My Full Foundation Routine/Minimal Work Makeup Tutorial

        While getting ready for work today, I decided it would be a good idea to do a full foundation blog tutorial  for my blog, because everyone does their foundation differently and I've gotten a few compliments on my face makeup so why not do one?

         First, the night before I hydrate and lock in the moisture after cleansing my face.  I use Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Lightweight UV-Lotion. It has SPF 15 in it and I find that it doesn't leave my face too greasy and moisturizes best. After applying the moisturizer, I apply  Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly to the driest spots on my face. Not too much but enough to lock in the moisture. I only use Vaseline in the fall/winter months because I get patchy dry spots from the dry heat.

     The foundation I use is MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NW 22. To apply this foundation I use my MAC 187 brush to give an airbrushed look. I swirl and buff the makeup onto my skin to evenly blend it out making sure not to forget to blend it down to my neckline.

      This foundation is medium coverage so it evens out my skin tone and red spots. I did half of my face to show you kinda how uneven the right side is where there is no foundation and the left side has a coat of foundation.

    Next, since I need to set my foundation with a loose powder. I use MAC's Select Sheer/Loose Powder in NC5 and a E.L.F Studio Powder Brush to apply it. I put on an even layer on my face especially in my more oilier areas.

    After powder comes bronzer! Bronzer is optional, but for me its a dual product. I use my bronzer to not only give me a glowing tanish look, but also as a contour as well! I use MAC's Get-Away Bronze powder blush it's a frost bronzey color. It's limited edition from this past summers To The Beach Collection. Another option I like is NYC's Smoothing Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny. It's a matte bronzer and is pretty amazing/affordable. The brush I use to apply my bronzer is just an Angled Fluffy Brush. I got mine at Meijer.

When you apply bronzer and want to apply it as a contour, suck in your cheeks like a fish and you'll see the area right below your cheek bone. Apply it starting from right in front of your ear moving the brush down in a diagonal line towards your lips. This will make your face appear thinner. Apply bronzer sparingly around the rest of your face to give you a glowing look.  (I will do a full entry later on how to contour your face)

   Now when I have to work and I don't want to wear a lot of makeup, I avoid applying eyeshadows and just stick to eyeliner and mascara. I apply eyeliner to my waterline and curl my eyelashes. After, I apply 2 coats of mascara. I like Maybelline's Eye Studio Gel eyeliner in blackest black and for mascara I love Covergirls Lash Blast Fusion in Black. This mascara doesn't clump and gives me full eyelashes without the false eyelashes. I love it and it works for me but everyones eyelashes are different, just like everyone's hair on their head are different!

Finished Product!

Any questions, comments and concerns, leave a comment below!
Have an amazing day. I'm off to work!

My MAC Eyeshadow Palette Journey Part One

       Earlier this year I kick started my MAC addiction by purchasing an empty pro palette so when I get new eye shadows, I can depot them, and put them in this palette, making them more accessible and convenient. If you're serious about your makeup addiction, especially with MAC, I highly suggest you invest $16 in an empty MAC palette (or other brand palette such as the Z-Palette or UNII Palette) to better organize your expensive collection.                 
 


 
       My goal with the whole depoting/palette deal was to get 2 full MAC 15 spot palettes, one with just neutrals and the other with just colors. So far, I have collected 9 neutrals and 6 colorful eyeshadows all from a variety of venues. I've purchased shadows from past collections at the CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet) which my CCO is located in an Off the 5th-Saks 5th Avenue store in Great Lakes Crossing Mall, in Michigan. I've also purchased just a pan from online (along with the empty palettes). The rest of the colors I've just purchased at a MAC counter in my local Macy's or Nordstrom's. :]

My MAC Eye Shadow Colors with name, type of eyeshadow, and collection

I took the other colors out so when my 2nd palette comes in the mail, I could organize them. This one I tried removing it too many times..and it didn't take so well. So now it's staying there.

    The eye shadows with red asterisks were purchased at the CCO.  The blue asterisk was the eye shadow purchased online in pan form. The rest of the eye shadows were purchased at the MAC counter in my local Macy's or Nordstrom's. I don't purchase all eye shadows at once. I started a little over a year ago, buying one or two eye shadows here and there eventually making it to where I stand now with 15 eye shadows amongst other MAC products I've purchased.

      Oh and once you depot the eye shadows, do NOT throw away the plastic case they come in! You can return them without the pan to any MAC counter for the Back 2 MAC program and with 6 containers (you can return other empty plastic containers like brush cleanser bottles, lip stick bullets, lip glass containers, etc.) and get a FREE full size lipstick of your choice. It's so simple! You're recycling and getting a  free product in return!

Revlon ColorStay Foundation VS. MAC Studio Fix Fluid

REVLON COLORSTAY VS. MAC STUDIO FIX FLUID

         VS.

         Today’s versus will be putting drugstore brand Revlon’s ColorStay foundation against MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation. This blog will be a short, to the point version because I know a million other people have pitted these two foundations against each other and have their own opinion about them. As always…this is just my opinion on MY experience with each product.  Everyone’s skin is different from color, to texture, to coverage needed ,to sensitivity so your skin might decide hell that it doesn’t like either formula from either brand. Anyhoo..these are my reviews/results!

Amount:
Revlon Foundation- 1 fl oz.

MAC Foundation-1 fl oz.


Price:
Revlon Foundation-  (approx)$10.99

MAC Foundation-   $26.50

How available:
Revlon Foundation-EASILY available since it’s found at almost every drugstore.

MAC Foundation- Almost as easily found  because most people have a Macy’s/MAC store close to them..but not everyone!


Coverage:
Revlon Foundation- About Evenly matched

MAC Foundation- About Evenly matched

Application:
Revlon Foundation- Does NOT apply well with a brush. Fingers necessary. Dries WAY too fast. Takes a bit more effort to blend well. Does not come with a pump.

MAC Foundation- Applies evenly and easily with a brush. Doesn’t dry too fast but doesn’t come with a pump.



Overall

REVLON ColorStay Foundation:
PROS- reasonably priced, easily attained by almost anyone and is a great starter foundation
CONS-takes some effort to blend it, dries too easily, no pump.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation:
PROS- blends easily, almost with no effort, and is readily available.
CONS-a bit pricey, no pump.

        Don’t get me wrong, Revlon ColorStay is a great starter foundation for those who want a bit more coverage and are serious about makeup but MAC just takes the cake on this one guys.  It blends evenly and effortlessly, and can be found pretty easily at any MAC retailer. I’d say MAC WINS!
        By the way, if anyone is curious, in Revlon ColorStay my color is “Medium Beige” and in MAC Studio Fix Fluid I’m an NW22.

Thanks for reading guys.
<3
Alleigh

One of my best friends got married and I did both our makeup <3 We look so cuuute. (Btw. I have MAC's Studio Fix Fluid on!)