Current Beauty Favorites - Everyday Makeup Items

For those of you that know me (or even just follow me on social media) you know that makeup is my one true addiction. The beauty of makeup is the industry itself. Once you look at who's involved with the industry and who the faces are behind the products you're buying, you really get a sense of appreciation and gratitude for all of the hard work that goes into being a major (or even budding) makeup company. When I buy from any makeup brand that I know who the owners are, how involved they are with the products, and the dream they are getting to live everyday thanks to the buyers (us), I truly feel like I'm a personal part of their process and I'm buying product from a friend.

That being said...I have a lot of makeup. And I mean a lot. I appreciate makeup on a level much different than the average person. So, for those of you who don't care to try out numerous foundations throughout the year or don't know the difference between a brow wiz and brow definer, this is a list of one product (from a brand or as an individual) for each step I take to get ready. Basically, if I absolutely had to only pick certain items to use everyday for the rest of my life to get ready with, these would be the items from my favorite companies. Enjoy! 

Skin type: dry around my nose, oily chin, normal everywhere else 

Primer: BECCA backlight primer in Moonstone 

Not only does this make my skin glow for days, it really does make my foundation stay all day! As well as my highlight 

Foundation: Too Faced Born This Way 

At first this foundation made my skin break out and I was extremely unhappy but luckily, I stuck it out for the week and now it couldn't look more natural on the skin and I love the light to medium coverage! Bottle lasts me about 5 months. 

Concealer: Urban Decay Weightless Concealer 

Brightens my under eye, stops the shine on my chin, blends beautifully, and has never creased on me. A little goes a long way and has full coverage. I'm not asking for much more in a concealer. 

Setting powder: Tarte Smooth Operator

I loved this so much when I first bought it I decided to try using something else in case it was all in my head and nope, it's just really that good. It's truly translucent and other powders lay beautifully on it. If you put too much of it on, it can make your skin appear powdery. So just make sure to tap the brush.  Also the packaging made me so mad, I had a very hard time getting powder to shift through so I ended up having Michael break it so I can just dip, tap, apply. 

Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil  

Smells like chocolate, blends effortlessly, and it's so incredibly pigmented I'm pretty sure it's going to last me my entire life. A tap will do ya!

Blush: Makeup Geek Blush Pans

I don't have a favorite! They're ALL so beautiful, so pigmented, last all day on my skin, and the range of colors/pigmentation is unreal. Also, they sorted their blushes based off of what would be best for each skin tone which I think is really cool and helpful seeing as they're an online store and you can't search! 

Highlight: BECCA Pressed Highlights

If I want my cheek bones to glow like the sun, I reach for any of their highlights. It's a common opinion, so you don't have to trust just mine! Being as my first highlight was Champaign Pop, I'm quite spoiled with my expectations of highlighters. 

Brow: ABH Brow Definer & ABH Dipbrow Promenade 

I use the brow definer on the front half of my brow and the Dipbrow promenade for the tail end of my brow. Quick, easy, and a flawless finish.

Brow gel: Rimmel Lash Accelerator Gel 

I've wanted to scream about this product from the mountains for SO LONG! I know the name says lash but the packaging says you can use it on both! I did not have eyebrows before this bad boy happened to be on sale at Target. Fate? Yes I would say God decided at 18 it was time to give me brows. 

Eyeshadows: 

Don't hate me...but I have four.

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Makeup Geek

Buxom

Too Faced

The quality is unreal across the board and the color range is a tad overwhelming in the best way. 

Eyeliner: Wet & Wild Proline Felt Tip 

It will only last you about 3 weeks (if you use it everyday), the packaging breaks on me on occasion, but the precision and gorgeous black turnout you get from this bad boy is unreal. And at under $4, I won't complain. 

Mascara: (Currently) Smashbox Full Exposure

Favorite mascara's change frequently but this one doesn't clump my eyelashes, extends, is black as night, and holds the curl. So it gets a shout out from me.

Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter or MAC Fix+ 

One lets the sweat not even budge my makeup, the other smells like heaven and keeps my skin looking hydrated longer.

That's my list of top everyday favorites for now! I'll be sure to do a skincare post soon discussing why my skin feels firm, no longer has red patches, and I haven't seen a problem area in weeks! 

Thank you for reading

XO, D

Gone For Good

 I'm not one to stay up late, I'm really not one to stay up past 9 pm. So you should know it's very unusual for me to be awake at 1 a.m. I've read numerous things saying that when you stay up late like this that you cannot get away from your thoughts and feelings. I have found this to be true. While trying to avoid my thoughts and feelings (simply because I really, really don't want to face them) I go to where everyone goes to lose track of time and all reality: Pinterest. Pinning immaculate wedding rings and clothes that will never be in my price range is all good and fun until you come along something that makes you question a large amount of your own choices.

A quote, to be exact, that said, "Why are you looking for happiness where you lost it?" 

"Well to fix what once was of course!" Was my immediate reaction-response. But then I had realized just what I had said, "what once was". The word 'was' is past tense. You don't take food out of your mouth after it's been chewed and expect it to look the same. You don't buy a red shirt and be immensely shocked when it fades due to a year of washes. My point is, nothing is ever what it once was. I'm not going to lie to you, at first this realization made my heart sink. What do you mean nothing is ever going to be as it once was? You mean to tell me that nothing stays the same, EVER? This can be very intimidating to contemplate. As I did, I found myself very down and feeling negative while repeating in my head "nothing is ever going to be as it is right now" and that's when my lightbulb flickered on. Nothing is ever going to be as it is right now.

I'm going to be honest with you, frankly I'm not thrilled with how my day went. But my day went, it's over, and tomorrow is not going to be like today was. Your bad days, your low points, your heart-in-my-stomach sadness isn't going to be repeated. You will have more than one bad day, low point, and heart ache but luckily enough, it won't be the same. Yes, it could always get worse, but it also can always be better. So the next time you find yourself hurting and wanting to crawl under a rock or pull your hair out, just remind yourself that nothing is ever going to be as it is now.

You may not be able to find the same happiness where you lost it, but what if you found an even happier you.

XO - D