chimes choices: the big fat makeup post.

Ever since I made the decision recently to do my own makeup for my wedding, I’ve been wearing makeup a lot more often.

I wanted to get practice so I have a better chance of nailing it the on my wedding day. I’m lazy when it comes to makeup, and typically either don’t wear it or will only wear a basic application.

However, when I started wearing makeup more often, people started shown interest in how I’ve been applying my makeup.

I have to give most of the credit to the products that I have been using. I’ve tried doing cat eyes with the wrong liner(s) and failed miserably. I’ve also tried wearing lipstick with stuff that felt super icky on my lips  and/or rubbed off right away. These are both reasons I stayed away from fussy makeup — oh, and also because I run 15 minutes late to everything, so I need to be able to put on makeup in less than 10 minutes.

I’ve been wearing makeup for more than 15 years, and have tried pretty much everything out there from drugstore to boutique brands. The products I’m sharing today fall somewhere in the middle. Also, I’m rating everything on a scale of 1-5 (5 being awesome).

NOTE: this is NOT a sponsored post. I will not receive any money for anything you purchase or click in this post. I believe in the few products I’m showcasing. LUSH and Tarte should probably pay me for all the PR I do for them … just saying.

Anyhoo … I present to you…chimes choices: Makeup!

Basic / No-Makeup-Look

Application time: 5-7 minutes.

These 7 products are what I use on days I wear makeup. Sometimes I skip #1 (foundation) or #5 (rim liner). I apply this combo over moisturizer, and not in the order pictured (instead, in this order: #4, #3, #1, #2, #5, #7, #6).

1. Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation — 3.5

This is a full-coverage foundation, so I leave it off some days since the CC creme + concealer offers great coverage. Even when I leave it off, I do a light dusting to make my face more matte. I think the Tarte foundation does a great job of blending, but all of them tend to be a little more yellow- than pink-toned. I actually like bareMinerals’ foundation a little better (4.5) but it is not cruelty free. I will probably switch back before the wedding since the bareMinerals formula matches my skin a bit better.

2. bareMinerals Warmth — 5

This is a brown-toned powder that is used to add color back to your face after you apply foundation. I use this like a bronzer and do a quick dusting over my cheeks. A little bit goes a very long way. I have had this same pot for years.

3. Tarte Cosmetics Marjuca Creaseless Concealer — 4.5

This concealer formula is like butter. Almost quite literally. I hate caky concealers. I had been using bareMinerals’ powder concealer for years, but I am back to liquid after I tried this bad boy. This is packed full of moisture and stays on all day. That being said, it is a little bit greasy. This blends extremely well with the CC cream, but it doesn’t work well if I put the powder foundation on first. It is super gentle for under eyes though. The concealer stays put all day (surprisingly given its oil content), and blends well, so I’m giving it a 4.5.

4. Arbonne CC Creme — 4.5

This is one of my favorite products of all time. It works like a tinted moisturizer and foundation in one and covers quite a bit without looking caky and gross. I use it as a foundation some days when I want light coverage.

5. Tarte Cosmetics Inner Rim Brightener — 4

This little product is a grad school miracle! I used to not use any color (liners, etc.) on my basic face day, but this makes me look less tired, so I found myself using it every day. It is a really creamy formula so it goes on easily, but it also comes off pretty easily if I rub my eyes (which is sad, and why I gave it a 4). This is totally worth it on early morning teaching days.

6. Zum Kiss Chapstick — 3.5

Honestly, this one isn’t my favorite chapstick. I got it as a gift and it works pretty well. I require a chapstick at the minimum (all other products aside). My favorite is Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Lip Balm. The Zum Kiss is a little bit too chapstick-y for me but the Dr. Bronner’s soaks into my lips like a moisturizer.

7. LUSH Cosmetics Eyes Right Mascara — 4

I’ve never met a mascara that did not clump or cake until I came across this one. I love how dark and bold this makes my lashes. I noticed that my lashes looked thicker and healthier after using this for a couple of months. I’ve been using this mascara for almost 3 years now. I gave this a 4 out of five because it is not waterproof. It will smudge if you rub your eyes. However, I hate having to try to get waterproof mascara off my face on a daily basis, so I love this mascara for regular use. Note: For long days I use Tarte’s waterproof mascara, but I don’t *love* it. It’s almost TOO waterproof. 

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Fancy No-Makeup Look / Low-Key Made-up Look

Application time: +7-10 more minutes on the basic face.

