Mail Bag: Makeup

Not only do your clothes always look stunning, but you are always perfectly well groomed. Do you put as much thought into your make up as you do your clothes, or do you have a staple eyeshadow/lipstick or two that you always rely on? Like you, I love bright colours, non matchy-matchy mixes and funky shoes - but I always seem in two minds about whether I should keep my make up simple and neutral-ish, or if I should work that into my 'outfit' also, even if it is in subtle ways.

Any thoughts?

Sahar

I’m no makeup expert, but I’m happy to share my makeup techniques.

Basic Base
For the most part, my makeup* stays the same every day: concealer (liquid and powder), powder foundation, cream blush, beige eyeshadow, black mascara, brow shadow, and a finishing face powder. Sometimes, I wear eyeliner, bronzer, or highlighter. I do vary my lipcolor and accent eyeshadow.

Matching Makeup
Lips. I usually go for red or pink lips and, yes, I match them to my outfit.


If I'm not wearing red or pink clothing, then I choose a red lip for outfits with warm tones and a pink lip for cooler ensembles.

Eyes. I usually do a neutral eye in browns and blacks, but I sometimes add a little teal or green to match what I'm wearing. I apply color to my eyes with a light hand, though. Any color is just an accent at the outer corners of my lids. I don’t have any pictures that show the colored shadow, which brings me to…

Polished in Pictures
Unless I publish close-ups or wear really heavy makeup, most of the cosmetic subtleties are lost in my blog pictures. If I want my face to look finished in a full-body photo, I play up my lips and brows.

To illustrate how well strong lips and eyebrows photgraph, I’ve taken a series of pictures. The first is my nekkid face. The second is with all the makeup I usually wear, but no lipstick or brow shadow. I add those products in the final photo.



But it’s a little difficult to get the effect of increasing levels of makeup unless I back up a little. (Don’t judge the outfit…just be glad I’m not wearing my pajamas as this was right after a nap.)



Admittedly not everyone is a fan of the dark brow, but I’ve been a convert since I scored my first auburn eyepencil from Sephora almost three years ago. I later converted to a shadow/wax kit and now just use a brown eyeshadow I found at the drug store. On the weekends, I often skip the brows and lips, but I don’t feel like I’ve got my face completed without them.

I know that some of my readers and fellow bloggers are much more proficient at cosmetics than I am. Do you match your makeup to your outfits or wear one basic “face?” What cosmetic makes you feel like your look is finished?

*Due to a conflict of interest, I will not publish the cosmetics brands I use.