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How to do makeup

Talk about a broad title! Let me elaborate. I know many of you are confused by how to do makeup… because it’s confusing!
I liken many of the makeup tutorials out there to complicated recipes. I don’t mind cooking, but if I see more than 10 ingredients or 15+ steps? It’s over before I’ve even started.

Makeup might feel that way for you. It doesn’t have to.
I’ve broken down the very basics of makeup into a simple makeup routine that anyone can do, adapt and customize to suit their preferences and features.

If you do nothing else, you can do my EDC basic face and step out looking polished and put together. You can. I believe in you.

How to interpret the graphic below
 On the left side are GOALS, aka the reason we are doing the step in the first place.

On the corresponding right side are PRODUCT categories, how we will achieve the desired GOAL.

EVEN
Skin tone + dark circles

How? Complexion products.

Choose the product based on the amount of coverage you need.

Light: BB/CC cream, tinted moisturizer

Medium: Foundation. Here are my favorite drugstore picks.

Full: Foundation + a concealer. This foundation is what I use on clients and it makes everyone’s skin look naturally beautiful. This concealer can legit cover all.

DEFINE Lashes + brows

How? Mascara + a brow powder, pencil or gel. We’ll tackle eyeshadow and liner another day.

Choose the product based on the amount of drama you want.

COLOR
 Cheeks + lips

How? Blush and/or bronzer + lip color.

Choose the product based on the amount of contrast you like.

Sheer: Gel or cream blush, tinted lip balm or gloss
Medium: Powder blush, lipstick
Full: Powder blush, liquid lipstick or lip pencil

SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave Here are a few of my favorite sheer, no-fuss lip products.

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Once you customize your basic face routine to suit your desired level of coverage and drama, you can take things up a notch and add in things like eyeshadow, eyeliner, setting powders, highlight and contour, etc.

For now, just focus on nailing your best EDC face and I guarantee you’ll feel capable and cool in no time!

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Maskcara Beauty Review

I’ve been asked about the Maskcara Beauty line recently. I’ve been asked to sell it and to try it. I’ve chosen the latter and of course I’m given you the lowdown on everything I tried. Here’s the basics:

Masckara Beauty is the creation of beauty blogger, Cara Brooks. The brand first launched back in 2013 with their pioneer product, IIID Foundation. The brand has recently relaunched under a direct selling model with an expanded offering that includes cream blushes, illuminators, eyeshadows, brushes, skincare and more. Maskcara aims to simplify the makeup routine by condensing it into customizable, refillable palettes.

Maskcara artist, Lindsey helped me out with what products to try. Lindsey was attracted to the brand due to it’s affordability, smart packaging design and really related to Cara as a fellow mom boss. What I tried
Sunlit Highlight
Walnut Contour
Vanilla Dust Setting PowderBaby Watermelon Blush
Desert Sunset Blush
Nude Blush
Pearl IlluminatorEyeshadow singles in shades Zion, Crush, Salem, Mama and Bend and Snap.
Milk Moisturizing Cream
IIID Perfector Sponge
Make-Up Remover Wipes30 Second HAC Brush
B Squared Bronzer and Blush Brush
I Shadow Everything Brush What I liked
Blushes, illuminator, eyeshadows, brushes, Perfector Sponge, setting powder.

I was able to create a beautiful eye look with the eyeshadows. Though they are definitely not uber-pigmented, I think that’s what makes them consumer-friendly and easy to build and work with.

I really liked the blushes. They were easy to blend and I used one on top of a liquid lipstick to create a subtle ombre. The different colors had different textures though. Baby Watermelon and Nude were matte and opaque while Dessert Sunset was more oily and sheer. Upon examination of the ingredients, I suspect it’s because some colors contain castor oil, and some don’t.

The Pearl Illuminator is comparable to RMS Living Luminizer but far more affordable.

The Perfector Sponge is an excellent, affordable Beautyblender dupe and the brushes are nice quality and  easy to use.

Overall, here’s what I like about the Maskcara Beauty line:
  • Customizable
  • Affordable prices
  • Simplified routines
  • Quality feel
  • Beautiful branding

What I didn’t like
IIID Foundation, Milk Moisturizing Cream

  • As you can see, the foundation didn’t cover my blemishes. That aside, it also accentuated my pores and dry skin. It was not a win for me in any way really.
  • The highlight and contour foundations contain a few ingredients that I wouldn’t consider to be super luxurious, though not proven harmful: mineral oil, petroleum and beeswax.
  • Some of the powders and eyeshadows contain Bismuth Oxychloride. Not harmful, but bothersome to some people.
  • The unpleasant scent of Milk Moisturizing Cream and ingredients like milk and petroleum made me wary of using it on my face. The texture is sticky.
Overall Thoughts
I think that Maskcara Beauty is doing a lot of things right. The foundation is their core product so I was disappointed that it was such a huge fail for me. There’s definitely a learning curve with the non-traditional format and that can be confusing for some at first.
I think that the good definitely outweighs the bad with this line and there are some great buys to be had.
Product provided for review purposes. I will not receive any compensation for purchases made from this site.

