What I wore for my anniversary!

Here is the picture I am going to reference

 Hey y'all!  So I posted this picture on my facebook page and I somewhat laughed at the response because I feel like a 15 year old girl in it- taking a narcissistic picture in the bathroom mirror at a fancy restaurant!  I got a lot of really sweet feed back on it and first off- THANK YOU!  You are all FAR too kind.  Second of all- I was surprised because what I am wearing makeup wise in this photo is actually pretty simple and natural.  I wanted a glowing look that lasted but wasn't too made up.  I also wanted to stay away from anything too full on when it came to the lips because lets be real- I was kissing my husband and I didn't want him to look like a murder victim covered in red lipstick!

So I am going to give you a list of the products that I used and then go over HOW I used them- because I find that technique is actually more important than the products.  Be warned- its A LOT of stuff and A LOT of steps.  So don't get overwhelmed thinking you have to do ALL of it to get a similar effect.  And as always- ask questions!  That's what I am here for!

Face Products:
Laura Gellar Spackle Primer
damp Beauty blender sponge
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Combination/Oily in the color Buff
Mehron ProColoRing Concealor Wheel
Elf HD Setting Powder
NYX Taupe blush to contour
Tarte blush in glisten
NYX blush in Angel
Laura Gellar highlighting powder in Portfino
Real Techniques Brushes: Expert Face Brush, Powder Brush
Coastal Scents Angled Blush Brush

Eye Products:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden
Urban Decay Naked 2 Pallet and I used the colors: Bootycall, Chopper, Snakebite and Busted
Urban Decay 24/7 liner pencil in Zero
Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express in Blackest Black
L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Blackest Black
Revlon Brow Fantasy Crayon and Gel in Dark Brown
Real Techniques Brushes: Shading Brush, Domed Shadow Brush 
Coastal Scents 250 Blending Brush
Random no name pencil brush 

Lips:
Nyx Xtreme lip Cream in Pinky Nude
Nyx Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe in Beat Goes on

How I do what I do:

-On a clean dry face I put on Some Laura Gellar Spackle Primer on making sure to really get the under eye areas and the areas that I have big pores- Let that sit for a minute to let it really sink in
-Dampen Beauty Blender sponge- make sure its not WET- just damp
-Dot Revlon Colorstay all over my face and then use Beauty Blender to bounce all over my face to evenly distribute and stipple product on rather than rubbing it on
-Use Mehron ProColorRing Concealor Wheel in lightest  color under the eyes and then used the color that matched my skin  to blend away any bemishes- go back over with beauty blender to make sure that it blends super seamlessly
-Use the powder puff that comes with the Elf HD setting powder and GENEROUSLY apply powder over anywhere I put concealer or anywhere I dont want creasing or oil popping up- just press it on and leave the extra to sit there.  Just let is SET without moving it or taking off the excess
-While powder is setting- start on the eyes- begining with the brows- I used the pencil side of the "brow fantasy" (ps- can revlon think of a cheezier name????) to fill in sparse points on the outer half and then I brushed through them with a spooly and then set them in place with the brow gel side
-I used UD Primer Potion in Eden to even out the color of eyelids and to prevent creasing and to keep my shadow looking true to color
-Using the RT Shading brush, put the color Bootycall on the inner 1/3 of the lid and in the inner tear duct area
-with the same brush- put Chopper on the outer 2/3 and blend the two colors so that they just flow into each other
-Using the Coastal Scents 250 Blending brush, start with a bit of Snakebite and start slowly adding color to your crease.  Just a little bit at a time.  Then using the same brush- add Busted to the outside corner to create depth
-Take your no name pencil brush with Busted and rub it into your outer bottom lash line
-Use a CLEAN RT dome shadow brush to make sure there are no harsh lines and that the colors blend together seamlessly
-Use UD 24/7 liner pencil in Zero on top lashes only and smudge out with the RT shading brush or with a pencil brush.  If you want more liner, do it again- line lashes and smudge- It creates a really smoky liner and not a super harsh line
-Take RT powder brush and knock off all the extra powder that has been hanging out on your face- it will also knock off any extra shadow that fell down while doing your eyes
-Use the RT Expert face brush and the NYX blush in Taupe to contour under your cheekbones, under your jawline, your hair line or anywhere else you need or want a natural shadow to be created
-Using the Coastal Scents Angled Blush Brush, dust the Tarte blush in Glisten through the apples and blending into the contour color and blend the Angel color towards the center of your face to keep it from being shiny
-Top your cheekbones and your brow bones off with a light dusting of the Laura Gellar highlighting powder
-Mascara time! First coat with the Falsies, second with Million lash
-Put on your Pinky nude lip creme and top off with the Beat Goes On lip gloss
-If you REALLY want things to stay put, top it all off with a light coat of makeup setting spray- I used the Urban Decay All Nighter

