Steal and Swank: Eyeliner

It is important to note that I have never been very much of a eye liner snob. When I first got into makeup I always created my own liners that were eyeshadow powder based. I felt that the powder colors I already owned gave me the most versatility and options for use. I could match the colors perfectly to whatever I was doing and was able to make my lines look as blended or precise as needed. The more adventurous and more creative I got, the more I ventured into buying actual kohl liners. Initially I kept to a drugstore brand grey that served as a foundation for my powders and wasn't visible when covered. I began to branch out when I needed something to make my looks more intense or severe. My adventurous tendencies have allowed me to make the following two recommendations.

Steal: Sephora 12 Hour Wear Eyeliner

This purchase was a total impulse buy. I happened to be browsing a Sephora when some neon liners caught my eye. After testing them on my hand and loving their potency and vibrance I was sold. It took the better part of a day to finally get the colors to come off my hand, which I felt was a true testament to their staying power.
This line offers a massive run of colors (35 total) that allow me to experiment on the inexpensive end. The colors glide on with minimal effort and stay put for the 12 hours they purport, and for only $9 a pop.

Swank: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners come in 40 different colors and their title does everything it claims. This eyeliner has the single smoothest application I have ever experienced. The colors are incredibly vibrant and true to every swatch and color label they use. While I most definitely consider these liners a must have, their $19 price tag has me pumping the brakes on impulse buying.

You can buy the eyeliners here and here.

Steal and Swank: Primer Edition

When face primer became a "thing" I convinced myself it was just another stupid ploy to get me to buy more cosmetics. Lucky for marketers and advertisers, their ploys tend to work. Initially, I had a hard time committing to any primer purchases. It just seemed to odd to buy a clear gel like substance that I didn't necessarily see the outcome of its use. Then I used it and realized how stupid I was.

When I first jumped in the primer pool, I started off on the low end. My beginners primer purchase was by brand NYX and was called "Pore Filler." I didn't feel as though I needed primer anywhere other than around my nose. My pores were evident and concealer and foundation always looked messy in that area. I was thrown off at first by the color of the primer. I didn't expect there to be a flesh toned tint since all other primers were either clear, purple, or green for corrective purposes. I smudged a bit around my nose and was enamored with how silky it made my skin feel. What drove me to love this product even more was how a little amount went a long way. I've had the same tube for a few months now and am only now close to running out. For $13 I think NYX Pore Filler is a great to-go primer that lends itself well to everyday use and is a great product to keep in travel bags and purses.

My primer recommendation on the "swank" end is quite predictable: Smashbox. Smashbox has what I view as a monopoly on the face primer market. It was one of the first brands to hit it big with the idea of priming one's face for makeup. It's early attention to the product and magnificent formula allowed Smashbox to soar above the other brands and keep users coming back for more.
When using this product, I stick with the traditional clear primer. Smashbox has a plethora of specific usage primers, such as color correction and luminizing. Much like the NYX brand listed above, this primer requires merely a dab to cover the entirety of your face. It is smooth, silky, and doesn't separate in the tube. What is best about this primer is that it comes in two sizes. I have a large bottle that I keep with all of my makeup supplies and a travel size bottle that I keep in my to-go makeup bag.
What makes Smashbox worth the money, is that unlike other primers, it does exactly what it says its going to do. I don't find myself suffering from what I dub "makeup side-effects," like discoloration, unsolicited shimmer, or flesh colored smears. This product is straight forward and packs a punch without any surprises. For $36 I consider it a must have.

You can buy both brands here and here.

Steal and Swank: Mascara Edition

From now until the end of this year, I will be posting a new series of updates titled Steal and Swank. In this series I will bring you the best makeup "steals" and those which qualify as a bit more "swank," (i.e. pricey). All products that are featured have been tried-and-true by your favorite inconsistent blogger.
The first installation is mascara. I decided to feature mascara because it is my number one essential makeup item. I was wonderfully blessed with translucent eyelashes and eyebrows. Pair this with fair skin, freckles, and red hair, without mascara I look ill or "off." It's not a particularly good look. That said, I've had plenty of time to try out endless brands of mascaras.

Steal:
Maybelline Great Lash
$6
This should be a surprise to no one. Maybelline has easily one of the single best mascaras on the market. This age old formula is a classic and a staple for any makeup aficionado.
Great Lash doesn't flake, it goes on smoothly and without clumps, and it separates and defines. The pink and green tube a go-to for all of my makeup kits and I never want to be without it.

