Building Your Makeup Kit / Collection #2 - Concealer.

So, this is going to be the second instalment in my series on basic products to have in your starter makeup collection. This particular post is going to be all about concealer, let's get started shall we?

1. Formula:

As with foundation, concealer comes in various different formulas / variations - the most common being cream, liquid and stick concealers. My personal favourites are cream and liquid concealers as I generally tend to prefer the finish and look of them.

Stick or twist up concealers may be something you'd want to look into as they do allow for fairly easy spot application and they are lot less messy compare to other types. This makes them quite handy for on the go and you don't really require any tools for application.

L'oreal's Lumi Magique Concealer is an example of a
pen / stick concealer. This particular one is
very highlighting so is good for application
under the eyes and high points of the face.
Buy at Boots for £8.99
(Photo credit: Google Images)

A lot of liquid and cream concealers are easy to work with and this is another reason why I prefer them. They are easy enough to apply and blend nicely because of their formulas and they won't drag or pull at the skin as some stick concealers can. I think there's a better element of control with cream and liquid concealers as well because you can choose yourself exactly how much product you want to use. Generally they also tend to have better coverage which we'll get into in a second...

2. Coverage:

Coverage is something you'll want to think about when purchasing a concealer. You may want a variation of 1 or 2 concealers for different purposes. For instance, for any blemish or acne you may want something a little more high coverage to really conceal them. For minor redness and blemishes something of a light to medium coverage will work well.

Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is a cult makeup product
for many. It has a great coverage for a liquid concealer
and it's really affordable too. This makes a really
nice staple concealer for everyday.
Buy at Boots for £4.19

(Photo credit: Google Images)

I have generally found that cream concealers have the most buildable coverage so these are what I tend to use on spots and more intense blemishes. Liquid concealers are generally a lot lighter (though they can still be buildable and there are some high coverage liquid concealers) and these are nice to use under the eyes and in areas around the face for a brightening effect.

Benefit's Erase Paste is a really great cream concealer.
It has an amazing coverage which is easily buildable if
you feel you need more and covers blemishes and darkness
well.
Buy at ASOS for £20.50

(Photo credit: Google Images)

3. Shade & Purpose

Recently, concealers of varying shades have really become popular in the makeup world. Different colours of concealer can help to more efficiently cancel out different kinds of discolouration in the skin - these are referred to as colour correcting concealers. For instance, green can help to cancel out redness and acne blemishes where as pink/peach tones are good for under eye bags and purple tones in the skin. 

Pixi's Correction Concentrate concealer is a peach toned concealer
that is great for cancelling out darkness around the eyes.
Buy at BeautyBay for £10.75

(Photo credit: Google Images)

As well as colour correcting concealers, choosing the colour of your 'normal' concealer is important too. Generaly, you'll want your concealer to be 1-2 shades lighter than you foundation / skin colour. This is because a lighter colour under commonly concealer places like the under eyes makes for a bright, highlighting effect which can really help to minimise the appear of darkness around the eyes and make you look healthier and more awake. 

*Applying this lighter colour concealer on the high points or your face like the bridge of your face and middle of the for heard can also help to give you that nice, bright glowy look*.

MUA's Pro-Base concealer palette is ideal for everyday use

it has 3 different shades for normal concealing as well highlighting.

This all helps to effectively conceal your face.

Buy on MUA's site for £3.50

(Photo credit: Google images)

Finally, you may want to opt for a shade of concealer that is more or less the same colour as your foundation. This comes in handy when tidying up makeup mistakes or simply to achieve a more polished look. It's great for defining your brow shape as well as tidying up eyeliner and eyeshadow.

So, that's pretty much everything I have to cover on the subject of concealer! Once again, I hope this post helped you and gave you some useful information. I also hope you're enjoying this series, thank you very much for reading!

Building Your Makeup Kit / Collection #1 - Foundation.

Just like building up or renewing a wardrobe, building a makeup collection can sometimes be a little confusing. With that in mind, I thought it would be good to start another little series going through my recommended basic makeup products to start with when building up your makeup collection. I consider these all products that make a good foundation (get it?!) to start any collection (big or small) from!
I'll talk about all the things I think it's important to consider when looking for certain products as well as giving product examples I've tried and tested to!
 Okay, so after that rather lengthy introduction, let's get started with our first basic makeup product; foundation...

1. Coverage / Formula:

One of the main things to consider when purchasing a foundation is the kind of coverage you are going for. Many women prefer a thicker coverage in Winter months and something a little more lightweight in the Summer.  Medium-full coverage foundations are often a lot thicker in formula and consistency whereas lighter foundations tend to be more watery. Recently, products like BB and CC creams have become popular as alternatives to light coverage foundations for a more natural looking finish. A lot of them either have colour correcting properties with minimal coverage or give something very light along the lines of a tinted moisturiser. 

