OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

With the transition of Spring upon us, I wanted to check in and share my list of essentials right now.

I feel like in the world of makeup artistry it is easy for artists to feel pressured into a certain technique, trend or look especially with so many talented people from beginners to professionals! I have always tried to stick to my own aesthetic for myself and my clients which is to highlight the features we were given and just feel like the most beautiful version of yourself. Makeup is so dynamic and I love how you can play with your look-but the absolute  first rule for everyone is to start with great skin! 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

skin+hair

It’s taken me a while to get my skincare regiment down. What you put in your body will show on the outside. I’ve dealt with some health and personal issues that affected my skin, so figuring out the root of those problems were definitely helpful in taking the next step. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten so much better about taking my medicine, daily vitamins and supplements and eating as clean as I can throughout the week. My breakouts have subsided and my skin appears to be a bit brighter. Here are my must-haves for my skin-care routine:

-Kiehl’s Creamy Avocado Eye Treatment

Glossier Milky Jelly Conditioning Cleanser— I absolutely LOVE the duality of this cleanser. I use it right out of the bottle first to start removing my makeup. It gently removes the most stubborn of eye makeup into grungy-panda eyes. I like to pretend I’m in a high fashion editorial right before I add some water and start rinsing haha. It leaves your skin with a squeaky-clean feeling that is not drying. 

Tea Tree Oil mixed into my moisturizer for any blemishes

IMG_2862

oh happy day! a package from @glossier always makes me smile!

-Glossier Priming Moisturizer—lightweight, hydrating and suitable for all skin tones, it’s what I use on myself and my clients before adding any other makeup. Really, all of their products that I have tried are ah-maz-ing. Click here to shop! Dying for Boy Brow to re-stock! 

(Also pictured-Bobbi Brown Beach Lotion that I sub for perfume. Oi Oil and Davines Minu Hair Serum that help with the health of my ever-changing color of my hair once I’m out of the shower.)

One of the best parts about having good skin is that you don’t really need a lot of makeup. Throughout the week, I try and give my skin a break and not wear a full face of makeup unless it’s necessary. For my days off I usually just groom my brows, swipe some mascara on, cover up any redness with concealer and use chapstick. (Really, I cannot deal without chapstick. Favorites include Glossier’s Coconut Balm Dot Com, Dior Creme De Rose Lip Plumping Balm, Original Blistex and Nivea’s Olive Oil and Lemon Moisturizing Balm). For days when I want to add a bit more pizazz to my face I reach for the following mix of products:

Marc Jacobs Beauty UnCover Coconut Primer

Charlotte Tilbury Star Foundation just on my cheeks. It’s the perfect translucent shimmer with a small amount of coverage

Dior Air-Flash used with a beauty blender for special events

-Nars Creamy Concealer 

-cKOne liquid shimmer or Mac Strobe Cream for a dewy finish on my high points 

Nars Steven Klein blush palette I got for Christmas and Nars Dual Intensity Blush, they’re sheer, buildable and come in such a beautiful range of colors. 

-Same goes for the Nars Dual Intensity eyeshadow palette, I’m obsessed with every color. 

-cKOne or W3LL People Eyeshadows are also  beautifully pigmented. I just recently dyed my hair green and the golden-mossy color of 500 Jaded is my recent go-to to make my eyes pop. 

Laura Mercier Brow Definer

-Eye Shadow Crayons–Laura Mercier Eye Caviar Sticks, Maybelline 24 HR Color Tattoo Crayons, Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eyeshadow Sticks are all favorites. They’re my favorite way to add some color, dimension, and texture to my eyes in just a matter of seconds. High impact and low maintenance, done.

Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara. THE best drugstore mascara I’ve come across for false-looking lashes and Marc Jacobs O!mega Mascara for the darkest black pigment

-For Lips if I choose to wear some color: L’Oreal Infallible Two Step Lipstick, Lime Crime Velvetines or Nars Audacious Lipstick

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

makeup

What I try and go for: fresh glowy, dewy skin, then either a wash of color around the eye, winged liner, loads of mascara and some Chapstick or just mascara and a bold lipstick. Again, I absolutely love makeup and how you can use it as a form of self-expression, elevate style, and boost your self-esteem. It’s such a lovely tool. Taking care of yourself body, mind and soul are very important, but the best thing that you can do for true beauty is to simply smile! 

I will be back with an updated list of essentials next month!

xoK