Megs Wedding Makeup

Megan's Wedding Makeup!

My sister informed me about two weeks ahead of time, that she wanted ME to do her makeup for her wedding! Cue instant panic and freakouts on my part!   Megan generally wears minimal makeup, and had felt to overdone and "pageanty" at the trials she had gone to.  While I understood what she meant, I was very nervous to undertake such a massive responsibility for her wedding (and without significant time to practice since she lives in Ohio and I live in New Jersey)

We were able to practice a few days before the wedding and get a feel of what Megan wanted, which was basically to look like herself but better! She wanted a bit of shimmer on her eyes, as well as the color purple, and a nude lip. 

 

Below are listed ALL the products I used. I'm sure many will be surprised as to how many products are used for such a natural look!

Before makeup-

I used BeautyCounter Skin balancing facial oil - I find this moisturizes and balances oil production preventing late day shininess, I don't think I reapplied powder to Megan at all. 

Primer - I used Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer which I have found to be the best photographed primer I have ever used. It smooths out skin and minimizes pores and fine lines. 

Foundation - Mac Face and Body foundation in C3 on the face. - I really like this because its light and natural looking and also photographs well. 

Concealer - I used BeautyCounter Concealer pen in light under eyes and around the nose. I love this concealer because it is just the right amount of color and highlight to diminish under eye darkness without caking in any fine lines (not that Megan has any of course).  * this item is not included in the picture because I gave the concealer to Megan and am awaiting another to come in!

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Cannelle - heavier concealer used on any discoloration

Contour - Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit.

I used the peach shade for highlight under Megan's eyes, up cheekbone, down nose, and on cupids bow.  I used the lightest of the dark shades for under cheekbone, under jawline and down sides of nose. 

Bronzer - Nars Laguna bronzer on cheekbones, chin, and hairline. 

Blush - Nars Deep Throat (peach with shimmer) on apple of cheek

Highlight - Nars liquid Illuminator in Hot sand (Peach Champagne) on cheekbone

Highlight - Nars The Multiple in Copacabana (glistening pearl) on cheekbone,cupids bow.

Bronzer - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant light (golden beige) - used over what previously mentioned just adds a bit if shimmer.
Highlight - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous light (champagne pearl)

Powder Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk powder in Shade 4 and set with Mac Fix+ spray.  (this is in the black powder container because it cracked and I transferred it into that container, I am not sure if you can still buy this powder but its a beautiful powder that photographs so well)

On lips -

Liner-  MAC Cremestick Liner in Beurre (plum/pinkish)

Lipstick - Burberry Lip Cover in Tulip Pink # 27 (rosey beige)

Lip Gloss - Nars Baby Doll lip gloss (shimmering candy pink) LOVE THIS!

Eyebrows - 
Brow Pencil - Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wix in Taupe
Brow color/highlight - Becca Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse in Cocoa - I used this highlight color below the brow.
Benefit Gimme Brow Voluminous Fiber Gel in Light - this gives brows thicker appearance.

On Eyes -

Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion to start (great primer keeps eye shadow on and crease-free all day)

Eyeshadows -
Nars Single Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes (shimmering violet based brown) used all over lid and crease
Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Bellisima (shimmering beige/grey-brown) - used the darker shade in crease
Nars Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Himalia (shimmering topaz)- used on center of lid for shimmer
Nars Single Eyeshadow in Lulu (bright eggplant) in outer corner of eye and in crease
Nars Single Eyeshadow in Night Bird (dark grey with violent/plum shimmer)- Smudged as liner on top eyelid and outer bottom.
Nars Eye Paint (liner)  in Tatar (black with purple shimmer) - Liner and winged out
Nars Audacious mascara
Eyeslashes from Target (cant remember make, but bought most natural looking ones I saw)
Nars The Multiple in Copacabana on inner corner of eye.




I will add more pictures as I receive them from the photographer!




