Monday, June 10, 2019

LET'S TALK...MAKEUP.


When I opened up my IG stories a few weeks ago for y'all to ask some questions I got a lot of random ones (which I loved) but I also got a lot about the makeup that I use and/or if I could give a tutorial.  Let me stop right there and say that I'll most likely never be doing any kind of video tutorial.  Like ever.  I don't feel worthy, I hate my voice on camera and feel like I'd do you a much bigger favor by pointing you in the direction of people who give ME tutorials. 😂 (Here's a great one.)


So instead, I figured I'd go ahead and show you some of my favorite makeup products.  Some of these I use on a daily basis and some I only bother with when I want to give it a little more effort.  You'll also find that I'm not afraid of the good ole drug store finds.  Revlon, Maybelline, NYC.  Super cheap to super expensive.  I seem to have a little of everything.

Foundations are one of those examples.  I love Clinique's Superbalanced Silk Makeup.  It glides on beautifully and gives me a nice smooth finish and evens out my skin tone.  It also allows for a little glow since it's not a matte foundation and it helps absorb excess oil from any trouble spots that show up throughout the day.


But, when I ran out a while back and went to reorder my color from the Nordstrom website, my color wasn't available.  So I ran up to CVS to see what they had to hold me over until I could go into Nordstrom and find a new color.  I came out of CVS with a new fave!!

I have been wearing this Revlon ColorStay Foundation in the Natural Finish for a few months now and I love it!  It helps cover my flaws (and there are a lot of them) and is probably classified as "medium coverage".  They also have this same foundation just with a matte finish but I haven't tried it yet.  I may run out and grab some this week just to see the difference.  But I LOVE this foundation.  In the winter, I wear 220/natural beige and I've just switched over to the 250/fresh beige.  


And I can't vouch for the full 24 hours of wear it promises because I never go to bed with my makeup on but it does last so much longer than the others I've tried before.  

ALSO, I use THESE to apply my foundation and they are the best!  I love the flat end for smoothing it on and the pointed in for around my nose.

As for concealer, I have 2 favorites.

The Tarte ShapeTape Concealer is basically a cult classic now and is just so good.  I love the big wand and the way it glides on so smooth.  It doesn't crease throughout the day (but, just FYI, everyone's skin is different so keep that in mind) and it stays on really well.  It also dries pretty quickly so be sure to dab it on then smooth it out fast before it dries. It doesn't like to budge!  (Which is a good thing!)


I just switched to the light-medium one for summer (the one showing is "light") and ordered it through Amazon.  It was a few dollars cheaper than ordering through Ulta and I got free shipping plus it came the next day.  Not all colors are cheaper on Amazon though so if you know your color, you might want to check it out on both places to see where you can get the better deal.
(Amazon HERE and Ulta HERE)

I also wear this under-eye brightener under my concealer for a little extra help in the dark circles department.  I've been showing y'all this for a couple of years now and I still wear it every.single.day.  Even my mom was convinced after trying mine.  It really helps brighten up your eyes, ladies!

As for my everyday blush/bronzer/highlighter, I have been using a Bobbi Brown palette I got from last year's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale almost exclusively.  These palettes sold out pretty quickly but here are the colors I use.


Highlighter/Illuminating Bronzer: similar HERE  or HERE in Santa Barbara (top right)

There are two really great bronzer duos on sale though right now that you might want to check out!  Honestly, a good bronzer duo is all I really need.  A pink and a brown.  Done.  ;)  See those HERE.

And before I got this palette, I was using the Nars bronzer and blush...both are fantastic!!  I think I may start reintroducing them into the lineup for the summer.  



Let me say this.  The Nars "Orgasm" blush is probably the most popular blush EVER from what I can tell.  It's all over beauty blogs, vlogs, magazines, on celebrities... It's a color that looks good on pretty much everybody apparently.  I really like it too BUT, for my skin tone, I need more of a deep plum.  The Dolce Vita (and the Desert Pink from my Bobbi Brown palette) are just much better colors on me.

Moving on to...EYES!!  My favorite!!

I have pretty long eyelashes naturally but am also a fan of lash serums.  I've used a couple of different ones.  Both of which started working within days and I literally couldn't tell which one was better.  (R+ F serum and Revitalash.)  I use them now a couple of times a week to maintain their current length.  They are expensive, yes, but so worth it, ESPECIALLY if you have short lashes.


Here are a few in all different price ranges.

Now that we've covered that, let's talk MASCARA.  I have had many favorites over the years.  I even had a post HERE that was all about mascara.

I am the same way about my mascaras that I am with my foundations.  Drug-store brand or high-end.  It doesn't matter as long as it WORKS.

But for the past year or so, my absolute hand-down favorite has been the Lancome Monsieur Big mascara.  I LOVE IT.


This was even my number 1 pick in my 2018 All-Stars post.  (That's a fun read if you have time!)  It makes your lashes long, thick and beautiful!  I get DMs about my eyelashes a lot and I always tell you girls the same thing.  Lash serum and Monsieur Big.  Done and done.  ;) (Psssst:  Monsieur Big is currently 15% off with free shipping HERE.) 

My second favorite though is Chanel's Le Volume de Chanel.  


I was actually introduced to this one when Cameran from Southern Charm mentioned on Instagram that she uses it.  And I've loved her lashes since her Real World days!  (Y'all remember that she was on the Real World San Diego, right?!)

Related image

I don't know if she still uses Chanel but I know she does use Revitalash.  Check out those gorgeous lashes!  #goals

And if you're wondering my favorite drugstore brand mascaras, I've got to go with Maybelline Volume Express The Rocket and Maybelline The Colossal Cat Eyes mascara.

