Fall Nail Polish Colors

Fall Nail Polish Colors

One of my favorite things I love to do to treat myself throughout the month is getting my nails done. It feels so good to look down at your hands and feet and see a beautiful colored polish. Wearing nail polish on your fingers and toes helps to make you look more put together and polished which is always a great thing.

Along with treating myself to the nail salon a couple time a month, my other favorite thing right now is FALL! Fall is by far my favorite season of the year. Nothing is more beautiful than the changing colors of the trees and plants. Fall truly makes me feel blessed to live in a place where natural beauty like the leaves changing on the trees can be admired for a couple months.

Putting my two obsessions (getting my nails done and the beautiful fall season), I decided to pull some of my favorite nail polishes from my extensive collection to share with you what my top fall choices are. Note: Some of these colors may be sold out or limited edition, however, with all of the nail polish brands and choices out there, it won't be hard to find a dupe if it's not available anymore.

Ravishing Red's
- OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress (cool red with shimmer)
- OPI Go with the Lava Flow (red-coral with gold shimmer)
- OPI First Date at the Golden Gate (brick red)
- Orly Red Flare (true red)
- L'Oreal He Read My Mind (true red with gold shimmer)

Rocking Rose's
- Sally Hansen So Much Fawn (light dusty rose)
- Sally Hansen Scarlet Lacquer (bright rose)
- China Glaze Sex on the Beach (light dusty rose with gold shimmer)

Popping Purple's
- OPI Suzi & the 7 Dusseldorfs (warm purple with shimmer)
- Sally Hansen Pat on the Black (deep purple)
- L'Oreal Violet Vixen (violet purple)
- L'Oreal  Breaking Curfew (black purple)

Beautiful Blue's
- OPI Into the Night (true blue with shimmer)
- L'Oreal After Hours (deep blue)

Gorgeous Green's
- OPI Amazon... Amazoff (emerald green)

Outstanding Orange's
- OPI In My Back Pocket (bright orange)

Glamorous Grey's
- Sally Hansen Commander in Chic (taupe grey)

All Photos by Becky Schutten

My Favorite Hairsprays

My Favorite Hairsprays

One of my hair stylist's and a close family friend once told me that hairspray to your hair style is equal to mascara to your makeup. Basically, it is the finishing touch to getting your look to be just right. That's some pretty important stuff!

Equally as important as the hairspray itself, is the brand and type of product that you are using. Again, like mascara, if you don't pick a brand or type of hairspray that you need for the style you are going for, it can majorly impact your look and its longevity.

 

There are a ton of different brands and types of hairspray on the market from affordable drugstore hairsprays to high-end more pricy hairsprays. Both drugstore and high-end stores have great options for everyone. Picking your perfect hairspray (or hairsprays) is all about figuring out actually what you need to use the hairspray for. Do you want it to hold your up-do in place all day and all night? Do you want it to just finish off the loose waves you created?

I have three great hairsprays and one dry shampoo that are my ride or dies when it comes to finishing off my hair. There products range from drugstore to high-end and I use each of them for a different reason. These hairsprays are in no particular order.

The first hairspray I love is Sexy Hair's Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Volumizing Hairspray. Even though the bottle says "spray and play" on it, I think that this is a stronger holding hairspray. I love to use this type of hairspray when I want to keep my hair style in place all day. You want to be careful with how much product you spray on your hair because this formula can tend to build up quickly which in turn can make your hair seem a little crunchy if you spray too much. However, if you are doing an up-do or don't want your hair to move around a lot throughout the day, this would be a great choice!

Price: $17.95
Where you can find it: Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/_/Ntt-Big%20Sexy%20Hair%20Spray%20%26%20Play%20Volumizing%20Hairspray?ciSelector=searchResults

The second hairspray that I adore is Sexy Hair's Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Touchable Weightless Hairspray. This hairspray does exactly what it describes on the bottle: touchable and weightless. This is a great product for when you want to keep your hair style in place, but want to be able to run your fingers through your hair and not feel like there is a ton of product built up in it. This product is great for loose waves or a more relaxed hair style. Also, the Healthy Sexy Hairspray is made with Argan Oil which keep your hair moisturized and shiny.