*I do want to add a little disclaimer to explain to anyone that has seen my posts about my love of BeautyCounter products. I do use Beauty Counter products (skincare and makeup) everyday. I exclusively use their skincare. I use their foundation and concealer every day. I am still expanding my collection of Beauty Counter color makeup. I had considered using their products on Megan for her wedding, but did not as I owned a limited amount of Beauty Counter makeup and only had a few days to practice.   Since this makeup was for one day, i did not worry about the ingredients and focused on products I had used for years and could predict their wear and longevity.  So while I know the primers  and MAC products WORK. I would never use them regularly due to their ingredients. Hope that makes sense!   I will always be honest about the products and how I feel about them. I do not doubt that the BeautyCounter products could have produced just as beautiful of a result, but since I did not have enough time to test them myself, I did not feel comfortable testing them on Megan for her wedding and photographs. As i get more Beauty Counter makeup I will post more about them!

Holiday Gift Ideas!

BEAUTYCOUNTER Holiday!

 

Holiday shopping for your loved ones can often be a daunting task. If your significant other enjoys makeup or skincare products like I do, BeautyCounter has some awesome deals for the holidays.  Below I shared my favorites!  

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Makeup palettes are ALWAYS a good choice. They combine eye shadow, bronzer, blush and highlight all in one spot!

 

Winter Dream Palette 
This palette mixes best sellers and new cool-toned shades for just the right balance of casual and glamorous. It’s the perfect one-stop-compact you can easily throw in your bag. 
 I find myself reaching for this palette often, and was even surprised that i liked the periwinkle shade which is very sheer and blends well with the navy shadow as liner. 

Palette Includes:

• Marine (true navy) — New
• Bellflower (vibrant periwinkle) — New
• Opal (opalescent pink) — New
• Dove (dusty lavender) — New
• Pinot (satiny plum) — New
• Night (soft charcoal black)
• Matte Bronzer No. 1 (medium tan) 
• Feather (opalescent sheen highlight) — New
• Bloom (cool pink)

Winter Warmth Palette

One palette… Endless options. We’ve curated our most popular warm-toned shades, plus two new shades for eyes, cheeks and highlights. Mix, match, and take the guesswork out of creating beautiful looks. 

The bronze and golds in this palette are gorgeous!

Palette includes:

• Bronze (warm, golden metallic)
• Malt (medium brown with a hint of sheen)
• Goldleaf (rich, golden sheen) —New
• Pearl (opalescent white)
• Amethyst (warm purple)
• Slate (grey sheen)
• Tawny (warm tan with a hint of peach)
• Feather (opalescent sheen highlight) — New
• Whisper (soft peach with a hint of pink)

 
Luminous Nudes Gift Set

For a striking, yet understated look, go for nude lips this holiday season. Our best-selling Sheer Lipstick in Twig has met its match: New Lip Gloss in Bare Shimmer gives glistening sheen to accentuate any look. Jojoba esters and vitamin E are excellent for balancing and conditioning skin for the silkiest pout. Plus, it’s gift ready and wrapped in our exclusive holiday red box.

Set includes:

• Sheer Lipstick in Twig 
• Lip Gloss in Bare Shimmer — New
  
    
  
  Love & Luster Gift Set
  
  
  Just in the time for the holidays, this wishlist-worthy collection of four Glosses includes two NEW festive colors — Blossom, a pearly pink, and Sunshine, a sparkly gold — to add high-wattage luster to any look. Made with carnauba wax, a Brazilian plant that promotes long-lasting shine and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant with hydrating and skin-conditioning properties. Plus, it all comes beautifully wrapped in our exclusive holiday box.
  
  
  Set includes:
  

  • Lip Gloss in Ruby 
  • Lip Gloss in Dahlia 
  • Lip Gloss in Sunshine — New
  • Lip Gloss in Blossom — New

Naughty to Nice Gift Set

Created without harsh ingredients that can be overly drying to skin, these little ‘lumps’ of coal are pretty much the best gift you can give your skin this season. Charcoal absorbs impurities and purifies congestion without drying out skin. Use these staples as part of your beauty routine for smoother, brighter, younger-looking skin in less than 15 minutes. This giftable duo comes in special holiday sizing and is packaged inside a limited edition red box.

Those products are two of my favorites!

