Author: Lindsay

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I am reticent to add another step – you all know I prefer laziness simplicity.  But I found a lot of value in applying this before foundation or under eye concealer. This silky formula has vitamins and antioxidants and isn’t greasy.  The most impact, I found, was in filling pores for a smooth finish.  My foundation went on evenly and had a more consistent finish.  I can’t speak for inhibiting the destruction of collagen, but the overall effect was a more youthful and smooth appearance to the skin. It was especially helpful under my eyes – I was able to eliminate the cakey look to my La Mer concealer. I used the original formula, but it also comes in:

1 oz Original in a Tube (colorless)
1 oz Original (colorless)
2 oz Original (colorless)
1 oz Light (colorless)
2 oz Light (colorless)
1 oz SPF 15 with Dermaxyl Complex        
1 oz SPF 15 with Dermaxyl Complex (sheer apricot – dries clear)
1 oz Color Adjust (green – minimizes redness)
1 oz Color Balance (lavender – for natural yellow skintones)
1 oz Color Blend (apricot – conceals under eye circles, veins, sunspots)
1 oz Bronzing Primer (sheer tan)
1 oz Luminizing (sheer luminous gold)

Anastasia Brow Gel

Full brows are in and I embrace it with my (somewhat) unruly and full, brown brows.  I have had them shaped, tweezed and even (gasp) waxed.  My best solution is frequently tweezing the outliers and using a good brow gel to keep them in place.  The “brow queen”, Anastasia, makes the best in my opinion.  It is clear, eliminating the possibility of mistakes.  The hold is effective without the crispy effect of gelled brows.  For the natural look I embrace, I think this simple approach is organic, clean and simple.

Laura Mercier Eye Basics

I’m not really a primer type of girl.  Call me lazy but I just resist that extra step.  But I struggle with dark eyelids.  Many years ago, my grandmother, mom and I hit the Laura Mercier counter and I was introduced to Eye Basics in Wheat.  This weekend at the Dallas Neiman Marcus, I was reintroduced again.  Why had this product slipped out of my makeup repertoire?! When I shared this “Eureka” moment with mom, she said it had never left her makeup regime – I know, moms are smart. This looks great alone with the Laura Mercier “tight lid” and a berry lip (try Laura Mercier Stickgloss Lip Color in Pink Jewel) for a clean, easy and quick look.

Rene Furterer Myrrhea Anti-Frizz Silkening Mask

I cannot stand drying my hair.  Really, I am so lazy about using a blowdryer.  So, my hair usually ended up on a bun. But.. Eureka! I have found a way to tame my “air dry” frizz and now I wear my long locks down fairly often (a bun will always have a place in my heart).  At night, I wash my hair and use the Silkening Mask, towel dry and go to sleep.  In the morning, my hair is wavy, smooth, full of body and not the least bit frizzy!  This could become addicting. 

smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

I don’t usually use lid primer because a good friend/makeup artist once told me to embrace my dark lids.  But this one snuck into my vanity, somehow. I have the Golden Nude shade, and I like that it is wearable on its own.  That said, if I don’t put shadow over it, it will crease in a couple of hours.  I am also one of those people that rubs their eyes (I know it is a no-no…. I can’t help it!) and this primer did not stay on through that abuse.  I do like this better than Urban Decay’s primer, mostly because it is more substantial.  In short, nice product but I don’t think this is a must have in my beauty routine.