I recently had a makeup lesson with Aubrey at Pure Hair Studio. I’m a tad embarrassed because I can’t believe I waited until I was 30-years-old to learn how to put makeup on properly! (Please tell me I’m not the only adult that didn’t know how to put makeup on!)
Below is my before and after at the salon after Aubrey put my makeup on. I was blown away at how simple it all seemed but also very concerned that I wasn’t going to remember how to do it myself at home! After a few practice attempts, I finally figured it out and wanted to share some new tips and tricks I learned.
Here I go again posting my true “before” pictures online for everyone to see. The pictures to follow are much more raw than my Stop Washing Your Hair post pictures; however, I’m not going to apologize for posting because I want you to know how I really look! I have, for too long, idolized the celebrities flawless looks thinking that I could never achieve what I saw. I may still have blemishes and uneven eyebrows after all the makeup is on, but at least I feel good about how I look in the mirror now!
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Step 1: Moisturizer. I put my moisturizer on first and let it soak into my skin while I’m blow drying my hair. I had been using a very light/thin moisturizer and mentioned to Aubrey that my skin was very dry. She suggested I use a cream so I picked up the Sacred Nature Day Cream. I haven’t noticed any dryness since switching which is needed to achieving the “flawless” skin look.
Step 2: Primer. Again, I put my primer on (usually after my hair is dried) and let it soak into my skin while I’m straightening, curling, or fixing the kids breakfast. I learned to apply a thin layer of this everywhere except under my eyes. Basically, I don’t put the primer where my concealer will go. The primer helps make my foundation go on very even and smooth. Plus it feels very luxurious going on!
Step 3: Foundation. My newest obsession and my FAVORITE product! I’ve tried several different liquid foundations in the past but have never liked the way they make my face feel like I’ve “caked” it on. Enter mineral foundation. It’s a powder but the more you use, the more coverage you’ll get. I also learned I need the right brush to apply it (it’s called a Kabuki Brush). As a way to “sample” before buying a full sized powder, I got a Youngblood Purely Basic Kit that includes 2 colors of mineral powder (you can choose which is right for your skin tone), a crushed mineral blush, a mineral rice setting powder, a HI-DEF translucent powder, and a mini Kabuki Brush. The key to getting “flawless” skin is to buff the powder on. I start at my cheek and buff small circles all over my face until I get the coverage I want. For my TV appearances, I apply several times in the same spot. For my everyday look, I usually just do one even coat. The coverage is so good that I could probably get away without putting concealer on (but I still do)! You can see from step 2 to step 3, the redness on my cheeks is gone by only applying the powder.
Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Step 4: Contour. The next thing I do is contour with the darker shade of mineral foundation that I got in my kit. I buff this color with the Kabuki Brush under my cheek bones and along my hairline to my temples, and down (next to my ear) under my chin. This “3″ shape I’m making gives me a very subtle shadow (to define my cheeks) and brings a little glow to my face. I have tried using a bronzer before but couldn’t get away from the orange look it created. The slightly darker Youngblood shade I’m using creates just the slightest color difference so I never have to worry about it looking fake. Look back up and compare step 3 and step 4- can you tell my cheek bones look lifted?
Step 5: Concealer. I’ve always dealt with dark circles under my eyes and have been searching for a concealer that would hide them. I learned 2 things from Aubrey who made them disappear within minutes. One, apply the concealer from the inner corner of my eye making a straight line down stopping about 3/4 of the way on the side of my nose. Then make a line up to the outer corner of my eye, creating a “triangle”. After I have the outside lines of the triangle, I blot the concealer under my eyes to fill it in. I use my ring finger to gently blend it in. As I’m blending, I put the concealer on my eyelids to help keep my eyeshadow in place. Viola, dark circles gone! I’ve never been able to make my skin look this even before. I’ve added a few steps to my makeup routine, but it’s well worth the little bit of extra time to feel so good about my skin!
Step 6: Blush. With the same Kabuki Brush I apply the Sherbert Crushed Mineral Blush on the apples of my cheeks and buff along my cheek bone. I go over back and forth a few times to make sure it’s blended in (always using the circular motion). The blush that came with my kit is perfect for my everyday look. It adds just the right amount of color to make me feel pretty. It has just the perfect amount of shimmer to it, without making me feel too young. I can’t get over how it’s all so natural looking!
