Face Of The Day #1: YSL, Hourglass, MAC + more!

Ok, first let me begin by saying this: although artsy and nice-looking, putting your makeup on the sidewalk in front of your house is really freaking weird. Weirder than that are the looks the neighbors give you. But hey, no embarrassment, no artsy photos.

I am starting this series of FOTD (Face Of The Day) for a more realistic approach to makeup looks. Instead of showing you pictures of me wearing giant false eyelashes and a smoky eye, I feel like its almost more appropriate to show what I wear on a day-to-day basis (especially since I have no social life for which to dress up).

This first FOTD is dedicated to my new favorites in the world of prestige beauty. Anyone would be nuts to spend what I do on makeup (including me), but it is my hobby, so I occasionally splurge. Everything here can be purchased at Sephora (excluding MAC and the three brushes) and are expensive, but if you love makeup as much as I do, these are luxurious and worth every penny.

Face Base:
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 is a very lightweight primer that helps to get your skin ready for makeup. Primarily, (ha I'm hilarious) I use it to brighten up my skin during the colder months of the year. It is slippery in texture and almost oily, and that's why I don't use it during the summer because I sort of feel like I'll just sweat it off, but it's white and I feel like that's what makes this really brightening.

YSL Le Tient Touche Éclat Foundation in Beige 10. My skintone is SUPER fair with neutral undertones, so when I went to Sephora and did their Color IQ thing, I wasn't surprised that I got less than a dozen matches. I bought this totally on a whim just because I was sort of growing tired of my other foundation options, and I was completely taken by surprise. Not only did Color IQ totally match my skintone, but it creates the most glowy, airbrushed look. And it has a pump! I'm totally hooked. To apply this I put a pump or two on the back of my hand and dot the foundation all over my face with my fingers, then I take my Sigma F80 brush and buff it into my skin until it is blended.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat. If you can see it in this picture, this blush is a reddish almost coral color of blush swirled together with the famous illuminating Ambient Lighting Powder. I use this blush whenever I want to wear no lipstick or a lighter color, or if I want to do a more intense blush look while still looking blended and natural.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is the best face powder I have encountered. It is lightweight and manages to keep the natural look of the foundation, but it also lasts a really long time and prevents the foundation from settling into pores or lines. I sprinkle the powder into the cap, then take my Real Techniques powder brush and swirl it into the lid before dusting all over my face.

Eye Makeup:
MAC Paint Pot in Let's Skate is perfect, either for an eyeshadow base for powder shadows or alone. I used it alone except for my crease shade, and it is a gorgeous baby pink color with a pretty gold shimmer to it.

MAC Soft Brown eyeshadow is my new favorite eye crease shade. Not much to say here, just a warm, matte brown. I blend this out using the crease brush from It Brushes for Ulta, which is super fluffy and soft, not to mention affordable compared to any other brush of that quality.

Hourglass Brow Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Medium Brown is the perfect shade for me, although I really do prefer ABH Brow Wiz. This gives a less polished and more natural look, but the control freak in me longs to have more precision.

The Unsung Heroes of Cream Eyeshadow: Buxom

Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow, Golden Retriever, natural light

Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow, Mutt, natural light

Top: Golden Retriever, Bottom: Mutt

Today I have these sadly unrecognized cream eyeshadows from Buxom to share with you.

While they don't really act as an eyeshadow base, they are the coolest cream shadows I have ever used. They don't crease through a whole day, the pigmentation is fantastic, and they are ultra-blendable. Mutt is a neutral beige-gold-tan color that sort of reminds me of MAC's Tan pigment, and is nicely shimmery without overdoing it. Golden Retriever is a red-brown almost coppery color that still somehow manages to look natural.

The coolest thing by far about these eyeshadows is their texture. They are a bouncy gel-like consistency that continues to boggle me every time I use them. Its silky and soft, but doesn't make you feel as though you are scooping the stuff out of the jar like some cream shadows. Really worth checking out, even though they are no longer available online, at your nearest Sephora.

REVIEW: Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eye Stick in Leila

Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye Stick in Leila 416, natural light

Leila 416 swatched, natural light.

So I was super excited a few months ago when Marc Jacobs Beauty came out with the Twinkle Pop eye stick line. I love the MJB Genius Gel Foundation, so I was eager to try another item from that brand. Sadly, I was disappointed.

This is a cream shadow stick, much like those from Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier, and this color, Leila, is described as a "rose copper shimmer," which is really not accurate. When applied, this shadow stick is slippery and gel-like in texture, and almost feels cool to the touch. The color comes off not as the rose copper shimmer I was hoping for, but a rust color with chunky glitter and spotty pigmentation. It cannot be blended without becoming more patchy, and will transfer to the browbone if you blink a little too much before it is completely set. Unfortunately, I will be returning this to Sephora. DO NOT TRY AND USE THIS AS A WATERLINER OR EYE PENCIL. I did this, and the pain that ensued instantaneously was so extreme, I had to flush my eyes with water for a good five minutes, until I could regain my vision.

This product is also expensive. At 28 dollars a pop, this twinkle isn't worth the eye infection.

You can find it here

REVIEW: MAC Plumful Lipstick

MAC Plumful up close and personal, natural light

MAC Plumful swatched, natural light.

The iconic MAC lipsticks really do live up to the hype; creamy and moisturizing but highly pigmented and opaque. There are ten standard finishes when it comes to these gorgeous lippies: Matte, Retro Matte, Satin, Amplified, Amplified Creme, Cremesheen, Cremesheen Pearl, Lustre, Frost, and Glaze. Overwhelming, I know. Fear not, there is a complete guide on the lovely blog, Beauty Down South here.

I only have 3 of these lipsticks, two of which are Lustre, one Amplified Creme, and I hope to expand my collection, but for right now, let's get Plumful!

Plumful is a Lustre finish. MAC describes Plumful as a "blossoming rose-plum," which isn't far off from the truth. It is a slightly blue-toned medium rosy plum. This lipstick would probably look fantastic on any skintone (just one of those shades) and looks very daring when I wear it with my pale skin. Nevertheless, it is moisturizing yet has some good staying power and is probably my most worn lipstick. You can find this beaut at any MAC counter or online here.

The Maiden Post

Success! I have created a blog! As you can see in my profile, my name is Adrienne. I am the brains of the operation, the wizard behind the curtain, of Candid Cosmetics. When I say I am bringing you "The Beautiful Truth" I mean it. No fine print. No cryptic little add-ons at the end of my posts. Just my honest opinion.

As I am still a student, I may only be able to update once or twice a week. I will always be open to requests and critiques for my readers to share with me, and I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship!