Y’all!!!!! Welcome back to THE ERIKA SHOW, I’ve missed you so much! Okay, well if you’re a part of Basic Repellent we really haven’t been apart ((for any more than 2.5 seconds, that is 🤪💖)) but for everyone else: I deleted my blog 6 months ago & haven’t felt whole since. But the truth is, she needed a break. A clean slate! A fresh start…
In true EG fashion, I spent the majority of The Q in LEVEL UP mode. With a prettty big birthday that was rapidly approaching ((9.21, shoutout to my Virgo // Libra sistas!)) I made the decision to stop sulking & to start getting SNATCHED! I made a pinky promise to myself that I was to embark on the mission of a lifetime: become my hottest self, ever…
So! That’s just what I did 👸🏻
I might’ve messed around & become a whole new girl…
But we’ll save that for next time 🤪💖
Alright, now what you came for… the G-L-A-M, honey!
Okay let’s be real… I don’t go full-glam often these days. Borderline: never, lol. But for those days that I do, I officially have an arsenal of RIDE OR DIE products and have my soft glam look down to a science! If someone told me I could only use these products for the rest of my life, I’d be 100% alright with that. I seriously feel like I’ve finally found the creme de la creme!
♡ PRIMER ♡
YSL Touche Eclat Primer in Gold
No joke, the dreamiest primer of all time! After my serums & moisturizer have soaked in ((ideally 15 mins or so before I start my makeup)) I apply 2 pumps of this liquid gold all over my face, neck, and décolletage to smooth, blur, plump and hydrate the skin creating the perfect blank canvas. The most important step, IMO. I would never ever ever do glam without primer, it makes a world of difference & this one is 100% worth the splurge!
♡ TINTED MOISTURIZER ♡
Nars Tinted Moisturizer in Cuzco Medium 1.5
Okay here’s the deal… I broke up with foundation. It just wasn’t working out between us! Here’s this stuff that’s supposed to even skin-tone and create a flawless base for makeup, but at some point I had this crazy realization that I wanted my skin to look like skin & foundation was really getting in the way of that! I also felt like no matter what I used, it was drying and emphasizing fine lines and texture… So I ghosted it!
Meet: my new lover, Nars Tinted Moisturizer! I swiped right on a few other tinteds, like Bare Minerals, Laura Mercier, and Colorpop, but Nars seems to be my perfect match ♡ What I like about it is that it’s a pretty solid buildable coverage, light-weight, and hydrating. It’s SPF30, which is totally necessary for me during the Arizona summer ((and you too, girl!)) It doesn’t smell SPF-y or have a white cast like other sunscreens I’ve tried. I top my primer with a pea-sized amount of this on my face & then another pea-sized amount on my neck and decolletage for seamless color and “pretty filter” vibes! I gently smooth this on with just my fingers. Obsessed with this color, it’s medium tan with peachy undertones = brightening. Your skin, but better. FAVORITE PRODUCT!
♡ CONCEALER ♡
Too Faced Born This Way Concealer in Vanilla
Vanilla = light with neutral undertones. Even though I’m pretty tan, a bright undereye moment just does it for me! Too Faced describes it best: This hydrating, buildable, multitasking concealer masks imperfections, smooths and sculpts skin for natural-looking coverage. It’s infused with coconut water, alpine rose, and hyaluronic acid—skin-loving ingredients that come together for crease-free, weightless wear that’s so naturally flawless they’ll think you were born this way.
Concealer has always been tricky for me because I think there is nothing worse than the look of a dry // creasey undereye! For awhile, I even stopped wearing it completely *GASP*
Here’s what actually changed the game for me:
✿ Botox. Straight up. Stop wasting your money on expensive eye creams & praying for a miracle when Botox is literally the only thing that’s gonna smooth you out if you have a fine line situation going on in the eye region! Only the needle’s gonna save you, girlfriend.
✿ Hella moisturizer. Right before I apply my primer I dab on more moisturizer under my eyes! My go-to product for extra extraaa nourishment in this area is the Jet Lag mask.
✿ Build light layers! I only use a small amount at a time and blend, blend, blend with a damp Beauty Blender. I apply 1 light layer of concealer, blend, do my cream contour, blend, and then go in with another light layer of concealer under the eyes to build a bit more coverage! And you know the drill, BLEND!
✿ Setting with the most magical pixie dust powder that I’ll mention in a minute… A powder that makes you perfectly airbrushed & creaseless is even more addictive than that other white stuff 😉
♡ CREAM CONTOUR ♡
Too Faced Born This Way Concealer in Mahogany
Mahogany = Deep with golden undertones. K, sooooo… how did my friends let me go my whole entire glam life without dippin’ into the cream contour pool? We’re fighting, y’all!!! GAME. CHANGER. I used to stray away from contour products because they’re always cool-toned and just made me look dirty. Filthy just aint it, sis… But then I started noticing every YouTube Queen using a dark foundation or concealer as cream contour. Interesting. Finally, one day I trotted down to my local Sephora *masked up & unable to swatch any of the products* and the sweet girl working and I had ourselves a day trying to decide what color would be best for me, without actually being able to touch it ((Every makeup girl’s nightmare, lol!)) Mahogany spoke to my soul, and it’s been a wrap ever since! This stuff is SO pigmented, I literally only dab a fewww little dots around the perimeter of my face and cheek bones and blenddd for just a light, natural sunkissed look. I feel like it makes a massive difference, when the powder bronzer fades, the cream contour is still intact and we don’t get washed out! LOVE.
♡ BRIGHTENING UNDER EYE SETTING POWDER ♡
Charlotte Tilbury Genius Undereye Setting Powder
God bless Charlotte Tilbury… The woman oozes fabulousity from every pore, every single product she puts out is pure LUXURY!!! If there’s anything that lives up to the hype, it is this powder. I didn’t want to believe it! I didn’t want to be so extra as to using two different powders… But I’m officially that girl, and now that I know better, I don’t think I can ever go back! You have to get color 2, it gives me elevated banana powder vibes. 10//10
♡ FACE POWDER ♡
Mac Studio Fix Powder in NC35
Neutral beige with golden undertone. Matte velvet finish. Perhaps I’m sounding redundant af by obsessing over every product & claiming it’s the best thing ever… But seriously… There’s nothing like StudioFix powder. Nothing! Although I’ve cut way back, and have a specific way that I apply it now with a super light touch on a sponge, there is nothing as good as this stuff for me & my skin! It gives you the most perfect velvet doll face. I’ve been using it since I was 15, my longest & most committed relationship to date, and I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. My girls can always count on me having this in my purse ((aka “bag of tricks” as we like to call it)) for touchups, it is an essential item and true security blanket for me and my makeup routine! If you only have 1 minute to get ready, you could put a quick layer of this on & look like the Instagram pretty filter with smoothed skin. I swear!
♡ BRONZER ♡
Anastasia Bronzer in Rich Amber
Neutral honey. Best bronzer I’ve ever tried, period. Super pigmented, dark & goes on smooth as butter. You seriously only need a tiny bit of this stuff on a big fluffy bronzer brush to cover your whole face! I concentrate bronzer on my forehead, outer face // cheeks, across the nose, and I’m definitely into adding a lot of bronzer to the neck & chest. Do not sleep on the chest bronze, ladies!
♡ BLUSH ♡
Anastasia Blush Trio in Cocktail Party
Oh my gawdddd, these blushes are CUTE!!!! At first glance, the colors look a lil wild, but I’m telling you… I think this is one of my favorite purchases of 2020. Hear me out: I saw SMLXO on YouTube start using some pretty vibrant red hued blushes, saying she likes a borderline sunburnt look. I was like… Uh, said no one ever? But I decided to hear her out and continue to watch and I was AMAZED by how cute it looked! Sexy, flushed, luminous, sun kissed… everything my makeup dreams are made of. So I went to Sephora and took a chance, getting this palette way out of my comfort zone ((Previous Nars Orgasm stan, now I could live without…)) and it has changed everything. I am OBSESSED! I mix the two pinks & pounce the tiniest bit across the cheeks and nose with a fluffy brush for the most youthful look! The brownie shade in this palette is the most stunning eyeshadow crease color… Just delicious.
♡ BROWS ♡
Anastasia Brow Gel in Espresso
Rich dark brown. Can I just say, doing my brows is one of my least favorite things on planet earth. I just… can’t be bothered. Anyone else!? I flirt with the idea of getting microbladed, but I’m not sure whether or not I’m a good candidate… I’m not one of those girls with big fluffy brows, and I would look like a damn freak doing the lamination trend… My brows are black, and have a mind of their own. I have to keep them trimmed and lay them on down with gel. UGH. I never learned how to do fancy brows ((lol)) so I just keep it simple and run this gel through them for a clean look + a better color, and then fill in any sparse areas with Brow Wiz. Nothin special in this arena, folks. Someone help meeee!
