Tag: Makeup

5 PLACES YOU NEVER THOUGHT TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR FACE

Published on by Lee4 Comments

In our eternal quest for radiant, illuminated skin, we’ve decided that just highlighting our cheekbones simply isn’t enough on the days when we want to look a little more glam. Luckily, we’ve spent some serious quality time with our (extensive) highlighter stash and have discovered a few unsuspecting places to pop on shimmer. Ahead, find the four spots that can up your highlighter game and give your face a major glow up. 

Highlighter Placement #1: Top of the Forehead

Highlighting the top of your forehead prevents the face from looking flat (a common beauty blunder associated with too much bronzer) and brightens up the entire face. Application here should be very sheer and look natural rather than powdery. One of our favorite techniques is to mix in some liquid highlighter with foundation and tap it on with a makeup sponge. NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator our go-to pick for some lit-from-within shimmer.

Highlighter Placement #2: Below Your Brow Bone 

While you may not have racked up eight hours of sleep last night, popping some highlight below your brow bone and above your eyebrow arch will make you look wide-eyed and well rested. Focusing highlighter around your eyebrow can give the appearance of a mini eye-lift. We love Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener. It’s an easy-to-use pencil with a creamy consistency and amazing glow. 

Highlighter Placement #3: Center of the Eyelid 

Whether you did a full-on smoky eye or are going the more neutral route, the eyelid is an unsuspected spot to highlight — but it makes a big difference. We recommend a powder for this step, like the YSL Couture Highlighter. Use a flat brush to pack product on the center of your lid and in the inner corner of your eye. This trick will make your eyes twinkle — no joke. (Primp tip: If you want a foiled look, spray setting spray on your highlighter and then apply.) 

Highlighter Placement #4: The Cupid’s Bow 

The ‘V’ of your cupid’s bow is also a great spot to pop on some highlighter; it creates the appearance of fuller lips. Apply it with your finger and use a soft touch. When the light catches, your pout will look especially plumped.  

Highlighter Placement #5: All Over Glow 

A bronzer-highlighter duo? Count us in. IT Cosmetics CC Radiance Ombre Bronzer is an easy and natural way to amp up your overall illumination. It’ll give you warmth and sparkle around your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Use a buffing or blending brush to diffuse the product and achieve subtle radiance. 

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BETTER TOGETHER: LANCÔME TEINT IDOLE FOUNDATION AND OIL-IN-GEL CLEANSER

Published on by Lee2 Comments

We all want our makeup to help us achieve flawless, imperfection-free skin. That’s why we’re constantly searching for the best foundations on the market and practicing the best application methods for our base products. But a common mistake is assuming an even, smooth complexion starts with makeup when it really starts with your skincare. It’s important to have not only a great foundation in your stash but also a top-rated cleanser — and Lancôme has a solution for both. 

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The Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Foundation is one of the best long-wear foundations on the market. With 50 medium- to full-coverage shades available, it’s earned a spot in many beauty lovers’ makeup routines, including our editors. It offers long-lasting, velvety-smooth coverage for hours after application without the risk of transferring, melting or smudging. Thanks to its oil-free liquid formula, even those with oily skin can benefit from its skin-blurring effects. When it comes time to remove it after a long day of wear, look no further than the Lancôme Absolue Nurturing & Brightening Oil-in-Gel Cleanser with Grand Rose Extracts to get the job done. 

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The unique transforming oil, gel, and milky cleanser melts away makeup with ease. It contains a rich blend of oils that simultaneously lift away dirt and reveal refreshed skin. As you work it into your complexion, you can visibly see even waterproof makeup products wipe away. What’s left behind is silky, hydrated skin that feels soft to the touch — and ready for your next round of makeup application.

When you treat your skin on both ends of your beauty routine — during the skin-care phase and the makeup phase — you’ll be able to see a real difference in your complexion.

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YES, YOU NEED A FOUNDATION BALM IN YOUR LIFE — MORE ON THAT AHEAD

Published on by Lee3 Comments

We all have our alliances when it comes to face makeup products. You’re either a foundation kind of beauty person or you’re a lighter CC or BB cream stan (I’m the latter). But we’re here to throw another curve ball into the mix of base products. Introducing foundation balms. We know what you’re thinking: How does this differ from my other foundation products? 

