If you were stranded on a deserted island, and could only bring 9 things with you… what would they be?
Just kidding. I wouldn’t bring all makeup. Maybe just one. But since there are no deserted islands around here…
1. The Body Shop All in One Face Base. If I could bring 9 things with me… and if one was makeup, this is definitely my can’t-do-without item. It covers but it’s lightweight. It lasts all day. It doesn’t end up oily after two hours. It doesn’t end up oily after 12 hours. I know because I’ve tested it. I’m absolutely obsessed with this stuff. Years ago, I wore it. Somewhere along the way, I decided I was going to cut it out of my budget since I can get drugstore foundation or powder for about $11 while this is $22. I also don’t have a Body Shop store in my area so that made it more difficult to buy. After trying several drugstore brands and getting frustrated at their coverage and oily residue, I remembered the glory days of The Body Shop makeup and decided to switch back. I’m so glad I did because once I switched back I realized what I had been missing out on. I also realized that the Body Shop puts this on clearance allllllll the time when you order 3 or 4 at a time. So, it actually turns out that I don’t have to splurge on this.
2. Mary Kay Medium Coverage Concealer. I use this for under-eye circles and it works really well. I also notice that it lasts FOREVER. It might be a small tube but I’m pretty sure I can squeeze a year out of it. I also find that this blends really well for all seasons so I can transition from summer to fall to winter to spring without buying new makeup.
3. Maybelline Unstoppable Cinnabar Eyeliner. This one is new to me. I’ve been coloring my hair for about a year now. When I first started going darker, I had to learn how to manage it. What clothes do brunettes wear? Makeup is also a little different. I noticed how my natural color of eyebrows looked bare with the darker hair so I started coloring them in with this eyeliner. I love the way it transforms my face.
4. Covergirl TRUcheeks. I really like using a blush that has a few different shades… I just feel like it makes it look more natural.
5. Maybelline FITme! Medium Bronzer. I’ve recently started mixing this with the blush to get away from the pink look a little bit. To be fair, I don’t know if this one qualifies as a “must have” yet but I have been wearing it everyday for the last few weeks so I decided to include it. One thing I will say about blush or bronzer brushes… never use the cheap ones that come packaged with the makeup. I’ve had a nice brush that my mom gave me years ago so I always use it with blushes and bronzers.
6. Lorac Pro Mascara. My eyes are itchy and watery a lot and when I asked my eye doctor about it, he seemed to think it was my makeup flacking off during the day and irritating my eye. I’m pretty convinced it’s not that but I will say that his recommendation to get makeup that’s eye doctor approved led me to this so I’m cool with it. I found this at Sephora and really like how it makes my lashes look.
7. Maybelline the Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara. Sometimes I don’t have the time to get to Sephora so when I get drugstore brand mascara, this has been my most recent purchase. I like it, although the name is a little misleading. No falsies look up in here.
8. Mary Kay Eye Color Quad Shadow. You know that story in the bible about the woman who never runs out of oil? I may not be in the bible and this eye shadow isn’t oil, but… same idea. I’ve had this eye shadow since my wedding day {more than four years ago} and I use it several times a week… and I still have at least half of every color left. I have no idea how that has happened but I love it.
9. Maybelline Master Drama by Eye Studio Coal Commander. Got time for a story?
The cinnabar eyeliner that I use on my eyebrows {number 3}? I realized one morning that I was almost out. You know the feeling. You twist it… but it’s all twisted out. So I made a mental note to run to CVS that day after work. Yeah, forgot. So the next morning, I squeezed the last little bit out of it but THAT. WAS. IT. And… I forgot to get more again. {Mental notes don’t work for me… you’d think I’d know that by now.} Luckily, that next day was a work day {no students!} so I didn’t have to be there until 8:30. Just so happens that CVS opens at 8:00. It’s out of the way but I figured as long as I was at CVS at 8:00, I could grab some brown eyeliner, pencil in my eyebrows on my way to work and be there just in time for the meeting. So I pull into the CVS parking lot at 7:57, finish my breakfast bar and make my way to the door at 7:59. Yes, I’m standing at the door of CVS before they open on a Friday morning. I’m waiting… maybe my clock was fast? I’m scrolling through my phone… shoulda taken a selfie to document the moment. A car pulls up and I think, “Oh good. I’m not alone. These doors will open any second.” The woman gets out of her car, pushes the door open and goes in. Awkward. Now the thoughts running through my head go something like this. “Oh. Are they open? Maybe their doors are broken and just need to be pushed open? No. Are there people inside. No? Wait? Maybe I see a lady back there. Oh, I bet that woman works here. Ugh. But that’s so rude. Who works here and just doesn’t say anything to this customer standing out front? Well, she’s probably just trying to avoid awkward situations. Ugh. Open the door, people! It’s totally 8:02. Ok. NEVER coming ba- Oh, hi. Thank you…” as the door is opened for me.
So… back to the makeup. Remember I was in search of brown eyeliner for my eyebrows. I found it almost immediately and noticed that CVS was running an extrabucks special… if you spent $12 on Maybelline, you got $4 back or something. So… being the savvy shopper I am, I grabbed some eyeliner {to use on my eyes, not my eyebrows} and hit the road. I had a meeting at 8:30, remember? It turns out that this coal commander color is on point. And it lasts. I love how it goes on really smoothly, looks good with blue eyes and brown hair and when I finally make it to the end of the day, it’s not all smeared or disappeared.
Those are my makeup must haves. What are yours?
What do you think of this signature thing? I’m thinking of adding it to every post.
