How I Achieve A Luminous Glow (Everyday Face)

I've noticed that I get more compliments on my complexion and how young looking my skin is when I use certain products, compared to when I use others.  My skin seems to look more radiant and smoother when I use certain products. These are the products that I use to help me get a luminous glow to my skin.  I prefer to have some shimmer for a glowy sunkissed complexion, as opposed to a matte look.  (However, somedays I like to go for a more matte look, depending on the occasion and my mood.)

Here's what I use to achieve a smooth, glowly complexion:

1. REVLON PhotoReady Airbrush Foundation (shade rich ginger)- 
I absolutely love this foundation.  I wasn't expecting good coverage from a mousse-like foundation, but boy was I wrong.  I feel that this covers very well & is buildable, without looking cakey or overly made up.  It's light to medium, buildable coverage.  I like to go with 2 layers of this for the desired coverage of my choice. It comes out like a mousse (foam) but blends out to a liquid.  Blends like a dream, doesn't cling to dry patches, and applies so smoothly.  It does have very small flecks of shimmer in it, but nothing extremely obnoxious or extremely obvious.  It gives a nice, luminous glow to the skin & that's why I love it.  Love that it gives a natural look, and doesn't scream "I'm wearing tons of foundation!".  It just looks like natural skin, only better & more enhanced.

2. NARS Casino Bronzer or Tarte Park Ave Princess Amazonian Clay (mineral) Bronzer 
(on cheeks & down nose for contour)- 
I don't always use this.  Sometimes, I just use a shimmery blush & skip the bronzer.  But when I want a more defined cheek or want to warm my face up with a sunkissed glow, I love to use either of these 2 bronzers.  (Casino is darker and more brown bases, where as  Park Ave Princess is more golden toned.)  They both have shimmer, but not overpowering.  Personally, I prefer to bronzers with shimmer.  When I use matte bronzers, they tend to look very flat & muddy.  I love the dimension and glow that the shimmer gives. 

3.Shimmery (not glittery) Blush- MAC Daft Pink (discontinued L.E), Hard Candy Living Doll
My favorite at the time is MAC's Daft Pink, which is a perfect swirl of bronzy gold & pink. This has the perfect amount of shimmer for a natural baby doll pink glow.  Not too overpowering.  This is great for an everyday look for work or school.  Hard Candy's Living Doll is great for this look as well (& super affordable).  Living Doll is a gorgeous pink (more vibrant than Daft Pink) with just the perfect amount of shimmer for a beautiful angel-like glow.  

I really like to use shimmery blushes because they work as a blush & highlighter in one.

*I usually finish off my everyday look with a neutral or pink lipgloss or lipstick (I like to use Revlon Lip Butter in Cotton Candy or NYC's Lippin Large gloss in pink champagne.) & a neutral or light colored eyeshadow (usually no liner for daytime look).  (really like Urban Decay's Aquarius & shades from Mark's On The Dot Neutral Palette)

*NEW* Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm & Covergirl & Olay Concealer Balm

I picked up the Jumbo Gloss Balm in Coral Twist.  After debating for the longest between the coral shade and the hot pink (which I will be going back for).  I like to stick to pink lip colors for everyday use, but the color was a fun change.  The pigmentation is really nice and these are quite glossy.  They remind me of the Revlon Lip Butters (which I love!) but in a crayon form.  They also have more pigmentation than the Lip Butters.  I find that when the glossiness wears off, it leaves a nice stain on your lips.  I would like to try more colors.

I also picked up the new Covergirl & Olay Concealer Balm in shade medium.  I was looking for a new concealer.  I have been using the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Concealer for years, which I love for under the eyes as well as blemishes/redness.  However, that one is quite pricey.  I'd also been eyeing up the new L'Oreal crayon style concealer, but that one was pricey as well.  I chose this one because I absolutely love the Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab foundation, and this was advertised to work well with that.  This covers well real and blends like a dream.  It doesnt cling to dry areas or wear off throughout the day.  I love how it's in a cute little compact tube that reminds me of a lip stick/balm.  I recommend trying this out!

FOTD: 1/12/13 Ft Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

Eyes: Urban Decay Aquarius Eyeshadw, L'Oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Eye Pencil Black, L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara 

Face: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous *NEW* 3-in-1 Foundation SPF 20 (857 Golden Tan)

Cheeks: Benefit Bella Bamba Blush

Lips: NYC Lippin Large Lip Plumper Pink Champagne 

*January 2013 Favorites*

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder
I'm almost finished with my 2nd compact. I love this stuff.  When used with the sponge, it has enough coverage to work as a concealer! I don't even really use concealer on blemishes or dark marks anymore.  I just use this, and it works like a dream.  I like to set light coverage foundations or tinted moisturizers with this for a more polished look.  When applied with a brush, you get lighter coverage.  This has enough coverage to be used alone, as well, on days when you're just running errands or don't want to mess with a lot of makeup.  I love this! It never leaves my purse.  I've never been a huge fan of powder, because every powder that I've tried has looked too "cakey" and "powdery" and definitely not natural.  I love this because it's not cakey at all or artificial looking.  It does not make you look like you're wearing powder.  This has a demi-matte, natural finish and has a very smooth application.  However, if you're looking to control oil and want a matte look, you might want to skip this and try the Blot Powder or another oil-controling powder.  

