Overdressed

When I posted my summer make-up suggestions, an anonymous reader with long curly lashes suggested that perhaps I could post something that a young mother could 1) afford and 2) find time to adhere to.

I try to please all my readers, so I told her I would give it a whirl.

1. Start with a tinted moisturizer. I recommend Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer ($12) which I've not used, but I have formerly used Neutrogena tinted moisturizer and this seems to have replaced it.

2. I stand by my argument that a good under-eye concealer is awfully hard to find. I've used soooo many different brands over the years. If black circles are your problem area, I would splurge on the Benefit Lyin' Eyes ($18 - which, come on, is still pretty reasonable for department store make up). Otherwise, you can try something from the drugstore.

3. Next, if you choose, dust all over with a light loose powder, such as Coty Airspun ($7). For a more natural look, you can skip this step. But if you want to look a little more "made up," use a large powder brush (you can get a Sonia Kashuk travel-size set with all the bare necessaries at Target for $12) and NOT the powder puff thingie that comes with the powder. In fact, just go ahead and throw that thing away as soon as you get home because it is nothing but a petri dish for bacteria growth.

4. Next, use your large powder brush to apply a bronzer. Brush lightly on forehead above each eyebrow, sweeping down over your temples and high on your cheekbones. I've not used any drugstore brands, so I can't recommend one but this list on drugstore.com, ranging in price from $7-12, is sorted according to popularity, so that might help key you to which are the best.

5. Apply a soft pencil eyeliner in chocolate brown across the upper lid only. Use the slanted make-up brush (or even a Q-tip) to blend into a smudgey line. Brush your eyebrows and tops of upper lashes with a dampened eyebrow brush (any soft children's toothbrush will do) to remove traces of powder. If God did not fortunately give you long curly lashes, use a curler before applying a layer of your favorite mascara in brown or soft black. There are lots of good mascaras available at the drugstore. I like Max Factor Stretch & Separate ($7). I recommend the Sonia Kashuk eyelash curler which is available at Target for about $7.

[***Extra Mascara Hint That I Forgot Last Time: Always blot the mascara wand on some toilet paper to avoid smears and smudges. If you do get mascara on your face, let it dry before trying to remove it. Mascara is formulated to stick to lashes, not skin, so if you let it dry first it should flick right off.***]

6. Finish with a tinted lip balm - there are also tons of them available - for a light wash of color. I like Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb ($4).

So let's total that up and see if it comes in under a week's worth of groceries:

Tinted Moisturizer - $12
Concealer - $18
Powder - $7
Make-up brushes set - $12
Bronzer - $7-12
Eyeliner - $5-8
Child's toothbrush - $1
Eyelash curler - $7
Mascara - $7
Tinted Lip balm - $4

TOTAL COSTS: $80-88 (including the $18 concealer and the one-time expense of $20 for brushes and tools)

TOTAL APPLICATION TIME: UNDER 3 MINUTES

What d'ya think? Young moms struggling to budget your time and money - does this work for you?

Labels: fashion and style, make up

Posted by Kalisa at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

Lots of you have been asking, "Kalisah, what sort of make up routine do you follow in the summertime that gives you that flawless, sun-kissed face?"

OK, not really, but let's pretend like a lot of you have been asking me that.

Colors will mostly vary depending on your skin tone and hair color, but when a certain shade is preferred I've taken the incentive to name it for you. I sometimes recommend using your finger to apply rather than a make-up brush because I think it allows more control, especially when you're going for light coverage. However, always wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying anything to your face with your hands to avoid spreading bacteria and causing breakouts.

1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer - allows for a more natural appearance than foundation in the summertime while still smoothing out your skin and provides 20 SPF sun protection. Even if you tan your body, you should protect your face and get your summer glow this way. Also available in oil-free.

2. Concealer - use Secret Camouflage with a concealer brush very sparingly on blemishes. Benefit Lyin' Eyes is a great undereye concealer, but again - use sparingly. Apply with ring fingertip rather than the brush.

3. Prep - A thin layer of Lemon Aid applied to upper eyelid provides a soft, smooth and even-toned finish. Great, too, if you're not planning on wearing any eye shadow. Brush a light layer of T. LcClerc loose powder in Banane over your face with a large powder brush. This powder eliminates shadows and creates a glowing finish without adding any color. Hollywood make-up artists favorite.

4. Add a sheer sun-kissed glow with Benefit Dallas. For a more natural look, use your big powder brush and not the little flat one that comes with it. Apply to forehead above each eyebrow, sweeping down over your temples and high on your cheekbones.

