Personal Digest #2 (Makeup & Retail Therapy)

Friday, August 31st, 2007 | Beauty Tips, Personal Digest, Product Reviews

There are few cosmetic staples that separate low-fuss beauty from high-maintenance glam, in my opinion. False lashes and highlighting/contouring products are best left forgotten if you’re in a hurry (well, maybe…), but there is one product that is so borderline essential that it should be deemed of same importance as your daily moisturizer. That’s right: a foundation base (or primer).

My once forgotten bottle of Chanel Base Lumiere Illuminating Makeup Base now has a special place in my makeup bag. I dispense a dime-sized amount onto my fingers, mix with a little of my favorite serum or moisturizer, and massage it onto my entire face. I now have a nice glow going on, but it gets better. Everything that goes over it - foundation, blush, eyeshadow, whatever - stays put all day long with minimal touch-ups! My usually oily skin is beautifully matte, yet glowing. Containing marine extract to minimize imperfections, this potion leaves your face looking and feeling like a million bucks.

My girlfriend Janine would be delighted to know that, with using a makeup primer, her Wet ‘n Wild blush will stay put along with her Body Shop eye colors. Primers enhance staying power of cheap to steep makeup, saving money on product and minimizing the need for frequent touch-ups.

Steeper	Cheaper

Chanel Base Lumiere $38.50	MAC Prep + Prime $22

I am absolutely in love with fall/winter styles this season. They’re amazing. I get to go color and print crazy well into fall, and then transition back to my default business fab wardrobe of blacks, whites, greys, & silver. The great thing about shopping for fall pieces is that they’re all on sale right now before wintery gear rolls in - more deals & steals!

Urban Outfitters has a rockin’ sale going on, so naturally I ransacked the place and came out with brilliant pieces by Lux that I purchased for less than half of retail price:

» Green/blue print tunic: ~~$48~~ $15
» Tangerine shirt dress: ~~$53~~ $20
» Black kimono dress: ~~$53~~ $20

my faves were the orange, black, and hot pink! …As well as a few accessories and two pairs of Havaianas flip flops - a celebrity favorite comfy thong that resists wear, essential for when you live in flip flops as I do.

Tonight’s running around has got me pooped, so I’m going to finish up my tea and hit the sack. Office dwellers will appreciate the fact that tomorrow is not only jeans day for most, but a half day for most, also (a stellar opportunity to break in my Havaianas and run some pre-weekend errands).

Have a blessed holiday weekend, everyone!

related posts:
How to Apply Makeup Part II: Blush
Neova Manganese Skin Brightening Serum
L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral-Enriched Mascara

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10 Comments to Personal Digest #2 (Makeup & Retail Therapy)

Farin
August 31, 2007

Agghh Havianas! I need to buy some, I’ve been seeing that colorful magazine ad for the past couple months and my fashion icon Lauren Conrad is in love with them which means I am too lol. Thank you for reminding me. What colors did you get?

Marsadie
August 31, 2007

Farin,

I picked up a bright orange pair and a black pair! The orange pair will go well with a top that I recently bought, and the black will go with everything under the sun that I wear on lazy days I love the fact that they’re so durable, I can’t wait to break them in.

If you have an Urban Outfitters near you, go and pick some up! Or be clever and take the Ebay route, definitely. ♥

J
August 31, 2007

Yay shoutout! And thanks for the link as well!

I usually hate foundation but have a habit of mixing self-tanner with my moisturizer. I think for winter I will have to invest in a slightly-bronzy foundation. Any suggestions? And is using one foundation w/ moisturizer just as good as, say, a MAC eye base?

Marsadie
August 31, 2007

Janine,

I love mixing products as well to get desired effects. I just might have a time-saving recommendation for you:

Maybelline’s Superstay Silky foundation is practically a 3-in-1 product: it dispenses both color and a staying-power formula that gives coverage as well as keeps your makeup on throughout the day. If you were to use a thin layer of this all over the face (seeing as you’re not into heavy coverage) including the eyes, your eyeshadow colors should stay put as well.

If you try this product, let me know what you think!

To keep a sultry bronze look going into winter, continue to use a light tanning product such as a gradual tanning lotion (Jergens Natural Glow, for example) all over the body and buy your foundation to match.

Gina
September 2, 2007

I use Prime and Prep and fell in love with it. When I’m done with it i’ll have to upgrade.

p.s. I have an unrelated question but don’t want to ask it here..

Wendy
September 3, 2007

I ADORE Lux @ Urban Outfitters. Every time I go to order something, it ends up being that particular brand without me even noticing.

I love the new layout! <3

Precious
September 3, 2007

I LOVE your new layout!
$20 for a black kimono dress?
That’s such a steal.
I haven’t been to Urban Outfitters in a long time,I’m def. going to have to check them out soon.

Christine
September 3, 2007

I adore the MAC Primer. I’m a big makeup junkie but I don’t wear it everyday. When I do, I make sure I’m doing it right. Thanks for letting me know about that sale as well. I’m going to have to drive down to Urban since I live less than 10 minutes away. Sales = love.

J
September 4, 2007

I love this layout. The pages up top make it much less confusing to navigate and it looks super professional. I love all of the sidebar stuff too. Packed with goodies but also simple to navigate.

Kristy
September 6, 2007

Maybelline’s Superstay Silky foundation is amazing!