L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara
Officially, the best mascara that I've ever tried hands down.  My favorite mascara of all time used to be the Rimmel Bold Curve MAX (in the green tube).  I also like the MARK Lash Act mascara for length. I picked this up on a whim at Walmart at the beginning of the month.  It was sold in a package along with the Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner (which is LOVE as well) for only $10! I couldn't pass it up.  I'm really glad that this caught my attention, but it's my new favorite mascara.  This mascara not only add crazy length, but it adds crazy volume as well! What more could a girl ask for?! This is exactly what I've been looking for in a mascara, and I've tried so many.  It doesn't weight my lashes down like some mascaras have in the past.  It's not a dry formula, which I hate in mascaras.  It's wet enough that you can layer it up without it clumping, but not so wet that it smudges. Stays put all day.  Even when my eyes were watering, it didn't budge.  I'll definitely be repurchasing this one!

L'Oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner
As I mentioned above, this came with the Extra Volume Collagen Mascara.  I'm always looking for a good black mascara that doesn't budge.  I haven't used this on the bottom lash line yet (LOVE the Rimmel waterproof liner for that), but it works amazingly on the top!  I love how this glides on (not tugging or pulling) and applies smoothly.  It does apply like a liquid liner, but with the ease of a pencil. It lasted me all day. I usually do my makeup around 8:20 or so in the morning, and take it off around 11:30pm (sometimes midnight).  It did not budge.  LOVE this! 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow *AQUARIUS*
My EVERYDAY HG eyeshadow.  Not only do I adore the name "Aquarius" because that's my zodiac sign, but I LOVE the color of this.  It's a gorgeous shimmery aqua (minty) green color with flecks of silver shimmer.  It's not too shimmery by any means.  I love wearing this for everyday use.  It goes with a lot of colors.  Plus mint green is my favorite color!  I absolutely LOVE Urban Decay Eyeshadows.  They are my favorite.  The formula is outstanding.  They last all day and glide on like a dream.  I wish they cost less than $18 a pop, but I've always gotten my shadows when Urban Decay, Sephora, or Beauty.com has had some sort of sell.  This is a great everyday color.  It's not too harsh for work or school and gives just enough of a pop of color that it's not boring.  I wear this almost everyday and keep in it my purse.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain *PRECIOUS*
I love these stains because they are hydrating, and my lips are usually so dry.  Other stains are known for their drying effect.  This comes off as a neutral/nude color on my lips, and I love to pair it with a smokey/dark eye and neutral cheek.  It reminds me of a mod/60's look. Very hydrating and glossy.  Not sticky at all.  Great for keeping in your purse.  

NYC Lippin Large Lip Plumper *PINK CHAMPAGNE*
This is super affordable! It cost me around $2 and some odd change at Walmart.  I love how hydrating and glossy this is, without feeling sticky.  I keep this in my purse at all times.  It doesn't do much for plumping your lips though.  The only lip plumper that's every really worked for me has been the Sally Hanson Lip Inflation.  This doesn't sting or burn your lips, and it's a great hydrating gloss though! 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer *Park Ave Princess*
I've been loving this to contour.  It's very natural looking and glides on like a dream. I like to use my Mark Powder brush to dust it on. 

Favorite Foundation:

Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab
I always goes back to this one.  It's lightweight on the skin and has nice coverage.  I tried the new Outlast Stay Fabulous & I really like it as well.  That one keeps my face matte and stays put all day, but it's more coverage that I would like for everyday use.  The Covergirl & Olay gives me just enough coverage, but not too much for everyday work use.  

1st Impressions: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

Hello beauties! I've been currently been rotating between using the MAC Matchmaster, Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush, & Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab (favorite!) foundations.  However, I went to Target today (to look for black pants!) & I couldn't help but wander over towards the cosmetics section.  There were so many new products there by Covergirl, L'Oreal, & Revlon! I wanted to try the new Covergirl Gloss Crayons, but I couldn't decide which color I wanted so I didn't get any. (I will go back to try them eventually.) I also want to try the new L'Oreal concealer that is shaped like a jumbo crayon.  Anyway, this foundation was on an end display & caught my eye.  I passed it up twice, but eventually, I went back for it.  I was going to get the Covergirl Clean Oil-Control pressed powder, but I put it back.  I decided to try this foundation because I had a $2 off coupon & thought what the heck! 3 in 1? Can't beat that, especially when I'm in a hurry in the morning!

I chose this foundation in shade 857 Golden Tan.  (I'm 157 in the Tone Rehab.).  The shade blended out perfectly, and I love how it matches my skintone.  I love how this is very easy to blend out and does not feel heavy at all on the skin.  I prefer two layers of this for good medium coverage.  It's definitely buildable.  I will try it out tomorrow & throughout the weekend & be back with a full updated review.  So far, I like this alot. It has a matte finish, but not too matte when it looks fake.  I didn't want another dewy foundation.  This gives me the exact finish that I'm looking for, minus the steps of using primer & powder. 

FOTD: 1/9/13

face: Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab Foundation 157

cheeks: Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer (Amazonian Clay), MAC Supercontinental Blush

Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Aquarius, L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

Lips: NYC Lippin Large Lip Plumper Strawberry Champagne