Price: $17.95
Where you can find it: Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/healthy-hair-soy-touchable-weightless-hairspray?productId=xlsImpprod4270103

The third hairspray that I'm obsessed with is the L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray in Strong Hold. I like to say that this hairspray is a mix between the first two hairsprays that I've mentioned. Since it's a "strong hold" hairspray, it can hold your hair style for a long time. Yet at the same time, it is touchable and brushable! You can keep your hair looking great while you have the freedom to run your fingers through your hair without having to worry about getting them stuck or sticky. Plus, you can get this great find at your local drugstore!

Price: $13.76
Where you can find it: Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target
http://www.walmart.com/ip/L-Oreal-Elnett-Strong-Hold-Hairspray-11-oz/13060319

Last but not least, my favorite dry shampoo is the Batiste Dry Shampoo in Dark and Deep Brown. You may be asking yourself why I'm mentioning a dry shampoo in my top hairsprays and I'll tell you why. I love using a dry shampoo as a finishing spray on freshly washed hair. This dry shampoo helps to create volume and texture to my hair while lighting hold my soft waves. In particular, if you spray this product in your roots after you wash and style your hair, it will create body while keep the oils at bay before they even have a chance to start. Instead of waiting for your roots to get greasy, you can spray this on "first day hair" and it will help to prevent the build up of oil which in turn prolongs your hair style for an extra day or two. Plus, it is a dark color for my beauty lovers out there that have deeper locks! (Note: This is also available in different colors and scents.)

Price: $8.99
Where you can find it: Ulta, Walgreens
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/a/_/Ntt-Batiste%20Dry%20Shampoo?ciSelector=searchResults

Note: All of these hairsprays and dry shampoos have a scent to them, and everyone has different preferences to what they can tolerate. I don't think that any of these products have too strong or terrible of a smell personally.

All photos were take by Becky Schutten.

Stranded Island Essentials

What Five Items Would You Take?

If you were stranded on a remote island and could only take five makeup products with you, what would you take? I am going to tell you the five products that I would choose as far as makeup products. This is not including skincare or tools to apply the makeup products that are chosen. This is just the five holy grail products that I would bring with me to create a basic but beautiful look.

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer
Price: $21.00
Where you can buy this: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom

I would chose the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer because you can use this product as a foundation and a concealer if you want to. The Pro Longwear Concealer comes in a small glass bottle so it is super easy to carry around if you need to. This concealer can be worn with heavy coverage if it is applied with a sponge or a brush and it can be worn with more sheer coverage if it is applied with the fingers or mixed with a moisturizer. The Pro Longwear Concealer has amazing staying power and does not have to be set with a powder.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer
Price: $23.00
Where you can buy this: Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Nordstrom

 

The second item that I would chose to bring with me is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer. This is one of my holy grail products, and is by far one of my favorite brow products of all time (besides the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel!) I love the Brow Definer because it has a spoolie on one end so that you can maintain and groom your brows and the other end has an angled brow pencil that you can create flawless brows with. The actual brow products has a beautiful range of colors for every hair color and tone, and the longevity of the product is amazing. Your brows aren't going anywhere with this brow pencil! Plus, if you are in a pinch, you can also use this as an eyeliner for along the lash line to create a smoky eye.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
Price: $8.29
Where you can buy this: Ulta, drugstores, etc.

 

The third product that I would pick would have to be the L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara. This is my ride or die mascara. I have not found another mascara (drugstore nor high end) that compares to the length and volume that the L'Oreal Voluminous provides. If you love the look of false lashes but do not know how to apply them or just plain hate to wear them, then this the mascara for you. It gives you the illusion of much thicker and fuller lashes. Not to mention that the carbon black color is as black as they come. I have been using the L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara for many years now and I have never had a problem with it running or smudging no matter what the weather was or what activities I was participating in that day. Plus, it is not a waterproof mascara so it is easy to remove without ripping out your real lashes.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo
Price: $39.00
Where you can buy this: Sephora, Make Up For Ever stores

 

 

The next product that I would chose would be the Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo. This is a highlight and contour duo. Half of the product is a highlighter and the other half of the product is a contour/bronzer and the two halves are made into a petite black compact. The Pro Sculpting Duo comes in two colors: one is a more golden tone and the other is a more pink tone. I personally have the pinker toned set because I think that this color in particular is best on a wider range of skin tones. I think the highlight looks nice on my skin when I am on the fair side and when I am self tanning and have a bit of color. This product is great because it is a compact two in one product that is easy to carry around and is great for multi-purpose situations. You can not only use this duo as a highlight and contour kit, but you can also use them as eye shadows. I have used them as eye shadows many times and I have been complimented on how beautiful it looks, so its a win win!

