What I Use Series...Step 3. Eyeshadow

When it comes to picking eyeshadows, it is really all a matter of preference. You should ask yourselves a couple questions:

1. What texture do you like?

Eyeshadows come in pressed, loose, and cream textures. I, personally, go for pressed eyeshadows. Creams have a tendency of still creasing on my eyes even with a primer and loose can get a little messy when applying. However, I have a mixture of all kinds in my kit. It all depends on your preference.

2. What kind of finish do you like your eyeshadows to have?

Shimmer, sparkle, matte, velvet, metallic, satin, etc. Figure out what kind of finishes you like. You can mix and match them for different occasions and purposes. Some people feel that once you hit a certain age, you are too old for shimmer. I feel that everything can work; it just depends how you apply it. I have hooded eyelids and supposedly I am not supposed to wear shimmery eyeshadows, because it draws more attention to them. However, I adore shimmer eyeshadow, so ignore this rule. It really only matters if you like it. The best part is that you can always take the eyeshadow off and start over.

3. How many color options do you want?

I know not everyone is comfortable with having a ton of options. I understand that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where the colors go and which colors go well together. Palettes can range from just 2 colors to ones that have well over 100 colors. You just have to find your comfort zone and keep that in mind when purchasing. If you want to get rid of the guess work, then pick a palette with fewer colors because you know the colors will work together.

4. How much do you want to spend?

As you all know eyeshadows are available everywhere. If you are just getting started in makeup and want to experiment with all the colors of the rainbow on a budget, then check out these eyeshadow palettes from BHCosmetics. I started out using these a few years ago. They are a fun and inexpensive way to try out new colors and play around.

Here's one thing you want to keep in mind when you are looking for quality eyeshadows:

If possible, you should swatch the shadows with your fingers. The color in the pan should match the color on your finger. If it doesn't, then the shadow is poor quality. If you were to try and use this eyeshadow on your eyes, you will end up packing it on your eye forever to try and get the color intensity that you see in the pan. My advice to you: Save your money and buy something else.

5. What colors do you like?

Everyone always wants to find the colors that will make their eyes "pop." The easiest way to do this is to look at a color wheel. Find a close representation to your eye color, and then look directly across the color wheel to find your complementary color. Generally, you can get an idea of what colors will complement your eyes to make the color seem more vibrant and pronounced.

Here are my current eyeshadow favorites:

Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Palettes

I LOOOOOOOOOOVE these palettes!! There has been a lot of hype on the internet ever since the first Naked palette was released...and that's just what I thought it was..."hype." But these palettes are worth every penny. If you love neutral eye looks and don't mind a little bit of shimmer in your eyeshadows, then you need to invest in these shadows. I use these palettes at least a few times a week. The shadows are gorgeous, blendable, and smooth. The first Naked palette has more warm-toned colors like bronzey-golds. The Naked 2 palette is more cool-toned with silvery-purples. Honestly, if a Naked 3 palette were to come out, I would purchase it too. I totally recommend these palettes to everyone.

Inglot Eyeshadows

Inglot is a newcomer to the American market. They burst onto the scene last year with colors and textures that rival M.A.C. eyeshadows. The best part is that these shadows retail for about $2.50 each and contain more product than a M.A.C eyeshadow. However, they only have a couple stores in the United States. If you don't live near one of these stores, then you are stuck ordering from their online store. The only problem with ordering online is that they don't have accurate representations of the colors. So if you plan on purchasing online, you have to do your research first by looking at other customers' swatches of their purchases.

Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Pressed Eye Shadows

These are second to my Naked Palettes. They are pigmented, easy-to-use, and blendable. Bare Escentuals has a decent color range and sells several quads and duos, and sometimes larger palettes. My sister loves using these, because they come with a little card that tell you exactly where to put the eyeshadows for a day-look and an evening-look. You can't mess it up.