If I want to look a little bit more polished than my basic face, I add a few neutral eyeshadows and a blush (no-makeup look). If I want to look a little more made-up, but not over the top, I add the black eyeliner and use the brighter blush (low-key made-up look).

8. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper — can I give this a 10 out of 5?

I have never liked eyeliner, and I have only played with liquid liner in the past. I’ve always loved the look of a cat eye, but never found a product to make it work. Kat Von D’s tattoo liner is AMAZING and I now wear cat eyes frequently. This is my favorite product in this list. It is as easy to use as a marker and doesn’t smudge. It’s easy to remove at the end of the day if you use eye makeup remover. The only downside is that if you mess up, it’s kind of hard to get it off (hence the clever product name).

9. bareMinerals Blush in Vintage Peach — 5

Love this blush for a natural face as it matches my complexion. This little pot lasts FOREVER. It’s not too bright and blends right in.

10. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette — 4.5

I didn’t want to shell out the cash for the full Naked Palette, so I got the basics palette, with which I’m really pleased. Usually I wear one of the lightest three colors with the darkest brown in the crease and pair with the cat eye. Colors shown below — image source.

11. Tarte Cosmetics Cheek Stain in Energy — 5

I have never worn a cream blush because it seemed like that would mess up my foundation and concealer when blending. Totally not the case with this product. This blush is really fun because it reacts to your skin. It turns a fuchsia-y pink on me, so I wear this for a more dramatic look. Love the travel size because I will never go through a giant thing of blush.

12. Tarte Cosmetics Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder — 3

I got this to have for the wedding since I figured it’d be better to touchup oily spots with transparent rather than colored powder, but I’m not pleased. This powder is a bit too powdery for me, but I love it for setting my lipstick because the powder is transparent. I gave this a 3 but that is likely because I’ve never been a fan of finishing powders in general. They just make your face look chalky in my opinion. But that’s just my personal preference. If you want a legit review from people who like powder, click the above link and it’ll take you to the Tarte site.

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Long Day / Late Night Prep

Application time: 1-2 extra minutes

If I am going to be wearing makeup for more than 6 hours, I apply these guys before or after the rest of my makeup.

13. Tarte Cosmetics Clean Slate Creaseless Eyeshadow Primer — 3.5

If I don’t want my eyeshadow to crease, I wear this. It goes on really smooth and creamy, like an eye creme instead of a sticky primer. Admittedly, this doesn’t work quite as well as Urban Decay’s eyeshadow primer, but it feels less gross. I also like Tarte’s cruelty-free promise and don’t love all the ingredients in UD cosmetics. If these things don’t bother you, go for the UD primer because it is da bomb. It’s a little sticky but your eyeshadow won’t budge.

14. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray — 5

Speaking of Urban Decay, I picked up this setting spray at the checkout at Sephora for like $15 and tried it out. This stuff is SO GOOD. I have never used a setting spray, so I’m a little biased in giving this a 5. Maybe it’s not the best one. I use this sparingly because I don’t know what’s in it to make it work so well (formeldahyde is what I joke!), but your makeup  — including the glossiest of lip glosses — will not budge with this stuff on … WIN.

15. Tarte Cosmetics Clean Slate Poreless Primer — 3.5

This is the best primer I’ve tried. It is a matte primer, so it has silicones in it. I gave it a 3.5 because this sometimes clogs my pores. I have this problem with all silicone-based primers though. I use this only if I’m wearing makeup for more than 6 hours. It keeps my face matte, helps me apply your makeup evenly (mine tends to clump around my oily parts), and gives me a smooth,  poreless look. I would wear this daily if it weren’t for the aforementioned pore clogging.

16. Bite Cosmetics Line and Define Lip Primer — 4.75

I bought this because some of my lipsticks feather (high pigmented stuff does that). It is clear and works like a lip liner / primer in one. It comes in a delicious peppermint flavor and can be worn alone for moisture. The bottom (white part) comes out and is a sharpener, so you can keep your point sharp to really define. The downside is that this is clear, so you really can’t see what you’re defining (I docked it .25 points because of this).

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Bold Lips

Application time: 3-5 minutes.

I love a bold lip.

People compliment me on my lipstick, but when I say “You should try this” they say “Nah, I can’t pull that off”— to which I say, “YES YOU CAN!”

You want to know the secret to wearing bold lips (or any other makeup trend)? Be confident about it. Lipstick has become like my secret superpower. I wear it most boldly on days that I need the biggest boost of confidence/ego/bravery … and sometimes just for fun.

