put your best {face} forward.

A couple of weeks ago when I wrote about all of the beauty products I can’t live without, so many items in the make-up category came to mind that I figured it best to give them their very own post.

1. Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in Mat Black – This is my go-to black eyeshadow for dramatic smokey eyes. It’s totally matte, which I’ve been really into lately, and it blends really well.
2. Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation – I used to be a big fan of Chanel foundations, but this stuff has totally crossed me over. It has great coverage but doesn’t feel heavy at all, and just has the perfect finish. For daytime, I usually just use a tinted moisturizer and then dab a tiny bit of this over any problem areas. It’s that good! I rarely wear concealer, and believe me – my skin is far from perfect.
3. Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder – This is an invisible powder to set your foundation. I don’t normally use it during the day, because I like the natural, dewy look of the foundation on its own – but if you’re going out and want everything to really last, this stuff works wonders.
4. Dior Addict Lip Polish Radiance Expert in Sheer Beige – Every girl needs to own a perfect nude lip gloss. You can add it to any lipstick to give it some shine or tone down the color a bit, and of course – it’s beautiful on its own. I really like the texture of this gloss in particular.
5. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat – I’m pretty sure everyone already knows about this little magic wand, but just in case – here it is. It’s so much more than a concealer – it’s a miracle product that makes you look like you’re totally rested and rejuvenated when you’re, well, not. My only complaint is that because it’s so popular, they are sometimes out of my color – so in case that happens to you, Chanel makes a similar one that’s just as good.
6. Lorac TANtalizer Baked Matte Satin Bronzer – Another thing you should probably know about me {if you don’t already} is that I am addicted to bronzer. But you have to be careful here – the color has to be right, or it won’t look natural. I know I’m doing good when people keep telling me, “You look so tan!” and I know I haven’t been in the sun for weeks (which is also a product of my favorite fake-bake product I wrote about here). I love this bronzer because the color is perfect – not too dark, but still shows up on me when I do have a tan. It also goes on smoothly, is made out of minerals {love}, and even has an SPF built right in. I apply it with a big fluffy Kevin Aucoin brush lightly across my forehead, down my temples and through to my cheekbones, and then a little on my nose, chin, and neck/décolletage area. So, basically everywhere.
7. Nars Blush in Amour – I never used to wear blush. Like, at all. I remember when everyone raved about Orgasm – I went out and bought it, was super excited about it – but, nothing. As in, it disappeared right onto my skin. For all of you fair-skinned beauties out there, I’m sure it’s gorg – but for me, I needed something with a little more pigment. And that’s when I found Amour. This color is like a deep peachy-pink, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. But be careful, because a little goes a long way. I definitely don’t use it everyday, but for a night out or other occasion I just use a tiny bit of this blush right on the apples of the cheeks, after I apply my bronzer.
8. Chanel Les Quatres Ombres de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow – Another staple in the world of cosmetics is your neutral/brown/beige eye shadows. I love Chanel for eye shadow, and every season they come out with a new set of colors that I think I have to have. They’re a little pricey, but I think it’s worth the splurge when you’re getting a neutral palette that you’ll get seriously mileage out of. Love this set of colors, called Kaska Beige.
9. YSL Golden Gloss Shimmering Lip Gloss in Golden Petal – I’m also a self-professed lip gloss addict. Maybe moreso than bronzer, because with bronzer I {generally} only buy and use one at a time. Not so with lip gloss. Lip gloss is just one of those little purchases that feels so good to buy – I mean, who hasn’t bought a sparkly new lip gloss and felt instantly better on a bad day? Sparkly is exactly what this one is, and it’s another type of gloss that I think a girl should always have on hand. This one is the perfect shade of shimmering pinky-gold.
10. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude – One of my new favorite things to do is buy lipsticks and glosses at the drugstore. This is pretty much the only thing (along with mascara) that I’ll buy at my local CVS, because when it comes to things like foundations and eye shadows, you’re getting into blending issues – and I think high-quality is important there. But lipsticks and glosses are something you can have fun with. I bought this to wear for a – shocker, I know – nude lip. I happen to have naturally darker lips, so when I apply my nude gloss on its own, it’s pretty but doesn’t make much of a statement. When I want a super-nude, more dramatic look {paired perfectly with a smokey black eye} I apply this lipstick under my gloss.
11. Stila Sheer-Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Oil Free – This is one of the best tinted moisturizers I’ve used, because it has great coverage – but still feels so much lighter and more natural than foundation. I love this for beach days, because the SPF is high and lasts me longer than the usual 15. I also have one by Lorac that I love, which feels even lighter but does have less coverage.
12. Smashbox Cream Eye Liner in Caviar – Save for the occasional smokey eye, I normally don’t wear eye shadow. I’m much more of an eyeliner kind of gal. I’ve been using this one for years; it comes in a little pot and you apply it with a tiny brush. I’ve also used  Bobbi Brown’s similar gel version, which lasts longer, but dries out more quickly. This one is creamy, but has surprisingly good staying power.
13. Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara – I’m really not sure why I’m even mentioning this mascara, because I’m pretty sure it’s discontinued. I do, for the most part, prefer to buy mascara from the drugstore because to me, they dry out quickly whether you’re spending a lot or a little – and since I like them fresh and new, it’s best to spend less and buy more often. That, and I’ve used virtually every popular high-end mascara and I don’t find them to be any better. This is partly due to my strange eyelashes – they’re super-long, but straight – and when I apply mascara they tend to get very spidery and gross, so I’m ultra picky. (Yes, I do also curl them with a Shu Uemera). At one point I also loved Clinique’s Full Potential mascara, and I think that’s gone now, too. Maybe you should think twice about telling me which one you like, because I’m starting to see a pattern here…In any case, right now I’m using all kinds of mini versions that come in the  LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler I got at Sephora. So, wish me luck – maybe I’ll find a new one to curse into discontinuity I love.
14. Cover FX Powder FX Mineral Powder Foundation – I’m not a compact person, per se – but I do like to carry one in my purse so that I can do touch-ups when I’m out and about. Living in South Florida, the humidity doesn’t allow any foundation to be very long-lasting, so it’s kind of necessary. I like this one because it’s made out of minerals, but doesn’t make my skin all ashy-looking the way other mineral-based products do. The coverage is also excellent – but there is a lot of it, so if you’re looking for something lighter, you may want to go with a basic pressed powder.
15. Chanel AQUALUMIÈRE GLOSS in Party Red – From time to time, you may catch me wearing an all-out red lip. I think it’s fun to switch things up once in a while, and there’s nothing more glamorous than red. I do, however, understand that not everyone can pull it off (or at least you may not feel like you can – I bet you’d totally own it, if you tried). The good news is – this lip gloss is the perfect way to sort of dip your toes into the trend, without jumping in head-first. It’s red, but sheer – so the more red you want it, the more layers you add. I like to use it both on its own and on top of red lipstick (love MAC’s Russian Red). This gloss also has such a perfect texture – it’s literally the smoothest gloss I’ve ever used. And it is made in lots of other gorgeous colors, if red’s just not.your.thing.
16. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Mat Black – Although I usually prefer to use the eyeliner that comes in a pot, there are just certain times when you need a pencil. I love these pencils – they stay on better than any others I’ve tried, and they’re made in all the colors in the rainbow. I also have a navy blue and a green one, which I love.

So, I’ve shown you mine – will you show me yours? What products are forever in your make-up bag?

{Sidenote: I worked as a make-up artist during the summers in college, so I know a few things. If you ever have any questions about products or how to apply them, give me a try – I’d love to help!}