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A Complete Skincare Review

As a graphic designer in my former life, I’m a sucker for clean, modern design and good fonts. When A Complete Skincare reached out asking if I’d like to try their skincare, I was impressed by the packaging alone. I’d never heard of the brand and I’m always excited to learn more about brands not yet on my radar.

For a little background, A Complete is a cruelty-free, paraben-free, anti-aging skincare line made in Spain. They have broken skincare into a 5-part system called the 3-minute 5-step youth preserve routine. It contains a cleanser, serum, eye cream, oral supplement and moisturizer. A portion of A Complete’s process are donated to women’s empowerment initiatives.

What I Tried
Facial Youth Moisturizing Cream

Packaging
I love the rubbery feel of the plastic jar. Not only will this not shatter like glass if dropped, the rubber texture gives it some grippiness.

Value
The jar is 1.7 oz. and retails for $48.00. The cream is incredibly dense and goes a long way. I would rate this a good value for the quantity and ingredients.

Texture
The texture is thicker than a bowl of oatmeal. So thick, in fact, that it reminds me of the Dairy Queen blizzard commercial where they have to turn it upside down to prove it won’t come out. And by the way, they really do that. I can tell they hate doing it, but they do. I have very dry skin so I always appreciate a rich cream, especially for night.

Ingredients
While this contains various proprietary ingredients, it also has many tried- and true hydrators like glycerin, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate and anti-aging peptides. The most interesting ingredient is definitely Argireline peptide solution C, described as basically the non-toxic version of Botox (say what?) It claims to soften wrinkles by 17% in 15 days.

Scent
It does contain fragrance and it’s what I would describe as “fresh” and marine-like. It doesn’t bother me too much.

What I liked
I loved the rich, heavy texture. I’ve been battling eczema and I need all the heavy duty hydrators I can get. It hydrates fully and completely. I think this will be especially great for fall and winter when my dry skin gets drier. I have suspected that shea butter makes me break out but this contains it and I’ve been breakout-free so far.

I didn’t like
I wish it didn’t contain fragrance, or maybe just a different one. It’s nothing offensive though. The jar packaging feels a little less sanitary but it’s so thick, I honestly don’t think it could be dispensed via pump. I’ve kept the little clear lid under the main lid on it so it stays fresher hopefully.

Overall Thoughts
For a paraben-free, cruelty-free night cream, this is really nice. It’s going to be best for those with dry to very dry skin. Oily types will likely find it too heavy, especially for day time use.

This post was sponsored by A Complete Skincare. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Best Drugstore Foundations

There are a few things the drugstore has that your local Sephora or Ulta doesn’t. Most importantly, candy. Being able to grab Twizzlers alongside your fresh mascara is key. They also offer convenience, availability and affordability. For this reason, I really like giving you drugstore options for as many products as I can. Foundation shopping can be tricky to buy and this guide will get you started. I’ve recently narrowed down the best drugstore foundations that are also cruelty free and here are the winners. I’ve chosen 3 different options based on skin type and level of coverage. I like them all but choose the one that suits your skin type and desired coverage. Wet ‘n Wild Photo Focus Foundation
Best for: Oily Skin or those who like a matte finish
Coverage: Medium to full
Finish: Matte
Shade Range: 20 shades available but limited stock in stores.
Best Application Method: A buffing brush seems to work best but a damp beauty sponge is helpful for more dry skin or those who want a bit less coverage.

Pros: Great coverage, blends well, staying power.
Cons: The shade range offers few yellow undertones. I have Soft Ivory and Soft Beige, which I have to mix for an appropriate shade but it’s still not yellow enough for me. LA Girl Pro Coverage Liquid Foundation
Best for: Dry to very dry skin, mature skin
Coverage: Full
Finish: Luminous, dewy, not at all matte.
Shade Range: 15 plus white adjuster. Shades do go very deep but not very light.
Best Application Method: I like to use a damp beauty sponge since it’s a thicker texture.

Pros: Amazing coverage, healthy dewy finish, HD friendly
Cons: If you’re oily, or even combo, skip this. It gets borderline greasy feeling and for my dry skin, that’s fine, but a lot of people wouldn’t be on board. I had to buy the white adjuster to get the shade ‘Fair’ where I needed it. This is a versatile product to have though as you could adjust other foundations that are too dark.  NYX Total Control Drop Foundation
Best for: All skin types, normal
Coverage: Varies, sheer to full depending on application
Finish: Satin, semi-matte
Shade Range: 24 with nice mix of pink and yellow undertones. From very light to very dark. I have ‘Natural’.
Best Application Method: I like to use a buffing brush. It’s fluid-like texture is too easily absorbed by sponges.

Pros: Blends great, customizable coverage (can add to moisturizer, oils, primers, etc.), works best for most skin types
Cons: Priciest option, could stick to dry patch if skin isn’t well-hydrated due to it’s thin consistency.

There’s likely a great option in here for anyone’s skin type and desired coverage. I hope it’s been helpful! All products were purchased by me with my own money.

While you’re here, I have a giveaway going on you may want to enter. I’ll be doing 4 more this month too so check back 😛

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Burt’s Bees Review

Coming atcha with a Burt’s Bees review today. I don’t think I’ve ever actually talked about the brand here. Silly, right? My husband has been a die-hard fan of the Burt’s Bees lip balm for as long as I can remember. There is always at least one in his car. I recently tried out 2 of their lip products plus their new cleansing oil so I thought I’d share if these Burt’s Bees products are the bee’s knees. I am the worst/best at puns. You’ll just have to get used to it.

I received the Burt’s Bees Strawberry Lip Balm via Style Hunters Network. I am really into Strawberry Perrier lately (actually drinking one as I write this)🍓so I was excited to try another strawberry product. I was disappointed to find that it does not smell like strawberry whatsoever. If anything, the scent is more akin to bubblegum, oddly enough?! I hoped it would still have the classic peppermint scent and feel that the original does, with the pleasant addition of strawberry, but again, a bummer. No peppermint, no strawberry, no dice.

It did feel nice on and moisturizes well. It seems to have a smoother texture than the original Burt’s Bees lip balm, which honestly, I would just stick with because the strawberry one doesn’t offer anything new. I’ve heard from others that the Pomegranate one is nice though. I don’t recommend it.

This Burt’s Bees Lipstick…now this I love. First of all, the honeycomb pattern on the tube is adorable. Second of all, it smells nice and third of all, and most importantly, the color ‘Suede Splash’ is the most beautiful drugstore nude lipstick for my skin tone. It’s not too brown of a nude but just enough. I really love everything about it. I definitely recommend it.

I snagged this baby size Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil on clearance at Target recently. My dry skin and I love oil cleansers so I’d been anxious to try this one out. Like most, you massage it into dry skin and then rinse. I like to rest a hot washcloth on my face after applying oil cleansers to break down makeup and then I wipe it away with said washcloth.

Ingredient Breakdown
I love that it contains coconut and argan oil as I’ve done well with those oils in the past. Coconut oil is moderately comedogenic so though I don’t like it as a moisturizer, I love it for breaking down makeup and wiping away. The Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil also contains an interesting oil called Abyssinian oil. This is derived from mustard seeds and is rich in skin-friendly omega fatty acids. It also contains sunflower seed oil and rosemary extract, both ingredients that I enjoy in skincare.

While this cleansed well, the scent was the first thing I noticed and my biggest complaint with it. It does contain fragrance, which is disappointing to see, and smell. I can’t describe what it smells like but it’s pretty offensive to my nose.

The full size retails for $15.00 for a 6 oz. container with pump. I think the value is great but the scent bothers me so much that I dread using it and wouldn’t repurchase. I don’t recommend it.

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Urban Decay Naked Heat Tutorial

I love when I get to film a tutorial on someone else. I’ve had my face for 33 years and I’m kinda over it. Zoe was gracious enough to come sit in Wake Up For Makeup studios and allow me to create this look with the Urban Decay Naked Heat collection. We used the Naked Heat palette, liner and lipstick to create this warm-toned, coppery dream of a look. I love how the fiery shades set off Zoe’s green eyes and the peachy nude lip is a beaut on her light, yellow undertone skin.
Make sure to watch the video to see how the look came together and hear me struggle to use the right college terms for going out. FACE
Foundation: LimeLight by Alcone Botanical Foundation-Shinto 1 + Ivory
Concealer: Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer-Light Warm Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid-yellow
Contour: LimeLight by Alcone Perfect Eyeshadow-Taupe for the Best
Blush: LimeLight by Alcone Perfect Blush #4-Keen

EYES
Primer: LimeLight by Alcone Perfect Concealer-#2
Brows: Brow Powder by Full Brow
Shadow: Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette
Liner: Urban Decay Limited Edition Heat 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil-Alkaline
Inglot Amc Eyeliner Gel •77

LIPS
Lipstick: Urban Decay Vice Lipstick • Fuel

BRUSHES
Sephora Tools Of The Trade Brush Set
e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Eyebrow Duo Brush
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Real Techniques Flawless Base Brush Set
SEPHORA PRO Blending Brush #27

Urban Decay products provided for review purposes. No financial compensation was received. Post contains affiliate links.