MAC Cosmetics Boldly Bare Lip Pencil
Price: $16.50
Where you can buy this: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom

 

 

The last product that I would chose would be the MAC Cosmetics Boldly Bare Lip Pencil. MAC's lip pencils have to be some of my favorite lip pencil formulas on the market. They are an amazing formula that lasts and is not uncomfortable to wear at all. Not to mention that MAC has a ton of colors in their lip pencil line! In particular, I love the color Boldly Bare. Boldly Bare is a neutral pinky-brown color. It is almost like your lip color but better. I like to line my lips with the pencil then fill the rest of it in to create a great long lasting base for my lipstick, or even rock it by itself since the color is amazing on its own. This is a must-have color in any makeup lover's collection!

All Photos By Becky Schutten

Makeup of the Day

Sunday Funday

This past Sunday I decided to go all out and do a full-on glam look to spicy up my laid back Sunday with the family. I went for a deep smoky eye with lots of lashes paired with a neutral lip. Below are all of the products that I used to achieve this glam look.

Primer: Chanel Le Blanc De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base

Foundation: Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer in 0.5 (Breeze)

Concealer: MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20

Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Bronzer: Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette in Shadowplay

Contour: Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette in Subconscious

Blush: MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

Highlighter: MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Shroom

Eye Shadow Base: MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in Blackground

Eye Shadow: MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadows in Carbon (eyelid), Bamboo (crease), Swiss Chocolate (deep crease, under eye), and Shroom (inner corner highlight, brow highlight)

Eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black and Rimmel Lash Accelerator in Extreme Black

False Lashes: MAC Cosmetics Lashes in #43

Lash Glue: Andrea Brush-On Striplash Eyelash Adhesive

Eyebrow Pencil: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brown Definer in Medium Brown

Eyebrow Gel: Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Lip Liner: MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare

Lipstick: Sephora Color Lip Last in 02 (Cinnamon Crush)

Lip Gloss: Nars Chelsea Girl

Setting Spray: Sephora Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray

 

 

All Photos By Becky Schutten

Makeup of the Day

Dinner/Date Makeup

Last night I went out with some family to celebrate my man's 28th birthday, and this is the makeup look that I created for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. Below are the makeup products that I used to create this look:

Prime: None

Foundation: L'Oreal True Match in W2 Light Ivory

Concealer: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 and Sephora Bright Future Concealer in 03

Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Bronzer: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Contour: Inglot HD Sculpting Powder in 505

Blush: Nars Orgasm

Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam (Crushed Pearl)

Eye Shadows: Too Faced Natural Matte in Nude/Cashmere Bunny (crease/under eye) and Risqué (lash line/under eye), and Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette 9 in D-562 (eyelid) and I-514 (brow highlight and inner corner highlight)

Eye Liner: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Blackest Black

Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black and Rimmel Lash Accelerator Extreme Black

False Lashes: None

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel and Brow Definer in Medium Brown

Lip Liner: MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl

Lipstick: Too Faced Melted Matte in Queen B

Setting Spray: Sephora Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray

All Photos by Becky Schutten

L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Review

L'Oreal's Eva Longoria Lipstick and Nail Polish

L'Oreal's exclusive collection with a handful of famous celebrities helps give everyone a look into what these ladies favorite colors are when it comes to lipsticks and nail polish. A few of these women include Eva Longoria, Juliana Moore, and Jennifer Lopez. This exclusive collection comes with a signature lipstick and nail polish that was picked to represent each of the women that they are named after. The lipstick and the nail polish come separately for purchase, but they are made to compliment each other beautifully.

After looking at all of the colors from the collection, I decided to go with the lipstick and nail polish that was designed for Eva Longoria. I felt that both of these products suited my taste the best of all the choices that were available. I have previously purchased the Jennifer Lopez lipstick in the nude collection, and I love the formula and scent of the lipstick. Also, I have bought many of the L'Oreal nail polishes and I have always loved the formula and lasting power.

