Minimalist Makeup Kit – Drugstore Version

Dear Pretties,

Have you ever sit on your makeup vanity and wonder how do we end up with all those goodies there? How did it begin? When did it start to piling up? 😉 Well, I did.

While reorganizing my collection during my moving period last month, a random thought crossed my mind. If I have to start all over again, knowing what I know now about makeup, what will be my choice to start a makeup collection?

Here I create two kits based to start a simple, complete and pretty solid choice to begin your makeup journey. Or, if you just want to downsize your makeup collection (check out my downsizing post here) dMy kits here are created based on my skin condition and need. I have combo oily skin with big pores on my nose, sensitive, and hormonal acne during that time of our life, Girls, every month 😉

Let’s begin with the drugstore version, shall we

Face

1.Nyx Angel Veil – 15.99

This is claimed to be the dupe of Hourglass Mineral Veil. For me, it’s not necessarily a dupe. The Nyx is a tad bit more slippy than the Hourglass one but the feel on the skin

2. Loreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation – 12.99

This is my most preferred foundation that won’t make me look like grease ball for the longest time

3. Rimmel Stay Matter Pressed Powder – 5.49

Need I say more about this cult classic? Keep oil at bay at all time

4. Physician Formula Butter Bronzer – $ 14.99

Great smell, have a pretty neutral undertone, easy to build the pigmentation without going overboard

5. Nyx Sweet Cheek Blush Palette – $ 19.99

It has all the color choice of blush that you can think of

*Optional

• Elf Contour palette, if you’re into detail contouring, if not the bronzer will do just fine
• Nyx Strobe of Genius, for the highlighter fans, you will get all tones of highlighter you need in one palette

Eyes

 

6. Nyx Avant Pop Eyeshadow Palette – $16.99/ Colourpop Pressed Powder (singles option) – $ 5.00

I like the formula of these eyeshadow, very comparable to the high end one. Both, the palette and the singles are very easy to work with. Nix Prismatic eyeshadow is also another good choice for singles.

7. L’oreal Silkissime – 9.49 Pencil Eyeliner / Maybelline Master Precise – 8.49

The Silkissime is great for waterline (PS: Emily Noel APPROVED) and the Maybelline is great for that sharp wing

8. Lash Sensational Mascara/ L’oreal Carbon Black – 8.99

I love the curvy wand of the Lash Sensational and the dense of Loreal one for more volume and dramatic effect

PS: i think drugstore mascara are better than high end one, Maybelline has the best choice 😉

Lips

9. Maybelline Lipstick – 7.49

Maybelline has one of the best lipstick choice at the drugstore. Be it the type of lipstick (classic bullet or liquid), color, pigmentation and formula. If you’re a fan of liquid lipstick, Wet n Wild Catsuit is a great option. But if you’re picky like me, and doesn’t like the drying feel on the lips, L’oreal Infallible Lip Paints is a much more comfortable choice.

Finish

10. Mario Badescu setting spray (rose) – 12.00

This spray works really well for skin prep, to set the makeup to make it stay put. Smells really good too. A recent choice that’s also really great is the Milani Make It Last setting spray.

Total : $ 124.41

So, do you have these in your collection? or what will you suggest for creating a complete makeup kit? Let me know in the comments down below, or leave your idea on my Instagram and Twitter

Stay tune for the “more fancy” version of this minimalist makeup kit 😀

Oily Skin Series: Foundation

Hey Guys!

Can you smell the sun already? I do! Charleston weather feels like summer already 🙂

Anyway, since summer is almost here I believe we’re all getting ready to get more oily. Well, FYI, I’m an oily skin girl, all year long, not only on summer so it isn’t surprising that you will see me looking like waffle house pan (oily and greasy, not yummy though) with big noticeable pores around my nose and cheek area. Yay me!

So for the sake of all of us oily skin girl, here are my top 3 of high end and top 3 of drugstore foundation.

