makeup monday Archives - Gardening in High Heels

June 22, 2015

Summer-izing makeup

June 22, 2015

It is officially summer. That means it’s time to summer-ize the ol’ makeup routine. Usually I wait until it’s too late and I’ve already broken out more times than I can count from not lightening up for summer, but not this year! I’m only mildly in troubled skin water. I think it’s due to my massive love of face masks and Rodan + Fields products when I need to perk up my complexion.

Anyway.

I fully believe summer is the time to go lighter.

I’m looking forward to wearing very little makeup except for lashes and lips. Let’s face it, those are the only products that don’t entirely melt off my face in humidity despite priming underneath like I’m painting over a dark wall with a light color.

No matter what I end up putting on my face for the day, it all starts with SPF. I have a few different day moisturizers depending on what I feel like, but I always put on something with SPF.

Now that the SPF PSA is over, some other things that I always have in my arsenal in the summer includes:

Primer for eyes + face

Even if I’m just putting on concealer, I always put some primer on my face and around my eyes. Gotta give everything a fighting chance to stick around, right? Right now I’m using samples of Smashbox face primer and Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer.

Waterproof eyeliner and mascara

Let’s be real, most days I wonder why I even bother with eye shadow because within about an hour of being out of the house, it’s breaking down already. Typically I’ll do a wash of a gold or copper and focus on eyeliner and mascara. Use liquid or gel liner because it has the most staying power.

Sometimes I’ll try to be fancy and put on a colored liner for some fun, but when I have to get out the door, it’s a quick cat-eye look.

Mary Kay Liquid Eyeliner for a dark black line. NYC New York Color Big Bold & Precice Eyeliner. I know they say it’s bold, but I don’t think it’s as intense as some other black liquid liners.

And for lashes, it has to be Covergirl Clump Crusher, especially on the lower lashes. I used to get smudges under my eyes with anything I put on, but this is the cat’s pajamas. NYC Big Bold Angel Lashes Mascara has been a nice surprise. It very rarely will it transfer.

Bright, statement-making lipstick

Classic glamour in a red or orange-y red. Fun with a bright pink punch. Daring with an orange. I’m not afraid of color on my lips. I welcome it.

Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss in Pink Medium, Laqa & Co Lil’ Lip in Ring of Fire, MAC lipstick in Sail La Vie (LE, I’ve heard Revlon Vibrant Mandarin and Wet n Wild Purty Persimmon are close).

Light-coverage powder

I haaaate feeling like I have a ton of dirt on my face in the summer. Let’s face it, with the humidity and the sweat and the wind whipping up things…there’s a lot of dirt stuck to our faces. Enter: light coverage powder. Anything that will blur imperfections but not add the feeling of “stuff” on my skin is just the ticket.

I love MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (I’m Light Plus when not super-duper tan which I haven’t been since..college?) I’m also experimenting with Laura Geller Balance n Brighten.

Light reflecting powder

I know, I said I wasn’t putting a lot on my face, but light reflecting powder or some other highlighter is necessary to brighten under the eyes and add a little lightness to the face.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is what I’ve been using for years (almost daily) and I still am not done with the pot that I have. One of the best beauty investments. I also light Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders. I have the palette that came out and it adds a little extra glow.

Blotting sheets

You know that 2pm skin feeling? The one where you’re like…ugh I am a shiny hot mess and I just want to wash my face? That’s why I keep some blotting sheets around. Coffee filters work in a pinch. So do napkins. Just anything to get that shine and oil off of my face (and out of harm’s way of developing breakouts).

I’ve always carried Mary Kay Beauty Blotters with me and I instantly feel more presentable when I use them.

What is in your summer beauty arsenal?

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June 8, 2015

Be Bold: NYC New York Color Big Bold Review

June 8, 2015

I’ve been trying to get up earlier in the morning to get a jump on the day. I’m not sure how well it’s really working, but I love having more time to allow myself to transition into the day. I don’t know about you, but I always end up running five minutes late when I think I have so much time. Y’know, you think you have more time than you do and a situation were, “Oh I have so much time!” turns into, “Oh I hope there isn’t much traffic, I’m so late.”

