S A I  L O R SC L U B(2)

Once you’re a mom, date nights and specials evenings out on the town become quite the rarity.  So when they do roll around, you want to feel extra special, and your beauty routine should reflect that.  Between my five minute makeup routine, and my fifteen minute makeup routine that we’ve already gone over here and here, there are still a few things left to be desired that I don’t usually have time for.  On the off chance that I’ve got a spare 30 minutes though, I like to throw in a little contouring to give my look that extra pizzazz.  It’s still a very simplified version than my favorite YouTube videos like to do, but it works for me.  If you want to check out how the pros do it, you can check out my favorite tutorials here.  For my modified example, keeping reading below!

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Here’s my before so you can really see the difference contouring makes.  Or maybe it’s all in my head, who knows. 🙂  Anyways, I start with my favorite foundations, the Make Up Forever HD Foundation and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.  I use the darker Laure Mercier shade to go along all the spots where I want to contour: my hairline, the sides of my nose, my chin, and along the bottom edge of my cheekbones.  Then I go over the highlighting areas with the Make Up Forever shade, which includes my cheeks, under my eyes, my forehead, above my cupid’s bow, and along the bridge of my nose.

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Once I have it all applied, I blend it with a beauty blender, and then go over the same areas with highlighting and contouring powder in the same shades from my Anastasia Contouring Palette.  As soon as everything’s completely set, I go over it all with a BIG brush to smooth everything out.  I don’t want it to look too harsh, so even though I’m blending out some of the effect, it makes sure the overall product isn’t too severe.  The goal is for people to be unaware you’ve contoured your face, of course.

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These are the products I add in to my routine when I have the extra fifteen minutes.  Be sure to check out my prior two tutorials for the base products I already use with less time on my hands.

1.  Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

This keeps my eyeshadow from creasing, and provides a great base for the look I’m trying to create.

2.  Urban Decay Super-Saturated Ultra Intense Waterproof Cream Eyeliner

If the name wasn’t enough to clue you in, this eyeliner is not playing around.  It lasts all day, and since it’s in a cream form within the little pot I use a small flat brush to apply it sparingly.  Then I wing it out at the edge for a cat eye.

3.  MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation 125 Sand

This is the lighter shade I use for highlighting areas.

4.  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Sand

I use this shade for my contouring.

5.  Smashbox Master Class Ultimate Eyes Eye Shadow Quad

The link above isn’t the exact palette I use, but the colors are pretty similar.  I put the lighter purple on my lid, the deeper plum in my crease, and then the light pink under my eyebrow and in the corner of my eyes.

6.  ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Contour Kit – Light to Medium

This is the BEST contour kit ever.  It sets my cream foundation really well and adds dimension to the contour.  And it holds everything in place beautifully.

7.  Younique Moodstruck 3d Fiber Lashes

I’ve used my Younique mascara here and there since my review post last year.  I still like them better than fake lashes, for sure, and the application is so easy.

8.  Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder HIGHLIGHT

I apply this powder right above and below my eyebrow, and just a bit on the inner corners of my eyes.  It is VERY sparkly, so it’s not a highlighter that I use everywhere.  Just in a few select spots.

9.  Smashbox Always Sharp Eyeliner – Bare

This eyeliner I apply on the waterline of my eye.  I think that’s what it’s called, right? See how much of a makeup pro I am? 😉 It brightens up my eyes and keeps the black eyeliner from being too overwhelming.

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For this look, I finished with Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Merlot, which is a great evening look and the perfect Marsala tone that’s so on trend right now.  This feels like a lot of makeup to me, especially with both my eyes and lips done up, so I hesitate to wear it any time but evenings.  It’s not exactly how I look cruising through the grocery store, I can tell you that much.

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So what do you think? Have you given contouring a try? Do you do it every day or just once in a while?

XO,

A

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