Eva's Pink Lipstick
Price: $8.99
Where you can find it: Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Ulta, etc.

This current exclusive collection that was released by L'Oreal is a group of pinker toned lipsticks and nail polishes. I'm not a huge fan of a super pink lip on my skin tone on a day to day basis, but the Eva Longoria pink lipstick is a beautiful balance between a statement pink and a pink that you can wear on a daily basis. The lipstick itself is called Eva's Pink. It is a gorgeous medium-deep rose toned pink. The formula is opaque and creamy, so it is very easy to apply on the lips. Also, the longevity of these L'Oreal lipsticks is great! They last for a couple of hours without crusting on the lips or bleeding outside of your lip line. Eva's Pink is a neutral enough pink that you can pair pretty much any lip liner with it and it would blend easily. I would suggest using something like Dervish from MAC Cosmetics. I think that Dervish is he perfect color to define the lips without taking away from the lipsticks stunning color.

Eva's Pink Nail Polish
Price: $7.99
Where you can find it: Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Ulta, etc.

The nail polish that goes along with the lipstick is also called Eva's Pink. The nail polish color is a beautifully muted rosy color. This color can be worn with any look because it is more on the neutral side of the pink and rose tones. This nail polish formula is super opaque and gives a great color payoff with one stroke. I like to use two coats of nail polish to make sure that there is no streaking, but you could absolutely get away with one coat and be fine. I usually don't even use a top coat to make sure that the nail polish lasts because I think that the formula is good enough that it doesn't need it. I would say that this formula of nail polish lasts about a week to two weeks without chipping depending on the color.

I would definitely recommend purchasing the L'Oreal Collection Exclusive lipsticks and nail polish if you are drawn to any of the colors. I loved some of the other colors as well, and I am strongly considering running back to the store to buy more. Let me know if you would like to see any of the other colors or reviews on the other lipsticks and nail polish colors.

All photos by  Becky Schutten.

Favorite Nude Lipsticks

Favorite Nude Lipsticks

If I had to choose only one lipstick color to wear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be nude!When I look through my extensive lipstick collection, it is clear that I have a nude lipstick obession. I have double the amount of nude lipsticks than any other lipstick color in my collection. Nude lipsticks are my favorite because they can go perfectly with any makeup look. A smoky eye to a neutral eye, a nude lip will go with anything.

When I think of a nude lipstick, I don't have a limited view on what a nude color is. When some people think of a nude lipstick, they think that it looks like the color of skin. However, I feel that a nude lipstick is any color that ranges from the natural color of lips all the way to flesh toned lipsticks. The advantages to wearing a nude lip is that you can create many different looks with the many colors of nudes that you have. For instance, you can apply just the nude lipstick and blur out the edges to create a soft focused lip look, or you can use a corresponding lip liner to make the nude lip crisp and defined.

I have choosen my top 15 nude lipstick colors that range from light to dark, sheer to opaque, and glossy to matte. I think that in this selection of lipsticks, anyone can find a lipstick that would look great on them. As a reference, I am a NC30/NC35 in MAC foundation right now as I just self-tanned a few days ago.

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Nude
Price: $21.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's

Milani Lipstick in Naturally Chic
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Milani.com, Mejer, and CVS

MAC Lipstick in Japanese Maple
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Baby Pink
Price: $27.00
You can buy this at: bobbibrown.com, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Lime Crime Lipstick in Coquette
Price: $8.00
You can buy this at: limecrime.com

Bite Beauty Lipstick in Caramel
Price: $26.00
You can buy this at: bitebeauty.com and Sephora

NYX Lipstick in Athens
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Ulta, Target, and nyxcosmetics.com

Kardashian Beauty En-Joystick in Modern Mauve
Price: $ 8.99
You can buy this at: Ulta and kbeauty.com

YSL Lipstick in #8
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked
Price: $22.00
You can buy this at: Ulta, Sephora, and Macy's

MAC Lipstick in Shy Shine
Price: $17.00
You can buy this at: MAC stores, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Estee Lauder Lipstick in Desirable
Price: $30.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Macy's, and Nordstrom

Chanel Lipstick in Boy
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Macy's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

