I have a weird habit of buying the wrong color foundation. It's not habit as much so that my skin changes color A LOT. In the summer I'm obviously darker than the winter. But lately it seems like I can never quite find the right shade. Or better yet, I'll run out of my cover up, then end up buying the wrong color.
This happened the other day. I was watching some YouTube Videos about contouring (I just like to watch them because I find them so fascinating, yet we all know I end up looking like a clown) and ran to the store to buy the new L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation.
Beauty bloggers are going bonkers over it since it's claiming to be as the really expensive stuff. I am running low on my IT Cosmetics CC Cream (which is what I swear by) but I wanted to try the new craze. Plus, I felt like this was well within my budget. I'm trying my best to save before the move as much as I can. I've even started reading about saving money cutting coupons.
So long story short, I ended up with the lightest shade of L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation. This was not working. I probably should have gone two shades up, but I trusted my paler instincts and ended up with the wrong one.
I was kind of desperate and since I didn't have the time to redo it, I used my favorite makeup hack:
I add bronzer to my foundation.
I just happened to drop my new bronzer, lucky me, and but it ended up easy to add to the foundation.
I added a matte bronzer to a pump of foundation. This bumps up the color without making it look shimmery or unnatural. Plus, it's a lot cheaper.
The bronzer I used Rimmel's “natural” bronzer in Sun Shine. It's matte, so there's no shimmery flakes. Oh, and it's currently $3.99.
I pumped the L'Oreal Foundation into the plastic top and swirled, that's it!
After I'm done, I set it with L'Oreal Infallible makeup extender setting spray. This isn't sponsored by L'oreal, I've just heard so many people talk about it, I had to try.
Products used:
L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation, Rimmel Sun Shine Bronzer, Real Techniques Stippling Brush, Tweezerman Foundation Brush
What I'm wearing:
Nail polish, Cardigan (under $25), white rings, other rings (on sale)
Also, I am now a convert of this way way cheaper foundation. I do still love the IT CC Cream, but this L'Oreal Infallible is a great alternative.
What's your best makeup hack? Do you have a foundation you swear by?
Today I have the gorgeous Katya of Style Sprinter for an interview today:
When did you know that you wanted to start blogging?
I was blogging for many years in Russia, and then I came to New York and I felt that my English was not good enough to blog. I took a corporate job for a couple of years to learn the language and eventually there was an a-ha moment when I realized that I am confident enough to start my new blog. Like many other bloggers (and even national publications), every once in a while I do make spelling mistakes or use some “Russianisms” (that's what my boyfriend calls my way to translate Russian terms into non-existent American ones), but it's not that big of a deal as I thought when starting my blog.
Why did you decide to go into fashion blogging?
I had been writing and reporting about style and fashion for many years while living in Russia, so it was always an area of interest. I also picked that niche as a way to compensate for the boring outfits that I was forced to wear while working at my corporate job. I was one of those crazy girls who was wearing suits and pencil skirts during the day and changing in the office's bathroom on my way home. It’s crucial for me to be able to express my personality through fashion (even if it’s just for a couple of hours a day).
What is your favorite thing about style?
I have a huge collection of dresses and it's the most comfortable piece of clothing for me. If you pick a good dress, there is not much to style. Put on some jewelry and heels, grab a perfect bag – and you are all set. There is a touch of the notion of perfectionism that I inject into every seemingly simple look. I have a very specific taste in how exactly shoes, a bag, and jewelry should ‘communicate.' So answering your question, a dress is my absolute favorite thing to style!
What's one of your favorite posts that you've written?
I like to make jokes about how I managed to adapt to the American lifestyle and one of the funniest posts I wrote on it is called The Moment I Realized I Became a New Yorker. In that post I share some of the habits that distinguish New Yorkers from outsiders. For instance, when in the City you must cross the street on a red light or people suspect you are not local.
What was the biggest risk that you've ever taken? Was it worth it?
The biggest risk by far was to quit my day job and pursue my blogging career. I spent many years on building my resume in media and it was risky to give it a try and pursue my American dream. However, my blog gained some exposure during the last year and I'm confident that it was the right decision to make.
What's the biggest traffic source for your blog?
As many other fashion bloggers I have the biggest following on Instagram, but it's hard to track conversions from that platform. I would say Pinterest is a big one for me. I feel that the photography on my blog is pretty strong (thanks to my photographer, Vital Agibalow, for that!) and many pinners have picked up many of my looks and tutorials.
If you could offer one piece of must-have advice to an aspiring blogger, what would it be?
Schedule your posts in advance. Life happens and sometimes you can't just stick to your blogging schedule. This is no good for two reasons. First, you are losing your credibility if posting inconsistently (whatever it means for you, blogging once a week or multiples times a day). Second, you are adding extra stress into your life. Instead of worrying every day that you have nothing to post the next morning, write posts a week in advance and start each day guilt-free.
Check out Katya's blog here.
