special occasion beauty
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We took family photos a few weeks ago (with my super talented friend Caroline) and I snapped a few photos of all the *extra* beauty products I like to use before a special occasion or photoshoot and thought now, before the holidays, would be a great time to show you what I use. Now, let it be known, is perfectly acceptable to use your normal beauty routine for special occasions too. But as a product junkie and someone who enjoys the process of getting ready, these moments are like my super bowl. I get to do all the masks and eye patches and bolder products that are too intense for my regular daily life.
My normal everyday makeup is pretty basic. It is basically the Flawless in Five Set + a little highlighter in the corner of my eyes and down my nose. I do realize that all of that in and of itself might be more than most people wear on the regular, but, again, I just like wearing makeup.
Here’s what’s in my arsenal for special occasions or photographs. These products are for a “full” face look (think full coverage, camera-ready). Use them all or incorporate a few into your next big night and see what you think! It’s all about doing what makes you feel most comfortable (and maybe even having a little fun while you’re at it).
The timing of this could not have been better because the Sephora VIB sale begins next week (15% off 11/3 - 11/9 or 10% off 11/5 - 11/9 use code HOLIDAYFUN) and the Beautycounter Holiday collections are all now live!
Apologies for the chaotic graphic - but I wasn’t sure how best to label each thing so you can reference it.
1.) Sonic Jewelry Cleaner - I’ve talked about this before in the Mother’s Day gift guide. Hands down best way to clean your rings. I use a capful of this cleanser and then fill up the tank with water. A must-do before photos, especially when your hands will be featured a lot (think newborn or engagement shoots). PS a GREAT gift for someone who just got engaged.
2.) Beautycounter Eye Revive Cooling Masks - I have tried many an eye mask over the years. I’m partial to these because they a.) stay on my face and b.) feel like heaven if you store them in the fridge. Cucumber and aloe help cool, reduce puffiness, and awaken the skin. Hot tip: there’s plenty of good liquid in the pouch that I often reuse mine - I put them back in and let them soak up all that goodness and use again the next day.
3.) Tinkle Razor - if you aren’t shaving your face, you aren’t putting your best skin out there. Seriously! I’ll put a Reels up here one day and show y’all how I do it. It gets all that peach fuzz and top layer of dead skin off your face so that you can let your serums really penetrate and your makeup go on super smoothly. I use one razor twice before pitching it for a fresh blade. They’re so cheap that it’s totally fine.
4.) Brytn Teeth Whitening System - Full disclosure here, the Brytn people contacted me and let me purchase a system at a discounted price to see if I liked it. The good news is I do! If you’re looking to actively whiten your teeth, this is such a good system. You paint on the whitening gel (comes with three pens so will last you a very long time) and then put in the little mouth guard thing that has two infrared lights - first blue and then red to whiten your teeth. The pros: it works. The cons: you can’t really talk (or eat or drink) while it is in your mouth (15-20 minutes). I like to do it while I’m in the bath tub because I’m just chilling in there anyways. Or I’ll do it when I face mask or even when I lay down for a 20 minute cat nap session. You probably need to use it multiple times a week to see the most dramatic results, but I have been using once a week or so and have seen pretty good progress too! You can get 25% off your purchase using code KATIEROSE563225.
5.) Beautycounter Brow Pencil - Day to day, I just use this tinted brow gel on my brows because it takes less precision and time. But if I really want to make my face look done, I take the time to fill in and shape my brows with this pencil. The pigment glides on easily and the spooly on the other end helps brush it out for a natural look.
6.) Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer - I don’t always use a primer during my every day. Maybe if I’m trying a little harder than normal I’ll use this cheap drug store one, but for big moments I pull out the big guns in the form of this little tub of primer. This stuff will make your skin feel baby soft and your makeup glide on. Hides pores and fills in wrinkles. A tiny bit goes a long way so this little mini tub will last you quite some time. This product is part of the Sephora Sale 11/3 - 11/9 with code HOLIDAYFUN.
7.) Mac Paint Pot in Painterly - Has your eyeshadow ever creased in your greasy eyelid? Yeah, same. This is technically a long wearing eyeshadow, but I use it as an eyeshadow primer. It helps your eyeshadows to stay put and not crease. It also helps even out the color of your eyelid so your shadows go on in their true color. My mom and sister are both hooked on this as well. A must have for a big-night-out-face.
8.) Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation - Now don’t get me wrong, I swear by the hydrating and medium-coverage Skin Twin Foundation. But sometimes it’s medium coverage just isn’t going to cut it for my aging skin (think scarring, broken capillaries, dark spots). When I need a full shellacking, I have been reaching for this full-coverage foundation from Charlotte Tilbury. Most heavy-coverage foundations can be dry or cakey and this is not; it really is like airbrushing! It’s definitely too much for me to wear every day, but I like it for special occasions. (I have shade 7 Warm but probably need to go down a shade for winter). Not sure of your shade? Use this brilliant website to help!
9.) Hoola Quickie Contour Stick - Again, normally I just wear my regular bronzer. But when I really want to define or contour my face this makes it fool-proof. I slide a little right underneath my cheekbones in the hollows of my cheeks and then two stripes down either side of my nose. It’ll make you have a Real Housewives nose without the plastic surgery. This product is part of the Sephora Sale 11/3 - 11/9 with code HOLIDAYFUN.
