Daily Moisturizer Guide

My Guide to Your Daily Moisturizers

Taking care of your skin is one of the most important things you can do in your beauty routine, and equally as important is adding a great moisturizer to your skincare routine. Some people are hesitant to adding a moisturizer to their regiment because they have oily skin or they don't like the feeling of a thick moisturizer on their skin, etc. However, in the beauty industry today, there are moisturizers for everyone with every different skin type and skin concerns. You just have to find the one that works best for you!

Winter/Heavy Moisturizers

Depending on where you live or what climate you are in, the cold or dry weather can take a big toll on your skin. The cold and dry weather can really strip your skin of its natural oils or dehydrate  it to the point of making it look dull and unhealthy. When this happens (or more importantly before this happens), you want to make sure that you add a moisturizer that can combat the effects of your environment. When it comes to a more harsh climate, you want to add a moisturizer that is going to pack more of a punch when it comes to the hydration department regardless of your skin type.

For people with normal to dry skin, it is a great option to go with a moisturizer that is on the thicker side of the spectrum but still soaks into your skin quickly so that you can apply a flawless makeup application without causing any disruption. This is an awesome combination because you would be getting the hydration that you need yet it wouldn't sit on top of the skin which I know some people hate the feeling of.

When it comes to people with oily to combination skin, a great option to go with is a moisturizer that is a little heavier than a light weight moisturizer but doesn't create any oily residue that is left on the skin. A huge misconception regarding people with oily to combination skin is that they shouldn't use a moisturizer because that it going to make them more oily or that it's going to make them look more oily. However, it's actually the opposite that ends up happening. When someone who's skin overproduces oil puts a moisturizer on their skin, it reduces the amount of oil that the skin is going to naturally produce. This happens because the skin does not have to overcompensate when producing oil because you are adding hydration to the skin. Even if your skin tends to be oily, it can still become dehydrated in the dry or cold weather so by using a moisturizer that adds more moisture than usual, you can reverse the effects of your skin producing too much oil.

First Aid Beauty Ulta Repair Cream
Price: $30.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Ulta, firstaidbeauty.com

Summer/Light Moisturizers

When it comes to the summer months or just plain hot and humid weather, it's a good idea to lighten up on the thickness of the moisturizer that you are using. Regardless on whether you have dry, normal, oily, or combination skin, you can find a moisturizer that is light weight yet hydrating at the same time. When the weather is hot and sticky the last thing that you want is for your moisturizer to be heavy and make  you feel even more hot than you already are. A great alternative in this situation is to use a gel (or light weight) moisturize. Gel moisturizers are an awesome option because they can still be very moisturizing but they absorb into the skin very quickly. Even better, gel moisturizers are almost undetectable on the skin when it comes to how heavy they feel. This is great for people who hate the feeling of moisturizer just sitting on their face like an extra layer since you can barely feel it after it has absorbs. The gel formula is good for all skin types during the day even if you have dry skin because you can add your extra moisture with a night cream.

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer
Price: $27.50
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Overnight/Night Creams

Your overnight moisturizer or night cream is probably the most important moisturizer that you use in your skincare routine. Why? It's so important because when you are sleeping your skin is restoring and rejuvenating itself like the rest of your body. This is why picking an amazing night cream should be a top priority. There are a ton of great overnight moisturizers that can work for all skin types. When looking for a night cream, you want to make sure that it has repairing or rejuvenating ingredients in it. Like I said before since the nighttime is the time of day that your skin is restoring itself, you want your moisturizer to work the best it can for you while you are catching some zzz's. Usually repairing or restoring overnight creams are going to be on the thicker side of the spectrum but that's okay because no matter your skin type, this is the time to pack on the hydration since you will be waking up and washing your face in the morning anyway. You don't have to worry about looking a little dewy when you are sleeping.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins
Price: $43.00
Where you can buy it: Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom

Remember that moisturizing your skin (no matter what your skin type) is very important! Feel free to ask from samples of moisturizers at beauty counters at your local department stores. There is no harm in testing out and sampling skincare products.

All photos are by Becky Schutten.

Eyebrow Pencils: Anastasia vs. NYX

Eyebrow Pencils: Anastasia vs. NYX

Finding the perfect eyebrow pencil can definitely be a challenge, and I have done my research for the best ones at the expense of my bank account. Just because a product has a big price tag doesn't mean it is worth the money when it comes to the quality of the product. In particular, it can be difficut to find a great eyebrow pencil regardless of the price, which makes the hunt for the perfect brow product even harder. Creating a perfect yet natural looking brow has become a huge trend, and an even bigger eyebrow tend in recent years has been Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia Beverly Hills' products have made everyone in the industry really step up their game when it comes to creating amazing quality and selections in the brow department. As much as I love almost all of Anastasia's products, NYX has come out with an amazing line of eyebrow products that are comparable to the infamous Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil. These two eyebrow pencils are very similar, but the big question is: Is it worth spending a bit more money for the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil or sparing your bank account and buying the NXY eyebrow pencil?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
(Shade: Medium Brown)
Price: $21.00
You can buy this at: Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, and Nordstrom
http://www.sephora.com/brow-wiz-P202633?skuId=1394717&om_mmc=ppc-MSN&mkwid=ptfOvTgw&pcrid=11604371611&pdv=c&site=us_search&country_switch=us&lang=en