L'Oreal Lipstick in Jennifer's Nude
Price: $5.99
You can buy this at: Walgreens, Walmart, and Target

YSL Lipstick in #9
Price: $37.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue

All Photos by Becky Schutten

Bomb or Bust: L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation

Bomb or Bust: L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation
Price: $16.99
You can buy this at: Ulta, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod13441004

The L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation is a liquid foundatioin that is saturated in a cushion. When I originally heard of this foundation, I didn't know what the difference was going to be between the True Match Lumi and the True Match Lumi Cushion. After using this new foundation for a couple of weeks, I have figured out that there are some significant differences between the two.

To start off, the True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation is different from the other L'Oreal True Match foundations because it is in a compact form with a cushion inside that soaks up the product to keep it in place. The packaging is a round rose gold and white circular compact that is opened from the front. When you initially open the foundation, it has a sponge that fits in the top compartment that you can use to apply the foundation. Personally, I do not use the sponge that it comes with because those type of sponges never give me the coverage that I am looking for. I think that this would have been better if L'Oreal had left the sponge out and gave you more of the foundation. When you open the compartment that contains the sponge, you will see the foundation soaked in the cushion. At first, it doesn't seem like you get a lot of product or that a limited amound of foundation will come out of the cushion onto your sponge or brush, but to my pleasant surpise you do get a decent amount of foundation. I like to use a Real Techniques Complexion Sponge to apply the True Match Lumi Foundation because I think that it gives me the best amount of coverage and doesn't soak up unnecessary amounts of product. I take the sponge and tap it lightly once in the foundation then apply it to the areas of my face that I am working on. This foundation gives a dewy, luminious look to the skin and is very buildable. You can wear it as sheer or as heavy coverage as you want. If you have any oil to your skin, I would suggest using a powder to set the foundation to prevent it from moving around throughout the day. After setting the True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation with a powder, I have found that it lasts me all day without breaking apart.

All in all, I would say that the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation is bomb! Try it out!

Note: At my fairest, I am the shade W2.

All Photos By: Becky Schutten

#motd

Makeup of the Day!

 

 

Primer

- Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Primer

 

Foundation

- L'Oreal True Match Lumi in Porcelain/Light Ivory (W1-2)

 

Concealer

- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Fair

- MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Radiant Rose

 

Powder

- Rimmel Stay Matte in Natural (003)

 

Bronzer/Contour

- Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette (Shadowplay and Subconscious)

 

Blush

- Milani Romantic Rose Powder Blush (01)

 

Highlight

- Becca Moonstone

 

Eye Primer

- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15

 

Eye Shadow: Crease, Bottom Lash Line, and Brow Highlight

- Morphe Brushes Eye Shadow Palette in 35N

 

Eye Shadow: Lid and Inner Corner

- Nars Dual-Intensity Eye Shadow in Callisto

 

Eye Liner

- Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Blackest Black

- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion

 

Mascara

- L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

- Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless in Extreme Black

 

Eyebrows

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown

 

Lips

- MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl

- Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Nude Flush (10)

 

Setting Spray

- Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

 

Photos by: Becky Schutten

Favorite Foundations

Favorite Foundations

Choosing the right foundation for your skin is super important so you want to consider what you are looking for in a foundation. A natural look? Full coverage? Dewy? Matte? Liquid? Powder? Cream? After you figure out what you want in a foundation, you want to look at the undertone of your skin. Are you a cool, neutral, or warm? To determine what skin tone you have you can look at your vein color on your inner wrist. If you have a bluish vein, you are more likely a cool tone. If you have a greenish vein, you are most likely a warm tone. And if you have can't tell or if it looks like a mixture of the two, you probably have a neutral tone. With most foundations, the cooler toned foundations are on the pinker side while the warmer toned foundations are on the yellower side. Neutral foundations land in the middle of the spectrum. After you determine the tone of your skin, you want to figure out the depth. This means matching how light or dark your skin is compared to the foundation you are looking to buy. If you are an experienced foundation consumer, you may be able to look at a foundation and be able to guess what depth and color you are. If you are not, you should always have someone color match your foundation to your skin (if you have this option.) However, if you are shopping at the drugstore, you don't always have this option. In that case, you will want to hold up the foundation container to your chest and try to pick the color or depth that looks the closest to your skin. You do not want to match the foundation to your face especially if you tan or self-tan. The reason you do not want to match foundation to your face is because we tend to wash or exfloiate our faces more than the rest of our bodies so the face tends to be lighter. If you matched the foundation to your face only, you may end up having a lighter face than the rest of your body which can make you look a little sickly. I highly suggest doing research on the foundation you are considering buying, so to help you with your search, I am going to list and tell you about my favorite foundations for different skin types and preferences.

