Natural Make-Up for Freckle Faces

Alternately Titled: My (New & Improved) Make-up Routine

Well, you guys responded so well to yesterday's post about my hair, that I've just decided to become a full time Beauty-Blogger from here on out!!

HA.  Not a fat chance, don't worry!

Really though, I've been wanting to tell you about my amazing sister my new make-up routine thanks to my amazing sister.  Maybe, if you are beauty-product challenged like me and/or have an adult face with both freckles AND wrinkles (which is an awesome combination, really), you will learn something or be introduced to a new product here.  If not, well, hopefully you will tolerate my very long post on something I know very little about. ;)

Anyway, as you probably know, my sister is my beauty coach.  Seriously, she is.  I absolutely DO NOT buy any beauty products without consulting her first, and when she occasionally directs me to a particular product, I get it immediately.  She is a beauty product junkie, but I'm thankful for her addiction because I get lots of hand-me-downs (which is actually kind-of gross when you think about it) and she really does keep me (at least most of the time) in style.

Moving on... You might also remember that one of my 30 Before 30 items was to get a make-over and buy the make-up...WELL, consider it crossed off folks! (Only 24 more things to do in approximately in 11 months.  #Nobigdeal.)

A little background info before I show you my new face make-up...

My makeup routine (up until recently) took all of FIVE minutes (I'm not exaggerating) and involved: loose powder, bronzer (which I used all over my face and on my eyelids), blush, and cheap mascara.  And, although I'm quite proud of how "low maintence" I am, I have to admit that it was usually done sloppily and Jeff often had to "clean me up" in the car on our way out.  So, in an effort to not be a clown-mom that all of Sam's friends make fun of one day, I decided it really was time for a more grown-up face.  (My mom always said she was going to "put on her face" which we thought was hilarious because she clearly had a face without makeup.  Then one day I spent the night with a girlfriend who's mom happened to be a beauty queen and saw her sans makeup the next morning.  It turns out, she really did have to "put on" her face.  Anyway, I digress..)

For the last ten years or so, I've been a loyal Bare Escentuals user, but recently I had heard from several people that powder-based make-up like that actually isn't good for dry skin. (And, let me tell you, my skin is nothing if not DRY.)  I've also been more aware in the last year or so that my skin is beginning to show some age (at one point I thought I might look 8 forever) and I need to treat it well with moisturizer, SPF, and (maybe) washing it before bed.   

Enter Kathryn, Beauty Coach Extraordinaire.

Over Spring Break, when Sam and I visited her in Fredericksburg, Kathryn took me to Ulta and got to work.  I went without a stitch of make-up on and, thanks to the hard work of my sister and one of the "cosmetologists" (is that what you call them?) there, I left feeling like a beauty queen!  Or, at least like a prettier version of myself, which is really what I wanted. ;)


My only requirements were that the new make-up routine look natural, work with my freckles (I decided long ago to stop fighting them), and be relatively easy to put on (Mama needs her sleep in the morning!).

This is what my beauty coach came up with:

1. The Radiance Renewer Cleansing Gellee by Garnier (what is a Gellee?)
2. Laura Geller Spackle under make-up primer (I have it in Champagne)
3. Benefit Oxygen Hello Flawless liquid foundation (I have it in Ivory)
4. Benefit CORALista blush
5. Naked Basics palette by Urban Decay
6. NYX Slim Eye Pencil in Cafe
7. Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara (black - always, according to K)
8. NYX Born to Glow liquid illuminator
9. NYX Dewy Finish make-up setting spray
10. Garnier Soothing Remover Cleansing Towelettes (to use real quickly before bed)

A little (very awkward) Before/After action:

#Ipromisethereismoredifferenceinreallife #Samcouldnotcareless #supermodelpose #awkwardselfie

 And, finally... A few lessons I learned from my coach:

- Some items (like primer, foundation, and blush) are worth splurging on, while others (eyeliner, glimmer cream, etc.) are just fine in the cheapy drug-store variety.

- It is fine to mix and match brands of make-up.  Benefit is known for their skin/coverage products; while Stila has a great reputation for eyes.

- Liquid foundation really does make a difference in terms of how smooth and even your skin looks.  Also, a lot of progress has been made on this front since the last time I tried it out (which was approximately 1999 - no exaggeration) - it is light and natural looking.

- Applying liquid foundation with a brush (I use the same one I had from my Bare Minerals) is easy and gives an "airbrushed" look - which I guess is good

- Bronzer every day is not natural, neither is too much blush; a little bit of each goes a long way.

- For a natural looking eye, use a light color for all-over, highlight with one shade darker in the outer-corner crease, and use LIGHT eyeliner

In conclusion, I have been using my new products for about two weeks now.  I really like all of them, but especially the foundation, the blush, and the eyeliner.  Overall, it doesn't take that much longer than my old routine, and the make-up does seem to last a little bit longer on my face.  Also, I've gotten several compliments (mostly from my parents and Jeff), so it must be working out alright. :)

Ok... that is absolutely all I have on this subject. Thanks for sticking with me!

P.S. If you are in the Fredericksburg area, Kathryn offers beauty consultations for a small fee. (Kidding! Unless you really are in the area and want her to, then I'm not really kidding.)