Monday, January 20, 2014

Work/Professional Look - Tutorial

*This post contains both products purchased by me and products sent for consideration

Work/Professional Look

This is part 2 in my series of tutorials. My previous post focused on my casual weekend look. This post will show you my work/professional look. This is an ideal makeup look for work or school, as it is a very toned down look, but still looks polished and put together. You can use whatever products you have in your stash, the focus is more on the application, and types of products that help to achieve this look. 

When you are in a rush in the morning, you really want to try and keep the number of products to a minimum. I am a big fan of products that do double or even triple duty. Any products that can work well in multiple ways are ideal for this type of makeup look.

Prime/Moisturize/Sunscreen/Base: One of my favorite multitasking products is BB cream. I have grown particularly fond of the version by Embryolisse. This works as a primer, moisturizer, and sunscreen all in one while providing light coverage. If you have really good skin, this could work solo in place of foundation or concealer. I usually apply this in the morning using clean fingers directly to the face. A very small amount will cover the entire face.


Conceal: For under the eyes, and on any blemishes, I bring in some of my RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up. I love this product because it is very light and creamy.  It is also very moisturizing, which is why I really love using it under the eyes. 




Powder: I prefer to use a powder foundation for this step because in addition to controlling shine and setting my concealer, it provides added coverage.  This one by IT Cosmetics is so pigmented, that I will often apply some with a fluffy brush over any blemishes and it masks any imperfection perfectly. At the very least, you will want to powder your T-zone as this area is the most prone to shine. Be sure to pack your compact with you for touch ups during the day.

Highlight: This is a must have step for me when I am wearing minimal makeup. With a fan brush, I apply a powder highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, lightly down the bridge of my nose, cupid's bow, and then switch to a pencil brush to apply to the inner corners of my eyes. I also sweep just a touch under my brow using a fluffy brush or fan brush and light hand. I don't like a ton of shimmer under the brow, as that can look dated, but just a light sweep of luminizer will catch the light perfectly as you turn your head.  For a budget friendly pick try e.l.f. Studio Baked Blush in Pinktastic.  A great high-end choice is Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm. 




Prime Eyes (optional): If your eyeliner is prone to transferring to your lid, I recommend using an eye primer such as Too Faced Shadow Insurance to your eye lid and lash lines. If you don't have this problem, you can skip this step. 

Liner: For work or school, I recommend using a brown eyeliner rather than a black one. It looks less harsh for day time.  Apply it to your top lash line, and then smudge it out using a pencil brush. I like to smudge it along the lash line, and blend it up a little bit into the outer corner and crease to create a natural looking shadow. You can reapply and blend as much or as little as you like. I am also a big fan of tightlining the eye (applying eyeliner underneath your top lash line) because it makes your lashes look thicker. If desired, take whatever liner is left on your pencil brush and smudge along the lower lash line (optional). 

For the lower waterline, I like to bring in a lighter color. Good choices are white, nude, rose gold, or champagne depending on your skin tone.  Whatever color you choose, make sure the formula you use is waterproof. NYX has a large selection of colors and they are a budget friendly brand. I have found their waterproof liners really stay in my waterline quite well. 





Curl Lashes: This step is not optional. For some reason, so many people skip it. It truly makes a difference in your makeup look. Invest in a good lash curler and hold the curler in place for at least 30 seconds per eye.  The only time I would recommend skipping this step, is if you have found a really good lash curling mascara, that truly curls your lashes, or you are lucky enough to have naturally curled lashes. Other than that, please take the time to curl your lashes. It makes a huge difference!



Apply Mascara: Apply mascara to top lashes only. This way you don't have to worry about the bottom lash transfer thing happening.  Plus I like the effect of applying to only the top lashes sometimes. For a more natural look, try a brown mascara if it works with your coloring, otherwise, black is fine.  I'm currently loving the mascaras from Flower Beauty which are available at Wal-Mart. 

Blush: Another must for me is blush. Depending on your coloring, you may opt for a bronzer instead, but this time of year, I really love to break out the blush. My current favorite is Frat Boy from The Balm. Apply using a blush brush to the cheekbones and blend the edges with a clean sponge.







Brows: This is another step that is super important. If you are in a rush, just brush a tinted brow gel through your brows to hold them neatly in place all day. I love the brow gels from Anastasia and use either the one in Brunette or Clear if I am using a pencil or powder too. 



Lips: Finally, for lips I recommend a sheer gloss, or tinted lip balm. I like a little bit of shine and color, but nothing too overpowering or that will require a lot of maintenance. Sheer glosses and tinted lip balms are easy to reapply throughout the day, and I can often do so without even looking into a mirror. Try e.l.f. liquid lipstick in Ruby Slippers or Tarte Energy LipSurgence which is a pink shade that adjusts based on  your pH level to a pink shade unique to you!  Again, I prefer a sheer, moisturizing formula for this type of no-fuss look. 




Below is the finished look on 2 different days. The only thing I swapped out was the lip color. On one day I wore the e.l.f. liquid lipstick, the other Tarte Energy. 

 Above: wearing e.l.f. liquid lipstick in Ruby Slippers
 Below: wearing Tarte Energy LipSurgence
I hope you enjoyed this simple makeup look.  I think it's a perfect "everyday" look without being too much or too little.  The main focus for me is getting the skin looking even, defining the eyes, and adding just a little something on lips for moisture and shine.  

What is your go-to makeup look?

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2 comments:

  1. I really like this look! You looks so fresh xoxo

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  2. CUTE!!! I was actually digging out for a nice look for my new workplace because I've just been hired and I'm pretty excited. I really wana create an impression especially on my first day and I was just looking for a couple of makeup tutorials that could give me that stylish yet professional look I really want. Just found your blog and think it's useful. Thanks a lot!!

    ReplyDelete

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