What’s my point? If you have something you want to try … do it … and then rock the shit out of it, even if you think you can’t pull it off. If you believe you rock it, others will too (here is proof if you need more).

Anyway, here is my small army of lipsticks.

And here is a swatch of each lipstick on my hand so you get an idea of how opaque each one is (in the order they are pictured above). Each of the LUSH lipsticks can be layered up for a super pigmented look, but some are already opaque. Note that my ratings are pretty skewed because I have never worn lipstick before LUSH, so I’m basically comparing LUSH to LUSH only.

17. LUSH Cosmetics Lipstick in Confident — 3.5

I have been lusting after this for a while and finally got it this week. It goes on plummy brown, but can be layered to a dark maroon. This one doesn’t have the staying power as some of the other lipsticks I’m featuring, which is why I docked it. I’m hoping after it dries out a bit (it’s ultra creamy now) that it will stay longer and go on darker. I’ve worn this once, so we’ll see if I like it more over time. This is so dark I almost feel like I can’t pull it off (hey Cal, read your own advice!).

Here is one application of Confident, not layered to anywhere near its darkest.

18. LUSH Cosmetics Lipstick in Decisive — 3.5

This feathers like a mofo, so don’t get unless you have a solid lip primer / liner plan. This stays on really well, and is a really great cherry red lipstick. I pair this with my lip primer and set it with the finishing powder so it has half a chance at not feathering.

You can notice the feathering here. I’ve only wore this one a few times because I usually opt for Believe (below). This is my basic face + a bold lip.

19. LUSH Cosmetics Lipstick in Drive — 4

Drive is not as purple as the LUSH website would have you believe. My photo is more true to the color. It is more fuchsia than purple, and if you look at the swatches, it’s pretty close to Passionate. I was disappointed in the color and the coverage was a little more sheer than I wanted. However, I’ve had this for a few years and since it’s dried out, it goes on more opaque. I’ve dabbled in using this as a cream blush (all LUSH lipsticks can be used this way!) after a friend mentioned trying it, and it is lovely.

Sorry, I don’t have a pic of me wearing only this color. I usually blend it with Passionate. 

20. LUSH Cosmetics Lip Pigment in Passionate — another 10 out of 5 product!

As you can tell by my blog, bright pink is my favorite color. Passionate goes on super bright (photo below has no editing) and does. not. budge. I would wear this every day if I could get away with it. It’s a little bit too flirty (or “tarty” as Mark says) for my tastes to wear it daily.

Here is Passionate along with my *very first* attempt at a cat eye with Kat Von D liner. 

21. LUSH Cosmetics Lipstick in Believe — 5

I lied. I think this is my favorite color of LUSH lipstick because I can get away with wearing it more frequently than the other colors because it’s the closest to my natural lip color (when not full blast). This color also does not budge all day (I’ve had other friends attest to this after borrowing). It’s just red enough to be considered red but pink enough so you can wear it without being a red lipstick gal.

Believe + the black eyeshadow from the Naked Palette featured above. 

22. LUSH Cosmetics Lip Pigment in Glamourous — 4

This lipstick goes on really opaque. I wish that this was a bit more sheer because it’s such a light pink. I usually pair this one with gloss or chapstick to make it less opaque.

Here is Glamorous at full blast. Also featured: Kat Von D eyeliner, Tarte rim liner, and basic face products. 

23. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Lip Stain + Gloss in Poppy Paradise

I love this product, and if there was more variety in available colors, I would probably have a few of these. This is a double-ended product with stain on one end and gloss on the other. The stain doesn’t budge and I wear it sometimes alone or under the gloss or another lipstick. The gloss isn’t super sticky and is really natural looking. The biggest downside is that the stain seems to dry out faster than I was hoping (another reason I haven’t purchased more of these).

Sorry, no pix. It looks like an exaggerated version of my natural lip color. 

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WHEW. That was a huge post. For those of you who were keeping count, I can do my makeup (even the super fancy makeup) in 25 minutes or less.

If I get out funky eyeshadows (didn’t post because that gets into technique), then it’ll take more like 45 minutes.

Do you wear makeup? If so, what are some of your favorite products? AND Do you have any tips / tricks for brows? What about false eyelashes? 

I need some help getting my brows groomed properly. I’d like to try a really sculpted brow. And I really want to do false eyelashes for the wedding. Going for a vintage glam look. Unless your name is Mark and you’re reading this post, in which case I’m looking for tinseled eyelashes to go with my 80’s throw-back punk mohawk and assless chaps.