Up Next: Eyeliner

What I Use Series...Step 2. Eye Primer

There are many different eye primers out on the market. Just about every company has their own. The two most popular are Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay Primer Potion. If you want a really cheap eye primer, then you should check out L'Oreal DeCrease (about $10) or E.L.F.'s Eyeshadow Primer (about $3). I've never tried either, but I have heard that they are comparable to my favorite primer Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

If you have very oily eyelids like me, then you need to be using an eye primer. Nobody

likes the look of creased eye makeup. You just rub a small amount of this gel onto your lids before you pat on your eyeshadows and it will not budge until you decide to take it off. Even in extreme humidity, it stays put. It will also dry clear, so you don't have to worry about it messing with the color of your eyeshadows either. Recently Urban Decay changed the packaging of its Primer Potion since the genie-bottle-look meant there was a lot of wasted product lost in the nooks and crannies of the tube (unless you cut open the packaging and put the product in another jar). You can see the new and old packaging in the photo above (Note: the genie bottle version is a miniature size). Urban Decay even offers three other color choices (Eden, Greed, and Sin) if you want some tint to your primer. Be warned though that there is some trial and error in using this product. Using too much of this eye primer will make your eyeshadow crease as well, so play around and find out what works for you.

Up next...Eyeshadow!!

What I Use Series...Step 1. Tinted Moisturizer/Foundation

I was talking to some friends at breakfast this morning, and we got onto the topic of buying makeup. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I can seriously talk forever on the topic. Most times when this happens, I try to contain my nerdy excitement and just give them the short and sweet answer that they are looking for. In most cases, people just want to know what other people use so that they can try it for themselves...They ask, "So what do you use?" I thought that it would be the perfect topic for a blog entry. Soon after I began writing it, I realized that the topic would be better addressed if I did a series of posts about my daily makeup routine going step-by-step. So here goes...

Step 1. Tinted Moisturizer/Foundation

Now, when considering the choice between tinted moisturizer vs. foundation one has to consider two things: 1.) preference and 2.) purpose. I, personally, have no use for flawless, camera-ready skin when all I'm doing is going to work. So, I reach for tinted moisturizer most of the time.

Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20

It is a tinted moisturizer so the coverage is pretty sheer, but it will even out minor skin discolorations. My feeling is that if your skin is clear for the most part, use the least amount of coverage you can. Showcase the beautiful skin you have. Then, invest in a really good concealer to cover those few not-so-great parts. This is better than caking on the foundation that everyone can see across the room. The only downside to this product is that it does not come in shades for deeper skin tones. I usually squeeze out around a dime-sized amount and start by applying it to the middle of my face, because that's where I need the most coverage. What I love the most about this tinted moisturizer is that it feels so smooth and velvety on your skin. It doesn't leave a strange tint to your skin or a greasy feeling. Your skin just looks healthy and hydrated. People with oily skin may not like it for its dewy look. You need to be careful with the shade selection though, because the numbering system they use doesn't always correspond to a lighter or darker shade. They have a mixture of shades for warmer or cooler skin tones. For example, in the summer, I use Agent 10, and in the winter, I use Agent 06. Agent 08 is too warm for my skin tone.

Now, let's say you need more coverage...

Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

If you have a party or special event to go to, then you will want something with more coverage and no SPF. Why no SPF? Because the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide used to give these products their SPF value will cause a white cast on your skin with any flash photography. Therefore, forego anything with SPF, including mineral makeup, if there's any chance of you being photographed. The MUFE HD foundation will give you medium to full coverage. I am very particular about being able to see my foundation. When I do wear foundation, I don't want it to feel or look heavy on my skin. Foundation should look like gorgeous skin, and that's why I love this foundation. It offers serious coverage without broadcasting to the world that you are wearing anything. In terms of applying it, I use a foundation brush. Since foundation brushes can leave weird streaks with their stiff bristles, I use my fingers after the brush to make sure everything is blended. This foundation dries fast and leaves a demi-matte finish. It will work on most skin types. People with dry skin should moisturize appropriately before applying it. As for the shade range, it is extensive and you most likely will find one that will match your skin. I use shade #118 for reference.

NEXT: EYE PRIMER

My Top 5 Drugstore Products

I know I said that I'm not trusting of drugstore products, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some gems to be found there. Here are my top 5 picks.

