Getting my (many) face(s) on

Today I am joining Beth at the Stories of A to Z for her Get your Face on party!

Go see the other brave girls who posted pictures of themselves, too!

I committed to do this, thinking it would be kind of fun. I love makeup, and sharing my products sounded like a blast!
It was great - until I sat down and looked at the pictures.
When I was going through these pictures on my computer, picking out the succession, etc, my 3 year old asked to sit on my lap to see, too.
When I picked him up he asked "why are you making faces in those pictures?"
I said "I don't know...I don't...I don't know why I was doing that."
He said "Maybe it's because you don't like yourself?"

I don't think that's it...but it might be because I don't like the camera!  lol
At any rate - you should know that I made 3 faces each time I took my picture. One without a smile, one with a half smile, one with a full smile.
I wasn't sure which would look best.
Also, I'm a freak.

Okay.  I could ramble on for another 5 pages (believe me!) but it's probably best to just get started. So, here we go!

I'm a stay at home mom, lucky me! I almost always shower in the late afternoon. That's when I wash my face.
On days I go out in the morning I just splash water on my face - I don't use cleanser. I figure my face is pretty clean after having washed the evening before, and at this point in my life I'm far more concerned about retaining moisture than being squeaky clean.

I use this every day.

I use this once every couple of weeks.

I use this once every couple of months.

I use this to remove my eye makeup, if I need to.

Clean face, no makeup.

My many faces

Close up!

My normal makeup routine takes me 3 minutes.  I timed myself on a day I didn't have time to do the pictures, but wasn't in a hurry, either. I knew I was quick, but that was faster than I expected.
However, for the pictures I did my all-out makeup routine. Not quite the one I did when we were playing in the casino in Las Vegas last weekend, but the one I use for going out at night with my husband.
Anyway, even this one takes only about 5 minutes.
On this day I was also straightening my hair. When I do that I straighten a layer, then put on some makeup, then straighten a layer, etc. So you'll get to see my hair progression, too.  I know it's supposed to be about makeup, but I'm a multi-tasker by nature.

Step 1. Moisturizer
I use Olay Regenerist. LOVE it.  Sometimes I use this skin rev-er upper, too.  It's a Bare Minerals product to go under your makeup. When I first started using Bare Minerals I thought the Rev-er Upper made a big difference, but it doesn't seem to, anymore. Probably because I've gotten better at putting the makeup itself on.
On my lips I use vaseline. I love vaseline. It's shiny and smooth and moisturizing and cheap. And, unlike shiny lip glosses, it's never sticky.

 

After the moisturizers:

Step 2. Foundation
I started using Bare Minerals about a year and a half ago.  I really like it. It's light and easy to use and I love the coverage it gives me. I use the medium beige color, which is darker than you'd think for a natural redhead, but it works for me.
I tap about this much into the lid and use the swirl, tap, buff method.  It takes about 3 applications to do my whole face - once on my chin, once on my nose and forehead, once on my cheeks.
After I do all that I use this brush to scoop up the extra powder in the lid and use it as an eye shadow foundation.

 

After the foundation:

Step 3. Eye Makeup
On a regular day I use 2 eyeshadows, eye liner and mascara. I almost always curl my lashes.
When I'm going out at night I use 3 or 4 shadows and extra liner and mascara.
The two containers at the top left of the picture are my optional, going out shadows.

I start with shadows.

1 is called grace, 2 is called camp, 3 is a covergirl trio called shimmering sands. I buy it just for the shimmery pale one at the end. I can't find another color that works the same. 4 is called celestine.
On regular days I use number 1 (grace) across my whole lid and then highlight under my brow and in my inner eye/tear duct area with the covergirl shadow.
When I'm going out I use grace all over my lid, then camp below the crease, then celestine under my brow and the covergirl one to highlight my inner eye.

After the eyeshadow:

After the shadows I put my eyeliner on.  Then I curl my lashes and apply 2 coats of mascara.

Eyes are done:

4. Finishing touches
If I'm going out (or if I look very pale) I use a bit of bronzer. I just sweep it over my cheekbones, and occasionally along my jaw line or forehead.

I use this sad looking toothbrush to groom my brows. They usually have foundation in them, this sweeps it out.

I put vaseline on my lips, then rub the residue from my fingers (and sometimes a bit extra) into the base of my brows. Then I comb the toothbrush through them again. It just defines them and darkens them up a bit.
When I use lipstick I like this one. I'm not even sure if they make it anymore, I've had it for so long. I put it on on top of my vaseline. That way I get the color but only feel the vaseline.

Here's my after!

Way better, right?
I know.