Swank:
Lancome Defincils
$27
Prior to this mascara I had never used Lancome products before. This is one situation that I can blame solely on advertising. Every Lancome ad I have ever seen in a magazine looks like it was assembled by a 14 year old who just pirated a trial copy of Photoshop online. The ad's are just atrocious. Last year, though, I received a sampler set of mascaras from Sephora (highly recommend this, they come out with one every year). A small bottle of Lancome was included. I held off on using it for a bit, as I was more interested in the tubes of Smashbox, Tarte, and Korres. When I finally broke it open, I was wildly impressed. The brush coats the lashes evenly, but leaves behind the blackest pigment. Lancome Defincils gave me dark, dramatic, and voluminous lashes, with minimal effort and no reapplication needed.

You can purchase these items here and here.

Know Your Prints

I try not to be obsessively particular when it comes to conversations about fashion. Everyone has their own likes, dislikes, trends to follow, and those to leave behind. I get it, do your own thing and own it. One point of conversation that is impossible difficult for me to not reign over is the mislabeling of prints. I'm not entirely sure why it bothers me...but it does. Gingham is not the same as plaid, and there is a difference between buffalo, tartan, and Glen. Houndstooth and herringbone look nothing alike and not all stripes are pinstripes. This is my crash course, offered free of charge, to help you all get it right.

Gingham is a linear crossover pattern that utilizes a single color, equal spacing, and equal width. Gingham is most commonly found during the spring and summer months, and is almost always on a button down shirt of some sort.

Not plaid.

Now for the plaids. Plaid is always a popular print because it comes in an insane amount of colors, sizes, and textiles.

First up is tartan plaid. Tartan plaid is what people traditionally associate with Celtic traditional clothing. It usually is made of wool (culturally and historically) and is in rich colors like navy, green, red, and black.

Tartan.

Next is glen plaid. Glen plaid is one of the most refined prints and in many ways can be utilized the same as a neutral. The lines in this print are minute and fine, so much so that TV broadcasters and journalists avoid the print at all costs due to how poorly it reads on video. It is difficult to find Glen plaid in colors that aren't some shade of grey, brown, or black (with a single line of red). Glen plaid is a great suit pattern that comes off as daring and dapper.

Glen.

Buffalo plaid wraps up the plaids. Think hunting and flannels. Buffalo plaid is like a pumped up gingham in the number of lines it uses. The patten is a linear criss cross, but the difference is the lines within the lines (Inception style). Macro lines are composed of diagonal micro lines (the picture makes more than this description). As I mentioned before, this print is traditionally found on flannel button downs and is one of the limited fashion items that has fashion and function (warmth and layering).

Buffalo.

Houndstooth had its moment a few years ago when it was on every imaginable fashion item. It quickly became played out, but it is no less a classic print. Houndstooth is characterized by uneven, alternating points that resemble....a hounds tooth. This print is almost always done with black and white textiles.

Houndstooth.

Then there is herringbone, named for its resemblance to an animal carcass. Herringbone is characterized by its chevron shaped lines that alternate in direction. It is consider a classic print and is a fabulous print for blazers. Herringbone doesn't come in a ton of color varieties, so classic earth tones are almost exclusively used.

Herringbone.

And last but not least, there are the stripes. Vertical and horizontal lines do actually have depth and should be appropriately distinguished (otherwise you will hurt their feelings). What I believe to be the most important stripe to distinguish from the others in the pinstripe. Pinstripes are an icon of gangster fashion and cliche banker suits. Pinstripes are as thin as they come (usually a single thread line) and are a go-to for suits and business wear.

Pinstripes.

And that is your crash course in oft-confused patterns. So, when you are picking out your airy button down to go with your daisy dukes, don't you dare call it plaid.

Smashbox Liquid Halo Foundation

It has been the better part of forever since I have posted. I've recently begun a new career and moved to a new city, so adjusting properly (and scoping out shopping prospects) has been paramount.

Over the past few months I have been in search of the perfect foundation. Usually I rely on BB cream to cover my face every day, but it just seemed as though it was no longer doing the trick. I wanted something more targeted and specific. So my search for the right foundation began.