Mac Face and Body Foundation ($ 38)

Coverage : Sheer – buildable to medium

Finish : natural

Best application : Sponge or Dense brush

Staying power : 12 hours

I reach for this foundation on daily basis, because it’s so light on skin but it also gives you a decent amount of coverage but still look like your own skin. As the coverage is really sheer, this foundation is really good to even out your skin tone but not necessarily can totally cover dark circle. I usually do 2 layers for application, the second one is only on certain area that needs more coverage though. This foundation is buildable for sure, but again don’t expect full coverage from it. Oh, I forgot to mention that this foundation is also waterproof! It has a really really good staying power and doesn’t look like your face is melting under the heat or even rain

Tarte Rainforest Water Foundation ($ 39)

Coverage: Medium – buildable to Full

Finish : natural

Best application : brush then sponge

Staying power : 12 hours

This is a more recent finding for me. I’ve been using it for about 2 months now and Girl!!! I love it. I can say the consistency is very similar to Mac Face and Body foundation but this one has more pigment for coverage. You can use only one layer of this foundation and get a really good coverage, but just like the Mac one, I put on second layer on certain area. I like to apply this with dense brush all over the face ( I use Real Technique Facial Expert brush) then blend it out with damp sponge for smoother finish. This foundation also have SPF 15 in it, but doesn’t give any flashback on photo 🙂

Nars All Day Luminous Foundation ($ 49)

Coverage: Medium – buildable

Finish : demi matte

Best application : Finger or Sponge

Staying power : 8 hours

Yes it does say it’s luminous but this won’t make your face super dewy and ended up being greasy. This foundation works amazingly for winter time, when my skin is on its slightly drier side. Winter is the only time of the year when I don’t really need to set my foundation with powder on top. This foundation gives me a a slightly dewy but not greasy looking skin. On summer time, I suggest to apply a small amount of translucent powder before you apply the foundation (Wayne Goss APPROVED) to make this last longer and stay put. Ever since I got the trick from Wayne Goss, I always apply my foundation that way especially if I know that I’ll have that makeup on my face more than 6 hours, and trust me, it really works (at least for me). If you want to know the trick in detail, here is the link for the Wayne Goss video

Now on to the drugstore foundation

L’oreal Infallible Pro Matte ($ 12.99)

Coverage : Medium – buildable

Finish : Semi Matte

Staying power : 10 hours

Best application : Sponge

With all the hype around this foundation, it really is worth it. This is a really nice foundation that will make your skin look nice and matte all day. It doesn’t accentuate pores like other matte foundations I’ve tried before. Of course with my oily ass skin it can’t last 24 hours, but I can look good like the first application without looking shiny for a good 10 hours. One thing that bothers me (not so much though) this foundation feels more heavier (not cakey) on the skin, as its more on the creamy consistency instead of the watery one. It feels like this foundation sitting on the skin instead of sink into it. But, it still gives nice coverage and smooth looking skin.

Maybelline FitMe ($ 7.99)

Coverage : Medium – buildable

Finish : Matte

Staying power : 6 hours

Best application : sponge

This foundation seems to be a lot of people’s favorite and I’m in it too. It is a very good foundation. It has watery consistency but thicker than Mac or Tarte. To be honest, this also gives more coverage than the Mac or Tarte one, but too bad I don’t know why this only last very short time on my skin. This is the foundation that I will put on only when I know that I just need to get out of the house for a short time, cause it feels like my skin absorbed this foundation very quick. I usually need extra steps to make this foundation look matte and stay on my skin longer.

Covergirl Clean BB Cream ($ 8.49)

Coverage : Sheer

Finish : Natural

Staying power : 8 hours

Best application : finger

I was a bit skeptical when I got this for the first time. I had bad experience with some BB cream before, they broke me out so bad or it made me look like a hot mess oily face just within 3 hours of application. Surprisingly, this Covergirl BB cream works very well for me. I did test this last summer, I put this on then did a little sun bathing and it stayed put. It feels light on the skin, and really comfortable for those bright sunny days where you just want to make your skin look even without much coverage.

So, what is your favorite foundation for oily skin Girl? Is there any of these  foundations listed here also your “holy grail”?

Let me know your favorite in the comment section below, or drop me a suggestion for another foundation that works well for oily skin, Girl.

Don’t hesitate to stalk me on Instagram and Twitter

Peace out!