5. Use your finger tip to apply a thin wash of metallic cream eye color to the lid only (below the crease). I like Laura Mercier's in Ally or Burnished Copper. I have some that I like from Stila but I believe they must have discontinued them.

6. Use an eyeshadow brush to apply a mushroom shade of powder eyeshadow to the crease. Sonia Kushak has one at Target in "Latte" that's perfect (and cheap). Highlight under browbone with Benefit High Brow. Blend well with ring finger.

7. Apply a thin line of Bobbie Brown gel eye liner to upper lash line. The color you choose depends on the color of the cream eye color you've applied. I especially like her new iridescent "shimmer ink" tones.

8. Use a dampened eye brow brush to brush brows and upper lashes. Wetting the brush will allow it to pick up loose powder that's deposited itself. Use a lash curler on upper lashes. Apply a single coat of your favorite mascara.

9. Lipstick. Oh, the possibilities are endless. Bobbie Brown has some great sandwash colors as well as these SPF 15 Lipshines. If you prefer something a little more sheer and glossy for the summer, her Lip Tint SPF 15 is tried and true. (Great for wearing to the beach.) I have them in Tea Tint, Tea Rose Tint, Blossom Tint, Melon and Cherry Tint. Another great gloss option is Mac Lipglass which is thicker with a high-gloss, glass-like sheen. I have then in Lust, Chai, Spite, and Pink Lemonade (a favorite of Jennifer Aniston's). I even like Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb, but I would caution against going for any of the lighter shades as they'll appear very white on your lips. I also recommend using a lip liner in a very natural shade - it helps to keep your lip color inside your lips. I use Mac Lip Pencil in Cedar everyday. Find one that very closely matches your natural lip color. Remember, it's not the color but the wax that keeps your lipcolor in place.

Don't forget to send me your "before" and "after" photos! I'll try & take a few of my own but I'm not that good at taking self-portraits.

Labels: fashion and style, make up

Posted by Kalisa at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

I popped into Macy*s this afternoon to pick up those couple of Benefit pieces that I was so desperately needing - remember, the Boi-ing concealer and High Beam highlighter. And this young girl starts helping me, and she's really good. I mean, she's gooooood.

She pulls out the High Beam I want and puts it on the counter. Then, before we even start talking about which shade of concealer I need, she asks, "Have you tried the dallas? It is soooo popular that we've been out of it in Memphis for WEEKS!" and she starts brushing it on my face in order to give me the most amazing sun-kissed glow!

And while I'm admiring my new healthy radiance in the mirror, she says, "Have you ever worn Bad gal lash? It's false eyelashes in a bottle!" So while I try that on - which hello? if I buy this I can totally throw away my eyelash curler - she tells me about all the awards this product's won. So, I'm already debating over the dallas (which, if you'll remember I had been contemplating anyway) and OK, the mascara is now a given what with my newly long and so not clumpy lashes.

AND THEN she pulls out High brow and blends it underneath my brows and suddenly my eyes appear brighter! And younger! And lifted! And all the little eyebrow stubble underneath them is covered, too. Bonus!

She must stop.

Do you think that she looks at a face and analyzes what its needs are that quickly? Or do you think that the products are just so good that it doesn't really matter what she smears on a customer's face, it's gonna be an improvement no matter what?

Now, she says, about that concealer. Which one did you want? It goes without saying that OF COURSE I did not walk out with the product that I'd come in for. She put the Boi-ing under my left eye and Lyin eyes (It also contains moisturizers!) on the right. And whoo-boy could you see a difference.

So, ultimately, I decided on the dallas, the Bad gal lash and the Lyin eyes (and she threw in a nice sample of Dear john, too!). AND....guess how much it cost me? NO! Lower! 60 bucks! That is so reasonable for good cosmetics. If you bought similar products at Chanel it would easily be $100.

So excuse me now. I'm going to go wash my face so I can re-apply my new make-up all over again.

Labels: fashion and style, make up

Posted by Kalisa at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

I can tell by the violent thunderstorms and tornado and hail warnings that are rolling into the area today. Also? The spring make-up circulars in the mail box.

So far, I'm very excited by the Bobbi Brown Pink Sugar line. It's just so....spring-y. The Pink Face Palette looks like a pretty good deal, no? And the new Lip Sheers are going to be great for summer. I want four.

Then I also received the Benefit catalog which is always so fun! I managed to whittle that list down to two things that I NEED: Boi-ing ("the world's best concealer!") and High Beam which I'm convinced it going to give me glowy, SJP skin. And I love the dandelion so much that I think I might have to try out the new dallas for summer, maybe.

Labels: fashion and style, make up

Posted by Kalisa at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments