30 Day Make-up Challenge Days 3 and 4: Favorite Make-up Brand andFoundation

Day 3: Favorite Make-up Brand

I have a ton of make-up. A ton! And I don't stick to one particular brand, I buy what I have found that works. But, when I took a small inventory of my product, the two brands that I use the most are Maybelline and MAC.

Why MAC, well that's self explanatory. They are a brand created for make-up artist and I love that their products are so customizable and long lasting.

Maybelline has stood it's own too, and has proven to be one of my favorite drug store brands.

Let me also throw out honorable mentions to ELF, NYX and Kat Von D, whose brands frequently get my money as well.


Day 4: Do you like wearing foundation? What's your color and favorite brand?

I wear foundation almost everyday. Even if I only do a spot application, it's on there. I like sheer to medium coverage so even if I do have a heavy foundation, I usually will thin it out by mixing it with moisturizer.

As most women, my coverage needs are different in the spring/summer than they are in the fall/winter. It's fall now, so I find myself reaching for my Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation and NYX Concealer. I use these as my everyday/ work face.

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse- Cocoa
NYX Jar Concealer- Dark

Makeup Forever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette
Sleek Cosmetics Contour Kit- Dark
Ardell Brow Powder- Brown
Natural Eye Liner- Sally's
Wet n Wild Pencil- Brown
Anastasia Brow Duo
NYX Skinny Liquid Liner
Wet N Wild- Fergie Lip Stain- Legendary Face
ELF 3 in 1 Mascara

The finished product. *Ting*

But, when I'm stepping out and want a little more divatude, I reach for my MAC foundations and highlight and contour as needed. Here are my colors and how I apply for contouring.

MAC Matchmaster Foundation
Colors 7, 8 and 9.5

I mix 8 and 9.5 and use it all over and highlight with 7.

I then use 9.5 to contour my cheekbones, under my chin and bridge of my nose.

You have been served, boo.

So what's your favorite make-up brand? And are you a foundation queen like myself, or do you keep it natural?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,
Rhonda

Fabulous Friday and Birthday Reflections

Today is a very special Fabulous Friday. One, we've returned after a small hiatus, two, my birthday passed a couple weeks ago (I know, I'm late) and lastly- I got a new job. Despite some small hiccups in my life, I'm still on party mode. After a couple weekends of good food, good friends and good fun, I'm just feeling so blessed to have all those things I've prayed for come to pass.

That being said, I want to start with a small list of things that I'm grateful for now that I've celebrated 32 years of life.

- I'm grateful for a husband, children, family and friends who accept me for being my silly, sarcastic, quirky, indecisive, and (sometimes) bossy self.

- Faith, mercy and salvation, and the ability to know the difference.

Things I learned:

- That joy and sorrow can't exist in the same place.

- To never take people, life or circumstances for granted.

Old (but still good) mantra:

"I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."

New mantra:

"God says if you rest in Him, He will show you the rest of Him."
 

Preach!

Now, on a lighter note, I had a B-Day mini-photo shoot for myself and can't wait till the next one. It's something that I had been thinking about for a while, so when I had a sudden burst of energy, I decided to just do it. If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen these, but here goes anyway.

This is my makeshift photo studio. I bought the lights and backdrop stand off of Amazon.
My point and shoot is a Kodak, and I've had the tripod for years.

                                                

My hurr:

This was a 3 day old twist out that fro'ed out after a weekend of doing the most.

I used- Shea Moisture Raw Organic Black Soap Shampoo

Giovanni Deep Treatment Conditioner

Knot Today Leave in

Coconut grease/pomade

Eco Styler gel. 

Every night I pineappled and refreshed with jojoba oil and aloe vera gel.

My make-up:

Maybelline Mineral Powder Liquid Foundation Cocoa 

Make-up Forever Concealer Pallet 5

Stilla Blush in Coral

Milani Bronzer in Golden

Sleek Makeup Contour Kit in Dark 

Katy Perry Color Pop Faux Lashes on top, Ardell Mini Individuals on bottom

Sephora Kohl Eyeliner

Brown shadow on brows

And my lips are a combination of two Lip Tars- Demure (hot pink) and (tbd-name rubbed off) lavender

What I'm wearing:

Earrings- Charming Charlies 

Hello Kitty glasses- bought off of Poshmark 

"Rock the Hair You Wear" T-Shirt- bought at African Festival -lost company info :(

Purple cardigan- Old Navy

Jeans- Old Navy

Yeah, yo girl put her model face on and thought she was doing something. I had a lot of fun, even though it was crazy having to set the timer and run back to get the right shot. But, this photo shoot was a part of a personal journey I had been on (that I hope to share soon) and it was about me accepting myself for who I am. I had put it off saying I would do it once I dropped a couple pounds or when I could get my perfect twist out. But, I reminded myself that it's not about being perfect, it's about being me. So go head, do you boo and love every moment of it.

Until next time,

Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty 

Foundation in a can?

Yes, there is and it's actually a great find. I have been using this for a while on and off and have finally decided whether I like it or not. It is Maybelline Dream Nude Air Foam Foundation. Here are the stats:



16 Colors (Mine is Cocoa)
SPF 16
$8.44
Lightweight and comparable to air brush foundation

Pros:
- Who doesn't love lightweight foundation, plus the coverage was just enough to cover some pigmentation.
- Easy to use for those of us who don't mind using our hands. I can put on foundation either way. But, I will admit it got a little messy because my faucet knob was brown from turning it on with the hand with foundation all over it.
- The price is phenomenal. A good foundation under $10. You can't beat that.

Cons:
- I would only recommend this product if you have normal skin. It is just like airbrush in the case that if you have dry spots, acne, hair or any texture on your skin, it will show and it will not look good.
- It dries quickly so you have to move fast when applying.

Overall I would say that if you have normal or combination skin that is not too dry, that this would be a good foundation to try.

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty

My new favorite foundation brush

I love this brush. It is a Sonia Kashuk Complexion Perfector. It is part of her Spring/ Summer 2012 line sold at Target for $18.99. I am normally a round sponge applicator girl when it comes to foundation. But, in the effort to make some tiny upgrades I started looking for some new ways to apply my foundation. Also, I was growing tired of buying and storing all those sponges. (They say they are washable, but who has time for all that. I barely wash my brushes on the regular.)


 I bought the Basically U Super Blender Elliptical Sponge at Ulta at $5, it's the cheaper version of the Beauty Blender and it worked, but again, the cleansing process left little to be desired. I don't care for the flat foundation brushes for some reason for applying foundation, although they are great for days when I'm doing a concealer only coverage. I needed something flat and dense. My MAC 130 brush is great, but I always had to follow up with another brush or my fingertips to blend under the eyes or around the edges of my face. Yes, I was being difficult. With 10-15 minutes to get ready for work, I needed a brush that was a one for all. And this week I found it.


We are going through a slight heat wave this week with temps up to 99 degrees, so I have been doing the lightest coverage possible with either my Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer or Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation, (which is discontinued I believe but I found it at my local Bed, Bath and Beyond for like $4.) So anyway, I just pour a two chocolate chips sized amount on the brush end, swipe it across my forhead, down my cheeks and across my chin and I go back up and blend. Then I wet the sponge tip a little and do a press and roll motion to blend under my eyes and around the curves of my face if needed. I think I might buy another one for my professional kit ;)

Wishing all my beauty queens
Love, peace and Soul Deep Beauty!