10.) Better Blender Sponge - PSA: Not all beauty blenders are the same! I was using a very cheap, very awful one from amazon until I switched to this and WOW the difference. If your blender sponge has big holes, it’s not a good sponge - that’s just going to soak up al your product. This one helps glide makeup on and blend it seamlessly (talking about you, contour stick). I love that it has a flat size for tapping in concealer, the point for getting in tiny spots beside the nose and eyes, and the big round end for blotting in foundation. I use this when it is a little damp - I wash it with hand soap after I use it and place on a soap dish by my sink and by the next use it’s still just damp enough to work its magic.
11.) Eyelash Curler - I thought everyone used these until I polled a few girlfriends years ago. If you want yoru lashes to look longer - get them going UP and not out. I use this brand, but I REALLY want to try this new heated lash curler that Kathleen Jennings mentioned on Instagram.
12.) Eye Lure False Eyelashes - My eyelashes have taken a hit this pandemic. I haven’t been using my lash serum and it shows. For family photos I wanted a bit of a bolder lash so ordered these at the advice of ThingsIBoughtAndLiked. They are great. This style (no. 35) is natural looking (well, natural looking for a fake lash if you know what I mean). They are SO easy to apply (watch this tutorial - their British accents are the best too). YOU CAN DO FALSE LASHES ladies, I promise you can.
13.) Amika AnitHumditity Hairspray - I love love love this brand of hair products that my hairstylist turned me on to. Normally I use their touchable hairspray, but if I know I’m going to be outside I’ll switch it up and use the anti-humidity one to make sure my curls wont frizz or droop. Bonus points for smelling so good my husband always asks if I’m wearing perfume. PS this kit is a great way to try several of their products in smaller sizes! This product is part of the Sephora Sale 11/3 - 11/9 with code HOLIDAYFUN.
14.) Amika Volume & Texturizing Spray - If you’re a fan of Oribe, you’ll like this. I actually like it better because it leaves less residue in my hair but with the same effect. It separates my curls (I use this curling iron btw) and gives that piece-y un-done look PLUS it adds volume and lift. I let my curls cool and then lift sections of my ahir and spray this mid-shaft and fluff with my fingers. Mini size here if you want to try it out before going for the big guy. This product is part of the Sephora Sale 11/3 - 11/9 with code HOLIDAYFUN.
15.) Mattifying Powder - I don’t normally use a powder on my face because I like a bit of a glow, but that exception is if I’m being photographed. You don’t want to look shiny in photos gals. I DO, however, use this ALLL the time to set my concealer under my eyes. I dab just a little on a small brush and kind of blot it under my eyes. It will help your concealer stay put all day and not settle into fine lines.
16.) Golden Hour All-In-One-Palette - I am obsessed with this palette from Beautycounter’s holiday collection. This is all I used for my family photos (and my Beautycounter holiday pop up series on my stories). It has four perfect eyeshadow shades. I put Aura the white color under my brow and in the corner of my eye, Dawn the peachy color all across my lid, ray the gold color on my lid towards the middle, and Shadow the pretty dark pink in my crease. PLUS it has the most flattering blush color horizon that i put on the apples of my cheeks and blend outwards AND Beam a universal highlighter to dust lightly atop cheekbones right under eye and down the center of your nose and cupids bow. I love this palette for travel (if that ever happens again) so you can take everything you need for a full-face look in one sleek package. Makes a great gift too!
17.) Skin Twin Creamy Concealer - I am digging this new concealer formula that just came out a few weeks ago. It not only blurs imperfections and covers well but it also helps your skin over time to be firmer and smoother! I use Light 1 under my eyes and Medium 1 (probably need Medium 2 tbh) on my dark spots/pimples. Use the better blender (number 10 above) to tap and buff it in for seamless coverage.
18.) Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - You know what is so odd to me? I used to wear black liquid liner every day! Man I was a whole different person in my 20s/lived in NYC. While I no longer feel the need for a bold winged look at school pick up, I do like this for big nights out. I love this pen in particular because the point is SO fine. It makes a nice thin line along the top of my lashes and i slightlyt flick it out at the corners. I don’t put this on my lower lashes because I think it’s too harsh. Instead I just use a little dark brown eyeshadow on an angled brush. This product is part of the Sephora Sale 11/3 - 11/9 with code HOLIDAYFUN.
19.) Lancome Lash Primer - Here’s the thing about mascara - it really doesn’t matter all that much which kind you use as long as a.) it’s fresh (no older than a month) and b.) you use a primer. This is my favorite primer because it both lengthens and volumizes. I always stock up on this during the bi-annual Sephora sales and it lasts me until the next one.
20.) Maybelline Volume Express Colossal Big Shot - This is the drugstore brand of mascara I’ve been using and I’m really digging it. I prefer a fat brush but one that also separates. This does the job at $8. Although, I’m fully going to invest in this new mascara everyone’s talking about during the Sephora Sale.
21.) Maybelline Makeup Setting Spray - After you’re done with ALL of that, lightly mist a few sprays on your face from an arms length away. It will lock in your makeup and provide a little extra moisture to get you through the day. I swear by this stuff! I also really like this higher end brand, but the $8 bottle works just fine for me, too.
Whew! Ok so after all of that I realize I may be a tiiiiinnny bit *extra* when it comes to beauty. But this is fun for me! If it stresses you out, just pick one or two things to try and see what you think! It’s all about playing around and learning what makes you feel your best self. Wishing you a festive time and meltdown-free family photos. XO
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