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beautycounter review

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about my thoughts on Beautycounter products. I  reviewed a few for this piece, but haven’t tried anything from the brand since. I got to try out a few new Beautcounter offerings, thanks to my friend JoDee, a wife and mother of three who was motivated to make a change in her personal care products for herself and her 3 littles.

“Beautycounter products have not only changed my skin but also made me more aware of all things that could be potentially harmful, that go not only on my body, but into my body. As far as my favorite product, I would say the Cleansing Balm and face oils.  The Cleansing Balm has so many uses! My favorite oil is the No.1. Vitamin C does wonders for your skin!”

I was excited to try more Beautycounter products since one of my all time freaking favorite skincare brands, NUDE (rest in peace), was purchased by Counter Brands, who own Beautycounter. More on the acquisition here. Beautycounter also had partnerships with both Target and JCrew earlier in the year. All of these factors have made me sit up and take notice of the brand more.

Summer is the perfect time for me to test out these products as they address many of the concerns that come up in the sunny months like sun protection, dark spots and oily or congested skin.
What I Tried
No.1 Brightening Facial Oil
Protect All Over Sunscreen SPF30
No.3 Balancing Facial Mask
Cleansing Balm

No.1 Brightening Facial Oil
There are 3 oils in the Beautycounter lineup and they all appear to share the same base blend of oils but differentiate with a key ingredient. No.1 has the addition of vitamin C, No.2 has jasmine and No. 3 has Ylang Ylang.

I’ve been using the No.1 Brightening Facial Oil for a week and I really enjoy several things about it.

  • I enjoy it’s fresh, true citrus scent.
  • I like the texture, though described as an oil, it feels very lightweight. If you’re afraid of oils feel heavy or making your skin feel greasy, you’ll enjoy this.
  • I also really like the ingredients as it contains many proven, powerhouses like marula oil, vitamin C-rich rose hip, meadowfoam, argan oil, sea buckthorn, to name just a few.

Though I’ve only used it a week, I do think my skin looks firmer and more even. It wears well under makeup and didn’t irritate my eczema.

I think $68 is a totally fair price point considering the wealth of omega and antioxidant rich ingredients you’re getting. Anything below $80 for a quality facial oil is quite good, in my opinion. I definitely recommend it.

Cleansing Balm
I had tried this back when I first reviewed Beautycounter and was turned off by the strong rose scent. I swear, either they’ve changed it or my nose has become less sensitive because this time around, I didn’t notice it at all? I’d love to know if anyone else noticed a change or if it’s just me being a weirdo.

I really enjoy cleansing balms and oils because there is no violent water splashing to destroy your bathroom and they moisturize while cleansing. Beautycounter Cleansing Balm has a rich, coconut oil-like texture that breaks down makeup and softens skin. You can also use it as a hydrating mask or overnight sleeping mask.

The only thing I can criticize about this product is the price. Coming in at $80, this appears to be the priciest single product Beautycounter sells. There are certainly some cleansing balms that cost more, but more that cost less. I think this will last you a while but I can’t honestly say I’d ever spend $80 on a daily cleanser. Unless baby kittens came out of the jar every time you opened it.

If you want to try it though, now would be the time as it’s free with a $150+ purchase. That’s a hell of a deal but only lasts until the 30th. 

Protect All Over Sunscreen SPF30
When I recently reviewed Glossier’s new sunscreen, I was surprised to see so much criticism about it being a chemical vs. a physical sunscreen. To be honest, I didn’t understand why people were so up in arms. Now I do, thanks to this video. The part about most sunscreens containing the equivalent of a daily dose of hormone replacement therapy shocked me. I’m now all about trying chemical-free sunscreens and Beautycounter’s fit the bill.

  • I like that it can be used on the face and body and a little seems to go a long way.
  • It feels hydrating, but soaks in and doesn’t retain a sticky or greasy feel.
  • It fully absorbs and doesn’t leave a white cast.
  • The scent is nice and subtle.
  • The $30 price for the size is very fair in my opinion.

