Dre Does July Favorites

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I never really realize how fast the months go by until I do my favorites posts. I feel like yesterday was the 4th of July! As usual my month was really busy, getting used to a new job and dealing with a severe allergic reaction to something so while I didn't try that many new products out, I have been loving some good ones! So let's recap the items I've been obsessed with this month! 

1. Browzings by Benefit Cosmetics: I have been using this product nonstop since I started working as a Benefit Arch Expert. I use it on every guest to map their brows for waxing, but also use it daily on my brows. I love that it comes with both a tinted wax and powder. I use a quick tap of them both together to fill and define my brows. The wax helps hold brow hairs in place and also makes the powder adhere better. It gives a very natural, yet defined look that I love!

2. Revlon Colorstay Foundation: I hadn't tried this foundation until June but I'm obsessed. It really does last all day and I love that it comes in two formulas (one for drier skin types and the other for combo/oily skin types). I really like mixing it with other foundations to give a long lasting flawless finish to my skin. 

3. Tarte Amazonian Full Coverage 12-HR Foundation: This foundation is a holy grail product as well. I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, but I love the texture. It's a mousy one that gives a liquid to powder feeling to the skin. It's buildable from medium to full coverage and for oily skin it's a dream! When you rub it in, it really feels like nothing on the skin! It's no secret that I have a love affair for tarte cosmetics so if you're oily and wanting to try out a new higher end foundation, go give it a look!

4. Benefit's They're Real PushUp Liner: I know that this new product from Benefit has been getting mixed reviews but I truly love it. I have a very hard time finding a liner with an applicator that I love but this one is amazing! One unique feature that I love is that you control the amount of product you use by clicking it up at the bottom. If you're comfortable with liquid and gel liners I definitely think you should try this one. I can apply a big dramatic winged liner in the morning before work and know that when I get home 10 hours later it will look the exact same as when I left. I love the matte finish too. It looks very natural. I love to show guests how using the flat and wide applicator you can create a "no eyeliner, eyeliner" look to make your lash line look fuller. Comment below if you'd like to see how I accomplish this!

5. White Straw Tribal Clutch from LOFT: I hate to include things you can no longer find but I like the idea behind this bag so I had to include it. I bought this at LOFT probably about 2 or 3 summers ago because I loved it. It was neutral and summery, but could fit a lot. The tribal print trend has been going for awhile but I thought this was a more subtle way to incorporate it into my wardrobe because it wasn't as flashy. I can't even begin to tell you how much I use this bag. It pairs with everything in the summer and gives an interesting texture to outfits and can be paired with black and white or even bright colors! If you find something you love and you can picture using in multiple ways, I say always get it. 

6. Essie quick-e Drying Drops: I can't do my nails without these drops anymore. Half the time I skip out on doing my nails because I don't have time to sit around and wait for them to dry. Not anymore! Just use the little dropper to apply a 1 to 2 little drops per nail and you're polish will be dry in no time! I love them and highly recommend them to all nail polish junkies or women on the go!

7. Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer: I bought this bronzer because the ULTA I work at is no longer carrying Cargo Cosmetics so it was ridiculously discounted. I actually bought 12 other products too for a steal so look for a review on all of that soon! Luckily you can still buy the products on Cargo's website so when I fell in love with this bronzer I had to share. While I haven't gone swimming with it on because I'm not a fan of wearing makeup in the water, I do find it has great lasting power all day! The tone is really nice, a little warmer then I like to use for contouring but since it has shimmer I use it to give my face more of a glow anyways! It's also very smooth and blendable.

What were you loving this month? Leave a comment and let me know! I'm always down to try new things :) Hope your July was fantastic and happy August!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does an Announcement!!

I'm here with a quick post to announce that I have just started working as an Arch Expert & Makeup Artist for Benefit Cosmetics!! I'm really excited for this new opportunity that I have been given with two companies that I have loved for years; Benefit Cosmetics and ULTA Beauty!! Unfortunately the spa I worked at had to close it's doors suddenly, so I am extremely grateful to move on to bigger and better things! Throughout life we are handed challenges that can cause a bit of a struggle. But with some reevaluation and strength we can always move on and get through them. Don't be afraid when something like this happens. I heard someone talking last week about how when something hard comes along it's adding to your story. When you look back years from now, it's the rough patches that will make your success story that much greater! So keep on fighting for your dream because it will be that much more worth it in the end when you've achieved what you want! 

Have a beautiful start to your week,

Dre

Dre Does a Summer Face Routine

I hope you enjoyed my Tips for Summer Makeup from earlier in the week! Here is my requested foundation and face routine for this time of year. Let me know if you have any other summer related requests and I will keep them coming!

Here is a before and after of no makeup to makeup but I've included a picture below that is just my makeup after my face routine (no brows, eyes or lips).

1. Always start with a clean face. A skincare routine is the key starting point to any makeup application. You'll see I have plenty of imperfections in that before photo but we all do so embrace yours!

2. Next I go in with a primer. On Monday I posted about the Cover-FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment. Click here for that post. Make sure you don't apply too much primer or else your makeup will not go on smoothly. This will depend on the type and texture of the primer you are using. If I'm using a silicone textured primer I use a small pea sized amount for my whole face. Let this absorb before you move on.