One of my favorite sheer foundations is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. This is a moisturizer with foundation added to it to create a light coverage to make your skin look extra healthy. I love that this tinted moisturizer has an SPF of 20 because I don't have to add another step to my morning routine by applying a seperate sunscreen. This has a sheer coverage that can be built up to medium coverage if desired. This foundation is great for someone who is looking for a natural dewy look to their skin. If you have even the slightest amount of oil to your skin, I suggest that you set the foundation with a powder to prevent it from moving around throughout the day.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: $44.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/laura-mercier-tinted-moisturizer-broad-spectrum-spf-20-sunscreen-1.7-oz?ID=328985&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D7%26slotId%3D2%26kws%3Dlaura%20mercier%20tinted%20moisturizer%26searchType%3Dac%26ackws%3Dlaura+mercier+

The next sheer foundation that I love is MAC Cosmetics Face and Body. Face and Body is a a water-based liquid foundation that has a sheer but buildable coverage. Before applying this foundation, you want to shake the bottle since the base of it is water. This means that the pigment and the liquid in the foundation bottle can seperate. This is a great foundation for building up coverage because you can continue to add layer upon layer and it will never become too heavy on the face. You can apply this with your hands or a brush for desired coverage. If you are a makeup artist or do any kind of photography, Face and Body should definitely be in your kit because you can not only use it on the face but also can be used on the body for a nautral yet flawless finish. This foundation does set by itself after a few mintues but for a long lasting effect or if you are on the more oily side, you can always set it with a powder.

MAC Face and Body: $27.00
You can buy this from: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/mac-studio-face-body-foundation?ID=731659&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D4%26slotId%3D1%26kws%3Dmac%20face%20and%20body

The next foundation is a beautiful medium coverage foundation called Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation with SPF 15. Again, it is great that this foundation has an SPF already in the formula to cut out a step that you would have to take in your morning routine. Skin Foundation is one of the most beautiful foundations that provides a decent coverage while allowing your skin to look like skin. This foundation has a natural matte finish in my opinion. It does not look dewy but it also is not too matte. It literally looks your skin but better. This is by far one of my favorite foundations for everyday use as well as for events because it pictures so well. Skin Foundation also has last a good amount of hours without having to touch up or creating an separation.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation: $50.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/bobbi-brown-skin-foundation-spf-15-1-oz?ID=393197&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D5%26slotId%3D4%26kws%3Dbobbi%20brown%20skin%20foundation

The next medium coverage foundation that I constantly use is the L'Oreal True Match Lumi foundation. This is a dewy medium coverage foundation that is great for people who want their skin to look dewy and glowing. I would not recommend this foundation for someone who is super oily, but if you are normal or combination this would look very nice, and could be set with a powder to increase the longevity. This foundation is on the medium to fuller coverage depending on how much product you use. Since this foundation is on the dewy side, it can break up when the face becomes
oily throughout the day. My favorite way to wear the True Match Lumi is to mix it with a pump or two of the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer and blend it in with a Beauty Blender. This ensures that the foundation will last all day and create a beautiful finish to the skin.

L'Oreal True Match Lumi: $12.99
You can buy this from: Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4480167&skuId=2246798&CPMID=CSBING&CAWELAID=330000200000021389

A great drugstore natural matte foundation is NYX HD Foundation. This foundation has a natural matte finish which means that it is a natural looking foundation with a slighty more matte look to it. This is a great foundation for talking pictures because covers imperfections while  still appearing to look natural and fresh. NYX HD Foundation is long lasting and stays looking good after a couple hours. When I wear this foundation, I barely even need to touch up and I have never experience it seperating or becoming blotchy on the face. I would reccommend this foundation for people who are looking for a drugstore priced foundation that creates a flawless semi-matte finish.