So my morning routine has to be pretty quick and idiot-proof. This includes makeup.

I was so excited when I heard that Influenster was sending me a #NYCBigBold voxbox. I love how Katy made her box sound and I was running out of liquid eye liner – win win.

The lasting power on the Big Bold eyeliner and mascara is quite impressive. Trust me, I’ve been putting it through its paces. Long days at work, lunchtime walks, the works. I even wore it yesterday during the yard sale and only after I was sitting outside for 8 hours in heat and sweaty, swampy conditions did I notice a teeensy bit of flaking on the mascara and some creasing on the thicker part of the liner. I almost expected raccoon eyes that would scare away the customers, but no raccoon eyes for this gal.

I mean, I’m totally impressed with that, especially considering NYC isn’t one of the more expensive brands in the drugstore. And we all know expensive makeup equals better makeup. Totally.

The only thing I’m not a total fan of is the shape of the eyeliner applicator. I’m used to a long, flexible applicator like L’Oreal Lineur Intense or Mary Kay liquid liner.

what does totally rock about the eyeliner applicator, though, is that you really can get a super-thin, tight-to-the-lashes line for just a little definition in your look or you can really draw it on and make a bold statement. I want this to come in other colors!

I’m really starting to see NYC makeup in a new light. I would always buy their nail polish at Target when I was in high school because it was cheap and they have such a variety of colors, but I never tried the color cosmetics. After the lipstick in the Frosty voxbox and this set of eye products, I’m almost at a full face with NYC and I’m super cool with that.

What’s your favorite summer-proof eyeliner and mascara?

Influenster sent me the #NYCBigBold VoxBox for review. My opinion can’t be bought and it sure isn’t fake – these are my genuine feelings!

May 4, 2015

Never Have I Ever – Beauty Edition

May 4, 2015

The older I get, the harder it is to play Never Have I Ever. It’s also been quite a few years since I’ve had to play Never Have I Ever. Never have I ever had a Big Mac, broken a bone (knock on a huuuuuge pile of wood), operated a chain saw..

Today’s Blogger, May I prompt is Never Have I Ever. Since it’s Makeup Monday, I’m sharing health and beauty things that I’ve never done. When I was sitting down to write this, I realized there are a lot of things I’ve done when it comes to “beauty” stuff – I’ve waxed, dyed, permed, and just about everything in between.

Never have I ever…

Successfully teased my hair.

I have a Spornette Little Wonder and it’s great but I have no idea what I’m doing with it. I kind of just push hair around. It looks messy instead of..BAM look at my big hair don’t care, which is what I want it to look like.

Gotten a French pedicure

For the longest time, I always wore red polish on my toe nails. I can’t make up my mind when it comes to finger nail polish, but toe nails were always red. Finally, I managed to break out of that rut, but as experimental as I get with my nails, I can’t bring myself to do the French style on my toe nails. My little baby toe nail is soooo small, it would basically just be entirely white. And look weird.

Successfully used home wax kits

I’m Italian and as expressive as we are with our hands, our eyebrows are just as expressive. I have dark, heavy brows and they need to be controlled. So I figured I’d get an at-home wax kit and try to use that instead of tweeze. Fail. Fail all over.

I ended up getting about a quarter of my eyelashes stuck to the strip. I did not realize that before I pulled it off my face. I just realized how many waxing blunders I’ve made. I should just leave that to the pros.

And that’s all she wrote. This headache is getting worse the longer I concentrate. Time to zone out with Netflix and Parks & Rec. Leslie Knope heals all wounds.

What have you never ever done?

An InLinkz Link-up

April 6, 2015

Easter Hangover

April 6, 2015

Happy Monday, Gardeners! I didn’t want to NOT write something, but I also have nothing to write – it happens. I’m the first to admit it.

