Recent Q&A's!

Hi Guys! I've had loads of questions in the past few weeks and haven't been able to get around to all of them because my internet has been down (Seriously for over a month..) Since responding to messages on my board on the right sidebar are restricted to 100 characters, I thought I'd make a post instead. Also, I haven't posted much lately because I borrowed my camera to a friend two weeks ago and I haven't seen her yet to get it back.. and I always like to post pictures with my posts. :)

Q: What are you currently using on your brows?
A: For the past month, I've been using Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil in the shade "Brown 02". I purchased it at the very beginning of March from ULTA for $1.49. I would describe the color as a chestnut brown. I really like this pencil. Its a really great consistency and the formula is smooth, but not too smooth where its smudgy. It is pigmented, but you can control the pigmentation by using a light hand. My brows don't budge all day long. It has a brush at the end of the cap which is very useful to even out the color, but I use a regular spoolie. (I use the spoolie from my Milani Easybrow Liner purchased from CherryCulture) Then, I finish my brows off with MAC Brow Set in the shade "Girl Boy". This brow set has become an HG product for me especially with my hair color at the moment. It adds natural color to my brows. My brows are a dark ash brown, while my hair is a caramel brown. "Girl Boy" adds caramel coloring to my brows and helps keep them in place.

Q: What is your current skincare routine?
A: I don't have much of a routine or a system. I'd really like to get a good cleansing system to do daily, but the funds just aren't there right now. Currently, I use Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes at night to remove all of my makeup (I use the night calming and the regular ones. The regular ones are more oily and the night calming ones are slightly drier). About twice a week, I use an exfoliation glove with some lather and lightly rub my face in circular motions. I press a little harder on my nose and chin to make those areas squeaky clean and shiny. I know when my nose starts to look dull and matte under my foundation, it needs a good exfoliation. :) Then, If I have time or remember, I'll moisturize my face with whatever I have available. I have a ton of odds and end samples I use up. I then apply self tanner to my face before I go to sleep. If I have a pimple pending (lol), I'll do the Asprin Mask before I go to bed as well. In the morning, I use another Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelette to remove any excess color from my self tanner. I then apply my Perricone MD and follow with a moisturizer. For a moisturizer, I've been using Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Releif and I really, really like it. Its like a moisturizer and primer in one.

Q: Do you use a primer prior to makeup application?
A: I always use a moisturizer before I apply my foundation. I like primers that have the consistency of a thin moisturizer or a gel formula (such as Laura Gellar Spackle) that makes the skin slippery and moist so the foundation won't apply thick or cakey. I haven't come across any primers that make a noticeable difference in how long my makeup lasts. I've been using Rimmel's Fix & Perfect Primer and it works alright to keep shine away. I don't know if I would repurchase it though. I've been hearing raves about Clarin's primer.. I'd like to give it a try soon.

Q: If your skin was 1-2 shades lighter, what shade of Estee Lauder Double Wear would you purchase?
A: If my skin was 1-2 shades lighter, It would be a MAC NC30-35. I'm an NC40. The shade I wear (Tawny) runs light, but it blends well once I apply some bronzer. Shell Beige is a shade darker and can work on me as well, but I liked the look of Tawny better. If I were to go a shade lighter than Tawny, I'd go with Sand which should be a good NC30 match.

Warm Shades (Golden)
1w1 bone
2w1 sand
3w1 tawny
4w1 shell beige
5w1 bronze
6w2 spice

Neutral Shades (Beige)
1N1 ecru
2N1 desert beige
2N2 fresco
3N1 ivory beige
4N1 wheat
5N1 soft tan
6N1 truffle

Cool Shades (Pink)
1c1 shell
2c1 dusk
3c1 pebble
4c1 suede
5c1 soft chestnut
6c1 rich cocoa

Q: In Double Wear What's a good color match for NC37-40?
A: *sigh* I use Tawny, but it's not the perfect color match for my skin tone. It's the closest match out of all of the shades available though. Just about all the reviews I read, NC35-40's wear Tawny. I used Shell Beige a few years back, but I didn't like the way it photographed. It had a pink tone to it which I didn't like. I would like to try it again though and see how it works because it's definately been a while. I found that tawny is more golden.. but it is definately a lot lighter. I find it to be less yellow than MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC40.. I would match it to a NC35. It's slightly yellow/golden, but more beige than MAC. MAC has a strong yellow undertone. I don't belive any shades of double wear have a strong yellow tone. You may need to mix shades, if you can find a good in between color. But that ends up being very pricey. I like to put a drop of double wear in with any foundation to give my foundation extra coverage.

Q: Do you use any products to tone down the pigmentation of your lips?
A: I do have pigmented pink lips and I do a few things to lighten them up. Usually in the morning when I apply a moisturizer, I apply a lip balm as well. A favorite of mine is Smith's Rosebud Salve or Blistex. Then after it has softened my lips, I rub off any peeled tissue and my lips are soft and moisturized. When I apply my foundation, I use my brush at the end to go over my lips lightly with whatever is left on the brush. I pat them off with a tissue, and take a powder puff and press a tiny bit of setting powder on my lips. This will set the foundation residue on my lips. Without the powder, if you apply lipstick or gloss, you'll end up mixing it with the residue on your lips and ultimately, the pigmentation of your lips will show through again. I then apply my lip liner, lipstick and gloss. I love using MAC Myth or Fleshpot, Revlon Nude Attitude & Revlon Colorburst Soft Nude as a base for any nude glosses or mixed with lipsticks to tone down the color.

Q: How did you lighten your hair from black to brown?
A: Antidandruff Shampoo and heat is known to lighten your hair. If you flat iron your hair or use a blow dryer, this will slowly fade your hair color. Antidandruff shampoos/clarifying naturally strip your hair color slowly. I use head and shoulders shampoo and I use heat on my hair frequently, which is why my hair fades so fast. I wish it didn't because it fades to an auburn color, which I don't like with my skin tone. But, I get lots of compliments on it! :) I read that Prell Shampoo works very goo

Q: What foundation do you recommend other than NARS Sheer Glow that is medium coverage and light weight?
A: For a light weight foundation that offers medium coverage, I would recommend Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation. The finish is very natural and satiny. It doesn't look like you're wearing heavy makeup (or feel like it) and the lasting power/coverage is great! I use it on special occasions.

Q: What brush do you use on your outer eyes to create a smokey look?
A: Once I fill a shade all over my lid and fill in my crease with a crease brush, I use a flat, fluffy brush to blend and extend out. I usually will go over my crease and bring it up over my crease without adding any more product. I will sometimes apply the tiniest bit of a lighter shade over my crease with the same brush (for example if I filled my lid in black, I'd use a deep gray). The brush I typically use is the MAC 239 Shader Brush.