Guest Post: Makeup Station

She does it again. I of course, have been slacking. My trusty fellow blogger, Morgan, has some great ideas for those of you who wonder what are some essential pieces to have at your makeup 'station.' To go with Morgan's style, she has a beautiful, well-organized vanity. For me, I have a makeup case under my sink and some organized trays/bins in my towel closet that is in my bathroom, since my bathroom is tiny. It is really whatever floats your boat. Here is Morgan's take:

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I am one of those people who looks disorganized to the outside eye but I have a method to my madness, especially when it comes to my makeup application station... or in other words, my vanity. I have recently just redone a 1930’s/1940’s clam shell vanity. When I say redone I mean I sanded, painted, added new drawer handles... the whole nine. But I digress. I have always had my makeup put up neatly in cigar boxes, placed ever so slightly so it all fit together like a little puzzle in a little nook on my bookshelf. Little did I know, I was missing something until getting my vanity completely finished. So here’s a few things to add to your makeup application space to make applying makeup and life, if you’re a makeup fiend like myself, just a little easier.

• Having a handy way to store your makeup applicators. Now I have a whole set of brushes from Costal Scents and they came in a neat little case, which I used for the longest time. Now I placed mine in square vases with clear marbles. So nice and convenient to just be able to look, grab, apply, and put away.

• Amazing lighting. I searched high and low for a string of globe bulbs to place around my mirror. But I failed at finding any that did not cost me an arm and a leg. I just happened to pull out my old Chinese lanterns and took the shades off and hung them low enough that they were not directly next to my face but were low enough to not have shadows cast on my face.

• Makeup boxes or bags. I prefer boxes. They keep my makeup completely organized. No falling all over the place. I know exactly where whatever I’m looking for is located. I know exactly where my peacock eye shadow palette is. I know exactly where my blush is. I do not have to dig around to look for anything. Like the puzzle I was talking about previously.

• Last but not least, makeup remover wipes and q-tips. You never know when you are going to have a small mistake or a huge one... one that can ruin your whole makeup application. It is better to have tools readily available to adjust or remove any imperfections you may encounter.

Here are some pics:

If you have any other handy helpful tips you use, let me know! And if you happen to try any of these tips, fill me in on how they work for you.

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Again, always on point and timely information from Miss Morgan. She is a makeup extraordinaire. I have seen some of her work, and it is fabulous. Hit her up on Instagram: 'gingerrkidd00' or email her.

Ciao, bellas!

☮gretchen elizabeth

Please note, I am not paid to do these reviews nor am I doing this for the benefit of any company. It is just my own personal opinions, experiences, likes and dislikes!

What I'm Wearing

So if you're like me, you wear a mix of brands when it comes to makeup. I recently decided to share what I wear normally when I do my makeup and I was thinking, "Wow, that is a lot of different brands!" So, I will post some pictures and walk you through what I put on. You may notice why I am so natural and simple when it comes to makeup... even when I do a 'natural' look it still takes forever. Ain't nobody got time for that. 

Sorry for the serious face, haha. ;) 

Foundation: I am wearing Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid foundation in color 2.0. It is a little light for my skin right now but I do not use it every day and I warm it up with powder and bronzer. I am also wearing Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation in Ivory 2 over it. Just a quick overlay. I briefly review it here.

Highlighter/Bronzer: I am wearing Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Waikiki Strip/Peachy Glow for bronzer (cheek bones and t-zone) and Benefit Cosmetics Watts Up! on the top of my cheek bones. 

Brows/Lashes: Emani Minerals Brow Powder and Liner Brush in Blonde (they have other color combos, though!). Yes, I recognize I am in dire need of a waxing/shaping. For mascara I am wearing Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! It is a black mascara and I do not think it comes in other colors.

Lips: Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Naked (pinky neutral). I love how cooling it is. And even a little plumping. Buxom lip glosses are also amazing. 

Shadow/Liner: bareMinerals 'Well-Rested' SPF 20 powder multi-tasker all over, Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Honey Spice on lid, and Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Iris in the crease. For eyeliner I am wearing a shot of purple underneath my eye on the lower lashes. It is an old eyeliner I have and I am not sure if it is made anymore. Rimmel Extreme Definition two-tone eye definer in 'Rock Chick.' It is two colors of purple and I am wearing the brighter one. I find that websites review it and it may be available to purchase on the UK Ebay or Amazon.

