Change your lipstick, change your life.
It’s more than just a personal mantra, ladies. One of the great benefits of being a woman is enjoying the fun that is makeup. Now, a beautiful fresh face is a great way to take on the world, but that’s just not me. I love makeup – everything from my subtle go-to daytime look to a sultry smokey eye. Makeup has the power to change my mood and define who I want to be on a certain day.
Over the years I’ve experimented with my look. I’m always trying new products and brands. I’m on the never-ending search for the perfect mascara (HINT: it does not exist in a single tube). So, here are my all-time favorites that have stood the test of time.
Note: All opinions are my own and not a paid endorsement. My usual makeup routine takes 10-15 minutes in the morning while frantically making sure everyone is ready to get out the door.
Face
I have tried about 20 different types of concealer. Sticks, tubes, palettes. This one is my current favorite for under eye use. It’s light and creamy which makes it super to blend on the delicate under eye area. The wand makes placement easy. I usually apply and let it warm up on my skin before using a brush or ring finger to lightly blend. If I want a super polished look, I’ll use a beauty blender but I usually skip this step in the morning.
Bobbi Brown Weightless Powder Foundation
I’m not a fan of having a lot of makeup on my skin. I want to feel like my skin can breathe and right now I’m using this powder that I think you can only get at Sephora. The coverage is decent although I do wish it had an SPF.
Eyes
Charlotte Tilbury Uptown Girl Palette
I’m quickly becoming a Charlotte Tilbury superfan. I love her eye palettes. They come in coordinating shades for a day and nighttime look. I’ll use the lighter gray for an everyday look and add the darker for a bit more drama. The shadows are super soft and luxurious and I adore the “pop” color that has a lot of highlighters to give you extra sparkle for a perfect evening look.
Trish McEvoy Shadows in Rose Quartz & Sugar Plum
I first fell in love with Trish after trying several different makeup artists for my wedding look. I really can’t say enough about it. The shadows are great and really last – even without a primer. And who doesn’t want to skip a step? I also like that the more advanced user can build their own palette of favorites. Sugar Plum and Rose Quartz are directly from my wedding look and I still keep them in stock today. It’s my go-to for a sophisticated special look.
I’ve tried every eyeliner from drugstore brands to designer makeup lines. This one is my absolute favorite. My classic look involves a clean line with a crisp cat eye flick at the ends. This liner is more like a fine tip marker. It goes on smooth without pulling at the skin and stays put all day.
Ooooh mascara. It’s the absolute must-have essential but the perfect formula is so elusive. I have lost count of how many different mascaras I’ve tried. You name it, I’ve given it a test run. And I still haven’t found one perfect tube that lengthens, thickens and curls without flaking. Flaking is really my #1 pain point. No one wants extra dark shadows underneath their eye. Mac False Lash is my base mascara. I use it mainly to lengthen and define all my lashes. It’s my first and last coat.
The second (of three total) coats is this black mascara from Clinique. It’s really great for adding volume and thickness. The soft, thick bristle brush feels gentle on the eyes. It’s really a solid mascara.
Brown trends have definitely changed in recent years, but this brow gel from Anastasia is just perfect. I strayed and tried some clear options and even a powder at one point. But this has just enough tint to add the right amount of fullness. Plus, the formula is a miracle at keeping the most unruly brows in place. They’ve even perfected the wand so one side is thin for the precise ends of the brown and the other is thicker for fuller brows. I don’t even bother trying anything else – it’s worth the price tag.
Cheeks
An oldie but a goodie. I first tried this back in college and have come full circle back to it. I usually go for the powder but right now I’ve also got the liquid version. I’m still on the fence about which I prefer. Usually, I choose based on how much time I have to throw on some blush. But one thing is certain, the soft pink and warm gold flecks give the perfect sun-kissed touch on any skin tone.
Lips
I could do a whole post on lipstick alone. And Lord knows I have spent a small fortune in lipsticks, liners, glosses and balms. Lipstick is my favorite. If I’m having a bad day, nothing cheers me up faster than a new shade of lipstick. Charlotte Tilbury makes some beautiful lipsticks that are totally worth it. But right now my main concern is a lipstick that lasts all day. At my core, I’m really incredibly lazy and I want to put on lipstick in the morning and not have to think about it again.
My mom had been using Lipsense for years and every time I saw her, she’d try to get me to try it. I resisted – because I was young and stupid, what can I say? Hopefully, I can save you the trouble and tell you to try it now. It doesn’t have fancy packaging but I swear this stuff works. I put on the three coats in the morning with gloss and that’s it. It really lasts all day, through meals and never comes off on a cup or my teeth (ugh lipstick teeth are the worst). I’ve amassed about 10 different shades at this point and here are my favs:
- First Love – Perfect Nude for complex skin tones
- Apple Cider – Nude with a touch of pink
- Blu Red – The color that sold me. Reds are notoriously hard to find. Most end up pink or orange on me. Not this one. It’s perfection in a tube.
- Fire and Ice – Stole this one from my Mom (Sorry Mom! – not sorry). The color on the tube doesn’t do it justice. It’s a gorgeous berry shade that you can layer for a deeper color. It’s my favorite during the summer.
On the darker colors, I prefer to use their Matte Gloss but I find you do have to reapply during the day just to keep moisture on your lips. A good trick is to use the regular gloss underneath and the matte on top. For a smooth shine, I use the Orchid Gloss to add just a touch of pink and warmth.
There you have it. Time-tested, makeup addict approved. Love being able to share my favorites with you, and I’m always on the lookout for something new to try. Definitely, leave comments on any fantastic mascaras you’ve found.
Love,
Sara
Leave a Reply