3. Next I spray my face with a setting spray to create a barrier between oil and foundation and give my foundation something more to grab onto. I love the Urban Decay Deslick Makeup Setting Spray, but in the past I also loved MAC Fix+. It's also VERY crucial that you let this layer completely dry and set so you have a smooth and dry work surface for your foundation.

4. Next I mix two foundations. I love the Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combo/Oily Skin because it has great staying power and a nice satin finish. However, it is a little thicker than I like for the summer so I've been mixing it with MAC Face & Body Foundation, which is a lighter foundation. It has light to medium coverage so this is why I like mixing it with a heavier foundation. It's water resistant and long wearing so it's the perfect match for the Colorstay Makeup. I apply a very thin layer of this foundation combo all over my skin using my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. One reason I like mixing foundations in the summer is that one is lighter and the other is darker. This allows me to customize my foundation shade every time I apply my makeup, depending on how tan I am.

5. Next I use my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer under my eyes. I prefer to apply this with my ring finger and strong tapping motions until it is blended. I use a more yellow toned concealer (NC30) to counteract the purple tones of my dark circles. I'm obsessed with this product and I have multiple in my kit because it works wonders and doesn't crease throughout the day. I then go over it with Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in the shade Brightener because it is slightly pink toned and does a great job of brightening the under eye area. Then I set all of this with a very finely milled HD translucent powder. I love using the HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder in 01 by NYX Cosmetics. (This is the one I was talking about in my last post though, to avoid if you are going photographed a lot...i.e. your wedding).

6. Next since I have applied a thin layer of foundation I generally need to spot conceal my hyperpigmentation and blemishes on my chin with a small concealer brush. In the winter I would typically wear a heavier foundation all over that would cover most of these but I prefer not to wear that heavy of makeup due to humidity and heat in the summer, so I prefer to spot conceal. I swear by the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette. It's the bomb dot com at covering blemishes and staying put.

7. After spot concealing I will generally set my entire face with that same NYX HD Finishing Powder using a big fluffy powder brush.

8. Now for contouring. I use a small fluffy blending brush to apply Benefit's Hoola Bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks and then use a larger brush, the Contour Brush by Real Techniques, to blend out the color really well. I also use the contour brush to blend Hoola around the temples of my face and my hairline.

9. Next I apply a long-wearing powder blush to the apples of my cheeks and blend toward my hairline. My favorite blushes of all time for this are tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-hour blushes because they are all beautiful and seriously last forever! I own a lot of them...haha

10. Next I like to apply a subtle highlight to my cheeks to give me a subtle glow. My favorite of the moment is MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping.

11. Finally, I spray my face one last time with the setting spray to set everything and keep it in place for the whole day! I like to fan my face with a makeup palette to speed up this process and make sure nothing drips or moves!

There it is! I know it may seem like a lot for some of you, but as a makeup artist I'm used to using a lot of products! I hope you enjoyed and can apply some of these techniques to your summer makeup routine. Keep the requests coming!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Multi Use Summer Essentials

While I love a good full on glam look like the next girl, you will 95% of the time find me with little makeup on in the summer time. As an oily skin type that only gets oilier in the hotter months, I hate having a full face on during the day. So today I bring you the SIX key products to keep in your purse so you can have an easy summer look, not only quickly, but with multiuse products. Each one can be used in multiple ways, which is always a bonus.

Dre's Summer Essentials:

1. Concealer stick: Perfect for multiple reasons, it will help with covering blemishes and under eye circles, evening out skin tone, highlighting your brow bone, and using as a base for eyeshadow! (Covergirl Trueblend shown above)

2. Powder: You can't get around this one this time of the year. Powder will even out your skin tone and help control oil, so it's a must to keep it on hand in the summer. (Mac Studio Fix Powder Foundation shown)

3. Cool toned Bronzer: My favorite is Hoola by Benefit Cosmetics because it isn't too warm toned, which makes it great for contouring your face but also to use as a crease color so you don't have to carry around any eyeshadow. 

4. Champagne highlighter: a face highlighter is great to not only enchnace a summer glow on your cheekbones, but you can also use it as an all over lid color instead of eyeshadow. MAC Cosmetics Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb Shown)

5. Cream Blush Stain: Many companies make multiuse cheek and lip products so find a shade you love for both your lips and cheeks. I love a good natural coral that will give your skin a natural summer flush on both your cheeks and lips. (Stila Convertible Color shown)

6. Waterproof Mascara: a waterproof mascara is always good to keep on hand incase you want to intensify your look but if you keep a small eyeliner brush with you too, you can use the mascara as a gel eyeliner in a pinch! (tarte Lights! Camera! Splashes! Waterproof mascara shown)

My favorite thing to do in the summer is keep these 6 products, a travel pack of makeup remover wipes and blush, Bronzer, and eyeliner brushes in my purse as well. This way if I'm out and about with makeup already on or none at all, I can find a bathroom, quickly clean my face and apply these 6 products for a complete and easy summer look! 

Don't be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to makeup! There are no rules and you can use products however they work best for you! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre