Summer Skin

Ready for the warm up? Ahh, I love the heat, but I hate makeup meltdowns or overly powdered skin, don't you?  Where is the happy medium for glowy skin in the summer you ask? Well to begin, your daily regimen should include sunscreen coverage & antioxidants. The most common mistake I see is over- powdering the face in hopes of achieving a matte look all day. What you're left with is a very plain look with no life in it. Try using a mattifying primer in your T-zone area after you lightly moisturize. Then, mix a drop of long wearing concealer with a drop of your favorite sunscreen. Rub gently between your fingers and pat into the skin, starting in the center. If you really love a matte look, you can apply a sheer blot powder in the center on your face only. I like to apply a light dusting of bronzer (I love M.A.C; Matte Bronzer or NARS; Laguna) to contour and make it look like I've been at the pool all day. Oh, and carry blot sheets or a sheer blot powder - you'll need it for touch-ups.

Sometimes it seems logical to skip moisturizer when it's really hot out. I do not recommend this, as foundation needs a smooth base to roll over. So you don't feel greasy, choose lightweight moisturizers, and apply heavier creams at night.

Light touches look best in the summer, so keep your look fresh by using minimal product and sheer washes. Below are my tested and true products for a hot summer day.

Happy Summer! And don't forget a wide-brimmed hat when your outside. Reversing the signs of sun damage is pain in the butt!

Makeup Forever Step 1 Matte Primer

M.A.C Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer - SPF 30 with Green Tea & Aloe

What are your favorite summer skincare products for every day wear?

Add this to your weekend look.

Call them cheap thrills, call them instant gratification! These goodies are great for a classy, colorful  & low maintenance look that still looks like you put some effort in your beauty routine.

Flirty lashes that look natural. Apply on the outer corners of lashes - $3.99, Ardell

Easy application & rich pigment in seconds (My fav is Red Square!) - NARS Lip Crayons $26, Sephora

Defined, Bright eyes that last, with no sharpening required  - MAC Technakohl Liner, $16

Win a FREE Technakohl Liner!!! Add yourself on my instagram @realdollmakeup and comment on a post this weekend. One lucky girl gets a color of her choice.

My Nightly Skincare Routine

Skin first, then makeup. A clear canvas makes way for endless possibilities, so invest in products that work for you. My skin is typically breakout prone/combination and moody! After years of looking for the holy grail of skin products, these products and tips have definitely won my affection. For me, it's just as much fun to take off my makeup as it is to apply.
Use nightly.

Step 1. The Pre-Wash - Wipe off the day

Step 2. The Cleanse - 1 minute/with Clarisonic every 2 days or so

Step 3. The Rinse - cool to warm water ( never hot!)

Step 4. The Night Treatment -Wait for skin to fully dry to reduce irritation

Step 5. The Moisture - Add some moisture back to your skin to keep it fresh for the AM

What do you use to get clear, glowy skin?

Foundation Files: Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Line

I was really excited to try Tom Ford foundations after I saw @allanface (An amazing artist- check him out on Instagram) use it on his clients. Since I have recently found myself in the middle of a very expensive foundation shopping spree, I decided to just go for the gold!! At $80 a pop (yikes...), was it really worth it?

Tom Ford Foundation Stick

Coverage: Medium to Full 

Finish: Matte

Best Applicator: MAC #130

My color: Natural

Sorta. This foundation really does cover while being "traceless", which is it's main selling point. I found it lasted from 12 hours with minimal touching up, even on my oily/combo skin. Tawny was an ok color medium olive skin tone, nothing too yellow or pink. I like a luminous, natural look so I use it only as an under eye concealer and for spot coverage around the nose. If you prefer a full coverage look, this is perfect for you, especially for those who like to contour because the product stays put.

Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation

Coverage: Light -Medium

Finish: Semi-Matte

Best Applicator: Beauty Blender

My color: Bisque


LOVE! This foundation is totally my style and is my new everyday foundation. I really adore this product, it is incredibly smooth and literally melts into skin, true to it's "traceless" name. And, there is zero drying effect but my makeup looks set. It feels very lightweight and wears all day. It's easy to layer this product for my coverage. Perfect for a natural look. Below is an example of the foundations on my skin.

My favorite aspects about Tom Ford Foundations are the textures and colors. It was so easy to find my color and the product goes on well without a ton of blending.
What foundation have you tried recently?

Kiehl's Love

Searching for great skincare is overwhelming. So. Many. Choices. Although I've tried many brands, I find Kiehl's products, as a whole, really deliver. Their products have the perfect blend of fancy and natural ingredients, made mostly for sensitive skin. I love that their website explains what the ingredients are and how they can help your skin. I've seen really incredible results from continual use of the products below. Here are three game changers.

A little about me.

My skin: Normal/Combo. I break out easily and I use retinol, so my skin is really sensitive

My hair: Super Dry & Curly. Thanks to years of blow drying and just recently, highlights

Deeply Restorative Smoothing Hair Concentrate

Why I love it: This hair oil makes my hair much stronger and healthy looking, especially for my bleached ends. My curly, dry hair is transformed just after 2-3 uses.

How I use it: Two ways. I'll add a pea size amount rubbed between my hands and smooth over dry hair as a pre-conditioner a day before I blow dry or I'll use the same amount on wet hair before styling.

Tip: A little goes a long way! Don't get oil happy or you'll have greasy locks.

Price: $25

Super Multi-Corrective Cream

Why I love it: Using retinol has really dried out my skin. This cream deeply hydrates without looking or feeling greasy. It's also helped lighten up stubborn dark spots and made my skin brighter. Great under foundation.

How I use it: Morning or night, after washing.

Tip: Use when skin is slightly damp for better absorption. 

Price: $62

Creamy Eye Treatment

Why I love it: It's green color and odd texture is so unique, I always remember to apply it. It moisturizes and reduces the fine lines I get from dry weather or staring at my screen all day. Must have before concealer.

How I use it: Morning and night, after washing

Tip: Use your ring finger to tap the product on the skin, lightly tapping to work product in. Let the product sit and absorb instead of rubbing it in.

Price: $28.50

Have you tried any Kiehl's products? What did you think? I'd love to hear your opinions.

Spring is FINALLY here!

It's time to change up your makeup, but learn to make it fast, warm weather will be waiting for you outside soon enough. Here are my recent favorites to get ready quick.

Oasis Blush- NARS

Contour Kit- Med. - CoverFX

HD Foundation - Makeup Forever

Deep Brunette - M.A.C Velour Brow Pencil

Stretchy Smokey Lash - Makeup Forever

Beauty Blender 

 I really enjoy applying Makeup Forever HD Foundation using a Beauty Blender. Maybe it's the color of the sponge or the application. The quick, bouncy motions spread the foundation like second skin on my face and is so fun to use! It's nearly a magic trick with how lovely this combo works. I use the blender for my contouring too when I am in a rush, the CoverFX formulas are creamy enough. Just make sure to wash your Beauty Blender after each use. I'll use face wash to lather and rinse it out but the Brush Cleaner from Beauty Blender works great too.

As far as eyes go, light definition for the brows with the M.A.C pencil & a few swipes of Makeup Forever really give me a break from my standard liquid winged liner. Plus, to dress it up, all I need is a NARS Lip Pencil in a bright color like Red Square. Oasis blush gives me a light, rosy pink shade on my olive toned cheeks. Not easy to achieve, fyi! It's easy to find peachy tones that work well , but I find most pinks I try aren't ever that perfect rose neutral. 

Those are a few of my recent favorites for my low maintenance look. Next post will be about my newest acquisition, Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Sticks!

What have you tried lately? I'd love to hear your new go-to's!

March Madness

Wedding season has started so early this year! Is anyone else feeling that way?! I just completed my 4th bride of the season, Cristina. Her sister, Isabel, works at Jewel Hair Design. I am so lucky to work with great hair stylists that recommend me (Thank you Julie!). Great hair and makeup squads are important, so having the best recommendations for my clients is always a plus. This wedding was at the Westin Dulles, VA and it was 11 girls :O. Luckily, I had the help of Laura Henderson to help prep the girls and do lashes. Couldn't have done it without her help!

We started hair and makeup at 9am, and by the time the wedding was ready to start at 5pm, we'd felt like we'd only been there a few hours. The energy in the room was so positive and fun. I had a great time chatting with the bridesmaids, talking about makeup and listening to country music. Isabel did all the ladies hair, which were incredible up-do's. She was the last to get her makeup done but she still looked amazing, even after standing up all day. Enjoy the pic from this weekend.
Product details below.

Client: Cristina, bride

Prep: Fix+, M.A.C 

Kheil's Multi Corrective Moisturizer

Makeup Forever Step 1

Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Foundation #5

Powder: M.A.C Mineralize, Medium

Blush: M.A.C, Stay Pretty

Bronzer/Highlighter: NARS, Laguna; MakeupForever Uplight

Brows: M.A.C Lingering

Eyeshadows: M.A.C Blondes Gold, Orb, Mulch, Shroom

Lips: NARS, Belle De Jour