I figured after doing a lot of reviews, it would be a great idea to do a post about all the products that I truly love and cannot live without. These are the things I reach for everyday and can depend on to perform every time. This edition focuses on eye products and the next will be face and lip products. I wholeheartedly recommend these items to anyone.
SHU UEMERA LASH CURLER ($19.90 on Amazon) - if you have ever complained about eyelash curlers that pinch your skin, pull your lashes out, make your lashes stick to the curling pads, or, God forbid, chop your lashes off, look no further. There is no comparison to any other lash curler and I've tried an ton. Even those goofy heated ones, this is hands down the best. It gives your lashes that nice wide eyed natural looking curl without leaving them looking crimped and sticking straight up. You can use it on lashes that have mascara on them without the lashes sticking to the pads. The pads last just about forever, I've had mine for years and there isn't event the hint of a dent in them. I love this curler so much I have three.
MAYBELLINE THE ROCKET MASCARA Waterproof in Very Black (~$6-7 at the drugstore) - I have very fine straight short lashes that will not hold a curl unless the formula is waterproof. This mascara holds my curl like a champ and it has out performed many high end mascara's I've tried. I'm looking at you Benefit They're Real, Guerlain and Dior. It does not make the super long but once I curl my lashes and put a coat or three of this on, my lashes are curled until I'm ready to take my makeup off. It doesn't flake or smudge but will require a waterproof eye makeup remover to get off. For days when I'm feeling like a super glam look without glueing false lashes on, I will curl my lashes, put a light coat of this on to lock my curl, wait for it to dry and then layer a lengthening mascara on top such as the Benefit one.
LIOELE AUTO EYEBROW PENCIL ($13.98 on prettyandcute.com) - I cannot leave my house without coloring my brows in because they are so sparse. I discovered this brand after hearing Jenn on From Head to Toe rave about how much she loved it. One pencil lasted me about 9 months using it every single day and I am down to the very nub and will need to order another soon. The tip is not round, it's kind of like a tilted rectangle, or parallelogram for you nit picky folks, and the formula is not too creamy or too waxy. I use the color grey which matches my skin tone and hair color perfectly. Anything too much darker would look too harsh. It is a twist up and does not require sharpening, and the other end has a convenient spoolie to brush out your brows and blend in the color. You can purchase it on http://www.prettyandcute.com - just use the discount code KLOVE10 for 10% off.
MEET MATT(E) NUDE FROM THE BALM ($42) - I've only recently gotten into using matte eyeshadows and I am in LOVE with this palette. You can easily get natural daytime to ultra smokey night time looks and the shadows are huge. The peachy color is a perfect blending color to smooth out harsh lines and I just think you get such a sophisticated eye look with matte colors. They are very well pigmented and go on smoothly without any chalkiness. I suggest using a primer or a cream shadow as a base for the color to cling to and if you do you won't have any issues with creasing or fading. Who doesn't love adorable packaging?
GUERLAIN TERRACOTTA TOUCH Glow Enhancing Perfector -($43 on Sephora) - this is a splurge item for sure and I blame my cousin Vanessa for getting me hooked on this crack. You use it under your eyes and on your cheek bones and under your brows to get a beautiful highlight. It does a good job of concealing under eye circles IF they aren't TOO dark. You may need something with more coverage under this if you do, then layer this on top. I have not found anything that takes away my "tired Mama face" like this. It brightens me up, gives me a beautiful glow where I want to highlight, and I even use a touch of the down the bridge of my nose and on my Cupid's bow. Make sure you use a hydrating eye cream and wait at least 5 minutes to let that soak in before applying this. I usually dot it under my eye with my ring finger or use a dense Sigma P80 flat top brush to stipple it in if I'm feeling particularly fancy. Fingers blend just fine. I usually put this on AFTER my foundation because the foundation does a decent job of concealing the darkest parts and this finishes it off. I recommend setting it (and your Tzone in general) with a finishing powder.
PHYSICIANS' FORMULA 2in1 LASH BOOSTING EYELINER - ($10-12 at the drugstore) - ok if you love a felt tip liquid liner, you need this in your life. The formula applies butter smooth, lasts all day long without smudging or flaking. The felt tip is long enough and flexible enough for precise cat's eye winged liner and you can often take advantage of drugstore sales to get a great deal. Once I've applied this I always like to set it with a similarly colored powder shadow just to keep it from budging.