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a brow pencil in a slender black and rose gold tube. The Brow Wiz comes in nine different shades which include: Taupe, Caramel, Auburn, Medium Brown, Soft Brown, Chocolate, Dark Brown, Ebony, and Granite. I think that this range of colors is a great selection for all hair colors, and they cover all of the undertones. The Brow Wiz is a duo-sided container with one side containing the actual eyebrow pencil and the other side containing a spoolie to brush the eyebrow. This eyebrow pencil is retractable so you can move the product up and down as necessary. The actual eyebrow pencil is thin and comes to a point so you can get a precise application. Since the pencil is so narrow, it allows the user to get a super precise and natural looking brow because you are able to draw hair-like stokes which creates the allusion of having a fuller or more perfect brow. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a stern material which I personally love because I think that this gives you more control over the product which in turn makes it easier to create your desired shape. I love to set the Brow Wiz with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. This brow gel sets the eyebrows so well without having to use too much product. A little bit truly goes a long way.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil
(Shade: Espresso)
Price: $9.99
You can buy this at: : Ulta, Target, and nyxcosmetics.com
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12011193&skuId=2284052&CPMID=CSBING&CAWELAID=330000200000255557&catargetid=330000200000463933&CADEVICE=c

The NYX Micro Brow Pencil is a brow pencil that is in a slender black tube with white writing. The Micro Brow Pencil comes in eight different shades which include: Taupe, Blonde, Auburn, Chocolate, Ash Brown, Brunette, Espresso, and Black. I think that NYX came out with a good range of colors for someone who is looking for a brow pencil that is on the cool-toned side, but I think that they do not have as any options for people who are looking for a darker warm-toned brow pencil. The Micro Brow pencil is a duo-sided pencil that contains a pointed brow pencil on one side, and has a spoolie on the other side. The NYX brow pencil gives the same effect as the Brow Wiz, however it is a little bit harder than the Anastasia brow pencil. I know someone people love when their brow pencil is harder, but I think that it is a little harder than I would like it to be. When it comes to the presicion of the NYX Micro Brow Pencil, I think that it gives you a great result and you can obtain any shape you want with easy (you just have to use more pressure to get the color payoff you want.) The Micro Brow Pencil is by far the best eyebrow pencil I have ever found at the drugstore or for a drugstore
price!

When it comes to deciding which eyebrow pencil is worth buying, I think the results really depend on how much you want to spend or what your budget is. I personally like how my brows come out better when I use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, but if I was on a money crunch, I would have no problem buying and using the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. These two eyebrow pencils are very similar to each other  and are both super stars in my eyes. However, if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Anastasia Bevery Hills Brow Wiz because I like the fact that it is slightly more easy to work with.

All Photos By: Becky Schutten

Favorite MAC Blushes

Favorite MAC Cosmetic Blushes

Price: $17.00 - $27.00
You can buy this at: MAC Cosmetics, Macy's, and Nordstrom
www.maccosmetics.com

Having worked at MAC Cosmetics for a few years, I have tried every blush color and formula that they make on every skin type and every skin tone. MAC has a great selection of colors and textures of blushes that can meet anyone and everyone's needs and desires. They have a couple different types of blushes which include: the powder blushes, pro long wear blushes, mineralize blushes, and cream blushes. The powder blushes are the standard MAC blushes that they have the most color selection to choose from. The powder blushes have good staying power on the skin and can be blended easily for a smooth-looking application. The pro long wear blushes are a long wearing formula that is also easy to blend on the skin, but they are a little more dry in texture. There is less options in the pro long wear blushes than the powder blushes. The mineralize blushes are very pigmented and all of these blushes have a shimmer running through them that gives a glow to the skin. This formula has a smaller selection than most of the other formulas that are offered by MAC. Lastly, the cream blushes are creamy and glowing on the skin, and last very well. They are probably the most forgotten about formula when it comes to MAC blushes, but they are extremely beautiful and great to use under a powder blush for a more long-wearing effect. Most of these blushes are available in a pan form besides the mineralize blushes, so you can create your own custom blush palette.

Some of my favorite blushes from MAC can be used on any skin tone or skin type, but for reference I am a NC20 in MAC foundations.

Note: You can always go to a MAC store or counter to swatch these colors on your skin or have a MAC artist try them on you before you purchase.

Margin (Powder Blush): A neutral soft peach with gold shimmer.

Blushbaby (Powder Blush): A soft rosy pink with a beige undertone.

Pinch Me (Powder Blush): A deeper rosy coral.

Peaches (Powder Blush): A true peach.

Springsheen (Powder Blush): A peach with gold shimmer.

Ambering Rose (Powder Blush): A deeper rose with gold shimmer.

Pinch O' Peach (Powder Blush): A satin peachy pink.

Rhubarb (Powder Blush): A deep magenta.

Apple Red (Powder Blush): A true red.

All 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.