Face of the Week — feat. the Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation

Just a quick face of the week/day post here — it’s been cloudy and rainy for a few days here, and I felt inspired to work on adding some glow to my makeup routine. Recently, I got a sample of the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #2, and I’m itching to get the full size. This was all the glow I needed while the weather in Texas transitions to fall.

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray
To prep my skin for another dreary day, I sprayed the Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray onto my skin and patted it in. It’s marketed as a product that “contains the first patented, stabilized form of topical vitamin B6, which absorbs oil, minimizes pores and reduces redness.” Surprisingly, it calmed down my dry and irritated skin from the weather change; and, kept my skin looking and feeling happy throughout the day. I also sprayed it over my base makeup and I was pleased with the results.

Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation & Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #2
I mixed equal parts foundation + the fluid sheer and applied it to my face using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The Fluid Sheers adds an “illuminating veil of radiance” that’s subtle, but makes a big impact on the overall look of your skin. This “unique, translucent formula is available in a range of versatile hues including makeup base shades, correcting shades, and radiance boosting shades.” #2 is perfect for adding luminosity, dewiness, and radiance without looking like a pageant queen, for sure.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in “Katie” & the MAC 129 Blush Brush
Because I was having a lucky day and I could skip concealer, I went onto blush. I was in the mood for a super-pink blush to add onto the glowy base, so I opted for “Katie” and applied it with the MAC 129 Blush Brush. I’ve had this brush for nearly 10 years and it’s still going strong with proper care. It’s the brush I reach for the most when applying blush.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base, & Fasio Hyper-Stay Mascara Magne-Plus Curl Long Mascara
Eye routine was kept simple, but I needed to secure the lashes. I used the KOJI lash curler for awhile and now I’m back to my Shu Uemura curler. It’s still the best and worth the money. With the replacement pad, I can use the same curler for like, 3 years. As usual, after curling, I applied the Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base and just another Japanese mascara in current rotation. For my brows, I’m trying out the Etude House Brow Color. I got this on eBay from a Korean seller.

La Mer Lip Balm & Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in “A-Lister”
To continue on the simple routine, I applied the La Mer Lip Balm before applying my newest favorite gloss by Benefit — “A-Lister.” Nothing compliments glowing skin more than dewy lips. It’s such a clean and fresh way to keep your makeup simple — all the while looking sophisticated. I like the effortless look, and it was perfect for such a dreary and rainy for days.

The 5-Minute Face

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
To begin my 5-minute face, I start by applying my trusty Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen and then apply the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in “Terre Neuve.” This is a re-purchase item for me and I got a the newest lightest shade 00 “Terre Neuve” this time around. Applying a tinted moisturizer as a base for a 5-minute face is perfect for natural coverage and evening out of the skin. Because it applies so easily and quickly with minimal blending action, it’s great for when you’re on-the-go or in a hurry in the mornings.

Benefit Ooh La Lift
To brighten the under-eye area, I applied the Benefit Ooh La Lift and blended it in using a small synthetic buffing brush. I have a separate review coming up on this product, and I highly recommend it for brightening and prepping the under-eye area. You can see it in action in my recent Full Face of the Day post.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher – “Katie”
For blush, I’ve rotated out of my usual blush “Well Dressed” by MAC and am back to my Illamasqua Powder Blusher in “Katie,” which is just another cool-toned baby pink shade. It’s smooth and buttery and doesn’t take much effort to blend. Every time I take a long break from these blushes and I come back, I’m reminded how great it is. Totally recommend.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Demolition” & Random Japanese Eyebrow Pencil
For some definition along my lashline (lower and upper), I used Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Demolition” and smoked out the ends to make it look more natural. For my brows, I used a random eyebrow pencil that I bought at the Asian market. It doesn’t really have a name but claims to be able to hold for 24-hours. It’s very long-lasting, but I can’t say that it lasts for 24-hours since I don’t ever leave my makeup on for 24-hours! The pencil is just waxy enough to give me color and keep the eyebrow hairs in place. So far, I really like it.

Shiseido Majolica Majorca Lash Bone Black Fiber & Kiss Me Heroine Volume and Curl Mascara
It’s pretty self-explanatory what my eyelash routine normally is. I curl my lashes with the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, which I like much better than the Shiseido Eyelash Curler. The Shu curler fits my lid shape better without pinching and pulling. The Shiseido curler is too flat and I find it uncomfortable to use. For the lips (not pictured), I just applied the La Mer Lip Balm and headed out the door. :)

What do you wear when you’ve got 5 minutes?

Illamasqua Powder Blusher – “Katie”

For the past few months, I’ve only been drawn towards pink blushes. In fact, I’ve neglected to use any of my peachy-pink blushes, coral blushes, and anything that isn’t even remotely pink. Perhaps this is because I think pinks flatter my skintone more — but, regardless, I’ve found a new pink-favorite. While I was on my Illamasqua kick, I picked up a powder blush from their line for a change called “Katie,” and it’s the perfect milky-pink shade ever.

The color doesn’t appear to be that unique. In fact, the blue-toned, milky pink color is actually quite bright and can look too doll-like if applied with a heavy hand. Illamasqua blushes are already very pigmented and are long-lasting. So I feel like I have to be extra careful with a color like this since it can be chalky when over done. This shade gives you such a pretty glow, even though the blush itself looks quite matte. It’s a very young and innocent kind of pink, and I like to wear it when my eye makeup is a bit heavier or smokier than normal.

However, this isn’t a universal shade and won’t work well for those with medium to dark skintones. Also, with those with olive skintones, this will probably turn out to be chalky and gray-ish on the skin. In terms of skintone, I’m very fair and wear the lightest shades in nearly all ranges of foundations on the market. My undertones are strictly yellow, which is why I think this blush works for me. Asians with heavy yellow tones in their skin may not be able to use this — but I’m not saying that you can’t. I love this shade, but it certainly isn’t the same as my beloved MAC Well Dressed — my all-time favorite, number 1 go-to blush.

Retails for $26.00 USD.