Beauty Game Changers

I LOVE makeup.  I HEART makeup.  I have a TON of makeup.  I just have ZERO time to apply it in the mornings and it is rare that I wear anything but concealer and curl my lashes on weekends.  However,  I've recently been discovery some real game changers that work for me and my schedule.

I've been wearing this Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation for almost two years now.  I love love love it and the fact that it doesn't oxidize (turn orange) on my skin after a long 8+ hour day at the office.  The only thing I disliked about the foundation was that you have to pour it on your hand since there is no pump.  I hate wasting product and pouring it on your hand will do that.  HOWEVER, while picking up my MAC powder the other day that I use to set my foundation, the MAC makeup artist told me that the MAC pumps work on this bottle.  Ummm genius!  For $10 I'm sold!

I've had this brush from Sephora in my stash for awhile and I had bought it to apply bronzer.  Although, it applies bronzer well, it's a little too dense for me so I use my MAC 150 brush to apply my bronzer.  I did find that this Sephora brush applies my foundation perfectly!  It blends to perfection and it the right consistency of softness but firm enough to apply foundation.  Although the silver handle brush isn't available anymore,  this one is quite similar.

Up until two years ago, I never filled in my brows.  Now, I pretty much always apply my MAC mystery eyeshadow using my MAC 266 brush and finish with the Maybelline Brow drama.  People, I would be so so upset if Maybelline discontinues this AMAZEBALLS product!  Like I said before, I barely ever apply makeup on weekends but when I do, the brow drama is the perfect eyebrow fix.  Seriously.  I use the dark brown shade and honestly prefer this to the more expensive brands.

The Easter bunny gifted me a set of these Stila creme blush/lip trios and I am loving applying it before I powder my skin.  It helps prolong my blush wear which is always nice at the end of a long day.  That Easter bunny is so thoughtful.

I'm not much of a contouring and mainly just use bronzer but lately I've been contouring using this Nars Laguna multiple and it is amazing!  I apply by making a line underneath my cheekbones and blend using my MAC 109 brush.   The product is creamy, long wearing, and not too dark on the skin.  If you are looking into contouring, I can't recommend this method enough!

Current Beauty Favorites

Trial week has kept me from seeing the light of day but I am slowly emerging from the depths of office to share my current beauty favorites!  I am a self confessed beauty junkie with enough products and brushes to keep give Sephora a run for its money.  Wish reminds me that I must do a beauty purge soon.  

Over the holidays, I added quite a few new products and these are the ones I'm currently loving...

1. Smashbox Pore Primer:  Okay, this is the product that made me want to write this post.  THIS IS AMMMAAAZZIIINNNGGGG!!!  I fell in love with the Sephora Wrinkle filler after seeing this post from Kate over at The Small Things Blog.  As luck would have it, Sephora discontinued it.  Ugh.  After trying various products, a Sephora employee recommended that I try this Smashbox Pore Primer and it is the exact same thing!  I use this product as an undereye primer.  It is absolutely amazing and I can see myself repurchasing many many times.  

2. Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Powder:  I love this powder to set my concealer.  It is translucent and does a great job at making my concealer last all day.

3.  Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation:  This has replaced my beloved Diorskin Forever Foundation.  I love it because it doesn't oxidize on my skin and blends in with my skin perfectly.  I use this in the shade Cool Bone.

4.  Real Techniques Buffer Brush:  I really like this line of brushes.  I use this buffer brush to apply my foundation and love how well it blends my foundation.

5.  Nars Laguna Multiple:  I received two multiples for Christmas and really like them.  I use Laguna to contour and the shade Orgasm on my cheeks to highlight.

6.  Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer:  Hold the presses, it's an affordable concealer that actually works!  I use this over my Bobbi Brown concealers to highlight and it's amazeballs!

7.  Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep:  My sister, Melisa, gifted this to me for Christmas and I lurve it!  Even though I own way too many makeup brushes, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to eye makeup so I like that this is a relatively large eye brush and applies makeup in one sweep.

Current Beauty Favorites: Before and After Pregnancy

Throughout my pregnancy, clothes shopping for myself just didn't appeal to me.  However, clothes shopping for Lucas and beauty products for myself was my vice.  At nine months pregnant, I just felt so incredibly yucky so pampering with new beauty products did the trick.  Now that I'm on maternity leave, I'm not using a whole lot of makeup but when I do, it feels nice to use products that I really like.  Here's what I'm loving lately:

1.  Macadamia Deep Repair Masque:  For the first time in my life, my hair is full!  Pregnancy hormones can be pretty awesome in this area.  With fullness came the tangles so I started looking into deep conditioners to keep my hair soft and smooth.  I love this masque!  Not only does it smell great but it makes my hair so soft without feeling heavy.

2.  Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler:  I've never owned a nice eyelash curler until I bought this curler and I now get the hype!  I have long lashes but they grow straight out.  This is the only curler that has sufficiently curled my lashes and lasts all day.  Totally recommend it!

3.  Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette:  I own both of the naked palettes and love them so I knew this palette would not disappoint.  Lately, I've been using the dark brown shadow as an eyeliner and the lightest shade in my inner eye to make me look semi awake.  This is also such a good palette for office makeup.

4.  Dior Creme de Rose Plumping Lip Balm:  This lip balm smells sooooooooo good!  I have really sensitive lips and this does not irritate them.  In fact, it makes them super soft.  I apply this before I apply any other beauty products to give it time to set.  Love love!

5.  Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer:  I have the darkest of the darkest under eye circles.  Now that I'm only getting a couple hours of sleep at night, they're even darker so I need extra coverage.  I love applying this concealer over my Bobbi Brown color correcting concealer.  It lightens my under eye area and is long lasting.  For the price, it's a great product and I will repurchase once I run out.

6.  Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon:  The lip butter line is so fun.  I picked up Wild Watermelon and Juicy Papaya and I really like the brightness without looking too teen boppy.

7.  Yes to Cucumbers Cleansing Towelettes:  I'm very particular about removing my makeup and cleaning my face two times a day.  When I don't deep cleanse my skin using my clarisonic mia, I use these towelettes to remove my makeup before washing using a face soap.  It's not irritating on my skin and feels and smells nice.

What are you loving lately?