You Can Fake It, But Love The Skin You're In

Hey Ladies (and Gentlemen),

Have you ever wondered how to get the perfect natural and simple makeup look?  It's really easy and you can do this with super expensive brands, drugstore brands, or even online brands.  I have a major hodgepodge of brands that range from a few dollars to $50.  Some, I will admit, are better quality than others and not because they were more or less expensive, but because of the quality.  Some expensive beauty products are pointless and you can find duplicates at drugstore prices that are easily 10 times better and more thought out.  I hope I can explain it a way that is easy to understand.  Just remember that you should be comfortable with and without makeup and know that it's ok to be different.

I'm a firm believer in less is more.  If you're a makeup pro and like over the top looks, don't let this hold you back.  I've just found that you can catch someones eye when you look like you're makeup is barely there verses caked on.  That is if you wear any makeup at all.

First you need to know is it always starts out with skin care (cheap or expensive).  Healthy skin equals beautiful skin.  I usually find my skin care on Etsy or health food stores and they're cheaper than drugstore brands and most of the time they're organic and better for my face.  If you still have problems like getting dry spots or peeling don't worry.  All you need is a good face primer.  There are soooooo many out on the market that finding one to fit your facial needs and your budget shouldn't be difficult.  I ended up trying Tarte Clean Slate Face Primer and it retails for $30.00.  A steep price, but I wanted to try it out.  You might be able to find it cheaper at places like Ulta or Sephora.  I do know that CoverGirl sells a primer for $12.98 at Wal-Mart and $15.00 at Walgreens.  Even though I hate Wal-Mart, they have the best prices for most beauty items.  Primers, for those who don't know, help in the application and the longevity of your makeup.  It gives the skin a slip for better coverage and it can help hide dry spots and peeling.  I don't always wear a primer, but if I want to have a little security I'll wear it.

You can now turn to foundations and concealers.  I own Stila One Step and I like it for when I need extra coverage.  It's a foundation and concealer in one and it does it's job well.  It normally retails for $44.00 but they have been having an on going sale for $14.99, so snatch them up while you can if you like One Step.  For the times I want barely there coverage, I use a LUSH product called Colour Supplement that is $15.95.  I like it because you can use it as light or as heavy as you want it and they have five different colors to use directly or mix.  Often times I dip my pinky finger in so I get I cap of color in the tip of my finger and I mix it into my moisturizer.  Then I can use the color straight to cover dark circles and activity on my face.  This product has lasted me a very long time and I'm not even a quarter of the way through the jar.  You can also go to ELF and buy a tinted moisturizer that ranges from $1 to $3.  Simple enough.  However, make sure that when your applying foundation or tinted moisturizer that you go all the way to your hair line and down you neck.  It's really unattractive if you look like your wearing a mask.  The next step is cheek color.

I often think that a natural cheek color looks like its underneath the skin instead of on top of it.  I really like cream or whipped blushes for one simple reason.  If you apply a cream blush like the ELF cream blush in Heartbreaker ($6) and then apply a skin tone face powder over it, it makes it look like you have natural color to the cheeks instead of awkward color slapped on your face.  I also use Benefit's Benetint  that's $29.00 and it's just a rosy lip/cheek stain.  Another favorite is MAC's Wonder Woman blush in Mighty Aphrodite.  I'm not sure where you can buy this collection (perhaps on Ebay or Amazon) and I'm not sure how much I paid.  It's a pretty duo color (one matte, one shimmer) that airs on the side or a peachy coral.  I think it makes you look beautiful and gives you the illusion of being tan.  You can also get something like the SKINN all-in-one palette by Dimitri James and it comes with three blushes, one matte contour, one bronzer, and one matte highlighter.  This really comes down to what your comfortable using, but less is more.  Don't pack on the color.

Once your done with all the face makeup, use a skin tone or translucent powder to set everything.  Setting your makeup will make sure it doesn't run or migrate from where you put it.

Next is the eyes.  I love a natural looking eye makeup if any at all.  ELF sells simple little palettes for $3 with six shadows and a larger palette for $5 with 32 shadows.  I also like the NAKED palette from Urban Decay and it retails at $48.00.  In that palette you get twelve shadows (matte and shimmer) and you can make a natural or smoky eye.  There are endless possibles.  I even think they just came out with a NAKED2, but I have yet to see it and judge if it's worth it.  Best thing you can do with any eye shadow to keep them as close to your skin tone as possible and matte.  A skin tone color on the lid, a slightly darker one in the crease and a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone under the brow.  At least that how I manage a natural eye look.  Another thing that helps is mascara and liner (if you want it).  I like Blinc because it's cry, smudge, clump and flake proof.  It forms tubes around your lashes and the only way to take it off is to use warm water and gentle pressure.  I swear by it.  There is also Bad Gal Lash and Buxom Lash.  Neither are as awesome as Blinc, but they're good all the same.  They can give some of the most natural lashes without overdoing it.

Lip colors are at your leisure.  I often times use a matte lip balm like Blistex RPM for men or Carmex.  If I want a pop of color I use Korres lip butters, Tarte's lip tint, or Victoria Secrets Beauty Rush.  If I want some pucker and plump I use ELF plumping lip gloss  or Too Faced Lip Injection.  This is whatever you want it to be from a balm, a gloss or a lip stick.  Just keep it classy.

I know that this might seem like a lot to do but this only take about 10 minutes to do.  Everything can be as simple or as complex as you want it, but it's easier to add more than it is to take a little away, to try to keep a light hand when applying.  Also, some of the best tools you can use are your hands.  However, if you're doing makeup on another person it's best to use brushes for hygienic reasons.  Just remember, makeup isn't for anyone but yourself.  It alters what you really look like, even if it enhances your beauty.  Don't ever think that you have to wear makeup just to get someone to like you and don't fall for someone telling you they like you only in makeup.  Call bullshit because natural is beautiful.  9 times out of 10 I just go without and keep a lip balm in my pocket.  I wear makeup because I want to not because someone else wants me to.  If you find that after all that work that the makeup isn't what you wanted, just wash it off.  You can fake being pretty by adding makeup, but you can be daring and love the skin you're in.