CEOLA

1. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack with MAC  #208 Brush 2. EOS Lipbalm 3. Urban Decay Naked Palette 4. Skincare Combo: St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Sensitive Skin/Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser/Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel 5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer 6. E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit 7. L’Oreal Paris Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara  

I’m really not a beauty person. Most of what I know about applying makeup I gleaned off of YouTube in my University years…and even then what I manage to achieve has always been a poor man’s version of what these Beauty Gurus can do with their faces. I blame my hand-eye coordination and lack of patience. In any case, social norms dictate that I must at least TRY to look acceptable in public, and this is basically a collection of products that make that job relatively easier for the likes of me. Some of these I use every single day, some only on special occasions (mostly the Naked Palette) but I would or have already re-purchased any of these beauty items (except maybe the mascara, and you’ll see why below).

I won’t speak in detail about each of the products I’ve listed because some of them are kind of DUH but one thing I will say emphatically is that my skincare routine is the most important part of my day (and I still don’t do everything I should – like tone). I was first introduced to Simple products when I lived in the UK and was suffering from really terrible dry skin – I’m talking cracked, burning, bleeding skin on the worst of days. Most of the facial cleansers I attempted to use just irritated my skin even more and quite by chance I found a solution in Simple. Simple is a dye and odor free skincare line and it was a God send then and I still consider it a God send now. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m a little afraid of trying anything else and I can safely say that as long as it’s a product I can get my hands on here in Trinidad, it’s one I will continue to use. Because I suffer with dry skin even now (but not as badly) a daily facial moisturiser is the most important tool in my beauty arsenal – I literally could not make it through the day comfortably without applying moisturiser.

My every day look is definitely a cat eye. Literally. Every. Day. I don’t think I could suffer this world without eyeliner and when I discovered the magic that was gel eyeliner…well…that sealed my fate. I sometimes combine a few different concealers but my absolute favourite and probably the most versatile amongst them has to be the MAC Studio Finish Concealer. It gives you enough coverage without being too dense or drying. I’d advise going into MAC to get matched for your exact shade because once you do, the blending will probably be flawless. I didn’t put a brush up here because while I do use a brush with this concealer, it is by no means necessary (I just don’t like making nail indentations in the concealer).

Just as an FYI, please note that while I have a mascara listed above, I have not found my holy grail of mascaras yet…I feel like I’m on a perpetual life journey, the destination of which could only be a favourite mascara. If you have any recommendations for an amazing mascara please say so in the comments or in a tweet or something, I’m totally open to trying new ones.

So there it is. I’m no beauty expert or guru by any stretch but I figure these kinds of posts are always fun.