LaRondezvous: MAC

When I find something or a routine that I like, I generally stick to it. This is especially true for makeup. I’m such a junkie and I love going through the trial and error process with products but when I find something I like, or love, I am elated. I probably own way too much makeup but here are a few of the products that I can’t get enough of these days, I've even been hesitant to add new products to this mix just because I love how these are working together. So without further ado, let me tell you what I’m loving. Also, I know this post is a little wordy but when it comes to makeup I like to know why a product works or doesn't work for someone, so pardon my ramblings. Also, I'm no expert, just a girl who really likes to play in makeup.

Primer:

Let’s start with the base. I haven’t tried a ton of primers, that’s one of the products that I research heavily before I purchase, which means I usually have pretty good success with the product. My first primer and one of my favorites is the Givenchy primer. I don’t know whether it’s the price or the product but it always made my face feel so luxurious. It’s an excellent primer for my oily skin, the price isn't my favorite but it’s actually worth the hype. I’m all out of Mr. Givenchy’s primer so I thought it was a good time to try something new. I had always heard good thing about Philosophy’s, The Present, Clear Makeup ,both from beauty gurus and makeup savvy friends. It retails for $29.00 which may seem steep but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Philosophy.com always seems to have some type of promotion or discount going on, so I got mine for $21.00. Philosophy products can also be found at Sephora and Ulta, but Philosophy.com usually has the best deal.

You get 2 oz. of product, the packaging is simple and clean, and a little goes a long way. After my face is clean and moisturized, I apply a fairly small amount. The product does take 2-3 minutes to set in, so I usually move onto my brows while I wait. If your skin is darker, it will probably look white and a little ashy but no worries, you’re going to cover that with makeup soon. After a few minutes, I apply my tinted moisturizer or foundation and I’m good to go. So far I've experienced great results with this bad boy, having oily skin and living in a humid swamp can truly put your makeup to the test. Okay, Memphis isn't really a humid swamp but it kinda is. My makeup lasts all day, my skin feels moisturized, the primer doesn't feel sticky or tacky, and it gives me an airbrushed finish. I am a very happy with this product.

Tinted Moisturizer:

On to the next layer. I have had quite the time finding the perfect foundation/tinted moisturizer/BB cream, most of the things I’ve tried are really close but this is makeup, not horseshoes or hand grenades. My oily skin and skin tone are usually the two things I’m most concerned with when selecting a product for my face. I have tried $6 products, $50 products, and everything in between; I’m always on the search for foundation perfection. I think I've found a Holy Grail product and I could not be more please. For the past few months I've been wearing the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and I LOVE IT! One day I went into Sephora looking for a new product and one of the associates pointed me in the direction of this gem. I originally tried the Oil Free formula in the color Mocha but I when I went back in search of something else, another associate told me that I’d been matched to the wrong color.

So, I quickly exchanged the Mocha for Walnut, and I haven’t looked back yet. Sephora was actually out of stock of Walnut in the Oil Free formula so I decided to try the original even though my skin produces enough of its own oil. I was a bit apprehensive; I usually look for anything that says “oil free.” Much to my surprise, I think that I prefer this formula. I don’t know why, but the original feels slightly more lightweight than its oil free counterpart. After my primer is all settled in, I take a small amount, and apply with a stippling brush or a foundation brush depending on how much coverage I want. I place a drop on the back of my hand and spray in 1 or 2 spritzes of Urban Decay’s DeSlick spray. This little technique has been a game changer for my oil slick, I mean face. The addition of the DeSlick spray also makes the product a tad more sheer which is great for those days when I don’t want a ton of coverage. I love this tinted moisturizer because it’s lightweight but buildable, the color selection is complementary to a lot of shades, and the staying power is superb. It is on the pricy side, ringing up at $43 but I definitely will be repurchasing it even with its nearly $50 price tag, so worth it in my opinion.

Concealer:

I rely on concealer a little more than I do foundation or tinted moisturizer, the concealer helps cover up dark spots which is the end game for me. I have two dark marks on the bridge of my nose from many years of wearing glasses with those little plastic nose rest things, you guys know what I’m talking about. I used to hate those things and years after I moved on to glasses without those little jokers, I’m still left with an ugly scar. Once again, I just like being dramatic. They’re really not that bad as far as hyper pigmentation goes but I still don’t appreciate them. I always think that I should get some Ambi Fade Cream or Cocoa Butter and work on lightening them but I never follow through. Maybe I will one day. Until then, I suppose I will have to cover them.

