show all of them however so you can get the full picture!* Note my images below to see visuals of where my contour stick was placed. • Cheekbones: Apply contour just right on top of the cheekbones (not below because that will drag the face down) and blend upward to the temples for a lifted effect.  • Jawline/Jowls: Lightly define your jawline to add structure and shadow by placing the contour right under the jawline area right beside your chin where jowls start to head south. Remember, with dark, we are trying to recede these. • Nose: Our noses will get larger and spread as we age, so if desired, apply a short line of contour along either side of your nose to slim and right under the tip to shorten. • Forehead: Blend contour along the hairline to shorten larger foreheads. Step 4: Highlight Key Areas with Highlighter • Cheekbones: Dab a touch of highlighter onto the tops of your cheekbones above the contour line. • Bridge of Nose: Lightly highlight just the center bridge and then the tip of the nose. Do not create a long straight line of highlighter – you need to break up this highlight. • Brow Bone: By putting a touch of highlight right under the arch of the brow, it adds a subtle glow and lift to the eye beds. Step 5: Highlight Key Areas with Concealer • Under Eyes: To lift and refresh tired eyes, add concealer right into the hollows only under the eyes near the tear duct and inner nose area, and a touch on the outer side of the eye. • In Between the Brows. I do a few strips of light wispy concealer here to lift this area that can tend to look angry!  • Chin + Sides of Mouth. If you add a bit of light just in the center of the chin it brings it forward. Then I drag a light amount of concealer in a line from the outside of the middle of my mouth back towards my middle ear. Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Step 6: Blend, Blend, Blend! • Tools you’ll need to do this well (I don’t suggest fingers, it will get too streaky) is a great concealer brush like the Angled Anisa Beauty Concealer brush, $28, and a tapered cheek brush for the contour and highlight, like this Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, $8. • I recommend blending the products in stages, so either do all contour first or all of the concealer/highlighter first. If you end up needing to add more of anything, you can do it after you have completed all of the blending. I always end up adding more highlighter 🙂 Step 7: Set and Finish • Finished with a swipe of my Merit Beauty Shade Slick tinted lip oil, in “Sangria,” $24, which is a sheer but deep warm berry shade. This is a gorgeous light and hydrating formula for upcoming spring and summer lips and is a clean beauty product. The Rest of My Look Details The rest of my look details: A simple lightweight v-neck sweater goes with everything! This Banana Republic one comes in many other color options, $42. // My golden eyeshadow look was achieved with this Natasha Denona My Dream Palette, $69. // Similar delicate lariat necklace from Uncommon James, $134 (they’ve got free shipping sitewide right now for Valentine’s!) // Sideways cross choker necklace similar, $10 // Still loving the Free People barrel denim jeans, $98, so many color options!  If you missed my Full Face Of Drugstore Makeup Faves post from last week, be sure to check it out to get some new affordable makeup ideas! I love all of you taking the time to comment when you feel guided by my posts and for keeping things positive, whether you agree with ALL of my makeup recommendations or not! Different strokes for different folks, am I right?!  Shop This Post Turn on your JavaScript to view content Closing Thoughts Contouring and highlighting don’t have to be about drastic transformation – in fact, when you’re done, it shouldn’t be super obvious what you’ve done – it’s about enhancing and bringing out your best features. Give it a try and see how a little contour and highlight can make a big difference! Have you tried doing either of these techniques before? Share your experiences in the comments below! About The Author Jennifer Duvall Jennifer is our beauty & makeup contributor. She posts a weekly column on Saturdays She also runs her own website & YouTube channel, which you can find by clicking below. Source link