Step 7 Step 8 Step 9
Step 7: Eye Shadow. I’ve always wanted someone to look at my hair, skin, and eye color and tell me what color eye shadow would look best on me. That’s exactly what Aubrey did. She said with my brown/hazel eyes that a more red color would make my eyes pop. She chose this mauve color combination for me. I put the Syrah color on my lower eye lid (pushing my brush up into my eye crease and down to my eyelashes). For an every day look, I can wear only this color and move on. I did get a special eye shadow brush to “dab” and not “rub” the eye shadow on my eyelid. It uses less of the shadow and doesn’t leave a colored residue under my eyes.
Step 8: Smoky Eye. Most days I do one extra step to create a subtle smoky eye. I use the straight side of the applicator that comes with the shadow to make a sideways “V” in the outer 1/3 corner of my eyelid, starting at the corner of my eye and going along the edge my eye lashes, then back up into my crease (drawing the sideways letter V). I then take my eye shadow brush and blend it in by drawing the V back and forth several times. I also put a thin line of this color under the outer 1/3 edge of my bottom lashes (instead of using eyeliner on the bottom).
Step 9: Highlighter. After wiping off the eye shadow brush, I use the Moonstone Eye Shadow and apply it just under my eyebrows, starting at the highest point in the middle and slightly fading back and forth. I then do the same thing to the corner of my eye, fading just a tad under my tear duct. On top of the concealer, this highlighting makes me look a tad more awake (because being a mom instinctively creates the opposite).
Step 10: Eyeliner. This could be my second favorite product. The gel (plus the angled brush) is amazing. The mistake I was making in the past was lining my entire eye, from corner to corner, top and bottom. In order to create a more open eyed look, I am now only putting eyeliner from the outer corner of my eye about 2/3 of the way in. I create an angled line at the end to fade it into my eyelash line.
Here’s another one of my secrets that I learned from Stacey- I only take my eye liner and mascara off every 3 days. I wash everything on my face at night expect my eye makeup. The awesome thing about this gel eyeliner is that it stays on for the full 3 days without much (if any) touch-up needed! Which makes the days I don’t wash my hair even easier for me to get ready!
Step 11: Mascara. One of the best tricks I learned was how to put on my mascara. I used to just brush upward to try and coat all the hairs as best as I could. However, Aubrey taught me to first brush upward coating the middle of my lashes, then brush sideways to the right coating the outer lashes (then upward again to straighten the lashes), then brush sideways to the left coating the inner lashes (then upward again to straighten the lashes). After combing sideways, my lashes look all wonky (they are all clumped together because I brushed them the wrong direction) but the upward stroke again makes them point the right way. What this does is catch all the little eyelashes and gives me a fuller set of lashes! I couldn’t believe how much different my eyelashes looked by just brushing these different directions.
Step 12: Brows. I was comforted to hear that it’s normal for my eyebrows to have thinned a little at my age. I just kept looking in the mirror and thinking I was loosing more and more every year! Now, I apply a brown eye shadow to fill them in. Easy peasy and I don’t have tiny (uneven) eyebrows anymore!
Step 13: Lips. I’ve never been a lipstick wearer but have fallen in love with the way it finishes my look. Aubrey picked the color Barely Nude for my lipstick and Coy for my lip gloss. The combination of the 2 add just a hint of color without me feeling like I need to wipe it off. I don’t always put it on every day but I keep it in my purse so I can have it when it’s needed. Isn’t it a pretty color??
Can you believe that’s my before picture? Now you all know what I really look like with wet hair and no makeup.
Are you on sensory overload after reading all these tips? Do you have any idea where to start? The good news is that Pure Hair Studio is giving one lucky reader a custom make-up lesson with Aubrey and YOUNGBLOOD Purely Basic Kit (a $95.00 value)!
GIVEAWAY TIME! {giveaway closed}
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To Enter:
*One entry per person per method of entry. Be sure to enter a separate comment for each method of entry (one comment for Facebook, one comment for Twitter, etc). This way you have a higher chance of winning.
1. COMMENT: Leave a comment below telling us how much you want to win! (It’s easy to leave a comment- you don’t even have to have an account)
2. TWITTER: Tweet about this giveaway – just copy and paste this message into your tweet “Hey! @QCMomsBlog is giving away a custom make-up lesson and makeup from Pure Hair Studio!”
3. FACEBOOK: Share this post on your Facebook wall. BONUS- For every friend you get to enter, YOU will get an extra entry! So tell your friends to leave a comment here saying you sent them!
4. FACEBOOK: “Like” Pure Hair Studio on Facebook (or let us know if you already have).
That’s FOUR (or more) chances to win! Giveaway ends Monday, February 25, 2013. Winner is chosen randomly and will be announced here as soon as they’ve accepted the prize. Good luck, everyone!
