Broke but workin’ it!

I’ve had a lot of friends who don’t always wear make up or are new to make up what they need. Everyone is different but there is a solid list of things I believe will get you through your day to day wit some room for making it fancy when you wanna. Let’s go.

First you need things to take good care of your skin. Don’t believe the hype that you have to use all these random products. No. Find what works for you.

Personally my skin is happy with a cleanser and some light moisture. I used to use toner and all that jazz but I found my skin broke out more often.

So you’ve got that covered now you want your pretty clean canvas to look fancy.

I believe you really only need a few products. If you’re face is prone to being shiny get yourself a pack of rice papers or a good translucent loose powder. If you’re not worried about coverage Cornsilk makes an excellent no color powder that sets very nicely. I’ve used their products for years and still stand by them as tops of drugstore products.

First, powder your face. I like to use a deluxe body puff like this one. If you prefer or it’s easier for you feel free to use a big fluffy brush. Like this one.

Now that you’re powdered what do you need?

This depends on how much time you want to take. For a very basic look use mascara in a shade darker than your natural lashes if they are blonde or black. Use the same (very carefully) to set your eyebrows in place and then BAM you’re done.

For something a little more adventurous find yourself one or two neutral eyeshadows. This can be a daunting process for a beginner but have no fear. What I did until I learned what worked for me and what didn’t was when I saw a color I saw in a magazine etc, especially if the model had similar coloring to me I’d take it with me to the drugstore and find something similar.

To be safe here are some guildlines.

If you are light complected or pale and don’t tan well consider a nice (shimmery perhaps) taupe or lighter brown.

Medium complected? A little tan or you tan easily try a more golden brown.

Darker complected? Brown skinned, try out an earthy bronze.

If you’re just starting out with make up feel free to use the little applicator. Brushes can come later. Follow the shape of your eye. Don’t try to reshape you don’t need to.

If your eyes are more round I think adding color all over the lid and a little bit above the crease, with mascara on looks fantastic.

Want to open up your eyes? Use darker colors sparingly.

Lips next. If you’re not a big lipstick fan and don’t know which gloss to buy I have a super simple solution that works for everyone. Buy yourself a Bonne Bell (you remember those) LIp Smacker in Dr. Pepper. Why? Because it’s moisturizing, adds a nice shine and bonus that flavor has just the barest reddish tint that if you use a lot of it all day gets a tad deeper.

If you’re ready to experiment with a shiny sheer wash of color I also love the Bonne Bell VitaGloss line.
These are almost always at a price that screams for experimentation and if you get a color you don’t like you’re only out a few dollars.

As you can probably tell I am a huge advocate for doing things on the cheap. Being fabulous does not have to cost you fabulous type money.

Other drugstore brands that have some fantastic colors and don’t cost your left pinky finger include:
Prestige Cosmetics. I have yet to find a drugstore you can’t find Prestige in. I absolutely recommend their lip glosses, nail colors and their liquid liners. Great stuff, great price.

And of course Wet N Wild.. How many of us as teenagers spent tons of money on these great cheap colors? Wet N Wild has updated and for the price is bar none the best deal going. Their nailpolishes are great, they have some amazing colors to play with. You can try out an entire new look from eyes to lashes to lips to nails for under ten dollars in product. That my friends is the deal of the year. I have also tried some of their retractable lip pencils and they are great. Last well under gloss and are very pretty.

In closing darlings, let’s go over the basics.

Keep on hand mascara, one or two eye shadows and some lip stuff and you are good to go.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money.

And beauty is an adventure don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Reemember it’s not permanent and you can always take it off.

Until next time.

Ciao!

I ladies and gents am a huge mascara lover. I want big, bold super dark and maybe look fake kind of lashes. And I believe I have found my saviour. Benefit BadGal Mascara has it all. For years I have been searching various mascaras for that perfect blend of ease of application, thick dark formula and vaVOOM eyelashes.

I have two tests for mascara to determine how much I like them. Two very simple looks that will tell me all I need to know.

The first is a classic cat eye done with liquid liner close to the lashes on top with a flick of wings at the outer corner of my eye. That is finished off with a matte face and if I am working a nice gloss or if I am going out a fabulous red or darker berry shade of lipstick. Classic and simple.

My want in a mascara with this look is to not have my eyelashes disappear into my eyeliner. I want big spikey WOW lashes. Bad Gal delivers.

The second test is actually a simpler look, I will use a sheer shimmer color on my entire eyelid and go bananas with the mascara. I like a good sheer sparkly white or cream and/or lately I’ve been getting into pinkish shades. I want lashes that make my eyes pop despite the sheer lay of color. Bad Gal gets another A+.

I’ve tried and tested many brands here’s a sampling.

Lancome’s Flextencils. C. I was unimpressed with the brush, it seemed on the small side. Also the mascara itself at first seemed very thin and after about a month of use got quite dry. Also this product alone did not provide me with the promised 30 degree curl or any noticible length. However I will say if you are looking for a mascara to get a more feathery type look this one is a good pick. That is just not my taste in particular.

Maybelline Intense XXL. Absolutely one of my favorites. A two step design that delivers the promise. The white layer provides a primer and extends your lashes and the colored second layer is fantastic. The black is very very black even over the white primer and gives you big dark bold lashes. Well worth the effort of applying essentially two products. Also a fantastic value. Most drug stores carry this for less than 10$. This one is a winner folks.

Another Maybelline classic, Great Lash. Your Mom probably used this one, it has been a staple in many make up cases and drawers for a long time. Another one of my favorites. Why? Not because it’s insanely fabulous but it is reliable. The black is very dark, with enough of it you get giant lashes and what more do you need? This one is one to keep around just in case you lose your primary tube of mascara.

This next one absolutely broke my heart.

Chanel Extracils Super Curl Lengthening Mascara . I was absolutely not impressed. I know, you’re thinking “but Shannon COME on woman it’s Chanel, Chanel. Is. Fabulous. End of story.” And it wasn’t. I gave it a try but, given that it was Chanel I had very high expectations. It was a nice mascara. I wasn’t wowed and it broke my heart. I didn’t find it to be worth the money honestly. If you want fabulous I highly suggest getting the Maybelling mentioned above and hell while you’re at it buy yourself a lipstick for that price.

So that’s all for today.

Tomorrow, beauty staples for everyone. Not just beauty freaks like me. Also coming up this week I’ll discuss my own battle with dark pigmentation on my face and what I’m doing about it and how that’s working out.

Until then stay fabulous my people.