The Game Changers

My friends ask me all the time.... what is actually worth the splurge? I have tried out all kinds of makeup... from drug store to high end. Through my search, I have labeled these guys The Game Changers (worth the splurge)

Let's start with the Face. 
Everyone's complexion is different obviously, but with my career in Social Media there have been times I've had to suck it up and be the face on camera for videos. When I found out I had to do live updates from a work conference for the Fan Page, I panicked. Not only do I despise everything about seeing myself on camera, but I knew every imperfection I obsessed about with my face would be in full view. Since this experience, I have found a few items that have made me feel confident wearing no matter what kind of environmnt I get thrown in.

Foundation

When I found out I would be reporting live from the work conference via web videos, I never wore foundation at that point, just bronzer and concealer. (Thanks mom for the awesome skin!) So after going to Sephora and telling the sales associate my dilemma, she suggested Nars Sheer Glow for a foundation. I was ready to pay whatever so that the bags/dark circle under my eyes wouldn't show up on camera and it definitely worked. Apparently Makeup Forever HD is what the Newscasters use, but for this amateur forced into the spotlight it was Nars Sheer Glow that did the trick. I felt like it was Photoshop for the face. Completely covered and evened everything out. Because of my complexion I use Sante Fe, but of course everyone will be different.

Eyes

Benefit's Erase Paste has been my saving grace. Ever since I was a kid, I've had bags under my eyes. As family legend has it, once I learned to walk I never stopped from there. So because of that and dark circles that I've had for what seems like forever, my room mate got me this for my birthday one year and I never turned back. This little pot will last you FOREVER. 2 1/2 years after getting this for my birthday, I actually had to get more. A little bit will go a LONG way. I have learned that putting it under your eyes in a triangle shape instead of a crescent moon gives the best coverage. Also, I have found that going a shade darker will prevent you from looking like white raccoon eyes. I'm usually light, but Medium really helps even out my color and blends with my foundation.

Luminizer

Benefit's Watt's Up! Is one of the biggest game changers I've ever found. I received this as a sample from Sephora one day and fell in love. I have suggested this to many friends since and everyone has become obsessed as I have. Once I started wearing it, I got compliments from so many people about how my skin glowed or how illuminated I looked lol. I usually just use my finger and rub it over my cheeks, over my brow bone under my eye brows, and across my forehead. I just blend it in with my finger and watch the illumination take place! This is another product that a little will go a long way. I bought the regular size a year and a half ago and it's still going strong.

Setting Spray

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray is one of my newest game changers. I received this in a 500 point perk Urban Decay Sample Box and fell in love. I just found out that there's a medium size version for cheaper than the original size for $14 at sephora in their checkout lines and I snatched it up instantly. This little spray has worked wonders for me. My typical morning routine of waking up and getting ready for work each day begins around 7am and with the amount of traveling for work I've done lately, I pull many 12-14 hour days. I spray this twice across my face to cover all the bases and my makeup stays looking like I just applied it an hour ago. This was proven to me when I went to work at normal time on a Friday, drove down to Nashville afterwards (2 1/2 hour drive) to visit my friend and without her knowing I still hadn't even gotten ready for our night out, complimented how good my make up looked. I was like seriously? This is 7 am makeup, 1 time zone ago! I thought I was going to have to freshen up at least my eye liner or mascara but this setting spray definitely did it's duty!

Now the eyes! 
I have done extensive research to find the best eye shadow base, eye liner, and mascara and these three will forever be my makeup game changers.

Eye Shadow Base

Benefit's Stay Don't Stray has definitely stood the test of long hours for me. If you couldn't tell, there's a trend with me discovering my new favorites from getting them as samples from sephora. This one was no different. I always liked Bare Minerals Prime Time eye shadow primer and will even suggest E.L.F.'s eye shadow base as a cheaper alternative. But Stay Don't Stray was definitely a winner because it's also a great under eye concealer. That double duty benefit is key for me since I'm always on the go and not always able to do my full beauty routine every morning.



Eye Liner

Buxom Hold the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in Call Me - Jet Black is my holy grail. I have been looking for YEARS for an eyeliner that will stay all day without disappearing on the waterline after a days work and this one finally accomplished that. Again, I received it as a freebie from Sephora in December and have never turned back. I normally don't like pencil eyeliners because I hate to sharpen them but with the results this one gives, it's worth the effort. I have tried every version of eye liner from liquid to shadow based and I have never found another one that will last all day on the waterline without rubbing away. Even after a late night out on the town and waking up the next morning, this eye liner is still in tact. It could be the eye liner or could be the makeup setting spray, either way, these two together are a killer combo.

Mascara 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is the best Mascara I've ever used hands down. I always used Benefit's They're Real Mascara and loved it, but after my sister introduced this to me a few months ago, I've never turned back. I have never had fuller lashes than with this product. Just a few swipes and I have the longest lashes I've ever accomplished. (I've never done falsies and prob won't ever lol) This past weekend I was visiting my best friend and she tried this to see what my hype around it was all about. Sure enough, we went straight to Ulta that afternoon and by that night, she was shocked when her boyfriend said, "Your eyes look brighter tonight, did you do something new?" To me, when a guy notices that, it's the ultimate seal of approval. So if I had to suggest one beauty product for the rest of my life, it will always be this mascara.

So these are my game changers. I have tried a variety of make up over the years. Whether they were free samples from Sephora or my sisters passing them down to me after finding something better, I can finally say I have found my go to staples with these. Hope they change your daily routine as much as they have mine!