Saturday, May 10, 2014

guest post: cherworksitout

I'm graduating college today, wahoooo! I am so ready for this, and can't wait to start on the next part of my life! 
I'm headed home for about a week for some relaxing and time with my family, so I thought it'd be fun to set up some guest posts for the days I'm traveling! First off we have my best friend Cher, who started her blog Cher Works It Out around the same time I started mine! 
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Hello! When Kylie asked me to guest post, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to do for you all – I tried to think of what exactly I could offer to the wonderful readers of Dress in Sparkles. What exactly is my expertise? I may not necessarily have one that translates fully to a blog post, but this is what I can tell you: I get a lot of compliments on my makeup. I’ve never been entirely sure as to why – I don’t have a very long makeup routine, and unless I’ve gone totally out of my way to do something out of the ordinary, it’s usually pretty straightforward. I suppose growing up around a bunch of cosmetologists has its perks, though – I’ve managed to get my everyday makeup routine (consisting of some quick tricks that I’ve picked up over the years from watching others get their makeup done and doing it myself) down to a cool seven minutes. I figured that’s what I could share with you – so, without further ado: Seven Minute Makeup!

1. Prep Your Skin 
We’re going to start by preparing your skin for the day – makeup doesn’t last nearly as long as it can if you don’t do at least a bit of prep. The first thing I do is moisturize. If I get nothing else through to you in this post, let it be this – moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your skin will thank you later! My prep routine consists of three steps: priming lotion, tinted CC cream, and eye primer.
Apply sparingly – you don’t need a ton, just enough for a thin layer over your skin, to protect it and to help your makeup stay on.
Use the lotion all over, and with a BB/CC cream, highlight your cheekbones, t-zone, and chin. Prime your lids with an eye primer, and you’re ready to move on! All in all, this takes me around a minute and a half, if not less.

2.  Face
People tend to neglect their face makeup, just slap on some foundation, coat bronzer all over, and call it a day. That’s not the way to do it – there’s a way to use way less product and make the most of it. Using a larger brush (I used the brush on the left), apply a powder foundation (mine is Mac’s Studio Fix, but any that works with your skin tone will do) in circular motions over your face and neck. Applying it straight is not necessarily the best way to do it – it can get cakey – so the circular motion will give it a nice, light look.

Next, we move on to bronzer. Bronzer mystifies a lot of people – I had so many problems with it for the longest time, but I was given a really cool contouring tip just a few months back that I’ll share with you. Start at the temple and trace along the side of your face in the shape of a number 3 (temple, around the eye to the mid cheek, back down to the chin) on each side, and then apply a light coat to your t-zone. If you need to blend a bit here, go right ahead – but not too much, or you’ll lose your contour lines. Next, you add blush – rather straightforward, but if you have problems with blush, smile! Then, apply to the apples of your cheeks with a quick swipe. Above the cheekbone, with a smaller brush, apply a light layer of highlight – this can be done with actual highlight, or a light shimmery eye shadow.

3. Eyes
Eye shadow is probably my favorite part – it’s less about covering the lid, and more about making a shape for your eye. My eye shadow routine is quick – a lot like the step by step kits they sell, but I use different colors almost every day to spice it up.
1: Trace along your brow bone – this should be with a flesh-toned color – and then sweep the lightest color in your palette all over your lid.
2: With the second lightest color, go along your lid, working towards the outer corner. Avoid going up to the brow bone at all costs!
3: Work your third lightest color in the same direction of the color before, and then gently trace along your upper lash line, curving around to your crease.
4: Finally, with the darkest color, gently dab a bit of color into the outer corner of your lid, and then line your crease.
Line your water line, your upper lid, fill your brows if necessary, and add mascara to your liking – and ta da! You should have a shape!

4. Lips & Finishing Spray
 
I always use a lip balm – my latest purchase is an Eos in Sweet Mint, and I’m so happy with it – prior to putting on all my makeup, and then apply lipstick at the end.  My only lipstick trick is this: apply once, blot, and apply again. The color will be even more vibrant than if you just apply it the once, and it’ll be somewhat more even.
Finishing spray has recently become my greatest love. I adore De-Slick from Urban Decay, it gives the face a bit of a dewy look while sealing your makeup in for the day.

Here’s the finished look!
And there you have it! This takes me roughly seven minutes (five on a good morning), because I’ve got it down to a science – it could easily take longer, and it’s okay if it does! Find a routine that works for you!
-Cher

1 comment :

  1. Mind checking out my fashion/beauty blog? Maybe follow me via GFC and Bloglovin? Ill follow back! < Leave a comment if you do.
    Blog | littlevoguebook.blogspot.com
    Latest Post | http://littlevoguebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/lipstick-personalities.html
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