All About the Texture and Coverage of a Foundation Balm

Think of a foundation balm as a cross between a cream and powder foundation. It applies like a cream or a mousse but sets to a semi-matte finish. As someone who usually prefers lightweight CC or BB creams with a natural finish, I’m obsessed with this formulation. Lujan describes its feel as cushiony and luxurious, being both smooth and comfortable without the heaviness that can come with cream foundations. 

When it comes to the coverage, foundation balms are pretty customizable. When first applied, a little goes a long way and can be blended and smoothed over a larger area of skin. “Foundation balms have an excellent level of coverage that can be applied as a full-coverage foundation or sheer with your moisturizer or beauty oil to create a skin tint,” says Lujan.

How to Apply a Foundation Balm

STEP 1: A foundation balm works best when applied over well-prepared skin. Well-prepared skin starts with a good cleansing and hydrating routine, followed by a good moisturizer application.

PRO TIP: Apply your moisturizer with your foundation balm brush. The residual moisturizer in the brush will ensure a seamless application of foundation.

STEP 2:  Load your brush by dabbing it into your foundation balm. A light dab will give you more sheer coverage. If you swirl it in the product to load your brush, you will get immediate full coverage.

STEP 3: Apply the foundation in the areas that need more coverage first,” advises Lujan. “Bounce the brush on the skin to deposit coverage and then buff outward and down in circular motions with light pressure.”

Our Favorite Foundation Balms

Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm

This full-coverage foundation balm gives you a natural-matte finish that stays shine-free and feels hydrating all day. When applied, it provides you with a blurred finish for smooth, flawless skin. 

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Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm 

You can get as little or as much coverage as you desire with this foundation balm. It contains skin-loving ingredients; hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and skin barrier-reinforcing avocado oil that nourish and hydrate your complexion while you wear it for a better look and feel. The foundation is currently available in 20 shades and is available is 3 undertones.

As for the finish, it’s advertised as silky and flawless, though Kevyn Aucoin notes online that anyone after a dewy glow can apply the brand’s Neo-Elixir Weightless Beauty Oil before the complexion product to achieve a glossier finish. (And in case you’re curious, Sephora has classified the balm as a matte cream foundation.)

While the foundation is intriguing all on its own, the formula’s versatility may be even more noteworthy. In the product description, Kevyn Aucoin lists that the Foundation Balm can be used as an eyeshadow base, contour, or applied over your arms and legs, crediting the formula’s powder-like finish as the key reason why. Using it just as a foundation is simple, too: Just “swirl” the foundation with the Foundation Balm Brush (which comes included) and stroke the product over your skin. It’s that easy.

You can shop Kevyn Aucoin’s new Foundation Balm on the brand’s website; the brand also notes on its Instagram that it’s available at Sephora, Space NK, and Bluemercury.

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WHY YOU SHOULD MIX HIGHLIGHTER WITH FOUNDATION

Published on by Lee4 Comments

The search for perfect-looking skin has our constant attention — we invest in fancy foundations, skin-smoothing primers and magical blending sponges. But little did we know that creating a flawless makeup base has less to do with these methods and a whole lot more to do with what we mix our foundation with. Ahead, we broke down exactly how to achieve the look by mixing highlighter with our favorite foundation formula, and we can guarantee that the results are better than any other method out there. 

STEP 1: Pick the Right Liquid-Based Highlighter

Picking the right illuminating product is key to making this makeup mix a success. First and foremost, choose a highlighter that has more of a sheer finish, as opposed to a glittery, shimmery one. You’ll need a lightweight formula like the Dermablend Glow Creator Highlighting Drops that will blend seamlessly with your foundation to leave a natural, subtle glow.

STEP 2: Mix It Up

Mix equal parts foundation (our current favorite is the YSL All Hours Longwear Foundation) and highlighter on the back of your hand. The total combination should equal a dime-sized amount. If needed, add more to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. Just be careful that you don’t end up with thick, cakey makeup.

STEP 3: Blend, Blend, Blend

Dot the mixture on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and smooth it all over the face (we recommend working from the center and blending outward) with a blending sponge or foundation brush, until your makeup is evenly distributed around your face and neck. Make sure to blend well, so that there are no streaks or splotching. Your makeup should look like second skin. For a next-level glow, feel free to add more strategically placed highlighter on the high points of your face when you’re finished with the rest of your makeup.

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