Are You Stuck in A Makeup Rut? How To Update Your Look

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut with your makeup. We’re all guilty of too much continuity in our daily look. When you have the same makeup look for months, or even years, you begin to feel lifeless and bored. Well, at least I do. If you’re fine with your repetitive look, more power to you. If you’re feeling too much monotony and want to change it up a bit, I’m going to tell you how.

When changing up your look, you may not want to change everything overnight. Do what you feel comfortable with. It’s best to start off by changing one or two things, and you may find that’s all you need to update your look.  Here are the 3 main items that I suggest you can change to give you a renewed look:

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1. Eyeliner

Switching up your look could be as simple as changing your eyeliner. If you always use a dark brown, try black. If you always use black, try a deep, navy blue. More color options are deep plums, bronze, or white eyeliner for your lower waterline. A color I recommend everyone to try is navy blue. While this may frighten some, it actually looks gorgeous when applied. Navy blue helps to brighten the whites of your eyes, making your eyes appear whiter and more awake. This color looks good on every skin tone and all ages. Here are two of my favorite navy eyeliners:

Chanel Marine Long-lasting Eyeliner

MAC Fluidline in Waveline

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2. Lipcolor

Lipcolor is the easiest thing to get stuck in a rut with. In my years at the cosmetic counter, I cannot count the times women would come in and tell me they had been using the same lipstick for over 10 years! Oh, and heaven forbid you tell them their favorite color was discontinued, you might get verbally assaulted! The bottom line is, your favorite lip colors will not be around forever. If every cosmetic company kept every lipcolor they had ever made, they would have to have a Clinique store the size of Central Park.

My advice is to go to a makeup counter and try on 3 different shades every year. Everyone needs a summer color, fall color and everyday color. Trying a shade on is the best way to see what looks good on you. Also, don’t be afraid of color! If you would love to wear deep red lipstick, but are too afraid or think it doesn’t look good on your skin tone, then experiment with a deep plum color. Everyone has a shade that looks great on them. You just have to find it. Here is a gorgeous shade I will be wearing to update my look this fall:

NARS Afghan Red

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3. Foundation

Foundation comes in all different finishes: Matte, sheer, satin, luminous, full coverage, etc. Play with different finishes or coverages. For example, I used Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation for years. I started to feel like I wasn’t getting the coverage I wanted anymore and I was looking dull. I switched back to a liquid foundation and my skin looks renewed and rejuvenated. I don’t know if it’s proven or just in my head, but I feel like my skin adjusts to my foundation, just like what happens with skincare or shampoo. I’ve noticed my skin looks best if I switch up my products from time to time. With that being said, a simple switch of your foundation can give you a whole new look. The current foundation I’m wearing and loving is:

LORAC Natural Performance Foundation

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If you’re stuck in a makeup rut, you don’t have to have a complete makeover and spend hundreds to update your look. A simple change of a key product in your routine can do the trick!

Do you ever get stuck in a rut? What are you going to change in order to update your look?

How To Wear Makeup Without Looking Like It

As a makeup artist, you might think that I wear a ton of makeup. The answer is no. I love to wear my makeup so that it covers my flaws, but I still look like myself. The best way to describe it is, I like to look like the best version of myself. I think creating the perfect makeup look all starts with the skin. Use a good skincare routine and become diligent about taking good care of your skin and you’ll be on your way to your best makeup days ever. In order to achieve the, “I’m wearing makeup, but don’t look like it” look, you have to start with the basics of skincare. You can find out all about my skin routine here.

There are certain products you need to use to look like you have effortless, impeccable skin. If you’re wondering about the type of look I’m talking about, here it is:

I’m absolutely obsessed with Lauren Conrad’s makeup style. She is such a minimalist when it comes to her makeup. She looks casual, chic and cool. If you think for one second though that she just isn’t wearing makeup and is blessed with naturally radiant, flawless skin, you’re wrong. She is absolutely wearing makeup. She has just mastered how to apply it without looking like pancake face.

I’m going to show you the necessities to master this look. Even though it may look like Lauren just has a little lip gloss and eyeliner on, there is actually quite a bit more that goes into achieving this look. Here are the things you will need:

1. Foundation:

You have to achieve an even skin tone and hide your imperfections. Start with a foundation that gives you the amount of coverage you need. You don’t want to choose one too heavy, otherwise you risk losing the all-natural look we’re going for. Try a few samples from Sephora to see what works for you and what you feel comfortable with. Recently I’ve been on a foundation sampling frenzy and I’m currently loving this foundation from Lorac. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage for my skin.