I've learned that concealer is just one of those prices I’m not going to be able to pick up from the drug store and just love. Drugstore brands generally have limited shade selections when it comes to concealer, which is especially problematic for my brown ladies. Make Up For Ever has a concealer that I really like but true to MUFE style, it’s $29. Since I rely more on concealer, I just can’t afford to spend $30 every time I run out, plus you don’t get very much in the little tube. It is an excellent product though, really made the areas glow. So, I've been using MAC's Studio Finish Concealer in NW45 and I love it. It gives me great coverage and covers my dark spots, it’s also $18 and you get plenty of product, I use it generously and I have yet to scratch the surface. I haven’t had much trouble with it separating or oxidizing throughout the day so that’s a big plus. On the really steamy days it likes to move around a little but I just whip out a brush and do some touch-ups.

Setting Powder:

As far as powder, I've had decent success, nothing that I've hated but also nothing that I've been crazy about. Since I usually don’t want a ton of coverage, I prefer a translucent setting powder. Once upon a time I used the setting powder that came with the Bare Minerals’ kit, then I tried some Revlon powder that was cool to the touch (both strange and cool), both were good but powder hasn't really ever excited me. Well I have found a powder that gets me a bit more excited. I've only been using the NYX HD Finishing Powder for a month or so now but thus far, things are looking good. I bought it on a whim before my friends’ wedding because I was all out of whatever I was using and since I was a bridesmaid, I knew we’d be taking a lot of pictures and I didn't want to be the only shiny faced girl. The product retails for about $10 at Ulta, Target, or NYX.com, which isn't a bad price in my book.

The formula is made with 100% pure silica minerals, which is supposed to make you look photo-ready. I can say that it does an excellent job of making my skin look smooth, my goal is always to look like a poreless wonder. The texture is also pretty wonderful, it is very finely milled and super soft, almost reminds me of the Laura Mercier Finishing Powder, almost. My only qualm with this product is the packaging. On the outside it looks clean, sleek, and sophisticated, but once you open it, you discover the ugly truth. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic but it could be better. I guess Bare Minerals spoiled me with their containers, they have this cool locking feature that keeps the powder from going all over the place. NYX should have gotten the memo from Bare Minerals because I am just waiting for the day when I am wearing all black and accidentally spill the powder everywhere and look as if I got into a fight with a box of chalk. I’m so afraid of spilling that I don’t even carry it with me during the day, I just leave it at home because I know it won’t behave itself. I guess I could stop griping and just put it in the Bare Minerals container but then what would I complain about?

Finishing Spray:

Some people will tell you that finishing spray isn't a necessity but for me it’s been a game-changer. It may have made such a difference in my life because as I said, I live in a humid swamp, and I have rather oily skin. I've been using Urban Decay’s DeSlick Spray and I have definitely noticed that my makeup lasts longer and I’m less oily throughout the day. I mix a little in with my tinted moisturizer or foundation, which gives me a more natural look. And once I’ve finished, I give my face a good spritzing. It also helps get rid of that “makeup” or “powdery” look; I never want to look like I have on a ton of makeup. The regular size is nearly $30 but I picked up the travel size for $14, you get a good amount of product and I like that I can stick it in my purse for touch-ups. And even though I have the travel size, it’s taken me nearly 3 months to finish the bottle and I use it every day, sometimes twice a day. If you have oily skin you can’t go wrong with DeSlick.

Blush:

Blush! I love blush. For the longest time I thought that black girls didn't wear blush, which was one of the many misconceptions I had about my brown skin and makeup. I am so glad that I have learned that anyone can wear whatever they want, as long as it’s complementary. In my opinion, blush usually takes things to the next level. Even as a brown skinned girl, I feel as if my face needs a little color especially after I've put on my face makeup, things can start to look a little one-dimensional and flat. Lately I've been loving MAC’s blush in Raizin and I seriously don’t think I've worn another blush in a month or two. It’s the perfect blush because it leaves just a hint of color but it’s also buildable for a slightly more dramatic look. I can’t say enough good things about this blush. I love that it’s a matte finish which is superb for my oily skin and this summer heat. I get plenty shiny on my own, so I tend to steer clear of shimmery blushes in the summertime, they just don’t always cooperate. The blush is $21 and can be found on at MAC Stores, counters, and MAC’s website. If you don’t try Raizin, I’d suggest trying any of the matte blushes; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Brows:

I don’t know why but my eyebrows have been in a state of rebellion lately and I’m not a fan. They can never manage to stay the same shape, I don’t expect them to be identical but I want them to look as if they belong on the same face, I really don’t think I’m asking for too much. Unfortunately I’m not one of those girls who is super good at “doing” eyebrows or whatever you call it. My brows are naturally very full, bushy even, so I don’t need to draw them on, I can get by with just a little eyebrow gel if I want. As far as shaping and maintenance goes, I usually get them threaded once a month depending on how they’re behaving. Since, they’re going crazy right now, I’m just letting them grow out and once they’re back to being full figured, I’m going to go to the Benefit Brow Bar at Ulta and have them work their magic. I've been there twice and I've loved it each time, they really know how to treat your brows, they spend a little more time than the threading ladies. As far as brow products go, I am keeping it simple these days.

