I’ve been wanting (needing!) to do a makeup refresh for a long time. Here’s why:
My hodgepodge of makeup odds and ends finally became too much for me to sort through. My eyeliner was down to a stub of a pencil. I was using only sample foundation that was neither my shade nor a coverage that was right for my skin. This eye shadow trio circa 2012 had officially run its course.
Finally, I couldn’t hold off any longer. I needed new makeup and I wanted something quality that was right for my skin. With those goals in mind, I booked a 45 minute makeover at my local Sephora. They offer 45 minute sessions where they completely do your makeup from cleanser to finishing powder as long as you commit to a purchase of at least $50. Knowing I was certainly going to spend that, I eagerly signed up, then arrived at the mall at 10:40 completely barefaced and ready to learn.
My 33 year old face in all its natural glory!
I was assigned to Candice and had a blast chatting with her through each of the steps. First up, was cleansing. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this part as much as I did. Candice asked when the last time I exfoliated was and I just started laughing. She knew right then her work was cut out for her.
We used these products before we even looked at makeup. The Rose Stem Cell Cleanser smelled nice, like a subtle rose petal. Next up was the Kate Somerville Exfoliate. I was honestly expecting the feel of that old school apricot scrub we used at slumber parties in the 7th grade, but this exfoliate was gentle. I could feel fine grains in it as I gently massaged it into my skin for 30 seconds. Candice explained ideally I should be doing this twice a week to remove dead skin cells.
My skin felt quite refreshed after that, but I felt absolutely glowing after the Rose Stem Cell Gel Mask. From there she used both Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Cream (again, the scent is lovely!) and a Radiance Serum.
Talk about feeling pampered! I really liked the products they chose and they seemed to work, as my skin felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated. However, I am going to a dermatologist in the near future to discuss skincare, so I wanted to wait to talk to them before I committed to any skin care products.
Can you see how my face is glowing though?!
Next up Candice used a high-tech camera to take 3 pictures of my face in different areas. Then Sephora used its makeup magic to generate the perfect shade of makeup for my face. From there you can choose what kind of coverage you want, what ingredients are important for you to have or not have, brand, skin type, formulation, etc, etc, etc.
I went with a medium coverage and defaulted to Candice’s opinion on the rest. My concern was having coverage that did not settle into/highlight forehead wrinkles because I’m overly expressive and my face shows it. Here’s what we decided on:
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream : because it is easy and quick to apply with your fingers and offers medium coverage, which was just enough to even out my skin without seeping into wrinkles/pores.
NARS Concealer : I hadn’t owned concealer since college because I didn’t know what to do with it. Candice taught me that I should not be putting my foundation on the skin directly under my eyes. Instead, leave uncovered until I’ve applied foundation or tinted moisturizer then dab concealer in the area and gently pat to blend. Whatdoyouknow, it worked!
Laura Mercier Foundation Powder : I was hesitant about having a powder as well because I really try to stay away from that thick, caked-up makeup look. However, I was promised it would just give it a smooth, non-shiny finish and hold everything in place longer, so I went for it. I really do like the way it made the final product look.
Next up were eyes. I instantly fell in love with
Benefit’s World Famous Neutrals Kit : it comes with two creamy eye shadow colors that Candice used as a base/primer on my lids. She said I could just wear the subtle color with the slight shimmer on a daily basis or use the other powders in the kit to kick things up a notch. I appreciated the limited options that all worked together and the colors really looked gorgeous on my eyes.
Anastasia Brow Definer : My eyebrows really do need a little defining, as the are sparse towards the outer eye. Candice used the pencil trick to figure out where they should start, end and arch, then used the attached brush to brush my brows. I loved the attached brush because now I can finally throw away my old mascara wand I had been using! She used the angle brow pencil to fill them in and though it was a bit much for everyday wear, I appreciated learning how to fill them in for occasions and how to define them a bit more for day to day.
Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy : I’ll be honest, I feel a little silly that I bought a lip serum. It sounds so hoity toity. However, I told Candice I never wear lipstick because I’m a little self conscious about how dry my lips get when the weather cools down and I feel lip color exaggerates it. She used a brown sugar lip exfoliate on me (which I really liked but feel I could get the same benefit from mixing coconut oil and a little brown sugar at home) but then she applied this serum and I fell in love. It truly felt like drenching my lips in moisture and think it is exactly what I need to get through the winter months.
Bite Lipstick in Rhubard : Since I never wear lipstick, seeing it on my face made me feel bold and daring. It took some getting used to, but I feel like lipstick is that thing that was missing from my routine that makes a big difference. I really loved the color for fall and feel it compliments my coloring.
So enough talk, here’s the finished look!
It was exactly what I was after- a day to day look that I could pull of rather quickly that would make me feel more pulled together and grown up, with tips on how I could pump things up a bit more for special occasions.
This is in no way sponsored by Sephora, but if you are after a fall makeup update like I was, I highly recommend finding a Sephora near you and doing the 45 minute makeover. I felt pampered and really feel like I was able to ask a lot of questions and get some great information and recommendations. Though I still won’t be fully “done up” everyday, it feels good to have some quality products in my arsenal that are ready to go.
Oh! One funny thing I should add. Mascaras are a hot topic and though I liked the one they used on me, I have yet to find something that can compare to my drugstore favorite, L’Oreal Telescopic.
I really need to do a lash before and after so you can see the awesomeness of this mascara!
I’m excited to be going into the fall season and our upcoming family pictures with these products and am excited to learn more about skincare soon with my dermatologist. It’s easy to lose a little of yourself in the young-kid years and a little pampering and TLC now and then can make a huge difference!
Share with me..
What is your hands-down favorite beauty product?
Do you ever switch things up or stick by your tried and true routine/products?
This post is not sponsored but affiliate links are used. That means if you make a purchase I will receive a small commission without any increased cost to you.