Lorac Natural Performance Foundation, $36 at Ulta

2. Bronzer:

Lauren has a bronzed look to her skin, but it’s not too over the top. You need to create a little contour to your skin. Sweep some bronzer on your forehead, cheeks and jawline. I’m in love with this bronzer from NARS:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Sephora

3. Highlighter:

Highlighting is the key to giving your skin back the radiance it naturally emits. Dust a highlighter on top of your cheekbones to give your skin the radiance you see celebrities with in pictures. Everyone wants this look. I call it the J. Lo glow:

Who wouldn’t want to look like this?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, $34 at MAC stores

4. Eyeliner:

Eyeliner is something I have mixed feelings about. Everyone always thinks it’s strange that I NEVER line my bottom lash line. This is actually my secret to looking like I’m not wearing a lot of makeup. I love the definition that lining my top lid gives me, but once I put it on the bottom I feel like the whole look of my makeup changes. It looks like voilà, I’m definitely wearing makeup. If I’m doing a smokey eye though, I’ll definitely line underneath. If you notice in the picture, Lauren only has liner on the top. They have applied a bronze shadow underneath to give it a glowy feel. I love powder eyeliners because they tend to look a little more natural and you can get them really close to the lash line. Here is one of my favorites from Bare Escentuals:

Bare Minerals Powder Liner Shadow in Onyx, $14

5. Groomed Brows:

Groomed brows help to make you look polished. Make sure you remove any stray hairs. You can do this in form of waxing, tweezing or threading. My absolute favorite brow gurus are Anastasia of Beverly Hills. They have this counter at your local Nordstrom. They shape your brows into the perfect shape for your face. They’re wonder women! Unless you are blessed with perfectly full, shapely brows, you may need to fill them in a bit. I prefer a powder, over a pencil,  to fill in my brows because I think it looks more natural.

Anastasia Brow Powder, $22 at Nordstrom

6. Lips:

Lips are the finishing touch for this look. Unless you put something on your lips, you don’t look completely finished. Apply a gloss, or a nude lipstick. Here is one of my favorite nude lipsticks. You can also find it featured in this post:

MAC Lipstick in Honeylove, $15 at MAC stores

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What do you think about the minimal makeup look? What celebrity do you think wears this look the best?

How Often Do You Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

** UPDATE: **

A pin is going around on Pinterest that says to soak your brushes for 20 minutes in vinegar. I do NOT suggest this. Unfortunately someone pinned this with the wrong information that came from a readers comment on this post. This could potentially damage your brushes. You do not want to use anything besides shampoo that is formulated for makeup brushes. I hope none of you have been misinformed. Please read and follow my method below. This is the best and safest route to clean those brushes of yours! The best of luck and happy cleaning!

Cleaning your makeup brushes is one of the most crucial, yet overlooked, tasks that should be done regularly. Cleaning your brushes is important for multiple reasons. First of all, brushes are an investment. It has taken me years to build up my brush collection and we all know they aren’t cheap. Quality makeup brushes can range in price from $5 to above $50. It’s important to take care of them because they should last you years, maybe even a lifetime if you take care of them properly. Another important reason your brushes need cleaned regularly is because they collect bacteria. If you’re prone to acne this is especially true. If you don’t clean your brushes you are only continuing to spread bad bacteria that can cause breakouts. And finally, if you’re not cleaning your brushes you will not get the optimum results from them. A brush packed full of makeup isn’t going to do the job it was designed to do. Here are the steps to take when cleaning your brushes.

1. Find a makeup brush shampoo. I’m currently using Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo by Bare Escentuals. I absolutely love this product because it conditions your bristles and is free of skin-irritants. It also removes every last bit of makeup from your brush. For a budget-friendly option, use a mild baby shampoo such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Next, add a quarter size amount of your shampoo to a cup of lukewarm water and swirl your brush around in the water for a few seconds. Be careful not to submerge the metal part (ferrule) of your brush into the water, which can loosen the glue of the brush.

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2. Rinse out your brushes with lukewarm water, squeeze out the excess water, and make sure they are smoothed out into their original form. Lay your brushes on a towel flat to dry overnight.

For some brushes, such as lip and eyeliner brushes, I will also clean them with alcohol and then shampoo them for extra cleanliness. Some people would tell you not to do this, but I like to make sure my brushes are extra clean. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to shampoo your brushes, another great product to use is Quick Change also by Bare Escentuals. This is a very quick-drying cleansing spray that removes the pigment out of your brushes and sanitizes them. It leaves your brushes smelling great too! If you’re a makeup artist, it’s a great product to use in between clients.

Makeup brushes that are used for personal use should be cleaned every 2 to 4 weeks. Make sure to follow these steps and you’re on your way to clean, better performing brushes that will give you optimum application results. You might even see a difference in your skin too!

Do you clean your makeup brushes regularly?

