{ beauty beast }

{ beauty beast }

i receive a lot of inquiries about my skin/hair/beauty routines. i've posted about this before, but since my habits evolve every six months or so (and it's been nearly a year since my last post!), i figured it was time for an all-inclusive update.

let me start by saying that these are the products that work best for me, which i've come to depend on after a lot of trial and error ~ but they may not necessarily be perfect for you! nevertheless, i hope there's something in here that helps you out (or simply makes you happy!):

ABOVE: i've been using patricia wexler's skincare systems for years and couldn't be happier with them. i've tried every product in every line, and over time have narrowed my regimen down to the three that work best for me: the spf30 anti-aging moisturizer (applied every morning before my makeup), the exfoliating cleanser with acnostat (used morning and night, it controls breakouts brilliantly), and the mysterious, miraculous 'pink goop' ~ otherwise known as the skin reginerating serum (also used morning and night).
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at night, i remove my eye makeup with good old fashioned pond's cold cream before washing, while neutrogena's moisturizing body oil and dr. bronner's eucalyptus soap take care of everything from the neck down!

besides the upkeep above, there's quite a long list of makeup products that i love. please keep in mind that i don't wear every one of the items below every day. in fact, most days i just stick with a dab of concealer, a sweep of brow filler, a smudge of blush, and a wink of mascara. but on those days (well, mostly just nights) when i want to go all-out, here's what i reach for:

ABOVE, TOP ROW: after my moisturizer, mac's fluid foundation is the first thing i put on my face. {NOTE: i've been trying to apply the prep+prime before that step, but it hasn't really become a habit, because i'm not fully convinced it works. if anyone has some tips in regard to this or other primers, i'd love to hear them in the comments!} in general, i'm a fan of mac products because they're only slightly more expensive than drugstore brands ~ but much, much better quality. however, one exception that i swear by is vichy's dermablend concealer, which i pick up at CVS (a US drugstore). i sung its praises in my last beauty post, and my stance hasn't changed a bit.
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next, it's back to mac for my studio fix powder and mineralize skin finish bronzer.
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ABOVE, BOTTOM ROW: the thing i dislike about chanel cosmetics (that they don't go on concentrated enough), is actually the same reason why their tweed pink blush is my favorite cheek color! it's really sheer ~ and therefore great for everyday, when you don't want to look like you're wearing a bunch of makeup. although, if i could only wear one cosmetic for the rest of my life, it would definitely be brow filler ~ and right now prestige makes my top pick.
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i've only recently realized why beauty companies sell eyeshadows in sets, as i've begun to experiment more with shading and contrasting crease colors. what fun it can be! i'm convinced that mac's limited edition leopard luxe eyeshadow quad was tailor-made with me in mind {i know ~ leopard, me ~ shocking, right?!}. for a really dramatic look, i'll occasionally use it in conjunction with dior's smokey mania set.
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finally, i don't know why i wasted so many years struggling with eyeliner pens, pencils, etc... gel liner is where it's at!! mac's fluidline (that little black pot above) is a million times easier to control than anything else i've tried. i finish it all off with loreal's telescopic mascara. again, it's the best i've ever used (seriously, it beats every fancy brand around). its magic is in the thinnest brush you've ever seen ~ because it's so small, it manages to coat each and every lash, and neither you nor the brush ever end up with that scraggly, spidery effect.

speaking of brushes!

despite having cups full of makeup brushes at my disposal, i've noticed i primarily use the six ABOVE: bobbi brown's powder and blush brushes (i've owned both of these for nearly five years, and with proper care they're still as good as new!), plus mac's lash brush (i use it on my brows), 217 brush (for eyeshadow application and blending), 219 brush (for eyeshadow crease-work and contouring), and 210 brush (to apply the fluidline gel liner).

now, as you've probably gleaned from the various lists above, i'm much more focused on playing up my eyes than my lips (you've gotta work with what you've got!). since my lips are naturally pretty pinkish, most days i simply scrub them clean with a wet washcloth and dab on a pat of purple lab's huge lips skinny hips clear gloss...

...although, if i want a hint of color i'll swap that out for chanel's lèvres scintillantes glossimers (again, their products are pretty sheer). like everyone else in the world, i'm also addicted to smith's rosebud salve lip balm.

BELOW: i had a pixie cut in college, and the last time i cut it all off again, the thing that excited me most was that it meant i could start using aveda's custom control wax again! it's pretty dense, and thus works best on short, choppy do's. and it smells sooooooo good! i run that through my hair every morning, then mist it with a bit of control force hair spray (it also offers an impressively pleasant aroma).
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with that, i must confess that i'm a total floozy when it comes to perfume. there are just so many to love!! while i've truly been enjoying my new big pony collection colognes, i was also recently excited to discover a local, brooklyn-based brand call ds&durga that makes smokey, sultry, wonderfully wintry scents that i just can't buy enough of!

and so, top-to-toe, this is literally what the inside of my bathroom cabinet looks like!! now you know ;)

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