This weekend after spending a great time in Columbus (where #AngelicaAteColumbus hardcore), lunch with family, and running to prepare for the Pittsburgh Marathon (just the half, thanks), I didn’t get a post written for today.

If you’re missing a dose of my Monday beauty advice, check out my #LipStockChallenge on Instagram and Twitter – I’m rotating through my stash of lip products, one per day until I run out. Follow the fun and join in if you want to share your #lotd (lip of the day).

How was your weekend?

March 30, 2015

Spring clean: makeup organization

March 30, 2015

A few weeks ago, I spent ages (okay, a few hours) rounding up all of my makeup and sorting through it. I have a problem ~~hoarding all the makeup~~ seeing and storing what I have. I’ve been trying to do #365DaysofEmpties to lighten up my collection, but it’s still raging out of control, so I had to find a better way to sort and store things.

To get rid of what I had:

It pained me so much, but I asked myself these five questions. If it was old, I didn’t like it, and/or just hanging out for the sole purpose of hanging out, I did my best to get rid of it.

How old is it?

If you’re unsure if something is still good, check out this post to know when something is telling you, Hey, I expired. Or just do a search on Pinterest for “makeup expiration;” all of the recommendations are mostly the same.

Do I have this already in a similar shade?

If so, the older one or the one I like least has to go! If it’s a backup for a product I love and use, though, it’s definitely staying.

Could I give it to someone else?

If it’s a new product (or mostly new and has been cleaned properly) and I can give it to someone who will use it, I will! Anyone want to do a blog makeup swap?

Is it hanging around because I don’t use it and I feel bad throwing something away?

I’m so guilty of this. I can’t throw away something if it’s still usable, even if I don’t use it.

Is it half-finished and I just have to make a point to use the rest of it up?

Guilty of this, too. I can’t throw something away if it’s usable AND I still have product left to use.

To store what I have left:

What will allow me to use this the most?

I’m so guilty of “Out of sight, out of mind.” If I don’t see it, I’ll forget about it. So I pulled out a few of my favorite lip sticks/glosses and have them in their own holder outside of the sorted boxes of lip balm, stick, stain, and gloss. I just pick the color I want for the day and go without having to paw through endless boxes (or yesterday’s work bag). Then I’ll swap/rotate out weekly to start playing favorite with others and as the seasons change.

Can I group/store this with similar products?

I have a Quirky Zen Cosmetics from Jonathan that I love and was going to use for eyeliner, but I know liquid eyeliner should be stored on its side and I have pots of gel liner that wouldn’t fit. It doesn’t make sense to have eyeliner stored in different areas, so I use an empty Birchbox box to corral everything and the brushes stay in the Makeup Zen nice and neat.

Use what will work for you

Maybe you have an extensive collection and need more drawers/containers that I need. Maybe you only need a three-drawer container with one drawer for eyes, another for lips, and a final for face (at one time I could fit everything into a small storage tower like that. Oh the days).

Use what works for you. If a large organization project makes you shake, don’t do it! If you need clear drawers instead of closed boxes, go find them!

Try other sections of Target

I found a clear desk/mail sorter in the clearance stationery/desk supplies section. I was going to try using it for brushes and corralling small items. That didn’t work, so I figured out something else to do with it.

But my point here is to think in terms of other sections of the store. If the makeup caddies aren’t what you’re looking for, maybe another organizational section will have something you like. Or try a totally different store, like Marshall’s or even Staples. There’s nothing a little spray paint can’t make prettier!

Take unused items out of the collection

Weed out the new items that are waiting to get opened (like mascara, lip gloss, etc) to lighten up what is in the visible places. It also helps me to use up what is left in an old container before I move on to something new. I have a bad habit of wanting to use something the second I buy it. Even toothpaste. I’m like, “Yes, I want to try that Wintergreen flavor now!”

So by sorting unopened makeup into groups for eyes, lips, and face, I can take out exactly what I need (new blush? mascara?) without having to paw through everything and make a big~~ger~~ mess.