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It's time to talk about the dreaded face dent.  If you have one you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, I want you to promise me right now that you won't smush your face into your pillow at night or drag your face down in any manner.  Do not give gravity a helping hand.   Repeat after me, "I [state your name], promise never to smush my face down on my pillow EVER." I'm really having a Miss Jean Brodie moment here.  This is a public service.  I don't give myself enough credit for the good work that's taking place on this site. Anyway, I actually have avoided the face smush in my life.  I'm a side sleeper but I've always consciously made sure any possible smush was going in the up direction, never down.  A dance teacher I had as a teenager gave me this invaluable advice.  This amazing woman, truly the living embodiment of a Patrick Nagel painting at the time,...

If you've been following me at all you know I tend to prefer powder foundations.  Wet, sticky foundation has never been my thing.  I really haven't ever worn foundation on a daily basis either.  It's always been a bit of a special occasion thing for me.  Ever on the lookout for a good high spectrum SPF that isn't sticky or goopy however, this caught my eye.  Well I have to say I've landed on something special here kids.   Philosophy Divine Illumination Divine Flawless Foundation is many things at once.  Lightweight foundation, skincare, and UVA/UVB SPF 50.  It is not goopy or sticky at all.  In fact, I make sure to use a good, solid moisturizer underneath because if anything it's a little dry.  With that said though, it has hyaluronic acid (yes!) AND ever important peptides so this is makeup that's working for you. Plus, there a very subtle sheen to the formula that I promise you is not shimmery but in fact quite flattering....

If you are a no makeup person, over 35, or alternatively wear a lot of makeup, I highly recommend looking into a good primer.  They even out your skin tone and texture, minimize your pores, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and set your makeup.  No more raccoon eyes if you play your cards right.  No more looking at yourself in the mirror and wondering what the hell happened to your blush.  You skin texture looks smoother. Boys, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use a primer.  They are clear so no one will have any idea that you have makeup on but your skin will look so much better. With that said, I’ve tried a lot of primers.  Goldilocks over here has dealt with too greasy, too dry and it’s taken a while to find a primer that is just right. Mally Perfect Prep Poreless Primer is wonderful stuff.  It does all of the above.  Sometimes I worry that a primer is going to break me out or mess with my skin because they seem so chemically but ...

There's something kind of magical about this face powder.  I don't know how they do it but when you brush it on it feels cool and refreshing.  After using it regularly now for about a year I 100% believe it draws moisture to your face.  Today I looked up the ingredients in preparation for this blog and low and behold, this finishing powder actually has hyaluronic acid in it!  Mystery solved!  I usually put it all over my face before I apply the rest of my makeup and concealer and then finish off with it when everything else has been applied.  It feels very refreshing and creates a soft, dewy effect which helps prevent that dry, powdery, wrinkly look so common with face powders.  There is also a very subtle light reflective sheen to the product which is very flattering.  I regularly get compliments on my skin when I wear this powder.      The brush is really fantast...

I'm not going to lie.  I really did not want to love this mascara.  Why?  I don't know.  Sometimes I can be bit perverse that way.  Maybe because of the great GreatLash disappointment of 1999.  But I digress, and I certainly don't discuss the loveless.  Obviously I tried Lashblast anyway.  Why?  Because I'm a product whore.  The amount of money I waste on the loveless!  Who cares, because my errant ways have once again led me to some really great mascara.  Fine.  I LOVE Lashblast!  The trick here is an extremely light hand.  Listen to me.  Less is more, and you can certainly add more if necessary.  If you slather this stuff on it will be all over your eye lid and you will most certainly not like me.  It will take you a bit to figure out exactly how this applicator is different.  It's rubber and there is simply no give like there...

Philosophy calls this primer clear makeup and it really is a little magic trick in a bottle.  It's a fantastic primer that sort of fills in all your little imperfections like large pores and fine wrinkles, leaving a soft, matte finish.  I heard one person say it creates a soft focus effect for your face which is actually pretty accurate.  So as a primer it leaves a smooth even surface for your makeup and helps keep everything place.  But it's clear so you can easily choose not to wear makeup over it.  The Present gives your face that flawless look without any sign of makeup.  No one will have any clue you have makeup on your face.  In fact I have a male friend who LOVES this stuff.  He even thinks it helps protect his face from the elements (don't get me wrong, no sunscreen here) so that he breaks out less often.  That last part may be debatable but there is no question th...

