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?  

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,


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