For eyeliner, I've been using this Maybelline Waterproof Gel Eyeliner.  It's definitely different than anything I've used before but I really love it.  I feel like it gives me a little more control than a pencil does.  You can use it on your waterline too without it going anywhere.

Image result for maybelline gel eyeliner

And as far as eyeshadows go, I'm just not picky.  I tend to stick to neutrals and honestly, I can't tell the difference between the ones that are $4 and the ones that are $20.  🤷‍♀️

I do love the Urban Decay Naked Palettes though!  The Naked3 Palette is currently 15% off right now too (with free shipping!).  

 Naked3 Palette, Main, color, NAKED3 PALETTE
As for lips, I've been stuck on the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink for months now.  They go on like a creamy lipgloss but dry to a matte finish and last all day.  They don't dry out my lips like LipSense tends to do (as much as I love LipSense colors) so that's also a plus.



I wear Dreamer and Seductress when I'm casual but will swipe on Lover when I'm feelin' fancy. ;)

You can see all the colors HERE and they even have a 15% off clickable coupon with them right now that can disappear at any time.

As for lip glosses, I started using Butter Gloss after I posted it to my Daily Deals page when they were down to just $2.99 and I love them!  They smell yummy and they are just the perfect combo of color and shine.  

From left to right (above) and top to bottom (below): Vanilla Cream Pie, Angel Food Cake, & Eclair


 I use this translucent powder when I'm feeling too shiny and a setting spray when I know I'm going to be out all night and want my makeup to stay in place.  And that's pretty much it, friends.

So now, I feel like I have to also mention the best way to REMOVE your makeup.  Last year, I tried the Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm and I fell in LOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE.  I tried the little travel size/starter pack so this was the small size but it lasted me a long time!


If you've never tried a cleansing balm (as opposed to your regular cleanser that lathers), it is a little odd at first but oh it's so heavenly too!  It looks like a soft wax or butter but when your fingers touch it, it starts to melt instantly into an oil.  And I've always been scared of oil products on my face because I thought they'd break me out.  But it's the total opposite!  The oil just DISSOLVES your makeup along with all the other dirt and oil and yit feels like a spa session.  I massage it into my skin for about 30 seconds, get one of those awesome mircofiber washcloths wet with hot water and wipe it all off.  It gets every last stitch of makeup off your face and leaves it feeling so soft, so fresh and so clean.


After I ran out of my little sample size of balm, I was on a mission to see if I could find something that was just as good but wouldn't cost quite as much.  Because it's not cheap, friends.  After a lot of searching, I decided to give these 2 a try.  And here's the verdict.


The Ponds Cleansing Balm (above, left) was the cheapest and could be found at Walmart, Target, CVS (I'm guessing) etc.  It was nice.  But it basically felt like coconut oil and left my skin feeling a little tight.  The price was great but it couldn't hold a candle to the Colleen Rothschild balm.  So I moved on to...

Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (right).  (*15% off right now with free shipping.) Now this one was much better and much closer to the CR balm.  It melted nicely and really did take off all my makeup and clean my face.  The main thing it was missing was the smell. The CR balm has a nice, fresh smell. The Clinique balm has no smell.  Boo.  HOWEVER, it is so much cheaper than the CR balm.  This is a fantastic second option that won't break the bank.

I have oily/combination skin and my skin has been clearer and smoother than it's been in years.  I use it in the morning when I wake up with an oily T-zone and it just melts away the excess oil and leaves my face soft and fresh.

It's awesome.  I'll never leave it.  Seriously, the first time you touch it, you'll be hooked.  

Have you tried a cleansing balm yet?  If so, which one are you using?

Also, I'm open for more questions over in my IG stories (and highlights) if you have anything you want to ask me!  I'll be doing another Amanda Answers round soon and I'm loving y'alls questions!

And be sure to join us over in the Deals Group today!

Happy Monday!


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14 comments

  1. So many great finds!! I used to use that Shape Tape. I need to get it again because it really is a great concealer!

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  2. Okay, two things (I loved this post) first, you MUST try Farmacy- Green Clean Cleansing Balm- it's amazing (get at Sephora). It lasts forever, and is so easy to use. Second, to add to your lash routine YOU MUST try Cover Girl Lash Primer (comes in a white tube) (cheap on Amazon or anywhere like Target- Walmart). I NEVER thought a lash primer was a thing- but it makes a HUGE difference. Like BIG HUGE AWESOME lashes. Easy to use, too.

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    1. Thanks for the recs! I'll put them both on my list!

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  3. I'm pretty much obsessed with the CR balm, but I never pay full price. They often have some sort of special going on or I can find a 20 or 30 off coupon code! Right now they have BOGO 50% off, so I stocked up!

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    1. Yes! I saw that they had a BOGO 50% off sale and totally forgot to mention that!

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  4. I swear, eventually I'll break down and force myself to buy that Becca product...

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    1. Haha! It's really good and it lasts FOREVER. I think my first tub lasted almost 2 years and I wore it every day.

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  5. BryanaToy2:34 PM

    I am obsessed with anything from Primally Pure! They have a cleansing oil that is made with all natural products and works wonders for taking off makeup, etc. Their deodorant is also the only "clean" deodorant I have found that actually works for me! Jenna Kutcher typically has a 10% off code on her Instagram!

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    1. I've heard about their deodorant! I'll have to go check the rest of that stuff out too! Thanks!!

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  6. Karla Reyes12:29 AM

    I want to show you MK makeup!,,

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    1. I totally forgot to add my MK makeup primer to this list! But I love it!

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  7. I have recently discovered eyelash primer and love it!

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    1. I just bought some after one of the commenters above suggested it and it came in today! I can't wait to try it out!

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