Everyday Natural Routine

Hello :)
I haven't blogged in a while, due to the fact I have close to no followers :( oh well, hopefully that will change!

I wanted to stress my absolute OBSESSION with the BareEscentuals makeup and skincare line. It is beyond amazing. So, today I will discuss how to do a natural, everyday look with the basics of this makeup line. Most of the products can be bought in a Bare Minerals Starter Kit at Sephora, BareEscentuals, or Ulta.

First off, make sure you prep your face by cleansing, toning, and moisturizing (I'm hoping to do a skincare routine post soon) with whatever products you find work best for you.
Next, I use the Bare Minerals Prime Time Foundation Primer. I use one pump and spread it all over my face, especially my cheeks, chin, and forehead where i put more makeup. Then, I take a pretty small amount of the SPF 15 matte foundation (my color is fairly light) and use the Full Flawless Face brush and swirl it onto my brush from the lid, slightly tap off the excess foundation, and buff all over my face for about a minute to blend it evenly. (I know the swirl, tap, and buff is the signature Bare Minerals routine, but it works and i would suggest anyone to do this :)
Next, I take any concealer to match my skin tone (I prefer liquid concealer rather than the minerals, I need a lot of coverage for my acne) and i dab it on my blemishes and then blend it into my foundation using my ring finger. Then, I take the Bare Minerals concealer brush with the matte foundation and seal the spots I already concealed. I also make sure to conceal under my eyes with this.
Next, I take Warmth (the Bare Minerals bronzer) and use the same swirl, tap, buff process BUT I only use a TINY amount (it is very pigmented) and i only lightly sweep it under my cheekbones and my temples using a fan brush.
Now, I take my Bare Minerals Blush (I use pretty much a different color every day) and also, using the fan brush, lightly sweep the blush on the apples of my cheeks and across my cheekbones. I do this until i get the color I desire.
I then take a taupe colored eye liner and use it to LIGHTLY fill in my brows. You don't need anything darker than taupe, no matter how dark your hair is. Sometimes i take an iridescent champagne eye color and, using the Defining Crease brush, dab it in my inner corners to open up my eyes.
I take the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (i prefer the original or tinted) and swirl, tap, and SWEEP it on my face all over. You do not want to buff it on and blend your makeup too much together.
I finish it off by curling my lashes and applying the Buxom mascara and maybe some lip gloss.
Voila :)
Let me know what you think and send me your daily routines!
Thanks, Jessica

Current Favorite Products :)

Hi everyone!
I want to do a post about my favorite products and review them because I love reading posts like this and getting ideas of what to try out. I am going to try and do a monthly favorite products post at the end of each month as I get better at posting. My favorite products are simply just the products I have been using a lot lately or in the past month. Hope you enjoy:)

• Bare Minerals Matte Foundation- Fairly light. I absolutely love this foundation. I have been using the regular Bare Minerals foundation for about 4 years and just discovered the matte form. If you have oily skin like I do, this foundation provides great coverage. I only use a little for the medium coverage I need and it covers beautifully while keeping my skin from getting shiny throughout the day.
• Bare Minerals Prime Time foundation primer. This keeps my makeup on without a doubt and definitely reduces the massive size of my pores. I don't know what I would do without this primer.
• Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow. This is by far the best highlighter I have tried. I mix it with my primer and it just makes my face look awake and well-rested.
• Buxom Mascara. This mascara is AMAZING. The brush is huge and seriously coats every lash so perfectly and evenly. I have the absolute shortest, thinnest, most sparse lashes ever and this makes them look triple the length and SO full. I use this on special occasions.
• Lorac Starry Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trios. I have these in the colors starlet and evening star. I love the color combinations. Although a little pricey, these are definitely worth it. These shadows are amazingly pigmented and they stay on all day for me, which I have never been able to say about eye shadows.
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This helps my eyeshadow stay on much longer than with no primer at all. This is the first eye primer I have tried so if anyone has found an absolutely amazing one I'd love to know :)
• Nars Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo-Orgasm/Laguna. This blush and bronzer is the best I have ever tried. The formula is amazing and the color is flattering on any skin tone. I've had this for about 5 years and it is SO worth the price. It is great for daytime, everyday makeup.

I hope everyone loves these suggestions and I would LOVE to hear yours because I'm always in the mood to try new products :) Thank you so much!

The Importance of Brush Cleaning!!

   I can not stress enough how important it is to clean your makeup brushes. The day I started cleaning mine, I noticed an immediate change in my skin and the way my makeup went on. It was absolutely amazing! Most people I know had no idea that they could and were supposed to wash their brushes. When your brushes are clean, your makeup will be applied so brilliantly and the pigments will be so much more beautiful. And, if you have sensitive, oily skin like I do, dirty makeup brushes will only make the situation so much worse.

   Cleaning your brushes is so simple. No matter the shape, size, or type of the brush, the steps are all the same. Brush cleaning should be done about every 7-10 days (depending on how much you wear and how often you wear it). If your brushes get very brittle and become tough and not smooth (bad adjective use, sorry!) then you can condition them using these same steps but with conditioner.

Here is what you need:

• all of the brushes you use
• a brush shampoo (you can buy these at most beauty stores, including Sephora and Ulta) OR a gentle shampoo/body wash (I use a gentle baby shampoo and it works perfectly :) )
• a sink with hot running water
• a small wash cloth

STEPS :)

1. Place all of your brushes next to the sink. Make sure the water is about as hot as you can stand to touch. Have the washcloth handy next to you.
2. Take which ever brush and completely soak the bristles (hold them in the water so that the bristles are faced down. You don't want water to get inside of the handle. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES YOU ARE CLEANING!)
3. Dispense a small amount the brush cleaner into the palm of your hand. Make sure your hand has some water on it.
4. Take the wet brush and, in a circular motion, swirl the brush around in the cleaner.
5. Rinse the brush and your hand. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until, when you rinse the brush and squeeze the excess water out there is no evidence of pigments left in the brush.
6. Smooth out the bristles so they all go the same way.
7. Lay the brush on the wash cloth to dry, leaving the end with the bristles to hang off the counter top to allow even air circulation.
8. Repeat these steps with all of your brushes :)

I hope this helps everyone! Leave comments or suggestions to let me know what you think :)