I’ve always been a girly girl. Not only when it comes to clothes, but with hair and makeup as well. I could spend hours at Ulta, browsing their makeup and checking out the latest in hair and skin care. Styling hair and makeup is not only fun, but it also helps finish your overall look - like the icing on top of a cake. The world of beauty, just like the world of fashion, is full of options. So how do you find your perfect beauty regimen amid all the available choices? It all comes down your makeup and skincare proclivities, what compliments your hair and skin tone, and what kind of products work best for you. To help you navigate, here are some of my hair, makeup, and skin decision points.
Notes on health and sustainability. Recent health issues have encouraged me to make more holistic choices when it comes to my beauty regimen. The less toxic chemicals, the better. Happily, I’m finding that I don’t have to sacrifice quality for healthiness. The Environmental Working Group website is a great resource for finding products that adhere to your health and sustainability standards. They even tell you where are you can get them, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised: most of them are available at Ulta, Amazon, etc.!
Skincare. Skincare is not just about keeping your skin clean. The best skincare routine gently cleanses your skin, and moisturizes it. Cleansing helps rid it of dirt, makeup, etc., and moisturizer adds nutrients and helps rejuvenate the skin’s micro biome. Skin care is basically anti aging 101. The more you take care of your skin, the more it will take care of you. There’s all sorts of serums and creams out there that address specific issues you may have, so that will help you decide which one(s) to buy. The same goes for cleansers; select the cleanser that works best for your skin type: oily; dry; combination, etc. It takes some research, and trial and error.
Personally, I tend to have dry and sensitive skin, so I love products that are gentle on the skin, and rich in texture and nutrients. I used to use Lancôme cleanser for sensitive skin, but lately have found that a little coconut oil and water is a lot healthier, and works just as well. For a moisturizer, I love Estee Lauder’s Nutritious cream. It’s thick, silky texture makes my skin feel and look amazing, and it’s full of all the nutrients my skin craves, with minimal toxic load.
Hair care. I’ve always been a risk taker when it comes to hair color. I think I’ve worn literally every shade, from black, to chestnut, to red, blonde, and natural (the best hues are what compliment your eyes and skin the most.) I’ve tailored my shampoos accordingly - anti brass shampoo worked best when my locks were red (pro tip: red is actually the toughest shade to maintain, because it washes out easily and tends to get brassy with time). Blue and/or purple shampoo was a lifesaver when I was a blonde. The blue and purple hues in the shampoo help keep the blonde at its most lustrous. You don’t have to use it with every shampoo, but when you do use it, it brightens up the blonde, and makes your hair nice and silky.
These days, it’s all about keeping my hair healthy and shiny. I’m loving the R&Co products, because they smell amazing, and make my hair super silky and shiny.
When it comes to styling products, I like to use the styling creams and serums by Redken. They keep my hair smooth, and help protect it from hairdryer and straightener damage. But honestly, most of the time, I style my hair by putting it up in a high bun with bobby pins or a cloth scrunchie while it’s damp. I’ll wear it like that overnight, and when I wake up, and let it down, I have instant, effortless beachy waves.
Makeup. What kind of foundation coverage are you looking for, if at all? If you’re looking for light coverage you could do something like a tinted moisturizer. There’s all kinds of options for moderate to heavier coverage. There’s loose powder, pressed powder, and cream foundation, and you can opt for a matte or dewey finish. I usually use a cream foundation, followed by a mineral veil or setting powder to set it in place and add luminosity. Tarte’s Shape Tape and Too Faced’s Born This Way were my go-to brands for a long time, but since I’ve gone healthier, I’m trying Jane Iredale’s pressed powder. I just started using it, so I’ll keep you posted on my experience.
As far as eyeliner, shadow, blush, etc., here are my thoughts. Choose liner, shadow, and blush based on what compliments your eyes and skin. I love Urban Decay’s eye pencils, and usually get them in brown, black, or plum. The same goes for eyeshadow. I love the shadows by Nars; their colors are prismatic, and are long lasting. MAC and Too Faced make great shadows as well. As far as blush is concerned, Nars is the gold standard. Their famous peachy pink blush is absolutely gorgeous. The blushes by Too Faced are excellent as well. As far as lipstick options, I favor a cream lipstick over a gloss, usually in pink hues. Too Faced and L’Oréal are my top picks.
And lashes? Those are my favorite! There are all kinds of tips, tricks, and options for making your lashes as luscious as possible, and I’ve tried a few, because my lashes are average at best (eyelash curlers, Diorshow mascara, eyelash primer, etc.) But my favorite are false lashes. They are an efficient, inexpensive way for you have salon worthy lashes. You can tailor them to be as dressy or understated as you want, and if you take care of them, they will last a decent amount of time. My favorite are Kiss lashes, which are usually under $10, are comfortable to wear, and look amazing. I used to use Kiss eyelash glue in black, but found a healthier option in Thrive Causemetics - they sell a holistic clear eyelash glue. I just started using that as well, so I’ll let you know how it works!
Where can you get these items, and how do you decide which products are right for you? Luckily, you aren’t forced to break the bank at your local department store for any of these products. You can go to Ulta or Sephora, both of which have loyalty programs you can join that give you perks, in addition to their sales. You can also take advantage of their knowledgeable staff, who can help guide you on your skincare, hair care and makeup journey. Now, if you’ve already done your research, and know what you like, you can peruse TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Their stock can vary, but I’ve gotten countless skincare, hair care and makeup items from their self care aisles for great prices. You just have to be patient, and look carefully. It is definitely worth it. Lastly, believe it or not, Amazon can also be a great place to find what you’re looking for. Their reviews are a great resource, and if you’re a Prime member, you get free shipping and easy returns. If you don’t need the item immediately, you can add it to your cart, and save it for later. You’ll get updates on price changes, so you can wait a bit and see if the price decreases.
Those are a few of my basic tips and tricks when it comes to all things beauty. Hopefully you find them helpful! There are more to come, so stay tuned!
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