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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Putting My Best Face Forward - Part 2 - Make-up Sephora


Image Credit - Google images
Speaking with friends about make-up I have concluded that most of us have a love hate relationship with make-up. Some can't seem to get enough - buying up the latest and greatest; others keep it simple and some avoid it unless absolutely necessary (i.e. special occasion, wedding, etc.). As little girls all dreamed of the day when we would be "grown-up" enough to wear make-up. As teenagers we were fearless - trying the latest products and techniques, need I say it BLUE EYE SHADOW anyone? Make-up was the answer to making us look "grown-up". We learned the basics and for the most part looked pretty good when we walked out the door. Fast forward a few decades years and we want make-up to make us "look younger"


With so many products promising to deliver a "youthful" looking finish, not to mention the gazillion colour options, selecting the correct products can become a stressful and expensive experiment. How many "I think this is it" bottles of foundation, concealer, lipstick, eyes shadows and blush are taking up real estate in your vanity draw? Many women are like men and directions when it comes to make-up - they have an idea where they want to go ... "with their look" but few stop to ask for assistance in getting there. And the love hate relationship with make-up continues. Hating it when you get it wrong and loving it when either you get it right or had a professional makeup application for a special occasion. 

Image Credit
Like many women who have stopped working outside the home - [to either raise a family, work from home, retire or because of an unexpected event ]- after a while whether due to time/need or desire,  I too found it unnecessary to apply a full face of makeup everyday [after my accident]. After all no one was going to see me unexpectedly out in the country. Eight years later, now that I'm spending more time in the city - being seen by people is almost a daily event so as to not scare anyone when I'm out walking the doggies,  I've decided to up my makeup routine beyond mascara, lipstick and occasional eyeliner. But where to start? Yes, I have worn makeup when needed in the eight years - but like most skills if you don't use them you become rusty... and I'm a little older now and my makeup needs are different. I tried to go it solo - but just like when I first started to wear makeup it quickly became a stressful situation and I walked out of the shop empty handed. After looking in the mirror -  I decide to put my girl pants on - and Ask for help. Over the next few installments of "Putting My Best Face Forward" series I'm going to share my experiences in the jungle of cosmetics. I hope it will inspire you to take a look in your own cosmetic bag or in your vanity drawer and make the changes you have been wanting to.

My first stop was Sephora - after a prior visit and speaking with one of their head Makeup Artists I booked an appointment for a one hour makeup session. 


Sephora - Products used
Skincare products used: Caudale Make-up remover; Fresh - Rose Floral toner; Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum; Claudale Premier Cru The Cream; Origins Ginzing eye cream; Brandt -Needles No More eye cream

Cosmetics used: Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer; Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Invisible Skin Fusion Foundation SPF 20; Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer; Hourglass Ambient Lighting; Powder; Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder;SEPHORA COLLECTION - Color Lip Last, 
Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner; Retractable Brow Pencil -Waterproof; Marc Jacabs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye stick; Hourglass Modernist Eye Shadow Palette; Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Volume Masacara

Tips From the Pros

Liz's Skincare tips:
  • Short on time  -  Claudale Premier Cru The Cream is a great choice addresses your needs of serum, moisturizer, hydration, fine lines, firming.
  • Use a toner to bring PH levels back after cleansing and helps to deliver products into skin. A toner such as Fresh Rose Floral can be used to also set make-up.
  • Apply serum AM and PM to clean face let set for 2 minutes before applying moisturizer.
  • When it comes to eye cream "stay away from lash line" eye cream travels and if it's close to lash line can leave you waking up with puffy eyes.
  • To give your cleansing product a boost use Nude Detox - to exfoliate skin
Bo's Make-up tips:
  • "Invest in good quality cosmetics" rgardless of price point.
  • Satin finish is great for all ages - helps defuse and blends well
  • Invest in skincare and base products ( primer, foundation and concealer)
  • Start in center when applying foundation - forehead, nose, chin - and blend outwards (place product were you want most coverage intensity).
  • Concealer apply to inner and outer edge of eye to brighten. Apply with fluffy synthetic brush -o gently dab with finger to further blend.
  • Roll make-up brush across product
  • For a quick way to put colour back into face use lipstick - rub a little lipstick on palm and gently press into apples of cheeks. This technique was used in the 20's/30's as a quick and affordable way to add glamour people could afford.
  • When your mascara finishes recycle the spooly (brush) - clean it and use it to remove excess product from brows.
  • For a soft glow - finish with a little bronzer.



Thank you Liz and Bo from the Sephora store on Bloor Street West ( Yorkville) for the fabulous skin care and make-up session. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.


My next stop was the Chanel cosmetic counter at Holt Renfrew and as fate would have it Chanel's national makeup team was going to be there that week  - so the Chanel Beauty Advisor booked me with one of them. Hope you'll check out my Chanel experience next week.

What has been your biggest make-up challenge?  

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7 comments:

  1. You look shimmering-ly beautiful (not that you didn't before but you know what I mean). I have had a love affair with makeup since I was in high school. I have a beautiful cousin who is four years older than me. She lived a continental life, traveling, and was a breeze of beauty, perfume, joy, and light when she came to visit. She taught me the "how-to's" back then. As a teen-aged girl, I wanted to BE her (smile). She began my love-affair with makeup and that feeling has certainly not abated to this day. Can't wait for the Chanel post - I LOVE Chanel makeup. I really like this series you're doing - such fun!

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  2. Dearest Celia,
    What a lovely post with excellent photos from your before and after results!
    Love the highlights for highlighting your beautiful eyes and also creating a kissable mouth with perfect lipstick!
    What has been my biggest make-up challenge...?
    Not any big challenge I can recall but I'm always looking for gentle products without any dangerous ingredients.
    I've just started back with using eye makeup since about mid December. So far the problems on my eye lids seem to have gone... I sure hope to never get that rash back!
    Sending you hugs and very much looking forward to your Chanel posting. That's mainly my brand of choice and some Yves Saint Laurent blush and powder that I use...
    Mariette

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  3. You are absolutely glowing Celia
    I love getting these makeup and skincare tips from friends who have tried their recommendations.
    Thank you!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    The Centre Cannot Hold

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow!!! I LOVE what they have done. Was the glow from the foundation or the finishing powder? I had a make-over with MAC last week and hated it :-( She gave me about 20+ products to consider!! Who has time for all that? Such pretty lips also xx

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    Replies
    1. I was extremely pleased my friend... they were very thorough in explaining how to apply everything. NO pressure to buy any of it ... Sephora requires a $50 fee but it can be applied to ANY product in the store. They also are very generous with samples. The glow is from the finishing powder (bronzer) I'll be doing a summary post on all make-up sessions I had and what products I ended up getting. Wishing you a blessed weekend... hugs

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  5. Bonjour mon ami!! Your new look is just beautiful! Your skin is beautiful and glowing. I'm a skin-care and make-up junkie and really love rose for my skin, especially serums. I also feel good tools are important also. I use Chanel brushes and love them. I've had many of my brushes for years and they're in perfect condition... definitely worth the investment. I recently discovered Make Up For Ever's mascara at Sephora and it is truly amazing! Wish it came into my life sooner.
    I did switch platforms, I moved from Blogger to Wordpress.org. It was an easy switch and you won't lose your content, however, I don't believe many of my followers are receiving my newsletters any longer. I'm hoping it's an easy fix. If you would like more info, you can email me at champagnemacarons@gmail.com.

    xoxo, B

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  6. Holy $*&# girl! OK...apparently, we need to use primer ALL THE TIME. Your skin looks flawless. Honestly, just gorgeous. I didn't even know Sephora offered this service!

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