Tuesday, February 8, 2011

10 Beauty Products to Own in 2011

Backstage of Spring 2011 Chanel show

So I'm back from my slight hiatus, school had been busy, but guess what? Classes are done and now it's time to enter into the world of fashion and find an internship. I am excited and hope good things are around the corner. Wish me luck, cats!

All right, so today I wanna focus on MY favorite makeup products. And by all means everyone has their own preferences, but as someone who is a makeup junkie I'm hoping my suggestions will be of help to some. Let's be honest not all of us have the luxury to be natural beauties and need that extra boost to "enhance" our beauty. I won't lie I need that slight enhancement to accentuate what I got. Today I wanna talk about the 10 products that I think everyone should dib into their pockets for 2011 that you should have in your drawers. So here we go...

#1 Moisturizer with SPF

This is a must, ladies. The foundation to beautiful skin is simple...you MUST use a moisturizer, but the foundation to young and healthy looking skin is using a moisturizer with SPF. And I can't stress this more. Unfortunately, many women skip this step and think using ANY moisturizer will suffice. WRONG GIRLS! I hate to front out some of my girlfriends, but I've been to their homes and bathrooms and they tend to not have proper cleansers and moisturizers, and they always ask me how I still look so young for my age. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's all about the ya heard it here...the moisturizer I use. I happen to not stick to one brand and jump around a little...I'm what you a beauty product whore. I like trying and giving products a chance. I can't help it, but I will say I don't stray TOO far from my favorites! ;-)
Hope in a Jar SPF 25 by Philosophy is one of my faves and tends to always make it on the list every year with most beauty polls when it comes to the best moisturizer. This particular little jar has a major following and rightfully so, I actually have my own jar in my bathroom and it works like a little charm. This little sucker retails at $38. Although this price is fairly cheap I think in my book as far as a moisturizer I have to say this still tops any other luxury SPF moisturizer on the market right now, and this is just personal preference. I could have sat here and told you go and get some La Mer SPF Moisturizer, but I'm here to give honest advice on what I think is good and actually WORKS. In this instance, Philosophy suffices the splurge category.

#2 Tinted Moisturizer

So the reason why I emphasize this is a must is because I think everyone should work their way to use as minimal as they can with their makeup if they want to truly achieve young and healthy looking skin. And I think it's important to acknowledge we do need some help to even out the tone of our skin but at the same we need to be careful what we do put on our faces. That's right, you can't mess with the moneymaker now! So I hope by using proper cleanser and SPF you can achieve the most minimal of makeup, which in my opinion would be the tinted moisturizer (with SPF preferably).


My favorite all time to go tinted moisturizer is nonetheless Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. While working as a makeup artist for Giorgio Armani I also worked right next to Laura Mercier and let me tell you...hot cakes this item. I must've sold hundreds of these, that honestly I had to understand the hype. It really is a great item and me representing another cosmetic line I have to say and am by all means not even ashamed to admit this, but I even I helped push this item, of course after trying it myself. It's lightweight and feels like nothing is on and what's better than the feeling of no makeup on your face, I'll tell you...the feeling of no makeup when there IS makeup on your face. How brilliant! This little baby retails at $42 and comes in two formulas one for normal skin and the other for oily skin. Also maybe not the most expensive on the market, but it really is the best one out there right now.
#3 Black Eyeliner

I know, I know...what's new?! But this is a must in EVERYONE'S makeup bag. Now let me explain this. Firstly, has anyone seen the movie "House Bunny"? Ok remember the scene when she's teaching them makeup tips? Haha...remember the line..."First we must highlight ur eyes...the eyes are the nipples of the face." SO TRUE, LADIES! It really is what most people notice first about anyone's face. And maybe you may not have naturally alluring eyes, but guess what??? This is the magic and beauty of makeup...being able to create the ILLUSION that you do. And everyone loves beautiful eyes, especially the menses. A black eyeliner is a simple way to open your eyes and make you look awake. I personally love eyeliner along the lash line and the bottom.


I personally use MAC pencil eyeliner. And I can probably write a novel on different eyeliners, but I prefer pencil because A) it really is easy to use, B) it is easy to maneuver to what you want to achieve, and C) why get all complicated with gel liners or liquid eyeliners, when it does the same thing unless you're trying to achieve something different. I just think keep it simple when the simple product can achieve MANY looks, so why complicate things. I'm all about the simplicity of products. It's like when I went to find a red lipgloss to replace my favorite one that was discontinued, and no one could help me find what I wanted and they were trying to tell me I could achieve what I wanted in several steps....NO! I want ONE step! So same thing here, one product that can do multiple things. Now MAC carries several different formulas, but I like their Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved because it is waterproof and I'm a contact wearer so I tear up very often and I also love their Technakohl Eyeliner in GraphicBlack, because I don't have to sharpen it. Both the eyeliners retails at $14.50.
#4 Black Mascara

So to add to the black liner it's essential to have black mascara to finish off the perfect look. I love mascara. I actually have been blessed with long lashes but for some reason I want to accentuate them even more. I love it when people think I have fake lashes on and I have to be like nope they're real! I don't know why but I truly do like the way fake lashes look, obviously I don't like drag queen looking lashes, but to achieve pretend fake lashes with the help of mascara is even better!!



I choose Dior DiorShow Mascara ($25). This mascara is always placed on the top of everyone's list, including Allure and InStyle. It not only makes your lashes longer, but it makes them thicker, and curled. It definitely creates doll-like "fake" looking eye-batting eyelashes.
#5 Bronzer

I don't use blush, but I LOVE bronzer as my substitute to blush. I love the look of sunkissed cheeks and looking golden bronze year round. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think it creates that golden look that makes you glow. It gives you color without going too overboard.


