Gentle Check-In and a Fresh Face
It’s here. Full-swing holiday merriment! If you decided to participate in the “Year of Living Gently”, my guess is things are going great! You may have had 3 (9) glasses of wine at your neighbor’s party, but you’re taking care of yourself with a workout, some sleep, a good 15 minutes of silence and an apologetic text. I’m guessing you’re also crowding out those awesome “what’s in these? Cheese?” appetizers with some jicima and yogurt dip. Well done.
If you haven’t been gentle with yourself, the power is always in the present moment. Go for a run, return that shirt you bought for no reason and start fresh right now. You’re going to have fun this weekend and you don’t have to drink and eat your face off in order to do it. You’ve got this.
I’m also pretty sure you have your smokey eye look squared away. Maybe it’s the unusually warm weather, but I’ve been interested in a different approach to my holiday makeup. While my obsession with lipstick is well documented, I have an affinity for blush that rivals my love of lipstick. I think a flushed cheek and light reflective skin is the cornerstone of the “fresh” look I’ve been desiring as of late. Here are some products that have been helping me reach my goals:
I stumbled across this while doing some browsing on the world wide web. It’s a primer-type thing that promises to make you look better in pictures by reflecting light. Here’s the description:
A novel approach to creating a foundation for skin that reflects even radiance in life and very specifically through the camera lens, this instant treatment is serum-textured but contains a wide array of light refracting prisms, tone and hue correctors and topical photo-finishing technologies to offer even radiance within seconds.
Wow. The website talks about this product with the intensity of a pharmaceutical, which appeals to the product lover in me. I am also a sucker for anything that comes in a dropper bottle because it makes me feel like a scientist with a legitimate interest instead of a woman just trying to look decent.
You can mix it with foundation or use it as a primer before foundation OR EVEN alone on the skin. I like it. I’ll let you know if I look extra awesome in my holiday photos. Here's a picture of me wearing the Niod Opacity Fluid (with no fore thought or prep, which will come across clearly). I'm wearing the primer and no other highlighter/light reflecting stuff. I'm at my desk. There is no filter.
Check it out and see if it’s something up your alley. Free shipping.
For my foundation recommendations, please see my Radiance post and my Foundation post.
Now, blush.
I have some good news/bad news. If you are like me and wondering if there is more stuff you can apply to your face, this is good news. If you’re new to blush and think it’s a hassle, this may be bad news. Your best holiday “fresh” faced look is going to be achieved with both a cream (liquid) blush AND a powder blush. I know. Two things. Layering the products helps them stay on so you look as good in the beginning of the night as in the end, provided you had a reasonable number of drinks.
Favorite liquid blush:
Armani again. Surprise! Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Blush. Also comes in a dropper bottle (science again!). This stuff is SUPER concentrated and looks so naturally "flushed" on the face. You need 1/4th of a drop, seriously. I put said tiny drop on my hand and then use my finger to dab it onto the apples of my check. You’re going to be blending in circles FAST. Looks like you just did jumping jacks. So good. Three colors. I like the beautifully named “300”.
Next, powder blush.
There are millions from which to choose. I like Bobbi Brown “Nectar” because I read it was a universally flattering shade. I agree. Looks very good on top of the Maestro blush above. Simply take your blush brush and apply to the apples of the cheeks.
Bronzer:
So may good ones. I bought the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow bronzer and I like it. I don’t use the highlighter because I’m crazy in love with the Becca Highlighters, but the bronze is a good color. If you’re interested in spending as much money as fast as you can, Hourglass has one called Ambient Bronzer that is good too.
If you’re featuring your cheeks, I think a natural eye with a pretty lash is a good fit. For lips, you can go either way. My favorite fresh lip looks are:
Simply awesome. Versitile. Tom Ford. Matte without the dryness. So good.
On me, this color looks like a sweet, almost bright pink. You may want to head to the counter to find a good color match. This formulation wears more like a balm. Feels nurishing on the lips.
Dior Addict Hydra Gel Core Mirror Shine Lipstick in whatever you like at the store.
Dior just reformulated these. They have oils that make them feel really good on the lips. More of a sheer coloring. I like Girl.
I don’t do a setting mist all the time, but this season I find it helpful. Try Urban Decay’s All Nighter. Spray on face when makeup is done and dance the night away! It works!
Go get 'em!
Keely