The coverage you want may also depend on the condition of your skin, you may desire more coverage if you have problem, blemish prone skin whereas you could want something lighter if your skin is fairly clear and problem-free. It's ultimately up to you and what you prefer the look of.

Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream is
one of my favourite BB creams. It has a really nice light
coverage but it still evens it out your skin tone nicely.
Buy at Boots for £7.99
(Photo credit: Google images)

REVLON Colorstay is a full coverage,
matte finish foundation that is long
 lasting and comes in formulas for
 various skin types.
Buy at Boots for £12.49.
(Photo credit: Google images)

2. Skin Type, Priming & Foundation Finish:

Skin type is something important to consider when purchasing any face product. This is especially the case if you have sensitive skin like me. If possible, opting for a foundation that is specifically for your own skin type is always helpful as it's going to look the best for you. As well as sensitive skin, common skin types are combination, oily and dry. Those of use with dry skin tend to stay away from foundations that provide matte finishes because this can emphasise the already dry skin. Vice versa, those with oily skin will want to stay away from anything that gives a very dewy finish so as not to look even more oily. Of course though, this doesn't mean you can't have a fresh dewy look with oily skin or a more matte look with dryer skin - it's more about using a product like powder or a highlighter in specific ways to get the look you want without emphasising your problem areas!

It's also worth doing research and reading reviews on certain foundations especially if makeup in general tends to break you out and / or you have acne prone skin. Priming before foundation application can be a great way to help prevent breakouts and pore blockage AND it helps to make makeup last for longer. Always make sure that you also have a super clean face before ever applying any makeup product to your face as that as well as not properly removing makeup can be a common factor in breakouts.

Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation is a great, light to medium coverage
 foundation that provides your skin with a nice, natural glow.
Buy at Boots for £8.99.
(Photo credit: Google images)

MAC's Studio Fix Fluid is a medium-buildable coverage
foundation that gives the skin a nice, natural matte finish.
Be warned though, it can break some people out though
I've never had that problem as of yet!
Buy at Debenhams for £21.50
(Photo credit: Google images)

3. Finding Your Shade! (Surface tones and Undertones):

This is probably one of the trickiest things about finding the right foundation. We all find this difficult because there are just so many shades of foundation and our skin shades can sometimes be confusing to figure out. The main thing you'll want to do is firstly figure out your skin's undertone. The undertone is the skin's colour underneath the surface. Finding this out will not only help with choosing the right foundation but also with anything you wear - you'll know what colours flatter you the most whether that be in a lipstick or a dress. There are 3 types of undertone:

• Cool - pink, red or blush undertones
• Warm - yellow, golden and peach undertones
• Neutral - a general mix of both warm and cool undertones

> Not all foundations have shades for different undertones, but companies are definitely making sure considering this more.

As well as your undertone, you'll of course want to figure out your skins surface tone. Are you ivory, light, medium, tan? I think the best way to figure this one out is to go and swatch, swatch, swatch! Swatch the foundation testers on your arm and hand and simply see what matches. If it's still a tricky task don't be afraid to ask for help - a lot of places will offer a free colour matching service so you can find your perfect shade.

MAC are a great example of a company
that offer various foundation shades in different undertones.
(Photo credit: MAC Website)

** It might also be worth noting that if you self tan, or if you're in a place that has equally large periods of cold and sunny weather, you might need two shades of foundation - one for when you're paler and when you've darkened from tanning or the sun.**

4. Powder:

Not everyone uses powder, it's something I myself sometimes skip depending on how long I'll be wearing makeup. Regardless, it's still something I'd consider a staple when wearing foundation because it helps to last that much longer as well as helps it to set. It can also be great for on the go if you're losing a bit of coverage in your foundation or if you're looking a little oily throughout the day. You can also purchase actual powder foundations or mineral based foundations if that is something you'd prefer rather than a liquid or cream foundation.
You can also opt for a coloured powder to set your foundation to add that little bit more coverage if you so wish or simply choose translucent if you just want to matte out certain areas of your face.

Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder is one
of my favourite setting powder for
liquid foundation!
Buy at Boots for £3.99
(Photo credit: Google images)

So, I think that pretty much covers it for foundations and that the recommendations that I'd make for it. Let me know what you think of this series and if you like the idea of it - I'd really love to know your thoughts! Stay tuned for the next post in this series as well! 

Thank you all for reading!