I actually have a couple of favorites that I switch from, but the one I am using right now is Nars in Casino. It gives me the look of being in Miami year round, it's wonderful! For people who need something a little lighter than Casino, the other shade is Laguna, so for those who are paler they should use Laguna instead. This bronzer retails at $32.
#6 A Great Concealer

So concealer is a must for most people. If you can avoid to use concealer that's great, but I know for most people it is detrimental. And I don't mean this in a bad way, but let's be honest everyone has their blemishes and acne or dark circles they need to hide. Now you may hear some makeup artists tell you that sometimes you may need to use different types of concealers to conceal particular things and they might require different colors for what you are trying to hide. Figure out what is the most important for you to conceal. For everyday looks, you don't want to use so much on your face.



The concealer I've been hearing a huge buzz on is MAC's Pro Longwear Concealer ($16.50). It holds up for 15 hrs and God knows that is music to my ears considering when you wear makeup you want it to hold the whole day. This particular formula is lightweight and gives a medium to full coverage.
#7 Golden/Metallic Shadows

Ok, so I used to be a major eyeshadow whore. You name it, I probably have eyeshadow colors in almost every shade. I used to buy shadows just to have shadows. I even own Rated R by Nars and if anyone is familiar with this DuoShadow you know how crazy wild that duo set is. If not check it out (click on that link)! But back to what I was saying...I am loving what I am seeing with the whole concept of using metallics to create a smokey look. And if you've noticed every season there is some new take on the smokey look. And forget the smokey look even alone looks so versatile.


I love Nars eyeshadows because they have so much pigment in them and they stay on so well, so I suggest Nars. I am a little biased with Nars because I love this line for the sheer fact of their fun colors and how can you ignore the fun, sexy names (i.e. Orgasm, Easy Lover, Barbarella...need I say more?). Love that look! It's so sexy and such a wow factor! And if you can get Nars's Eyeshadow Primer, it will stay put the whole day, their primer is to die for! The single shadows run at $23. The duos run at $32. The picture on the left is courtesy of fellow Blogspotter the Makeup Addict, check her out, she's amazing at doing eyes and makeup.
#8 A Good Foundation

It is very important to have a proper foundation that lasts and looks natural and does not look feel heavy on your face. Many foundations feel like you're wearing a mask and that is not what you want. Spend the money on a proper foundation. I can not stress this...IT IS WORTH IT to spend a little more on your foundation products. Just think of it like this, it is what is sitting on your skin and you skin in sacred. If you want to protect your skin and stay and look as young as you can as long as you can, trust me when I say this. Even if it is a little more money, it is well worth it. Save your money and don't buy those extra martinis every week, because let's be real that's extra cals you don't need anyways, and the extra money can go into a proper foundation that actually won't damage your skin. Just think about it that way!


My FAVORITE foundation of all time and it will not change until something else comes out that proves me it's better is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. It's like butter!!! BUT-TER!!!! It feels great, makes you look absolutely flawless, it really acts as a second skin that looks absolutely natural and even. It is amazing and let me tell you this little sucker ALWAYS makes it on the best foundation list every year! This retails for $59, but well worth every dollar and cent! And I guarantee this! The only flaw is...it doesn't come in a huge range of colors, so for people on the darker side, it's not your best friend, BUT if you do have a color match, you DEFINITELY need this in your makeup bag. BUTTER!
#9 Pink Lipgloss

Pink lipgloss is so versatile and it really looks great on every skin complexion depending on the tone of the pink, but honestly every skin tone can find a perfect shade of pink. I just love pink because I'm a girly girl when it comes to lipgloss, and I only wear lipgloss. I love the look of it, I think it's sexy and it's so easy. Yes, you may have to reapply a few times during the night, but I love it. I love the look of babydoll pink lips!


My FAVORITE lipgloss is Giorgio Armani Lipshimmer #9 ($27). I was trying to find an exact picture of the shade and this is the best I could find to exactly show the shade of pink that I think is hot. If you look at the left picture it is the leftmost lipgloss. This color is amazing and looks good every time I wear it. And amazingly it really looks great on many skin colors (as I am Tan). I love this shade of pink! Right now the craze of pink is fuchsia, so play it up to what you think looks great on you and what you can rock!
#10 Colorful Eyeshadows/Pencils or Lips

This one I left last because I don't think it's a necessity to have, but you should always keep one or a couple few fun colors for nights you want to play up your eyes in a fun, playful, flirty way. Right now for Spring 2011 we are seeing more color, so have fun with it and keep a couple in your makeup bag. But don't go overboard because it might be overkill with the colors if you wear too much. Be subtle with it and you will definitely win with the look. Right now we're seeing lots of green liners or shadows and lots of tangerine and fuchsia lips. Just pick one and go with it!

Again I'm gonna have to go with Nars, since they provide fun, trendy colors. The shadow displayed is Nars Duo Eyeshadow Palette ($32) in Misfit. And the pic with the model wearing the coral tangerine lip color is taken backstage at the Spring 2011 Fendi show.
So there it is! The essentials you need this year. I hope people can take this and use this to help build their makeup bags with MY essentials for 2011. Here's the thing, a little goes a long way. You don't need tons of makeup to achieve sexiness. These few items will help you achieve a lot with only 10 products. If you have the capacity to spend more by all means explore more colors, but for those who need the basics, trust! This little list will be a lifesaver. Don't be afraid of makeup, the easiest thing for me to say is always explore, you never know what colors may look good on you. It may look crazy, wild in its packaging, but guess what? It totally looks completely different when you put it on. It's just like clothes. Don't knock it till you try it. You may think you can't pull bright colors, but you may be. The whole thing you have to own what you wear. Have the confidence and you will wear the makeup and the makeup won't wear you. Sound a bit familiar? Happy Makeup shopping and welcome to hotness!

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