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I Love Makeup!

I have always LOVED makeup! After blogging about my favorite must-have skin care products, I have had a lot of requests to share my favorite makeup (which I could talk about for hours).

After years of doing makeup for brides and special occasions, as well as experimenting on my friends, here are a few of my all-time favorite products that are flattering on every skin tone and type.

Of course, we know that for your makeup to look good, your skin has to be healthy. This means good skin care and being safe in the sun to start with a good canvas! I am always on the search for the perfect mascara or the most flattering lip, and after working with many faces, I have my tried and true favorites.

Every morning after I wash my face and apply my morning skincare, I use sunblock (Elta MD Elements Tinted which contains 10 percent zinc oxide and 5.5 percent titanium dioxide) and our Jane Iredale pressed powder. Jane Iredale pressed powder is a great powder foundation with zinc and titanium dioxide, which gives great coverage for all skin types and is all natural.

This particular powder is also great for sensitive skin types such as acne prone and rosacea because of its healing ingredients. This is my go-to everyday powder! If I go out at night, I don’t typically use sunblock and really love the coverage the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick gives.

You can use it just where you need it or all over and it looks very natural but still covers any imperfections. I wore this on my wedding day!

Concealer is one my favorite products because of its ability to brighten the eyes and cover imperfections. However, not all concealers are created equal. I have two favorites that are hands down the best and will cover the darkest of under eye circles and blemishes.

Cle de Peau concealer and Bobbi Brown Instant Full Coverage Concealer are the only two I’ve found that cover, look natural, and do not smudge or crease! I use my fingers or Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Touch Up brush to apply for a beautiful finish.

Then there is the never-ending search for bronzer… too orange, too muddy, too pink or yellow. The two bronzers that are in my every day makeup bag and are the most universally flattering are Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow and the Tom Ford matte bronzer in Terra.

Neither of these will turn orange, and they are the most neutral long wear bronzing powders I have found. Charlotte Tilbury comes with beautiful packaging and a really nice highlighter built in with the bronzer so it’s a great two- in-one product!

My favorite everyday mascara is Trish McEvoy High Volume mascara. It is a tubular mascara and does not smudge or give “racoon eyes” even after a sweaty workout session. For a high drama, false lash effect the Diorshow Pump ‘N’ Volume mascara and Chanel le volume mascara are amazing (I wore the Chanel on my wedding day).

Finding the perfect lip color has always been top on my list. My very favorite, most flattering on EVERYONE, long-wearing lipstick is by Bobbi Brown in her original formula semi-matte in Sandwash Pink. I have used this color on all my clients and friends who range from super pale to dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes… it’s so flattering on everyone.

This was also voted best bridal lipstick for the last several years. I always use Charlotte Tilbury lip liner in Pillow Talk with every lip color to make it last longer–it’s the perfect neutral, pouty color!

There are endless lip glosses out there but I have found my favorite is by Tom Ford. I typically am not a big fan of gloss because it either doesn’t last on your lips or is too sticky. This one is a gel formula that is long wearing without being tacky. My favorite color is called, Pink Guilt (also wore this on my wedding day)!

All of these products are non-comedogenic and great for all skin types! I hope you love them as much as I do.


Chelsea Grimes, Aesthetician

Chelsea is a licensed aesthetician and a graduate of the Aveda Institute in Washington DC.  In conjunction with her aesthetic experience, Chelsea completed her Nursing education and received her LPN in 2010.

Chelsea has over six years of aesthetic experience in both the plastic surgery and dermatology field.

Chelsea’s intention is to share her passion and knowledge for aesthetics to help people achieve optimal skin health goals and feel better about themselves. She believes there is nothing more rewarding than helping people feel more confident in their own skin.