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2

I have so many favorite summer makeup products that one post just wouldn’t cut it. Here are the rest of my essentials for long-lasting and flawless summer makeup:

1. Tinted Moisturizer:

A tinted moisturizer can completely replace your foundation if you’re comfortable with a sheer coverage. I, on the other hand, still use a light coverage foundation on top of my tinted moisturizer because I have minor skin imperfections. If you are blessed with great skin, a tinted moisturizer is all you will need in the summertime. Tinted moisturizers do exactly what they sound like they do. They tint the skin, covering discolorations slightly, and moisturize. If you decide to strictly use a tinted moisturizer, make sure it has a high SPF of 30+.  A  great money-saving trick I love is to use your daily foundation and your daily moisturizer and mix equal parts together to make your own version of a tinted moisturizer. It works just as well. I have finally found the ultimate tinted moisturizer I’ve been searching for:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $42 at Nordstrom

This moisturizer gives great coverage, while still letting your natural skin show through. I absolutely love the texture and feel of it. It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and not tacky, like some tinted moisturizers tend to. It has a long list of luxurious ingredients that actually help to improve your pigmentation after 4 weeks of use. I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers and this one exceeded all of my expectations, so it will stand alone on my list of favorites. In fact, this product is so good that it’s what Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the Golden Globes this year.

2. Bronzer:

It wouldn’t be summer without bronzer. Summer is the only time of the year you can get by with looking like a bronzed goddess without being questioned if you just came back from an exotic vacay. With that being said, bronze away! While the sun is one of my favorite things, I prefer not to lay out in it because of its harmful effects, so I definitely put my bronzers and self-tanning creams to good use in the summertime. One of my least favorite things in a bronzer is one with an underlying orange tint. If you’re trying to be cast as the latest Jersey Shore housemate these bronzers are NOT for you:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Department Stores

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa, $29 at Sephora 

Bare Escentuals Warmth, $19 at BareEscentuals.com 

3. Bright Pink Lips:

Bright pink and fuchsia lips happen to look amazing with muted down makeup and luminous summer skin. In the summer, keep it easy and choose one focus point or just keep everything simply neutral. My lovely cousin Arantha, author of the blog Gourmet Beauty, recently did a post on fuchsia lips. You can view her favorite colors here. One of the colors she has recently recommended on her blog has become one of my new daily favorites!  These colors are very stylish and fun this season, so give them a try!

Nicki Minaj for MAC Viva Glam, $14.50 at MAC stores

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink, $8.99 at drugstores

4. Finishing Mists

I am in love with finishing mists. One of my favorite things about them is they feel refreshing, like you’re giving thirsty skin a drink of water.  They  set your makeup and give it staying power. It’s Indy 500 week here in Indianapolis and for those of you that don’t know, that means a long, 90 something degree day in the direct sunlight. My makeup has to withstand the heat and also last for hours. These products will help it to do just that:

Urban Decay All Nighter, $29 at Sephora

MAC Fix+, $20 at MACCosmetics.com

Are there any essentials you must have for summertime? Everyone have a safe & happy Memorial Day!

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 1

In the summertime I’m all about quick and easy makeup that will last all day without making me look too “made up”. Summer is a time when you want your skin to look fresh and luminous. What I love about summer makeup is my routine is cut almost in half! This leaves me a lot of other time to get stuff done, such as laundry web surfing. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity and high temps in the summer. I need my makeup to last (and look good) from the time I put it on to when I wash it off at night. This can be hard to achieve but with the right products and routine seen below, you will be on your way to long-lasting, fresh-faced, summer beauty.

1. Primer

Primers are specifically made for either the face or eyes. A primer helps the longevity of your makeup. It creates a smooth surface for applying your foundation or eye makeup.

A facial primer not only helps to reduce the appearance of your pores, it also helps to control oil and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re using a face primer, a little goes a long way. You usually only need one pump, if that.

An eye primer keeps your shadow adhered all day long and also keeps it from creasing. It also works to the benefit of the eyeshadow by bringing out the true pigment in the shadow. I would consider an eye primer a staple in anyone’s makeup collection, but if you’re someone with oily eyelids then a primer is an absolute necessity. When wearing foundation or eye makeup in the summer, I definitely recommend trying one of the following:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer, $23 at BareEscentuals.com

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer, $34 at Sephora

2. Neutral Eyes

Think beachy and bronzed…and J. Lo. Summertime is when you can get away with minimal eye makeup, so use it to your advantage. The great thing is you don’t have to be makeup savvy to create a look. I usually keep it simple with one light, shimmery color all over the lid. For evening, pop another color into your crease and you’re good to go. Here are some of my favorites.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, $50 at Sephora

MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch, $15 at Nordstrom

Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar, $14 at Nordstrom

3. Peachy Cheeks

When I think of light, fresh makeup I think of peachy-pink cheeks. You want a shade that gives you a natural-looking flush of color. The focus point shouldn’t be on your cheeks. You just want a pop of blush that gives you that little pick-me-up, making your finished look polished.

NARS Orgasm Blush, $28

MAC Buff Blush, $24

Kirsten Dunst at Cannes Film Festival 2012. Summer makeup perfection.

What are your summer makeup essentials? Stay tuned for Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2.