Topic: Stash
The beauty about beauty is that is all very personal. When we buy makeup, we only pick up things that work for us. There are, however, 5 things I think everyone should own.
1. Nail Polish Thinner: Retailing for less than $2 a bottle, polish thinner can save you a ton of money in the long run. Over time, some polishes tend to thicken up to the point of becoming unusable. By adding 2 or 3 drops of this to a polish, I can revive it back to its original texture. Unlike using nail polish remover this does not damage the integrity of the original consistency.
2. Sunblock: Scientists propose that nearly 80% of wrinkles come from sun damage. Even if you're only in the sun while driving in your car from Points A to B, it has an effect. The American Association of Dermatology recommends using a broad spectrum (check the label for this wording) everyday with an minimum SPF of 15. Keep in mind that any SPF over 50+ is essentially junk and filler and in the EU and Australia, it is now illegal to market any sunscreen claiming to have such high SPFs. Here's a quick and easy to read page on choosing one that works for you.
3. Skin Tone Blush: Find at least one matte blush that is the color of your skin. If you ever go overboard with your regular colored blush, adding this on top can tone it down without making it look cakey.
4. Soft Pencil Liner: Gels and liquids are great, but for tightlining that lasts, you can't beat a creamy pencil liner. I recommend Mally, Clinique, Besame and Lancome.
5. Skin Tone Cream Eyeshadow with Shimmer: For an easy, non messy natural look, you can put some of this on with your fingers everyday. Two I love are Laura Mercier and Paint Pots (pictured).
