I have only been wearing makeup for about eight years, and it has been a bit of trial and error to figure out what works with my skin. In the past, I have tried to use several beauty products, or specific beauty lines, but ended up not continuing with it because I was lazy or because it was too expensive. But now that I’m older, I have found that a tried and true beauty routine is a must.
Starting with my hair… I have naturally curly hair (NCH) that falls down to below my shoulders (when it’s dry). It has taken me years to appreciate the beauty and ease of having NCH and it has taken me even longer to find the right products for my hair. I have used Tresemme, Garnier, Wen, no-poo, low-poo, and cleansing conditioners. A couple of months ago, I got a DevaCurl haircut with Ange at Tease Salon in Knoxville. It was great! She dry-cut my hair and introduced me to the DevaCurl products. I had been wanting to try those products, but they are expensive. Right now, I use the OneCondition Decadence ($44, Sephora) conditioner (but not the no-poo cleansing shampoo), the Coconut Curl Cream ($28, Sephora), and the Ultra Defining Gel ($20, Sephora). Prior to using the DevaCurl products, I was using (and still do use) Infusium23 leave-in conditioner 7.97, Wal-Mart).
Next up, my face… As I said earlier, I just started wearing makeup on a daily basis about eight years ago. Although I love a lot of different brands of beauty products, my go-to is Mary Kay. I also like using oils in my beauty routine, and even wrote a blog post about how to incorporate oils in your beauty routine. I like using argon oil (Josie Maran is a fave), as well as coconut oil. I have also used grape seed oil, but now my husband uses it, along with a few other oils to make his own beard oil. I use Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush ($50) with Mary Kay TimeWise foaming cleanser ($20).
I use Mark Kay TimeWise moisturizer ($24), but since August, I have been using Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer ($12.94, Wal-Mart) . I received it in my Garnier swag bag at the BlogHer 16 Conference when I was in LA last month. I occasionally use the Osea Atmosphere Protection Cream ($48), and I like this one because it is so light. My skin also loves Josie Maran 100% Pure Argon Oil Light ($48, Sephora), especially at night before I go to bed. My skin just soaks that goodness up! I have also used moisturizer samples of Algenist. It’s expensive, but I just love love love their moisturizers.
When it comes to makeup, I’m a minimalist. I watched a video of Jacey Duprie, Damsel in Dior, detailing her beauty routine. Her beauty routine is even more simple than mine, and she is flawless! After I put on my moisturizer, I use e.l.f. Complexion Makeup Cool ($4, Wal-Mart). Then I use Mary Kay Mineral Powder in Beige 0.5 ($20), or the Sheer Mineral Pressed Powder ($16). Lately I’ve been I using ISH Contour Kit ($32, ISH Beauty) in Light/Medium, which I received in one of my FabFitFun boxes. I’m not fancy enough to know how to contour, I just use a small dab of the pink blush on the apples of my cheeks. I also use NARS The Multiple ($39, Sephora) in Orgasm on my cheeks, just to change things up. I’d like to get The Multiple in a couple of other shades as well.
I occasionally use the brown shades of the ISH palette as eyeshadow, but a few weeks ago I purchased the e.l.f. baked eyeshadow trio in Peach Please ($4, Wal-Mart). I get my eyebrows threaded at BrowArt in the mall ($12). To keep my eyebrows on fleek, I use Mary Kay Brow Liner ($11) in Blonde or Mary Kay Brow Definer Pencil ($11) in Classic Blonde. I use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 ($6.96, Wal-Mart) every evening to remove my makeup. Then I use Mary Kay Lash & Brow Building Serum ($36) on both my lashes and brows, then I use either the Josie Maran argon oil light, or the Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil ($28, Sephora, I have a sample size). And I don’t forget my lips. I use LUSH Lip Scrub (10.95, LUSH) in Bubblegum.
All of my brushes are either Mary Kay or e.l.f.
What I don’t have photos of are my body products. I use a combo of TanTowel self-tanning towelettes ($27, Ulta), Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer ($11.97, Wal-Mart), St. Tropez tanning foam ($32, Sephora), or LA Tan sunless tanning foam ($4.97, Wal-Mart).
I would love for Urban Decay to bring back their Naked on the Run palette. I wish I would have bought it at Sephora when I had the chance.
What are some of the products that you use in your beauty routine? Head over to Sephora, Ulta, LUSH, and Mary Kay to discover some new beauty products.
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
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