OMG- That was A LOT but ask and ye shall receive!  haha, Again- you don't have to have THE EXACT same stuff- I just gave you a list of what I did.  If you have any questions- don't hesitate to ask.  This wasn't the most budget friendly look as I used A LOT of products BUT I have them- so I use them.  I never go out and purchase something new because to be honest- my kit rivals Walgreens at this point :) There are some AWESOME dupes for some of the name brand products I used for this look and if you are interested in what they are let me know and I can steer you in their direction!  Hope your having an awesome Friday!!

MY SKIN!!!

Oh my gosh ladies and gents- can I tell you how much I am ready for winter to be over and not just because I'm tired of cold weather but I am DONE with what it does to my skin!  My legs somewhat resemble a crocodile (and not in a high end Prada kind of way).  My lips have split, and are in a constant state of chapped-ness.  My face is- dry.  And I already have dry skin so I am talking like the Mojave on my face.  SO I decided my skin care routine needed some supplementing so I thought I would share what is working for me.

Scrub a dub dub
OK- So I have written about my love affair with my Clarisonic facial brush like a thousand times before, but I will do it again.  I got new brush heads a couple of weeks ago and fell back in love with it even more.  It keeps the top layer flakiness at bay.  I have been using Philosophy's Purity cleanser and Cetaphils cleansers.  I feel like the Purity is better when I have a TON of makeup on and the Cetaphil is better when I am not trying to get a layer of spackle off my face.   I am also doing a SCRUB every two ish weeks- with the Mary Kay Micro-dermabrasion stuff.  That renews and gives the healthy glow back.

Mask me
I have been using a mask FAR more often as of late.  I'm usually not a HUGE fan of masks because lets be honest- with three kids, and two jobs and one house and a million baskets of laundry- I don't get much time to do them.  I have been using the Mary Kay Hydrating mask and this trial one by Mario Badeski- the orange one.  I don't know how much I believe in them- but I figure they cant hurt.

Moisturize
OK- so this is where any and all cheap products have flown out the window.  I had to change it up to my pricey stuff and I'm sorry in advance   I am the Budget Beauty Mama and all- so I feel somewhat like a traitor.  Oh well.  I received a free sample of Keihl's 24 hour moisturizing oil and Josie Maran's Morrocan oil and I have been wearing those under ALL my moisturizers.  So for the eyes I'm going back and forth between Olay eye cream and Avon gold packaging eye cream.  For face, I have been using Embriolysse (which is a french brand which is HARD to get your hands on-even online) and Elizabeth Arden's eight hour cream on my lips, cuticles, knees, elbows, and any other dry rough spots.

As you know, I'm not a huge toner fan- that's why I have skipped over that.  And honestly- I try to keep the process minimal so I will actually do it.  I am still using my Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover by the bottle full in conjunction with the Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup towelettes to remove the eye makeup and the top layer of junk I put on my face.  Again- towelettes are NOT a replacement for washing your face.  They are super convenient and are good at removing the surface stuff but they cannot and will not clean down deep.

It sounds like I spend a ton of time but truth be told my evening process takes about 5 minutes- TOPS.  If I scrub and mask, it obviously takes more time- but just makeup removing and washing and moisturizing takes but a few short minutes.

I am thinking of splitting my Glaminars up into smaller sections- that way if you are only interested in a few steps- you can come to only those pieces.  Im thinking skin care, give good face, windows to the soul and finishing touches.  What do you think?  Obviously the classes will be shorter and cheaper than if you came to a full on Glaminar- so thats a bonus too.  Give me some feedback!  I want to do something that y'all would be interested it!  Hope life is unicorns and rainbows for you all!!
BBMama/Kristen