my makeup bag + tips:

The older I get, the more I enjoy playing with makeup. I never used to wear it when I was a redhead. (Whoa, remember those days?) Now that my hair is a more neutral color, I feel like I can experiment a little bit more. Sometimes, I go a little overboard. Sometimes, going a little overboard is okay. I've shared my makeup bag on here before but seeing as I've been getting a lot of questions lately about the products I use, I figured that I'd share again, along with a few tips.

The Skin. Never, EVER underestimate the power of a healthy diet and a good night's sleep. Ever since switching to a vegan diet, I rarely break out and my skin tone is (for the most part) consistent, even without foundation. Most days, I just toss on some bronzer and call it a day. I've learned that it's good to skip the heavy makeup and let your skin breathe, especially in warmer weather. Can't find a highlighter? No problem whatsoever. I use a bone-colored eye shadow. In my mind, the two are interchangeable. One last tip: a concealer stick works fantastically if you don't have any eye makeup primer on hand or just want to save a little bit of money. bareMinerals Matte Foundation, Sonia Kashuk Concealer Stick, Boots No. 7 Matte Foundation, Ulta Eyeshadow in Bone, e.l.f. Bronzer, Mary Kay brushes.

The Eyes. For me, the eyes are the main event. I don't wear eyeshadow every day but I always do rock the cat eye liner and some mascara. When I do wear eyeshadow, I go with a more smokey look. I'll be sharing a tutorial soon but until then, I'll let you in on a huge secret: the little illustrations that come with eyeshadow palettes that show you where to put each color? These are pure gold! Even if you don't go with the suggestions exactly, they're a great jumping-off point. So how about mascara? I like to layer. I use a lengthening mascara, use an eyelash curler, and then a volumizing mascara. Could be all in my head but it seems that this creates the most full and noticeable lashes. For days when I need a little extra, I rock falsies. They're fun but definitely take some getting used to. The last thing and the most important thing that I take care of at this step in my makeup routine is to take care of my eyebrows. In my opinion, the eyebrows make the biggest difference. Smashbox Smokebox II, Too Faced Summer Eyes, Nars Larger Than Life Mascara, Victoria's Secret Volume Plump Mascara, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner, Benefit Pinup Lashes and Lash Glue (they're reusable!), NYX Eyebrow Kit, Sephora brush.

The Lips. I used to underestimate my lips all the time but lately, I haven't been able to leave the house without wearing some sort of light pink or nude lip color. I also find myself constantly exfoliating and moisturizing them. Ever since I started doing so habitually, I've found that my already full lips have become even more plump. Always a good thing, right? Whenever I tend to my lips, I do so in this order: exfoliate, moisturize, and then add color. I do this once every couple of hours. It may seem a little tedious but it makes a huge difference. Plus, who wants to walk around with dry lips? Certainly not I. LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub, EOS Lip Balm, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Balm, MAC "Snob" Lipstick, Lime Crime "Coquette" Lipstick, Yves St. Laurent "Pink Lingerie" Lipstick. (The YSL one is my absolute favorite.)

The Scent. Some may overlook the scent, which is a shame because it's so important and also so much fun! A good scent is certainly difficult to find but at least it's a chore that involves smelling nice things. I like to have different scents for different occasions, even though I always end up wearing Chanel because it makes me feel fabulous. If you don't know where to start, Chance, Lucky You, and Daisy are all great options.

Hope that this little peek into my makeup bag as well as a few of my tips was helpful to those of you with questions and informative for the rest of you! Since I'm very much into trying new things, I'd love it if you would share some of your favorite beauty products with me in the comments. 

xo,

e.m.