♡ EYE SHADOW ♡
Natasha Denona Nude Mini Palette
Tash’s shadows are the absolute best I’ve ever used… Her palettes are like a million dollars, so the fact that this mini is only $25 and seriously has all of the colors you need for bronzey natural looks makes it the deal of the century in my book! AMAZING.
Stila Liquid Eye Shadow in Kitten
Shimmering vibrant nude pink. I don’t know where they gather “pink” in this description, but oh my gosh a little dab of this on the lids is GORGEOUS!!! You can build it to be quite metallic, but I like it for a more subtle glow. All of my young, glam little party girl friends wear the glitter version when they go out, Kitten Karma, and it is INSANE. Literally the prettiest makeup I’ve ever seen, I weep over it every time…
♡ MASCARA ♡
L’oreal Voluminous Mascara
I’m simply not myself without fluffy voluminous lashes & pouty glossy lips. We save the best for last!!! I’ve always been #blessed with pretty nice long lashes, but GrandeLash has given me such a good boost over the past few months! Totally recommend trying it if you’ve been curious about it ((I also used R+F LashBoost in the past, liked it a lot, but don’t see much of a difference between the two products and Grande is less expensive)) Like, “Are my lashes too long…?” is a thought that has literally crossed my mind on more than one occasion recently. GOOD PROBLEMS!
♡ EYE LINER ♡
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown
I probably wear eyeliner 1//10 times that I do my makeup. I feel like sometimes it makes me look a lil too dramatic, and I love a really soft glam feel. That being said, everyone’s WINGS have been inspiring me lately, so I’m working on my “feline flick” ((a term coined by Charlotte, marketing brilliance at its finest, described like that, how could I resist?!)) building confidence in my eyeliner skillz by adding just the teeniest tightline & baby wing on extra glam occasions. Using brown instead of black is essential for me, black is just way too stark for my taste. This shade of brown is rich and chocolatey, the absolute perfect color!
♡ LIP LINER ♡
Marc Jacobs Poutliner in Nude((ist))
I used to go sooooo hard for C.Til’s Pillowtalk Lip Cheat, and don’t get me wrong, I still do find it to be orgasmic… However, for the past few months, I’ve reached for Nudeist every single time I do my lips! Is it because Kara Del Toro & Negin, two of the most insanely gorg girls in the entire universe IMO swear by it? Probably… #hotgirlsh*t. The color is perfection, and it’s retractable aka no sharpening involved… Major plus. There’s nothing worse than being out at the bar ((aw, remember those!?)) and reaching into your purse to touch up your pout, only to unveil a raggedy nub liner “down to the wood” as me & my girls say, and scratching your lips raw just desperately trying to get something out of the unsharpened ol thing!
♡ LIP GLOSS ♡
Buxom Blushing Margarita Gloss
Hi, I’m Erika & I’m addicted to lip plumper! No, seriously. I need a spicy, minty tingle on my lips at all times. I love the feeling, I love the look, and I am convinced that this obsession of mine truly has plumped my lips up a lot! I’ve never had lip filler, yet somehow my lips look much bigger than they did in the past when I look at older photos… Hm! This Buxom one is the perfect sheer pink-ish color that I like & compliments my two fave liners very well! I can’t be bothered by lipstick anymore. I don’t even own any! Liner + gloss is my jam, all day. The flavor of this one is SCRUMPTIOUS like a vanilla mint, and it’s not too intense, aka your boyfriend won’t call 911 if you kiss him with it on.
♡ SETTING SPRAY ♡
Morphe Continuous Mist Setting Spray
When the whole setting spray thing started, I was utterly perplexed. I purchased a bottle of the cult classic “All Nighter” and spritzed my face post makeup, just like everyone said to do. The wetness and straight up SPRAY BOTTLE vibe didn’t sit well with me. I think that the best comparison would be to if someone handed you a wet spray like that to use as hairspray on your hair. You’d ((hopefully)) be like… I’ll pass on that. It’s just not efficient! So when I saw this continuous fine mist, aerosol hairspray-like product come out & Jeffree Starr glamorously waving it around and basking in its spray, I was absolutely sold. I’ve used it every time I’ve done my makeup since I first purchased it about a year ago & I will never go back to walking around a Powdery Patty! It truly is the perfect finishing touch, makes all of the products lightly melt together beautifully, and keeps my makeup on until I wash it off. What more could a girl ask for?!?!
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