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?

The Lowdown on BB Creams

You’ve probably been hearing about BB creams every time you turn on the TV or open a beauty magazine these days. There has been a lot of hype about them, but also some confusion about what exactly a BB cream is and what they do. I thought I would break it all down for you and answer some of the most common questions people have about this new beauty phenomenon.

What exactly is a BB cream?

BB cream stands for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm”. These creams originated in Germany, where they were used by German dermatologists to help conceal and heal the skin after laser treatments.  Then, they gained huge popularity in the Asian market, where they have been used by women for years. Finally, they’ve made their way to the states. A BB cream is similar to a tinted moisturizer, but on steroids. It does all of the things a tinted moisturizer does, but it also has added benefits for the skin. This product is an all-in-one.  It’s a moisturizer, primer, SPF and foundation.  If you choose, this product can eliminate 3 steps from your beauty routine!

How will my skin benefit from using a BB cream?

BB creams contain anti-aging ingredients and soothing botanicals that moisturize and soothe the skin. They have SPF with UVA and UVB protection, so they block your skin from harmful rays that cause premature aging. They also contain antioxidants which help to protect the skin from free radicals. Brightening agents are also thrown in, which help to give the skin a luminous appearance. Some BB creams actually can help to treat acne and heal past scarring.

What type of coverage will I get from a BB cream?

BB creams give you slightly more coverage than you would achieve from a tinted moisturizer. You can apply a bit more in problem areas for more coverage. They are perfect for that easy-going summertime look because they give you natural, luminous coverage.

What skin types can wear BB creams?

Most BB creams are formulated for all skin types. It really is dependent upon how much coverage you want to achieve. Personally, I need and also prefer a bit more coverage, so this would be something I would wear to the pool or a casual day when I’m running errands. It would be perfect for someone who has minor skin imperfections. It really evens out the skin tone making the skin look absolutely flawless.

What are some BB creams you recommend?

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, $39

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Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm, $32

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Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, $39

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Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream, $13

Have you tried any BB creams? What did you think about them?

Favorite Friday: Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

This Friday, I decided to feature one of my favorite products that you can find at the drugstore. I typically never buy drugstore foundation because I find it extremely difficult to just guess what shade I should buy, hoping it gives me the coverage I want. I love being able to test a shade on my skin before I buy it. A few months ago, I completely ran out of foundation and was unable to run to Nordstrom to get the brand I typically use. I went to the drugstore and picked up this foundation. (My Mom had told me she had used it before and it was really great, so of course I trusted her opinion!) I was reluctant to buy it because I couldn’t try it on and also because it was from the drugstore. I’m not going to lie, I have been known to be somewhat of a foundation snob. I will use mounds of anything else from the drugstore but when it comes to what I’m actually putting on my face, I’ve always been a little skeptical. I have always believed you probably need to pay a little more to get good coverage, good ingredients and something that won’t break you out. You can probably credit that to the fact that I worked around high-end cosmetics for years and this is how I was trained. Trying to get me to convert to a drugstore foundation from my Laura Mercier foundation was kind of like trying to convince a man who drives a Mercedes that he needs to go test drive a Pontiac Aztec. Ok, that was a little drastic. Here is my favorite thing this Friday:

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Revlon PhotoReady Foundation, $10 at drugstores

This foundation converted me. Ok, I’ll admit it: Good foundation really can come in small, wrapped up packages, that you can’t open until you get home. This product gives a medium coverage that is also buildable. What I like most about this foundation is that my skin still looks like skin after I apply it. I don’t look shiny, but I also don’t look matte. It blends easily, goes on smoothly and leaves my skin with an enhanced radiance. It has yet to break me out and it looks great in photos. The shade I am currently using is called Natural Beige. Revlon also just came out with a NEW PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse and I cannot wait to try it. Not only is PhotoReady a great product, it’s only $10. This is department store quality at a drugstore price. You can’t beat that!

Have you ever tried PhotoReady? What’s your favorite drugstore foundation?