Current makeup collection

Since the Great Makeup Purge, I've given a lot of thought to streamlining my makeup routine. I want to reduce the number of steps and the time it takes to apply. I also want to buy new makeup, but I only want to purchase stuff I'm going to use.

So going back online, I discovered the newest makeup rage - BB Creams! Apparently in Asia, they're already using something that combines moisturizer, SPF, primer and foundation. Beauty balm, or BB creams are now being sold in the U.S. and I really wanted to try it out. I ended up getting a really expensive tube of Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm with SPF 45. This tube does have titanium and zinc oxide so at least some of the SPF is an actual physical sunblock rather than the less effective chemical block.

So since getting this tube, I've used it a few times and here's what I think so far. When it first goes on, it feels clammy on the skin, but that goes away. It really does smooth out the skin tone, but it's not a concealer if you've got really dark under-eye circles. The pigment does not settle into lines or creases. It does not look caked on or shiny. A little goes a long way. It really does last all day, and I really like it! I am throwing out my face primer and foundations. Still keeping my dusting powder though as I'm not sure how shiny I'll look in the summer. I'm also keeping my Urban Decay Primer Potion for my eyes, since the BB cream doesn't keep my eye makeup from straying. I am throwing out my blush since I have red cheeks and this cream doesn't cover that up, but keeping my Neutrogena bronzer for contouring.

Now that my face is moisturized, primed and even, I can add colors. I threw out pretty much all of my eye makeup and lipstick, so at first, I thought I should get a combo palette. That way I only need to go to one item for colors. However, none of the combo palettes really included everything I wanted or needed. A lot of combo palettes included what I wanted and needed plus a lot of stuff I didn't want or need. I never did find the perfect combo palette for eyes and lips. So I decided to get separate palettes.

For my eyes, I considered getting something small with only 4 coordinating colors, but I like having more choices. I also wanted neutral colors, suitable for any occasion. However, the colors can't be so neutral that I can't add drama if I wanted to. I decided on getting Urban Decay's Naked2 palette. It comes with 12 colors, a 2 ended brush and a small tube of lip gloss. I tossed the lip gloss, but I love everything else in it! The colors are beautifully saturated and go on smooth. I love the shimmer colors and the fact that a really black pigment was included in this. Although 12 colors is a lot to choose from, the palette is very neutral. I may supplement later with a couple of colors in my favorite shades of purple and wine. 

Aside from eye shadow, I also got a waterproof liquid liner. I really suck at applying liquid liner, but I seem to be having good luck with the ones that come in pencil form with a stiff, pointy brush. The one I have is Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner. I also have a regular pencil liner because I am more confident in my skills with that, but unfortunately the pencil always smudges for me so I may toss this eventually. As for mascara, I have to say I haven't found one that I really like. I have short, sparse lashes that resists curling. I also have sensitive eyes and they water a lot. Right now, I'm using Blinc mascara because I got a sample of it and it doesn't irritate, flake or rub off. However, it doesn't do anything impressive for my lashes and doesn't hold curl. Previously, I tried using Fiberwig, which does a great job lengthening, but nothing else. I've tried random other ones from the drugstore as well but so far, nothing really sticks out.

Next, I thought about lip color. The problem with lipstick is that it's usually gone after my first cup of coffee. The problem with long-lasting lipstick is that it dries your lips out like crazy! Most long-lasting lipsticks come with a gloss to keep your lips moisturized. However, the whole point of getting long-lasting stuff is so I don't have to do touch-ups. Still, my experience with long-lasting lipstick has been good as long as my lips are hydrated to begin with. So I have one shade of the long-lasting stuff, the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor. This thing does dry my lips and it feels a bit sticky, but it really does last and last. In my makeup trials, I have also tried Max Factor Lipfinity, which has beautifully saturated colors, goes on matte, but it dries out my lips more than anything I've ever used! As for regular lipstick, I have my all-time favorite Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. I discovered Black Honey in high school and I just never fell out of love with it.

So in total, here's what I have:

BB Cream
Matte bronzer (for days when I actually think I might learn to contour my cheeks or something)
Translucent Finishing powder
Eye primer
1 Eye palette
1 black waterproof liquid eyeliner
1 black eyeliner pencil
1 waterproof mascara
1 long-lasting lipstick
1 regular lipstick

A note on makeup remover:
I wear waterproof makeup on my eyes because I tear a lot and my eye makeup tends to smudge, fade and flake off. The easiest way to remove makeup, including waterproof makeup and falsies, is to rub extra virgin olive oil onto the skin and lashes, wait a few minutes, and then gently wash off with soap and water. You can use a cotton ball to apply the oil or you can use a reusable makeup sponge. I used olive oil as my makeup remover after all my makeup trials for my wedding, as well as after my wedding. It works like a charm and it doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped the way some makeup removers do.

Final note for this post:
For a while, I wanted to make my own makeup from ingredients I can pronounce. I did have some success with tinted lip balm, some eye shadows and a loose powder foundation. However, it takes a lot of experimentation to get a likeable formula. Plus when I ran out of something homemade, I had to take the time to make it again. At this point in my life, I am too lazy, unmotivated and busy to take the greenie route when it comes to makeup. I still make my own lotions and my skincare routine is pretty simple and free of weird chemicals. Given that, I think rubbing a little toxic artifice onto my face isn't the most terrible thing in the world as long as I limit my purchases and always wash the stuff off at the end of the day. :-)