Valerie’s Beauty Bag + make-up tips

Image: Rasmus Thomsen / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This post is a follow-up to The Magic’s in the Make-up vlog that I posted on Tuesday.  Many people asked about products, techniques, etc so I’m sure there will be more follow-ups and I will definitely be posting more beauty related things.

I’ll try to list them in the order they appeared.  I know the colors won’t really “work” on everybody but I’m posting them anyhow

a word on BRUSHES: I love the Sonia Kashuk brushes for Target ones.  I’ve probably had mine for years and I wash them every so often with baby shampoo (that was a tip from a MAC pro).  We all have baby shampoo don’t we?  More tips on washing brushes here.

Baby Powder for Oil Control: I’m not picky, I’d use any baby powder as long as isn’t scented.

lightly colored base to highlight: MAC studio F|X C6

concealer: L’oreal true match super blendable concealer medium deep (my personal fave concealer, tried many pricier ones)

flesh colored base: MAC studio F|X NW45

contouring nose: MAC powder blush blunt

darker contour for cheekbones: MAC powder blush reed

blush: MAC powder blush ambering rose

TARTE bronzer stick for highlighting: bronzed goddess cheek stain (“sun kissed” may be comparable because they may not make it anymore)

shadow for eyebrow coloring: MAC eye shadow in espresso

lipgloss to smooth brows (and for lips): CoverGirl wetslicks fruit spritzers 555 “cool cocoa mint splash”

highlighting eyeshadow: MAC eyeshadow in honey lust (you NEED a pearly, light-ish color for that area)

NARS creme shadow in Decameron

TARTE eyeshadow in roof beer float (dark sparkly brown)

Almay eyeliner in black (I LOVE bottles with brushes like that because they are easy to manuever) most other eye liners irritate my eyes.

TARTE eyeshadow in lucky star (sparkly black)

mascara is Covergirl lash blast volume, it’s neither here nor there (not bad, not awesome) LashFusion is my favorite (but I don’t spend $40 on mascara anymore) and I use RapidLash to grow my lashes (totally works but some people say it darkens light eye colors).

redder gloss is Milani (from walgreens or CVS) the color rubbed off long ago because I’ve had it so long.

If you are interested in learning how to do techniques with contouring, eye shadow, or whatever then I’d recommend you go to a MAC store and have a professional show you how and pick your colors (it’s free).  Just don’t buy the brushes if you’re on a budget or any other things except for the colors.  That is how I learned, I just walked into the store and asked them to show me how Tyra does it   Also, make sure you look at yourself in a variety of lighting so you know it looks right and have someone take a picture so you can look at it and know it’s right for you.