OK. Full disclosure. I have to admit that this cheek stain has been ignored in my makeup drawer for some time now. I tried it once and felt overwhelmed by the gel consistency and a bit underwhelmed by the color. Something came over me recently however and I can’t stop using it. It’s important to not be shy with this product. Be brave! It feels crazy and looks even crazier initially because my skin gets red from the application. Knowing this, I dab it generously on the apples of my cheeks (look like a clown) and then sort of tap it out across my cheek bones and up my temples. Once my skin calms down underneath, the result is soft and dewy. This color in particular is very light and peachy and the gel consistency creates a moist, soft effect. I've also been into layering my blush lately (I recently heard about layering a bronzer under a bright blush and it really is an amazing effect) so I add just a very light brushing of sorbet Bare Escentuals blush (a brighter pinky peach) to the...

I was initially not at all sold on this concealer. The Bisque color that was suggested for my skin tone seemed way too dark and I felt like it looked dry and accentuated my (gasp) wrinkles. With a little experimentation however, I figured out what works for me and I love the results. First of all, I mix the Bisque color (below) with equal parts Well Rested (above). This results in a solid color match for me. As far as application goes, I always start with a fresh application of my eye cream. Then I load the maximum concealer brush (often sold with the multi -tasking minerals, keep your eye out) with the mixture mentioned above in one of the caps and tap the excess. Next I press the flat of the brush into my under eye area as well as the inner corners. This applies a sufficient amount of the product for my dark circles. Then I go ahead and blend with the brush and possibly my fingers as I see fit. I also apply it to the broken capillaries around my nose and chin. I rarely use the Bare...

My absolute favorite daytime mascara. It's a lightweight gel formula (also waterproof) that helps maintain that eyelash curler shape by not weighing it down, literally. My eyelashes are particularly prone to losing their curl with a heavy mascara. The effect with this basic (that's the name for very good reason) is a natural, dark, not clumpy lash line that keeps its shape all day. Tammy Faye girls (see the Givenchy) won't love it but I do! Also a very mistake proof product because of that light gel formula. No worries about smearing ladies! Runs about $27.50 but is well worth the investment. shu uemura Mascara Basic, Black 01 .15 oz (4.5 g)

Clear Radiance is always the final step to my makeup. I cannot live without it. So much so, I get nervous when I'm low. It's a loose highlighter powder. Different from the Bare Escentuals face colors mentioned in the overview for the entire line below, Clear Radiance is a soft, dewy highlighter for your face. I'm personally convinced it diminishes the appearance of my wrinkles by diffusing the light hitting my face. It's not sparkly so you don't have to worry about looking like a 14 year old. The result is a soft pearl effect. I use a full face brush with a soft angle and swirl the product onto the brush in the cap. Then I always tap the excess off the brush. With that said, there is very little color to the product so it is more forgiving than a higher pigment loose powder. Once the brush is evenly loaded so to speak, I brush it along the top of my cheekbones and cheeks up to my temples. Doing this also aids in blending my blush. You may find it's nice to br...

This takes using a q-tip to correct little mistakes to a whole new level. Definitely have q-tips handy when you use it because it basically applies a little oil to the messed up area for you to swipe up with the q-tip. You don't want that oil smudging around for the rest of the night causing problems. Unless of course your going for messy, rocker chick eyes. Nevertheless, this is a life saver for those moments when my gel eyeliner gets out of hand from my literally shaking hand. It saves you from having to wash your entire face and start over. Good stuff. Shiseido The Makeup Eraser Pencil 0.6g/0.02 oz.

Hands down the best eyeliner I have ever used. It takes some practice to learn how to apply what is basically a liquid eyeliner with a brush. The gel consistency is easier to control than liquid but it's the same idea. Once it's on, it's on kids. It won't smudge, smear, or budge. I have been known to be crazy enough to apply it in the car on my way to some event. If it's a little wacky cause I hit the brakes too hard, it's wacky for the night. Those of you who are smart enough to take their time to apply it carefully though will be thrilled with how it looks. Use small strokes along the line of your eye and clean the brush thoroughly in between applying more product. The brush will get goopy from drying product and get overloaded otherwise. Also the product does dry quickly so keep the lid tightly closed in between applications. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner Espresso Ink Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner Chocolate Shimmer Ink Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel...

OK. This stuff is pretty damn exciting. It truly makes the most of what you've got. Blot some of the excess off because it's pretty goopy out of the tube. I then blink my lashes SLOWLY onto the brush for the best effect. Keep in mind however that this is NOT a waterproof mascara. It will run and with the shape of my eye I find it best to use a different waterproof mascara for my lower lashes. It's worth it though. My boyfriend was once watching me apply the stuff and he told me I have porn star lashes. Trust me, this girl does not have natural porn star lashes. You can find it for about $29. Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara 1 Phenomen'Black