Upon application, it can feel a little greasy, but it doesn’t last. My skin is dry, so perhaps my skin just soaks it up better too. I definitely recommend it.

No.3 Balancing Facial Mask
As a founding member of the dry skin club, I don’t always reach for clay masks. They often make my desert skin more desperate for moisture. I tried this out mostly in my t-zone as I do struggle with blackheads on my nose, cheeks and chin, despite my dryness. I like how quickly this dried, far quicker than most. It made my skin feel tighter and cleaner, but it was pretty uncomfortable once dry. I definitely felt like I needed some heavy hydrations afterwards.

Ingredient wise, because this contains kaolin clay, salicylic acid and charcoal powder, it’s nice to use as a blemish treatment, for me, that’s the week before my period. If you’re combo/oily, I think you’ll really like this. A thin layer works best so the 2 oz. size will probably last you a while.

Is this the most economical charcoal mask? Definitely not at $48. For comparison, this one is $20 for about the same size and contains similar ingredients. Another comparable would be this one, still cheaper for more product. I recommend it for oily skin and people who are balling, but not on a budget.

Overall Thoughts
Beautycounter makes safe, effective, high quality products in luxurious-feeling packaging. The prices of some products can be at a luxury level for some, which may prevent many from making the switch to safer products. I think there are a few Beautycounter products that are not necessarily unique to the brand but if you don’t mind spending a little more, you can rest assured you’ll find clean, safe products all in one place. I really love the oil and sunscreen and will continue using them.

Products were provided for review purposes. If you choose to purchase through the links here and shop under the Wake Up For Makeup Social, I will earn credit to redeem for product. No financial compensation was received.

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Wet n Wild Review

If we’re being honest, growing up, I thought that you couldn’t get any cheaper or crappier than Wet n Wild. Maybe it was the cringey name, or the fact that they sold lip liners for 99 cents, but I never took it seriously. Until now.

Beyond the fact that they are an affordable, cruelty-free brand, they’ve been putting out some seriously great products that truly deliver and perform. In the past, I’ve enjoyed some of their eyeshadow palettes, nail polishes and brushes. I’ve been test driving a few new Wet n Wild products and I’m excited to share my findings. They are both wet and wild. I’m sorry; you know I had to. So read on to find out how Wet n Wild foundation, liquid lipstick, setting powder and setting spray really stack up. Photo Focus Foundation For my oily girls shopping for a full coverage foundation on a budget, here ya go. Though I am dry, I can attest to this foundation keeping my skin matte for hours and offering great pigmentation. The shade range availability tends to vary by story and can be limited so you may want to order online. Soft Ivory is too light for me while the next warm shade, Soft Beige is too dark/slightly pink. I mix the two and get an ok match but color-wise, for me it isn’t perfect. I really like the formula, the spatula packaging and as weird as it sounds, I love it’s paint-like scent. It reminds me of how Revlon Colorstay smells and the coverage and feel is similar too. I recommend it.

MegaLast Liquid Catsuit in Coral Corruption A fellow makeup artist told me I had to try these. I honestly couldn’t believe how long-wearing Liquid Catsuit was. It’s a liquid lipstick, so it does feel dry on the lips, but is not actually drying. It gives you an opaque lip with real longevity. I wore it while doing makeup and talking for 4 hours straight and had no fading, bleeding or transferring. I tried to get it to transfer by kissing the back of my hand and I couldn’t get it to one bit! The shade Coral Corruption is a beautiful summer shade for yellow undertones like me but shades like Nudist Peach and Pink Really Hard will likely be more appealing to most. I definitely recommend it. Mattifying Powder Translucent setting powder is something I use every single day and liberally. Naturally, I go through it quickly so I like finding affordable options. I was certain this would have flashback, a chalky feel and a white cast. Your girl was wrong. It’s a really solid option for setting and magnifying foundation and concealer. It has a smooth formula with no dusty kick-up mess when you dip a brush in. I’ve applied it both with a brush and a damp sponge and it performs well both ways. I feel like this powder really does keep skin mattified for hours. I recommend it.

Photo Focus Setting Spray  Though I joke with clients that setting spray is “like hairspray for your face”, this actually smells identical to hairspray. Ingredient-wise, it shares many of the same ingredients with one of my favorite setting sprays, Urban Decay’s All Nighter. Most setting sprays are 4 oz., so while this is very affordable at $4.99, it’s less than half the size of most. It just didn’t really blow me away in any way. It’s fine, and maybe some is better than none when it comes to setting sprays, but I can’t rave about it. I don’t really recommend it.

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All products were purchased with my own money and all opinions expressed are my own. Post contains affiliate links.

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