In a nutshell, that is what I wear when I wear more makeup than usual during the day time. I'd like to hear some of your go-tos! 

Have a fab rest of your week!


☮gretchen elizabeth

Please note, I am not paid to do these reviews nor am I doing this for the benefit of any company. It is just my own personal opinions, experiences, likes and dislikes!

Acne, blotchy-ness, redness, & dry spots Part III

And so, this little series comes to an end. For the third part of these skin concerns I want to focus a little more on makeup and not skin care. Today I am going to talk about two products that are helpful for me when I have these skin concerns (or even when I do not): mineral foundation (specifically loose powder but there are other forms) and bronzer. I want to preface this with the statement that I know not all of these products will work for everyone nor will these routines. I am trying to get sort of a broad-base perspective. If you would like some specific suggestions, please feel free to ask me or check out some of the apps I talked about in my last post, do research on other websites, etc. 

Here are some mineral foundations that I like:

1) Physicians Formula Mineral Wear: I am always impressed with Physicians Formula products. I like this one because it is inexpensive and does not make my skin look weird or get oily. I think mineral powder lets you have great, buildable coverage and it is good for any skin type. Not all kinds work for all skin types, though. I have combination skin and this works really well for me. I have sensitive skin and this is hypoallergenic, which is a huge plus for me as well. You can buy this at pretty much any drug store and Walmart. They also have some with SPF, but I have not seen it in stores. I also have not looked that hard so I am sure it is there since it is online. There are 9 colors.

2) bareMinerals Foundation: This mineral foundation has its ups and downs for me. I do not like how 'heavy' the coverage is on me. I looks pretty but it makes me feel like a, dare I say it, cake face. That is definitely not suiting for me. I like the matte version much better because when I use the regular version my skin is oily by the end of the day. One thing I really like about this though is that it has broad spectrum SPF 15 in it. It is still ideal to use a moisturizer with SPF in it as well, and do touch-ups as needed. It is a little expensive but a little goes a long way. I will say that I like a lot of their products in general, as well. bareMinerals is sold online, in stores, and in salons. It is pretty accessible and there are 20 colors. 

3) Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation: This is what I am using at moment, in Ivory 2. I love the coverage with this one. Not too much, not too little. It is not a matte powder but it definitely controls my oil (like Physicians Formula does, but maybe a tiny bit better). They do not make a foundation with SPF but they do have a foundation primer (SPF 15) and tinted moisturizer (SPF 20) with sunscreen.  Price-wise it is in between the bareMinerals and the Physicians Formula. This has 12 colors. 

Okay so there are a TON more mineral foundations but there are some to get you started. Now on to the bronzers...

1) Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips: See? I told you I love this brand. This is what I am using right now. It is great because it has a gradient of colors so you can go darker or lighter, depending on your skin tone and what you're going for. You can also use this as an eyeshadow, which I love. It works well as eyeshadow and it is great for traveling if you are not trying to take too many products with you. They have a lot of different kinds of bronzers and even different colors in this specific style. I use the Waikiki Strip/Peachy Glow Bronzer right now.

2) Too Faced Endless Summer 16+ Hour Bronzer: I have actually not tried this one but it gets awesome reviews everywhere. I have looked at a lot of 'best bronzer' articles and it is named in almost every one, as well. There is only one color in this, so it will not fit every skin tone I am sure. That is one thing to remember with bronzers: it is important to go with one that compliments the shade and tone of your skin. A bonus to this product is that it is long-lasting and cruelty-free. It says that it has buildable coverage, which is something that is really important for me. Simple and natural. 

Let me know what you use or if you would like a suggestion for you skin tone. Or any other thoughts, comments, or suggestions. This wraps up this three-part skin series! What should I cover next?

Ciao, bellas!

☮gretchen elizabeth

Please note, I am not paid to do these reviews nor am I doing this for the benefit of any company. It is just my own personal opinions, experiences, likes and dislikes!