Contour & Highlight Tutorial

Contouring and highlighting have become staples in my makeup routine -- hands down one of my favorite things to do when I apply my makeup for the day. I absolutely love the look of contouring and highlighting and the way it can accentuate or hide certain features of the face. You can keep it simple, or use more product to achieve a more dramatic, defined contour. Watch my tutorial on how I highlight and contour, and continue reading for a full list of products and information :)

Monday Must Haves #2

This Monday I have two more beauty items that I consider must-haves in my collection. If you missed last week's must-haves you can take a look at the products I talked about here. This week I'm talking primers and liquid liners (totally did not mean for that to rhyme, but sounds good doesn't it?)

[Oh and by the way, I'm experiencing some technical difficulties with my navigation bar that links to all my different pages, so if you need to get back to the main page of my blog just click the Glam Candy header and it will take you there. Sorry for the inconvenience!]

Benefit Porefessional

Image c/o Sephora

I swear clouds parted and a choir of angels began to sing a heavenly song the first time I put this on my face. This is a holy grail must-have beauty product, especially for someone who has larger(ish) pores and an uneven complexion like me. In my experience this primer smooths out your skin, minimizes pores, controls shine, and makes your makeup apply and look even better. It is lightweight formula that doesn't feel heavy or greasy on the skin like some other primers. You can wear it under or over your foundation. Regardless of how you wear it, the trick is to lightly pat it into your skin rather than rub it all over the place. Sometimes I will pair this with another primer that is specifically formulated for wearability/duration since my skin is so oily and my makeup has a tendency to melt off my face on occasion. At $30 this primer may be a little on the expensive side, but it is well worth the splurge. If you're on the fence, just go for it and give it a try. I will always continue to repurchase this primer!

NYC Liquid Eyeliner

Image c/o Amazon

I must have been living under a rock for the last couple of years because I had never tried this liner until about a month ago. I have heard people rave about this product for quite some time, so I finally decided to give it a try and I am so happy I did! This liquid liner is SO pigmented, goes on super smooth, is extremely long lasting, and makes it easier to achieve the almost perfect wing. I feel like the wand gives you more control and allows you to create a very precise line. I still love my L'Oreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner, but one of the other great things about the NYC liner is the price. It retails for just a couple bucks (I think I got mine for $2.99 at the drugstore), and is still a quality liner. Hats off to you, N.Y.C., you have created an amazing product that I will repurchase again and again!

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Have you tried either of these products before? What are some of your must-haves? I'd love to know!

xoxo

My Holiday Beauty Must-Haves | Part One

With the holidays right around the corner, there are some beauty products that are crucial for me to have on hand this season for family gatherings, parties, and other special occasions. Below is part one of this mini-series:

Beauty Products I'm Lusting After

Urban Decay Vice Palette 2 / Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation / MAC Pro Longwear Blush / MAC Indulge Lipstick / Benefit Rockateur Cheek Powder /  Benefit Fake Up Concealer / MAC Mineralize Skin Finish / Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick / Anastasia Brow Wiz / MAC Studio Moisture Fix

With my birthday tomorrow it looks like I'm getting this post up a little too late if I would want to be gifted any of the above items by my friends/family (oh well!), but these are just some of the beauty products I've been dying to get my hands on. These are just makeup-related items -- don't even get me started with hair, skincare and other beauty products! 

If you've tried any of these items please let me know your thoughts! I love to read reviews and get other opinions on products before I buy them. If I had to pick just one of these items...I think I'd grab the Urban Decay Vice Palette 2, especially because I'd have too tough of a time deciding on just one MAC product. Anyway, I've been eyeing that UD palette up ever since it came out! 

xoxo

How I Get Ready For Work!

So I filmed this video YESTERDAY before I left for work and didn't get to edit until really late last night. If you want to see how I get ready for one of my jobs in the morning, watch the video below or read on for more information about the products I use! xoxo

How I Contour & Highlight

Besides doing my eyes, contouring and highlighting have to be my favorite part about makeup. I just love how you can totally transform your face or bring out your features by simply applying some bronzer, blush, and highlight. To see how I contour and highlight watch my tutorial or read the steps below my video!

-- Using Benefit's Hoola Bronzer and Real Techniques' Setting Brush, I start near the top of my ear and drag my brush down my cheek. I go back and forth with my brush until I have the intensity I like. I do the same to the other side. If I want my contour line to be more intense I just go back and add more product. Remember it's always better to start with less and use a light hand, rather than with a ton of product and a heavy hand.