Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Adventures in Cosmetics

my first revelation came in seventh grade when my mother bought me a compact and mascara at the drugstore.

real makeup!!!!!! :o

all of a sudden, i found myself in a brand new world where two hours of sleep could be erased by concealer and clever use of sparkly gold eyeshadow, where impossibly long lashes were indeed possible, and brick red was an acceptable color for one's lips! the possibilities were endless.

so if you find me to have an unhealthy addiction to beauty products, blame my mother.


of the many products i have tucked away in various drawers and makeup bags around my room and bathroom, i have found five that seem to get used up faster than the others. these are:

1. L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss in Peach Fuzz

i've read some unflattering reviews about this product, but i honestly don't know what they're talking about. the texture is indescribable. it's like... vanilla scented cashmere you can smooth on your lips. pure heaven. plus, it has ingredients like Omega-3, vitamin E, and argan oil, which are incredibly good for your skin.
i picked this color because it seemed like a nice, wearable shade that was still energetic. it's very creamy, and not sticky at all. 
it's pretty much my go-to whenever i'm too lazy to apply lipstick.

2. Lancome Le Crayon Khol eyeliner in Black Coffee

despite the fact that i own at least 6 from 3 different brands, i can't stand eyeliner pencils. that being said, i am devoted to this one.
seriously, it's the only one i use. i'd throw out the others, but that would go against my hoarding tendencies when it comes to makeup.
it delivers intense pigment in one swipe and smudges beautifully, and it's great for applying on your waterline, which i do a lot. i tried it in black once, but i like the dark brown better. it's not so severe.

3. Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Tone Correcting Tinted Moisturizer

i am a teenage girl. teenage girls do not have problems with wrinkles. therefore, teenage girls do not have to use anti-aging products, right?
whatever.
i rarely use liquid foundation. oh, i own it. i even use it once in a while. mostly for evening looks. i just can't find one that looks natural. this lovely little bottle strikes an excellent balance between cake-y foundation skin and my natural skin (which is, while not hideous, a bit on the oily side).
it gives my skin a nice dewy finish when i wear it alone, and adds some depth and glow when i wear it under compact.

4. Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 in Light


i actually don't own this one anymore...
i've gone through a ton of drugstore brand powders, but none of them have been the same. it has great coverage and a nice matte finish, but unlike most matte powders, it doesn't dry out your skin.
most importantly, it doesn't make me break out! unlike others that i've tried *cough cough maybelline cough*
maybe i can convince my mother to take me to the clinique counter this weekend...


lastly,

5. M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Russian Red


presenting! the most intense cosmetic product i have EVER owned!
i squealed (just a little) when i bought this one, causing the saleslady to look at me funny.
it's like ruby woo, but creamier (necessary, when your lips dry out as fast as mine). the blue-red goes great with all kinds of skin tones.
when applied correctly, it looks stunning, even with my 50 cent lipliner pencils.


so there you have it, my essentials.

i'd close with something cheesy, like "beauty is only skin deep", but i'm sure you've heard that before, so

"I want to be a guy, but I want to wear a lot of makeup."
-Gwen Stefani