The company who sponsored this post compensated me through a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it; however, I only recommend products or services I personally recommend. All words and opinions are mine.
I really want to win! Would be a great bday present as I own ZERO makeup. Not even kidding.
Liked Pure Hair Studio on FB.
Liked this article to FB…hope I did it right!
Would love to win!
I love this giveaway!! I would LOVE to win!
I too am a 30 yr old who doesn’t know how to properly supply makeup. Its embarassing and depressing as my daughter wants to play with makeup and I shy away because I don’t even know how!
Shared the news of the giveway partnership with the lovely ladies of Pure on Twitter! May the luckiest face win! (via @mrsrebeccahall)
Shouted from the rooftops (or ‘shared’ on Facebook) about the latest giveway with Pure. Can’t wait to hear who the winner will be!
Would LOVE to win this. I’ve pretty much had the same makeup regime for 15 years. It’s sad. I need a lesson for sure!
I would love to win this!! I definitely could use some new make up tips and it would be great to be pampered in my third trimester because I feel so frumpy right now!
I liked pure on Facebook!
I shared on Facebook!
I think I might need this. I don’t have a 12 step makeup program. More like 3 somedays! I would love to win.
I liked Pure Hair studio on fb!
I am in my forties and have never had a professional make up lesson! Would love to win, already a Pure customer and would love this opportunity!
I would love to win! I am a make-up-aholic and have never tried Youngblood!
Liked Pure Hair Studio on facebook!
Shared post on my wall!
Would love to win..love seeing the before and after pics
Would love to wib
I’ve met with Aubrey before and would love to do it again! Becky Hall sent me.
Shared post on Facebook.
Liked Pure Hair Studio on Facebook.
Hope I win!!
Liked Pure Hair on fb
I would love this! I’m in my 40s and my 14 year old knows WAY more than I do about makeup. I’m too embarrassed to ask her questions!! This would be a great way to show her (and my 12 & 8 year old) I’m really not that old!!
Heather Johnson
Shaerd
Always wanted to have a professional show me the correct way of putting on makeup! I use the same colors and same way to putting it on since I was in high school…I think it’s time for a change! Please!!!!!!
Of course I already like pure hair studio on Facebook! (:
Shared on my Facebook! (:
This would be a great opportunity! I have a lot to learn…!
that sounds amazing!! wow, your look is clean and sophisticated. I need some help. lol
i liked them on fb.
This would be awesome to win. I could use some new makeup and tips
Would love to win! Shared!
I need makeup help desperately!!!
I would love to win this. I don’t wear make up because I don’t know how to apply it without feeling like I look like a clown. I have tried reading tutorials and watching them on you tube but still get so overwhelmed. Worse part is that I will have no idea how to teach my daughter when she wants to start wearing some, likely next year.
^forgot to add that Becky sent me. : )
I would love to win!
I would love to win.
I could really use help with how to put my make up on…I feel like I can’t get my eyes right and I like my foundation…but not sure I’ve got that right, either. You look great, Camye!
I already “like” pure hair on fb!
Would LOVE to win- I am currently sporting the yoga pants/no makeup look!
OOh i want to win this one REALLY BAD!! Dude…loved the lesson too. Very helpful. Now…if only I needed to blow dry my hair daily and had time for a full make-up application daily.
Tweeted
Liked Pure Hair Studio on FB
Shared on FB! bam…who’s feeling lucky?? lol
I would love to win! And I already like Pure Hair Studio on FB:)
Liked Pure Hair Studio on FB…shared on FB…and I would LOVE to win this…especially after last nights crash course in makeup! Soooo fun!!
I would love to learn how to properly do my makeup! As a Mommy of two little boys, I rarely wear any, but definitely need it!!
My little sister recently blogged that her ” big sister” never knew how to wear makeup! It’s been an ongoing family joke. I’d love to learn how to hide my dark circles and what the heck primer is!!
I just had a baby and I’m finding it hard to get back in the swing of getting ready in the mornings and not just washing my face and throwing my hair up in a ponytail! New makeup would be a great incentive! I would love to win!
I would love to win this! Trying to revamp my old makeup with new ‘good for you’ things!
Already liked on FB.
I’d love to have someone show me what to do, make-up wise, instead of just guessing and trying.
Camye – you are NOT the only 30-something who has never figured out how to properly put on makeup. I need to find a place here to teach me! Thanks for your post!!!!