Valentine's Date Night Makeup Tips

Let me preface this post by saying, I am not a makeup artist and I have absolutely no background or training in this area.

I just really. like. makeup.

I have a lot of girlfriends who hate putting on makeup. Either they don't like the way it feels, or they don't like the amount of time it takes to put it on, or they just don't care about it.

And that's perfectly fine and good.

I am not here to convert the masses to wearing tons of makeup.

I am however interested in sharing some great tips that I've learned throughout the years.

I read a lot of blogs and several of them focus on beauty tips.

My favorite one - just in case you were wondering - is The Small Things Blog. I could read her blog for hours. There are so many awesome hair and makeup tips and tutorials. It's a girlie-girl's blog heaven if you will.

In addition to reading about makeup, I also like to ask lots of questions when I buy beauty products at places like Sephora, Clinque, MAC, etc. These people are actually trained in what they do and they are a wealth of information.

One last thing... when it comes to makeup, a lot of the time, you get what you pay for.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of lip gloss and mascaras and other things from Target, but when it comes to really good quality make up that is going to look good, have "staying power," and not feel "heavy" it will cost a bit more than what you're going to find on the shelves at a drugstore.

Okay, all of that being said, if you have hot plans for Valentines Day, or any other fun date nights/girl's night out coming up, I hope you learn something new that you can apply (pun intended) to your makeup routine.

First up... know your skin type. This is crucial because most make up lines now have specially formulated products that help balance out your skin type. For example, my skin is very oily and by about 2 p.m. my make up can really start looking greasy if I don't apply more powder.

In contrast, if you have dry skin, it is super important to get hydrating formulas so that you don't get that dry "cake-y" look. Hydrating formulas also help lots with wrinkle-prevention for dry skin.

So once you know your skin type, the first step to a "night out" makeup routine, is Primer.

I don't use primer every day, but when I know I'm going out, or I want my make up to last a long time, I absolutely use it.

I've tried a lot of different brands of primers - either through free samples, or Birchbox, etc. and I always come back to Smashbox Photo Finish.

I use the oil-free version and it took a little getting used to when I first purchased it. It feels kinda oily when you first rub it in your fingers and on your face. But within a minute, you can't feel anything. Just smoother skin.

After primer, I apply foundation. There are a gazillion different kinds of foundation out there and I think I've tried most of them. ;) I've gone very high end (when I got married) all the way to Covergirl and everything in between. And I'm telling you, as many makeup artists will agree, Laura Mercier is one of the all-time best foundations on the market.

Again, I use an oil-free version, but there are so many different formulas to go with your skin type. If you go to Sephora, they will color-match your skin tone using a digital color reader and then help you find the foundation that will best match your skin. Genius.

To "set" the foundation, I apply a translucent powder. I like loose powder (especially the Laura Mercier ones) but I also like the versatility of having a pressed translucent powder so that I can "touch up" my nose, forehead, and chin if I start to shine.

I think Clinque's Stay-matte Sheer Pressed Powder (101 Invisible Matte for all skin tones) is a great option. It's not too expensive and I can apply it with a powder brush or with the sponge that comes with it.

And while we're on the topic of powders, if you invest in one product this year, I highly recommend MAC's Studio Fix pressed powder. I learned about this powder when I used to work in Public Relations and my boss was a former TV News Anchor. She swore by this stuff because it's so easy to put on, use for touch-up's, etc. It has excellent coverage and is very lightweight.

Next up is blush, and in my experience, the more expensive the blush, the better it goes on, and the brighter the color. With less expensive brands, you will likely have to apply a lot more to get good color on your cheeks. But with something like a clay-based formula, a couple swipes of the blush brush and you've got great color that will last all day.

I really like the "Tarte" line of blushes, that you can get at Sephora. Again, I would highly recommend asking one of the makeup artists to help guide you to finding just the right color for your skin tone. Blush can be a hard thing to just pick out randomly. We don't want any clown faces out there.

Let's talk eyes. Defining and highlighting your eyes can have a dramatic impact on your look. Just a bit of mascara will go a long way to make you look refreshed and polished.

But if you really want to amp up your look for Valentines day, get a little daring and try out some eyeliner and eye shadow.

Eyeliner can be tricky. There are lots of different types (pencil, liquid, powder, gel) and there are also lots of different ways to apply it. For most people, you will want to line the top lid, and possibly the bottom lid if you want to go for a more dramatic look.I personally prefer pencil liner because it's much easier to apply than a liquid liner, but I know most make up artists use liquid because it lasts longer. To each his (or hers) own, right?

I really love Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx. It's a pretty basic liner, but goes on smooth and has good staying power.

And as far as mascara goes, this is one area where I think you don't have to spend a ton of money. I really love Covergirl Lash Blast in the orange tube. It works great, goes on easily and can be applied once for an everyday look, or twice for a more dramatic night time look.