1. EcoTools Brushes

These have to be the softest brushes you will ever use. Bonus: They are cheap and vegan. The brushes have bamboo handles, recycled aluminum ferrules, and cruelty-free taklon bristles. You can buy them individually (around $4-5) and as a set (around $15) as well. I have seen them sold at Walgreens, Target, and Ulta. My favorites are the Bamboo Bronzer Brush and the Large Eye Brush.

2. Olive Oil

Many people are afraid of putting oil anywhere near their face, but this stuff will take off any makeup in a matter of seconds. If you are afraid of using it all over your face, just use it around your eye to get everything off without tugging at your delicate eye area. An extra plus is it will also condition your lashes.

3. Burt's Bees Lip Balm

This lip balm is 100% natural and does the job. They even sell tinted ones, but the packaging is a little bit chunkier so I usually opt for one of the non-tinted, slimmer ones.

4. E.L.F. High Definition Powder

This product is very similar to Make Up For Ever's HD powder. This finishing powder retails for $6 in comparison to MUFE's HD powder which costs about $34. Be careful to use this product sparingly though. The light-reflecting properties of the product can show up as a white-cast in flash photography. Don't believe me? Just do a quick search, and you will find photos of some unfortunate celebs who were subject to a heavy-handed application. Use this finishing powder to set your concealer or in areas that you want to control oil.

5. Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme

Now that it's winter, my hands are drier than the Sahara Desert. I keep a jar of this creme next to the sink. Why there? Because I want to use it right after I wash my hands. I don't want to introduce bacteria into the container by sticking dirty fingers into it. Bacteria loves moist environments, so do yourself a favor and keep your grimy fingers out long enough to wash them. :P

I decided to start a blog...

Why?? Because my sister told me to...really...

She says I have too much information about beauty and makeup to only share it with a select few...But I feel that before I can officially kick-off the start of this blog, I must first preface it by giving you my perspective on the beauty industry.

I feel just like in any big industry, there is a lot of corruption. It feeds off women’s insecurities and tries to convince us that this new product will make us feel happier, prettier, and solve all the world's woes. The idea that some women, especially young women, walk around feeling ugly and undervalued because they do not fit the norm of what being “pretty” is breaks my heart. I in no way want to perpetuate this idea that a woman's only worth is through some market executives' definition of beauty; however, I do wish to spread the message that every person has the right to feel beautiful in whatever way they wish to express it.

I also feel that the industry is full of false-claims. How many times have you shelled out the money for some product that claimed to erase your wrinkles or clear your skin, just to find out that it did nothing, or even worse, you ended up having a bad reaction to it? Have you ever given any thought to what ingredients are used in your beauty regimen? If you haven't, check out this article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1229275/Revealed--515-chemicals-women-bodies-day.html

Maybe you decided that instead you will use products that are supposed to be good for you, because they are labeled "organic" or "natural" just like the food you buy. Only problem is that the FDA does not regulate the beauty industry like it does food and drugs. If you want some really interesting reading about exactly who is regulating your cosmetics, check out this page found on the website for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Products can tout being “organic” or “natural” but in actuality it may contain ingredients that are hazardous to your health--even carcinogenic. It is so important to be informed about what you are buying.

I would suggest that everyone take the time to read Not Just a Pretty Face by Stacy Malkan (http://notjustaprettyface.org/). It is loaded with research and anecdotes about how beauty products can make you and your family sick. After doing all this research and reading, I cannot just ignore the claims others have made. This does mean that I sometimes come off as being a beauty product snob...I’m weary of drugstore products, and I always check the ingredient list on new products. I think people forget that their skin is an organ, and what you put on it should be given the same thought and care as what you put in it.

Does this mean that I have been able to convert totally over to natural, organic products?? No, but I am headed in that direction. Over the past two years, I have managed to greatly reduce the number of chemicals and toxins I expose myself to. A good place to start educating yourself about the products you are using is the Environmental Working Group database known as Skin Deep, which rates the safety of beauty products on a scale of 1-10.

Through this blog, I would love to share with you what I have learned and what new products I have found that are a safer and healthier alternative for your body.