Set includes:

• Charcoal Cleansing Bar
• Purifying Charcoal Mask

To see these items as well as many other great gift options click here!

My Favorite BeautyCounter Products - Balancing Facial Oil

I’ve been using BeautyCounter products for several months now and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. My favorites are shown here and are: the Charcoal Cleansing Bar, Charcoal Mask, Balancing Facial Oil, and Sunscreen. 

This past week I traveled to Ohio for my sister’s wedding (I was maid of honor!) and I had many people comment that my skin looked great and I agreed! I did my sister and my makeup for the wedding and used the facial oil on both of us before applying any makeup. I’ve found that using the right facial oil helps balance my own oil production and prevents me from getting oily or shiny throughout the day. I included a picture of my sister and I and I think it shows well the balance in our skin, giving a glow without being shiny (the picture was taken approximately 5 hours after makeup application)

The research-supported facts about what plant oils can do for skin is quite fascinating. They're not miracles, but the right plant oil (or, even better, a blend of oils) can make a significant difference for dry, flaky, or dehydrated skin. Facial oils are for anyone whose skin could use a boost of nourishing, smoothing rejuvenation, especially when seasonal cold or drier climates disturb your skin.

Facial oils are right for you if you struggle with occasional (think seasonal or climate-related dryness) or persistent dry, flaky, or dehydrated skin and your moisturizer just isn't doing enough no matter how enriched and emollient it is.

Instead of continually searching for a new moisturizer, you can easily add facial oil to your routine and see a striking difference. Your skin will feel smoother, softer, and more resilient, not to mention taking on a natural-looking glow.

The ingredients in the BeautyCounter Balancing Face Oil are:

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil.

This oil has a fantastic ingredient lineup, with antioxidant-rich and emollient oils like rosehip, grapeseed, and sea buckthorn.

• Rosehip oil is widely used in various skin care products. It helps fight the signs of aging and assists in diminishing photo aging.
• Oral and topical applications of sea buckthorn oil both have benefits on skin problems. It promotes skin hydration, elasticity, and skin regeneration, and even helps treat and prevent acne. 
• Sea buckthorn oil may also be beneficial for rosacea, a chronic inflammatory condition that causes small red bumps on the face. 
• Research has shown that marula oil can improve hyper-pigmentation. 
• Ylang ylang oil has been proven to help regulate the production of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands, to protect your hair and skin from drying out. It has many cosmetic uses, including: maintaining skin moisture, clearing and healing acne, as well as antimicrobial properties that can help reduce skin irritation and redness. 
• Chamomile  oil can help calm or treat acne, rashes, eczema, wounds, dermatitis, and dry and itchy skin

You would use the facial oil under your moisturizer or on its own. I adore this face oil and used it day and night.  I use three drops after washing morning and night. In the morning I follow it with sunscreen and I use it alone at night.

Those still afraid of breakouts, listen up: “Oils can help stabilize and regulate the overproduction of sebum, and actually help get rid of acne,” says France born facialist Isabelle Bellis, It’s essential not to “over-exfoliate,” she says, adding that an appropriate oil will balance out “your skin’s ecosystem and protect it from the external environment.” (Vogue, April 2016)

I started using facial oils several years ago and had never found one I was sold on. The balancing face oil changed that. I am curious to try the other two oils, hydrating and soothing, but have so enjoyed the balancing face oil that I have yet to do so. 

The difference between the oils are the last ingredients listed.  The added ingredients that make the Balancing Face oil are Ylang Ylang and Chamomile

• The Hydrating Face Oil also has Jasmine Oil.  Jasmine Oil is traditionally used to restore skin, the essential oils and botanical extracts of jasmine increase skin’s elasticity and help balance moisture in the skin to naturally reduce dryness.  Jasmine oil is a cicatrizer, meaning it helps fade scars left in the wake of acne, skin wounds, eruptions, and stretch marks.
• The Soothing  Face Oil also has Calendula  Oil which has great anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It helps soothe sore, inflamed, and itchy skin conditions.

If you feel your skin could use that extra boost especially in this coming winter,  consider trying a BeautyCounter Face Oil!

www.beautycounter.com/kimberlybrown