My makeup essentials

Some of you have been constantly asking me what products I cannot live without. So, as I'm on my afternoon blogging rut, I snapped some pics of my all time favourite products and am glad to share them with you. I honestly love most of my makeup, because I only try to buy products I know I'll use a lot but these are absolute essentials. Products I've already repurchased and will buy over and over again.

Face:

-Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation B10. This is the most perfect foundation I've ever tried and I don't think any can compare to this. Some would call this a tinted moisturizer for its formula because it's so light. I love how invisible it is on the skin yet evens it out at the same time. I can touch my skin without feeling that nasty layer of foundation on, throughout the day it only improves. It photographs flawlessly and lasts very well on my oily skin. Perfect for summer when you want something very light. Not only I love how my skin looks with it on but my boyfriend also complimented my makeup a few times.

-Chanel Poudre Universelle. Again, Chanel is a pro when it comes to foundations and powders. This one is sooo seamless, it's invisible. That's the main reason I love it, you can't possibly look cakey or powdery using this wonderful powder. It just takes the shine away and I love to keep it in my bag for touch-ups. 

-Nars Douceur blush. You knew I was gonna mention it, right? I just can't put in words the wonderfulness of this blush. The shade is just perfect, it's so well balanced. A dusty rosy brown. It's very versatile, I use it for contouring and as a blush because it gives a very natural looking definition to the face. I instantly feel better when I apply it, don't know why but it has something special. I manage to bring out my cheek bones using it. Love love love! 

-YSL Touche Eclat. Cult product, favourite of many girls. You will either love it or find it worthless. I love it and have gone through a few. It's a highlighting pen that's so multifunctional. I use the palest one in #1 which is the pinkiest. It's great to brighten your undereye area (don't use if you are gonna take photos), it can be used as a natural highlight on the brow bone, center of the nose, cupid's bow, cheekbones. It's just a great essential to have.

Eyes:

-Mac Patina single eyeshadow. Everytime I use it I convince myself that this is the pretties shade of eyeshadow ever. It's so unique, kind of duo chrome. It's muted cool toned gold with some tan and khaki undertones and it has barely visible pink shimmers. Just the description itself is beautiful. I love how it looks on my skin tone, I've heard it works best for pale people, on darker skin it may look a little muddy or dirty. I just apply it all over the lid as a wash of colour with a fluffy brush and that's it, the color speak for itself! A lot of people have been saying that Burberry Pale Barley is only a better improved version of Patina. If that's true, I may become a Pale Barley devotee.

-Burberry Rosewood single eyeshadow.  This again is a Mac improvement this time we are talking about Satin Taupe. I haven't tried the latter myself but having the Burberry one, you just don't wanna go for Mac. Burberry shadows are superior to any I've ever tried, and let me tell you, I've tried from Chanel and Dior to Guerlain. The texture is just incredible. If you cannot imagine a "buttery" texture, swatch these. The pigmentation, smoothness and ease of application, the flawless look on the eyes makes this shadow a bomb. Plus, the shade is gorgeous! It's a purplish taupe. Great for all over the lid wash, just like Patina. You have a sexy light smokey eye within seconds. Very much approved by my man also. I haven't had it for too long but I am definitely considering it as my must have.

-Mac Teddy eyeliner. I've always been a bigger fan of brown eyeliners than black. They are just softer and more natural. Especially for the day time. Black can often look too much when you are out in the sun. What I love the most about this particular brown is that not only it is a beautiful chocolate color, it also has shimmer in it. It's not sparkle but tiny particles that make it even more special. I love using it with Patina and smudging on my top lash line for that soft brown smokey eye. 

-Chanel eyelash curlers. I have been always using eyelash curlers but never really saw much of a difference until I got a proper quality ones. Some cheapo curlers will only damage your lashes, leaving that awkward dent while you try to achieve a nice curve. So, I tossed all the Revlons and what not away and got a proper pair. Shu Uemura has been praised by many but to be honest, Chanel appeals so much more to me for the same price point:) Who can resist to such a chic pair of curlers. I couldn't. They are incredible quality, leave a very beautiful curl to the lashes and open up the eyes. I now can't apply my mascara before the curling step. 

-Artdeco eyebrow pencil. Can you tell I'm addicted to these? Don't have a proper sized pencil anymore, they are all so used up. I use #6, it's an ashy brown or rather taupe color. Matches the shade of my brows perfectly. I love how buttery and easy to apply it is, it takes a few seconds to define my brows. I always go back to this pencil and would highly recommend to anyone! I think it's a pretty universal shade also.

Lips:

I'm someone who's addicted to lipsticks and all lip products in general. So, no matter what size collection I have, these will always be in it and will stand out from the rest.

-YSL Volupté Sheer Candy #5. This is my all time favourite lipstick. If I don't know what shade to wear, I'll always pop this on. It's so beautiful, I cannot even tell you. I already did a whole blog post just on this lipstick so you can read that for a more in depth review.

-Dior Lip Glow. This is possibly the most beautiful lip balm ever. The packaging, the product itself..just look at that! It's a minty light pink lip balm that turns a bright pink color once on your lips. It looks different on everyone, since it supposedly reacts to the warmth of your lips and turns into a certain shade of pink. On me it's a bright raspberry color. It makes your lips look moisturized, pink and healthy. It's a must have in my opinion and I'm so sad to have finished my tube. Need a new one asap!

-Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. I almost start to panic if I don't find one of these in my bag. Best lip glosses ever invented. Not for the mere lip gloss factor but for being so much more than that. It's like a lip balm and gloss in one. I often opt for these instead of a balm when my lips are dry. They are nourishing, taste and smell good, have no shimmer yet leave your lips smooth and glossy AND non sticky! They do live up to their name, a perfecting product for the lips. I have them in pink and peach and they also do a nude one which I'll also own at some point. The best is to get these at duty free while traveling because you get a pack of two for the price of one. If you don't own one, I don't know what you are waiting for. You've no idea what you are missing on:) 

So, here you go, a list of my essential products, I'd be fully happy to have only this on an uninhabited island. On island you ask...we wear makeup to make ourselves feel better, right? Being alone on an island I wouldn't feel all that great so here's your answer.

Hope your monday is not as blue as mine!

Ieva

xx