NYX HD Foundation: $17.99
You can buy this from: Ulta, Target (Note: They have changed the packaging to a black container.)
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12011169

A beautiful full coverage foundation that has long wearing properties is the Chanel Perfection Lumiere. This is one of my all time favorite foundations hands down! Yes, it is on the more pricey side, but it is worth it! The Perfection Lumiere gives you a full coverage without looking heavy. It literally creates a flawless canvas to your makeup look. This foundation is slightly matte without appearing to be powdery or heavy looking. It is one of the longest lasting foundations that I have ever tried, and I have never had a problem with it seperating or creasing. I have normal to dry skin so I don't even have to set this foundation with a powder. The only people that would have to set this foundation with a powder is someone who is super oily. If you have acne prone skin, the Perfection Lumiere would be a great choice because the coverage is so good and it does not sit on the skin so it will not emphasize any texture on the face which I know can be a concern of people with any kind of texture.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere: $58.00
You can buy this from: Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/chanel-perfection-lumiere-long-wear-flawless-fluid-sunscreen-makeup-broad-spectrum-spf-10?ID=606372&CategoryID=62588#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D25%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D%26kws%3Dchanel%20perfection%20lumiere

Another foundation that I would recommend that is on the matte end of the spectrum is L'Oreal True Match. This is the original formula of the L'Oreal True Match. This is a heavier coverage foundation that is good for people who have oily skin. You can definitely get away with wearing this foundation if you have normal to dry skin, I would just suggest adding a moisturizer or hydrating primer to it to make it look less matte on drier skin. I have found that this foundation can tend to crease and seperate throughout the day so using a primer is a good idea to help avoid this problem. Touching up this foundation during the day is going to help it from seperating as well. I would suggest this foundation to a person who has oily skin that is looking for something that is going to mattify them.

L'Oreal True Match: $9.99
You can buy this from: Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=fs1017872#reviews

If you do not like liquid foundations, a great cream foundation is the MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Cream Foundation with SPF 20. Again, this foundation is great because you already have the SPF inside it. I like to apply cream foundation with a flat foundation brush or a beauty sponge. I feel that this method is the best way to apply an even and good coverage application. This foundation's name speaks for itself! It is very long wearing! The Pro Longwear Foudation is a great choice if you plan on having a long day and don't have much time to touch up throughout the day. It is a natural matte
finish that provides a good amount of coverage without using too much product. I would recommend this foundation for a person who is looking for a foundation that is going to be on the low maintenence side and is going to look good all day long.


MAC Pro Longwear Cream: $33.00
You can buy this at: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, Nordstrom
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/mac-pro-longwear-spf-20-compact-foundation?ID=1419348&CategoryID=30077#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D2%26slotId%3D1%26kws%3Dmac%20pro%20longwear%20cream%20foundation

If neither a liquid nor a cream foundation is what you are looking for, you can always go for a powder founation. You can also use a powder foundation to set your liquid or cream foundation to add more coverage. A powder foundation that I love is the Kat Von Dee Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation. This powder foundation is a full coverage powder that does not have a heavy apperance. The texture is almost a creamy powder if that makes sense. This is a pressed powder so it is easy to throw in your bag and take with you for touch ups. I would reccommend this foundation for people who are looking for something that is going to give a good coverage but is low maintenance.

Kat Von Dee Lock It Tattoo Powder Foundation: $35.00
You can buy this at: Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/lock-it-powder-foundation-P380835?skuId=1710938

Another great powder foundation is the Bare Minerals Original Foundation with SPF 15. I think it is really great that they added a SPF to this powder foundation because powder foundations can tend to stick to a sunscreen and become patchy. However, this does not happen since the SPF is built into the
foundation. The Bare Minerals Original Powder Foundation is a loose powder so if you are looking for convinence or something that you can take with you, I would suggest going with a different powder. However, if you are looking for a powder that is extremely natural looking while giving you coverage, this is the foundation for you. The great thing about this powder foundation is that it does not look powdery at all on the skin. It is very natural and creates a beautiful looking texture to the skin.

Bare Minerals Original Loose Powder Foundation: $28.50
You can find this at: Ulta, Sephora
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=VP11362

All photos by Becky Schutten.