It always seems that whenever I need to find a certain product, I can never meet my own standards. This goes for clothes, shoes, makeup, everything. The second something becomes a need and no longer just a want, virtually everything that meets my criteria magically disappears. Rough life, right? The same thing happened when I started my search for foundation. Hundred of brands and bottles available to me, yet none of them even come close to what I am looking for. Nothing matched my complexion, my undertones, or the consistency and coverage I needed. The backs of my hands had been smeared with seemingly every foundation there ever was.

This week it all became clear (or perhaps I should say flawlessly covered). Smashbox recently released a new line of foundations called Liquid Halo. The coverage is buildable, but not heavy. It blends perfectly and doesn't highlight any lines or blemishes. I found my fix. The bottle comes with a substantial price tag of $42, but it is simply one of those products that is worth it.

The lightest shade matched my skin perfectly and didn't make it appear yellow (I have very pink/red undertones). It didn't hide my freckles or emphasize them. It provided a smooth canvas that didn't look plastic or doll-like, and it was just so wearable.

Foundation is one of those products that is impossible to make general recommendations on. Every skin color, tone, and texture is different, and no brand has a corner on this market.

To help pick out the perfect foundation you need to establish your needs. This rule applies to all makeup and similar products as well. Is this something you will only wear for special occasions, or do you want a flawless, doll-like complexion every morning (and have the time to commit). Answering this question will lead you in to any number of different paths to pick the perfect foundation.

What type of skin do you have? I'm not talking about color, but skin issues or texture. Oily, dry, combination, acne prone, normal? Oily skin or acne prone skin should stick to lighter, oil free formulas. Those with dry skin should aim for hydrating formulas.

Next, what do you put your face through on a regular basis? Are you out in the elements regularly, because you need to up your SPF and select a foundation that is light and won't wear off as a result of weather or pollution variables. Are you under harsh lighting for long hours of they day? You may need to go through a long trial and error process to find a foundation that doesn't make you sickly or overdone under flourescent lights.

What are your habits? Do you fidget or touch your face frequently? Do you rub your eyes? Wear little or no makeup? Wear a lot of makeup? These questions should help direct you in terms of what type of coverage you need and what product consistency you should select. Powders are great for full coverage and covering up all manner of imperfections. That said, they can also be uncomfortable and make skin feel "tight" so slather on the moisturizer first. Liquids are incredibly versatile and come in a wide range of covers, from light and luminescent to thick and impenetrable.

Shade matching is the last piece of the puzzle and is entirely based on brand selection. I happen to be so pale I'm almost translucent, so under every circumstance (so far) I can pick up the lightest shad available by every brand. Ideally, when testing products, you want to use your face rather than the back of your hand or forearm. Obviously, this isn't always feasible unless you want to have technicolor cheek bones. There are really a bevy of shades available and don't settle until you find the right one. For women of color, Iman Cosmetics specializes in creating useable and blendable shades for complexions on the darker end of the spectrum. Most drugstore brands to not lend themselves well (without chemist level mixing and blending) to giving deep skin tones foundation options, so cosmetic brands that align themselves to specific markets have the best choices around.

Look for a product that essentially disappears when you rub it in to your skin (this means it matches). If you select one too light or too dark, your blending will be off (think of your ears and neck). Find a solution that doesn't fight with your skin, otherwise you will give yourself more problems to address. Make sure the product isn't settling in to, or highlighting, lines and blemishes. Don't buy anything that complicates any skin problems you may already have; it's not worth the battle. Sometimes it will be inexpensive, and sometimes it won't. If you are questioning price tags, refer to the first question I posed: what are your needs? If this isn't an every day product, then a $50 bottle of YSL foundation is only going to cause resentment. Many drugstore brands can do your face justice, just be cautious of trying them out in store since most don't have testers available.

As far as application, it is really a matter of comfort and precision. Clean fingers apply foundation just fine and cover relatively evenly. Sponges create a flawless look that is highly blendable. Brushes allow for targeted application (though it takes a bit more patience to get it right).

Ulta and Sephora are the best spots to try a load of foundations on in one place. Sephora has recently introduced an in-store complexion tester that measures your skin on several different levels, and selects the perfect product for you among all of the brands sold in store. The service, Color IQ gets rid of a lot of the guess work and is surprisingly accurate, but before you go in for the free service, remember you might be pressured in to buying something that doesn't mesh with your needs or price range.

If my recommendation sounds good enough to splurge on, you can buy Smashbox Liquid Halo here.