Once upon a time, I used Anastasia products, they’re awesome, but that was in high school when I didn't have to pay for important stuff. So I decided to search for good products at a lower price. I don’t use a pencil all the time, I don’t really like how they look, never quite natural enough for me. But when I do use one, I use the NYX Slim Eye Pencil, it’s under $4 and it gets the job done. I really prefer the combination of a wax and a powder, it just looks more natural. The e.l.f. brow combo is pretty decent for its $3 price tag; the powder that comes with it is too light for me but the wax meets my needs. After I shape them up with my spoolie, I use an angled brush to smooth on some wax and then I proceed to fill them in with some powder. I've found that NYX’s Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Betrayal is the perfect color for me. It’s a dark brown and it’s not too light and not too dark. I also throw on some brow gel once I’m done, just to set everything in place and to take away any harshness brought on by the wax, pencil, or powder. I love the Pixi Brow Duo from Target, I have it in medium brown; it comes with a pencil but of course that’s too light for me. Target.com has it listed as $18 but I caught it on sale for $9, Target is a master of sales so it’s always possible that you could find it for cheaper.

Eyeliner:

I have quite the time with lining my eyes and I just don’t know why. Well I do know why, my eyes are two different shapes, which I know most people have to deal with. When I was a kid I had to have a sty removed from my right eye, it didn't really change my lid much but there is a small scar that makes applying eyeliner a task. Basically, I have to line each eye differently so they actually look the same; I guess it’s a small price to pay for not having that troublesome sty on my eye anymore. I love gel liner but I don’t always want to go through the whole thing with the pot and the brush, sometimes I don’t have time for that, scratch that, I never have time for that anymore. And I absolutely HATE pencil liners, I don’t know why my hatred is so strong but I just don’t like them at all. But the Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil is my Holy Grail of liners. It is unbelievably smooth, there is absolutely no tugging, and it just glides along. It has made my nightmare of lining my weird eyes much easier. I’m being dramatic again but the liner truly is a dream. It retails for $8 at Ulta and Ulta.com, but it’s frequently on sale and Ulta always has a coupon.

Eyeshadow:

I don’t wear much eyeshadow but I figured I’d mention what I do wear. I have never gotten into dramatic eyeshadow, I’ll do a smoky eye from time to time if I’m going out but other than that I don’t do much. Maybe it’s because my eyes are so small but it’s probably because I generally like really natural looking makeup. If I wear it, I’ll swipe on a light brown color or a dark brown. Really complex, I know. The dark brown that I’m loving is the same color I use for my brows, NYX’S NudeMatte Shadow in Betrayal. It’s a perfect nude shade for my darker ladies and the perfect nearly-black color for my fairer skinned friends.

Contouring & Highlighting:

While I don’t necessarily contour and highlight every day, there are a few products I love to use when I can squeeze it into my morning routine/want a more done-up look.

It took me a while to find a couple of contouring products that I like. Since your contouring color should be 2-3 shades darker than your complexion, it was hard finding a product in the drugstore since their ranges are usually limited, and I didn't really want to spend a fortune on a high end product since they usually have a better color selection. Luckily, after a lot of research on blogs and YouTube, I found the Sleek Contour Kit in Dark, and I have been in love ever since. I only paid $8.49 for the contour and highlight kit, which is a steal if you ask me and shipping was around $3.00, which is also a steal for international shipping. This kit is the only product I've tried from Sleek Makeup; I really think I haven’t bought more simply because I can’t decide what I want, well besides everything. The shipping time is also very reasonable, another major plus.

Now it also took me a while to find a highlighting shade that I really love but I've found a couple. The Sleek Contour Kit comes with a beautiful highlighting shade; the highlighting shade in the light, medium, and dark palettes are different, making them complementary to the contour color. In the dark palette, it’s a beautiful golden color; on my skin it adds the perfect color and warmth to brighten up the skin without making my brown skin look ashy. Even if I don’t contour, sometimes I’ll just pop this on my cheeks.

I also really like the Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer. It is not the same rich gold as the color in the Sleek Kit, it kind of walks the line between silver and gold. It’s the first silver-ish color that I’ve found that doesn't make me look ashy. That is very important to me, and other women of color, you want to look lit-from-within not washed out. I caught this on super sale from thebalm.com, it’s normally $24.99, but I purchased it for $12.49. Not bad at all.

So, you made it though this lengthy post, or you just scrolled to the bottom. Who knows? I hope you found something that might help, I know I'm always on the hunt for the best products without completely breaking the bank. Leave comments, ask questions, let me know what you think.

LaRondezvous

Thursday, December 12, 2013

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Friday, September 20, 2013

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Lip Color Edition