Skincare

Taking care of your skin is extremely important, especially if you want your makeup to look good. I know how frustrating skincare can get. There are cleansers, toners, moisturizers, treatments...blah blah blah.

I started getting really bad acne when I was in 7th grade. It wasn't until this semester when I found a routine that works for MY skin.

Background:
I have oily skin year round but it gets worst in the summer.
I have large pores.
I shave and it causes irritation...sometimes.

Cleanser:
I currently use Glycolic Facial Cleanser from Anthony Logistics and L'oreal Paris Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive skin. (NOTE: I don't have sensitive skin, but this has the same consistency of Philosophy's Purity Make Simple)
When I want to exfoliate, I use the Anthony Logistics Facial Scrub.

Toner:
I don't use toner. I think that if you wash your skin well enough...you can skip this step.

Moisturizer:
I think I found my 'holy grail' moisturizer. I use the Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Moisturizer.  I used to use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, but it felt extremely tacky and just sat on my skin.

Extra:
When I break out all of a sudden because of lack of sleep or stress I use an acne spot treatment from Clean & Clear.

Shaving:
I use Anthony Logistics Shaving Cream. I used to shave with a drugstore shaving gel, but this has worked WONDERS. I also use a new razor every week.

Masks:
I use the Queen Helene mint julep masque on days that my skin feels like caca. Another mask that I just purchased at a CCO is the Mac Volcanic Ash Thermal mask and I am IN LOVE!

I am still in the search for the perfect eye cream, but I have heard good things about the Garnier Skin Renew Eyeroller.

Overall, you should take care of your skin so that your foundation sits nicer on the skin. I hope what I use may help someone else.

Drag Series: Pop of lip

So one of the benefits of knowing how to do makeup is that when you get bored you just start to grab all the palettes you have, wash your face, and hack at it. One night, I wanted to try and do a extreme smokey eye. So I washed my face, applied moisturizer and then remembered that I had a primer that I just purchased that I wanted to test out. So I did my foundation and then decided...screw it.. this is going to be something drag-ish. Then in the middle of applying eyeshadow I remembered that I purchased some HUGE lashes from Red Cherry and I was like.. OH YES!

Products I used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Mac Painterly Paint pot

Mac Silverthorne Eyeshadow

Coastal Scents 88 Metal Mania palette

Mac Carbon Eyeshadow

Loreal Liner Intense Carbon Black Liquid Liner

Estee Lauder brow powder

Red Cherry Eyelashes #201

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 310

e.l.f Blusher and Bronzer Duo

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Stormy Pink 011

What I wanted to end up doing was a pop of pink. I am still in the hunt for a good pink since I am not a fan of matte lipsticks.

One thing I noticed when I did this look is that, when you apply a highlighter to your face...you can really see it in photos and it makes a HUGE difference. 

Enjoy,

Carlos

Birthday Blog (late)

I believe that my 21st birthday is going to be the most memorable. I've never felt so much love and so much attention from friends. Its the best feeling in the world, without a doubt. I received some amazing gifts from family and friends.

So I have been talking about getting the MUFE HD setting powder for ever. Marcie can totally agree with me when I say that I talked about it almost all the time. The problem that I always came across was that I could ever find a good enough reason to purchase it. This past holiday season, MUFE came out with gift sets and one of them was a set of all of the most popular items from the line. I received this gift from Marcie and I almost cried...well I did tear. I couldn't believe it. I finally have it!

It's called the MUFE Rock For Ever Best of Make Up For Ever. I don't know how to thank her enough. This is super cool. It comes with the HD powder, HD Primer, Sens'Eyes, Smokey Lash Mascara, and Aqua Eyes Black Eyeliner. 

I can't wait to try the powder. Maybe by the end of this week, I will have everything testes and give my first impressions.

I hit target with my sister later that night and I saw the new Cover Girl lipsticks. They are called the Lip Perfection Lipstick and the company claims that it creates smoother lips in 7 days. So I liked the packaging and I decided, wth..it's my birthday and purchased one.

I got the color Spell Bound and it is a really pretty fuchsia color. When I swatched it on my hand I noticed right off the back how creamy and pigmented it was. 

My only concern about it is the longevity of the lipstick. Other than that...bravo Cover Girl.