Write a commentNowadays finding an appropriate makeup look is turning into a time-consuming headache for those of us rushing to begin the day. This week I will be discussing easy holiday makeup looks for any occasion, and also some drug-store brand dupes that are borderline identical to more expensive department store brands.
One common factor that sometimes limits our makeup “know-how,” is time, or lack there of. With increasingly busy schedules around the holidays, most of us would agree that there just simply isn’t enough time in the day for a 30-minute makeup routine. As a lover of all things style including cosmetics, I am so excited to share a few of my simple and easy timesaving makeup tricks for the season.
Now, before we discuss technique you may be wondering, “What kinds of makeup should I be wearing?”
One very popular trend this winter is a plum lip. With dark lip color becoming more and more common, the color plum seems to be the most worn by most women. Don’t like the idea of a dark lip? Go for a light nude shade to brighten up your entire face this winter. 
Another popular cosmetic look for the holidays is gold. A gold-shimmer eye shadow is always a subtle, yet beautiful shade on any skin tone, and is appropriate for both day and night events. Other infamous cosmetic go-to’s are lash-lifting mascaras, and skin-evening foundations (both powder and liquid).
So, now that you know some great makeup options, how should you go about applying these beauty trends? Not a lipstick pro? I’m here to help! When it comes to lipstick (or really any form of makeup) less is more. When applying lipstick of any shade, be careful of how exactly you’re tracing your lips as to not get any on the skin. To begin applying lipstick, I’ve found that the best technique is to start with your bottom lip. After applying your preferred shade of lipstick to the bottom “pout” of your lip, trace the upper cupid’s bow of your lips. One major mistake of lipstick application is applying too much color to the corners of your lips. Once you have applied the shade of lipstick to your upper and lower lips, rub them together, and the shade will extend to the corners of your mouth naturally.
Next is mascara. A secret trick of mascara application is to “wiggle” the lash wand from side to side as you’re applying a coat of the eye makeup onto lashes. Doing this will separate, coat and extend your lashes more so than if you were to simply “swipe up” with the wand.
Having some trouble deciding on what brand of makeup to buy? I have some recommendations. If you’re looking to save a little change this season (I know I am) there are many drugstore brand cosmetics that are of great quality and very comparable to department store brands. One great drugstore foundation that I have used and loved is L’Oreal’s “Magic Nude” Liquid Powder. With an affordable price tag, this foundation has a lightweight feel that will give you the appearance of bare skin all while perfecting your skin-tone.
A great mascara can sometimes be a hard find, but I stand by Maybelline’s Volume Express mascara, “Colossal Cat Eyes.” This mascara will give you fuller lashes, while lengthening and separating each lash. It also comes in a waterproof formula.
At the end of the day, confidence is the best accessory to any cosmetic look, and its important to know that you can rock whatever makeup look you choose to wear. In my opinion, experimenting with different makeup looks is the best way to figure out what works best for you and what you’re comfortable with.