Last but definitely not least...lipstick. Don't forget the lipstick ladies! This is such an important element. However, it is one area where you just gotta try it out and see what you think. Which is why going to someplace like Sephora is really great because you can use the cotton swabs on as many tester lipsticks as you want until you find just what you're looking for.

But I say for Valentines Day... go red! There are red shades that work with every skin tone, so don't give up if the first few don't look "just right." Again, a trained make up artist could definitely steer you in the right direction to help you find a shade that goes with your skin tone, or goes best with the season.

Trends are fun to try, but they're not for everyone, so staying classic is always a good idea when you're investing into beauty products.

And just remember that whether you go all out with your makeup for date night, or wear nothing but a little lip gloss, do what makes you feel beautiful.

Let's Talk Makeup

Ahhhhhh...long holiday weekends. They're my fav.

Add to it our wedding anniversary, and the fact that my parents took the kiddos for a couple days...it was pretty much a perfect stay-cation.

We had a leisurely dinner out one night; I say leisurely because there was no reason to rush home to pay the $12/hour babysitter. The kids weren't there! I got to get all dressed up (which for me means no flip flops or shorts) and wear my favorite dress that my sis-in-law got me. We enjoyed a delicious meal, had a really lively conversation with the couple sitting next to us (that's a whole 'nutha story), and then ended the evening with a little live music. Perfection.

We also took advantage of the quiet mornings in the house. There was no "laboring" going on during this Labor Day. Just sipping coffee, reading the paper and enjoying the slow pace of things.

And while I'm sure you want to hear more about my lazy weekend, I will move on to the real topic at hand... makeup!

I'm not that into makeup, but as I've confessed before, I don't ever really leave the house without at least a little face powder and lip gloss (and mascara). But I do have some tried and true products that I will never stray from. And recently, I've discovered a few new products, thanks to Birchbox.

Have you heard of Birchbox? It's a great concept if you like to try new products. Basically, you fill out a questionnaire about your skin type, hair type, etc. and then you pay a $20/month subscription fee and they send you a beautiful little box filled with all sorts of goodies each month. It's like a mini Christmas present every time it arrives.

I digress... where I was going with this, is that I've discovered some new products through Birchbox that I LOVE and wanted to share them with you in case you are looking for some new items to add to your skincare and makeup repertoire this fall.

Here are all the items I am going to "talk about." They are all available online, and most are available at either Sephora or mall department stores.

Up first, my "tried and true" won't-leave-home-without-it face powder plus foundation, MAC Studio Fix.

It's wonderful by itself, it works great as a touch-up powder throughout the day, and it does a great job controlling shine, which is my worst enemy. I've used this product for over 10 years now and although I've tried others, I have not found any other pressed powders that compare.

Next up, another basic, but one that I am glad I discovered. Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara.
It's a bit more pricey that drugstore brands, but it works so much better. It doesn't clump, which is a necessity when it comes to mascara. But I also love how it looks really natural with one coat, but if you're headed out for the evening, a couple of coats really makes your lashes look dramatic and full.

The next few items are fairly new to my makeup bag. I had been hearing and reading about the importance of using a primer when applying foundation, but since I rarely wore foundation I didn't see the need to purchase any. But, time marches on then it marches right across your face! (Anyone else remember that line from the movie Steel Magnolias?!?) Anyhow, as fine lines and other nasties haves started to appear, I have found that foundation is now a really great addition to my makeup routine if I'm going out, or just want to look nice.

But, instead of a plain foundation, there is now the gem of a product called "BB cream" (which is short for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm). It's an all-in-one powerhouse that delivers moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation and anti-aging elements all in one!

I received a sample of this Marcelle BB cream in my Birchbox a couple months ago and now I'm hording the final few bits left in the tube. It's so smooth and easy to apply! I just wipe a thin layer of this over my face and then set it with some translucent powder and voila! Flawless skin!

And as for all the hype surrounding the makeup

primer... it's TRUE! A primer truly does allow your makeup to last at least twice as long! It's a miracle product, I tell ya. And this tiny .4 oz tube of Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Primer is THE BOMB! Again, I don't use it every day, but when I do want to look nice (for a date or church or something) it makes such a difference when I apply it before the BB cream. Highly recommend it.

And finally, another product that I got in my Birchbox this month is an organic facial peel.
It's called "Juice Beauty Green Apple Sensitive Peel." Both Brian and I used it last weekend (don't tell him that I shared that secret!!!) and it left our faces feeling so soft and smooth. It tingles when you put it on, so you know it's working, and then 10 minutes later you wash it off and enjoy your baby-smooth skin.


Okay, that's all I've got for today. I hope you'll try out one of these products and let me know how you like it. In the meantime, I'll continue testing new products in my Birchbox every month and share any new "must have's" that I find.