Truth: you can usually find me applying my daily makeup in the car while driving my children to school. Don't judge (makeup is a tired mom's best friend) I have this routine wired! I set my makeup bag in the console between the seats, arrange the bare necessities and swipe, wipe and brush away while quizzing my kids on their spelling words. If the fuzz gave out tickets for driving while handling a makeup sponge, I would surely have gotten a few by now.
When I decided to launch this blog and realized my 40-year-old face would be in front of a camera more than I am comfortable with, I knew it was time to step up the beauty routine beyond swiping mascara on at a stop sign.
When I decided to launch this blog and realized my 40-year-old face would be in front of a camera more than I am comfortable with, I knew it was time to step up the beauty routine beyond swiping mascara on at a stop sign.
Enter MeiLi Coon, owner and operator of MeiLi Autumn Beauty. I first met MeiLi 10 years ago when she helped my wedding party with our bridal makeup, and shortly after she enlisted my help as an esthetician at Paragon Salon to turn her sparse brows into full, glamorous arches. A friendship was born, and MeiLi and I have been comrades ever since - sharing the same trajectory, building our careers, having children and trying not to go insane in the process. So naturally, she was the first person I thought of to give me "good face" for my latest project.
Talking shop
Prime time - MeiLi applies primer with Beauty Blender
Line lesson - I learn how to apply lash liner
Concealer = 8 hours of sleep in a jar
Highlights
Mascara I love you
CHEEKS!
Into the gloss
Admiring the finished product
It had been a long time since I had had my makeup done by a professional, and I forgot how much I enjoy the expertise. Not only did MeiLi show me how to apply a camera ready face, but I picked up all kinds of helpful suggestions for elevating my daily routine.
Here is the 411:
1. Primer - Primer helps to fill in fine lines and gives the products to follow a smooth base to stick to. It really adds longevity to makeup.
2. Tinted Moisturizer with a Beauty Blender - The Beauty Blender is my new obsession! This teardrop shaped makeup sponge is amazing for applying a liquid or cream anything: concealer, contour, BB creams, or foundation. When makeup is applied with this damped sponge it pushes the product into the skin and gives it an amazing diffused look - as if you have nothing on your skin. It's dewy perfection!
3. Liquid Foundation - Also applied with the Beauty Blender, to give the skin full coverage - without making it appear as if you are wearing a ton of makeup.
4. Eye Shadow Base - A light wash of a bone-colored shadow to prep the lids for color.
5. Highlighter Under Brow Bone - MeiLi used a highly pigmented powder to "pop" the brow bone.
6. Eye Shadow - Applied in a neutral brown in the crease, then more highlighter in the inner eye and a bronze shade on the lid.
7. Lash Liner - This is the coolest trick to avoid adding heaviness on the lid while maintaining the look of eyeliner. Meili applied a black liner to the underside of my lashes instead of applying it on the top. It feels a little crazy having it done but I now use this trick every day!
8. Eyeliner - After the lash liner, Meili applied a soft wing gel liner right on top of the lash line.
9. Under Eye Concealer - I have always applied my concealer first thing, but MeiLi explained it is better to apply if after all eye makeup is complete. This way, you catch any eye shadow flakes or correct a wayward liner.
10. Contouring - I have been really interested in contouring but a bit intimidated by the process - especially after watching many Youtube videos of women completely changing the look of their face using this technique. I wanted to accentuate my cheek bones, shorten my long face and shrink my nose. To achieve this, MeiLi applied the dark contour shade directly under my cheekbones from the hair line to the outer corner of my eye, on my forehead at the hair line and on either side of my nose bridge, bringing it under the nose tip to help give that turned up appearance, then blended all. To break up a long nose she swiped a fine line of contour across the middle bridge of my nose. I have started putting this into my daily routine via the Beauty Blender (natch), and it works fantastically.
11. Bronzer - A light wash of powdered bronzer went on the cheeks, forehead, and chin.
12. Blush - Applied in a teardrop shape from cheek bone to apples, wisp out in a circle with a very fluffy brush. More highlighter on top of cheek bones, over the bridge of my nose and a light dab at the tip.
13. Mascara - I curled my own lashes before we started with a technique I like to use starting from the base and lightly curling upward in sections to ward the tips, this gives the lashes a nice curve and really helps open the eyes. A few coats of mascara, some lip gloss and done!
Here is the 411:
1. Primer - Primer helps to fill in fine lines and gives the products to follow a smooth base to stick to. It really adds longevity to makeup.
2. Tinted Moisturizer with a Beauty Blender - The Beauty Blender is my new obsession! This teardrop shaped makeup sponge is amazing for applying a liquid or cream anything: concealer, contour, BB creams, or foundation. When makeup is applied with this damped sponge it pushes the product into the skin and gives it an amazing diffused look - as if you have nothing on your skin. It's dewy perfection!
3. Liquid Foundation - Also applied with the Beauty Blender, to give the skin full coverage - without making it appear as if you are wearing a ton of makeup.
4. Eye Shadow Base - A light wash of a bone-colored shadow to prep the lids for color.
5. Highlighter Under Brow Bone - MeiLi used a highly pigmented powder to "pop" the brow bone.
6. Eye Shadow - Applied in a neutral brown in the crease, then more highlighter in the inner eye and a bronze shade on the lid.
7. Lash Liner - This is the coolest trick to avoid adding heaviness on the lid while maintaining the look of eyeliner. Meili applied a black liner to the underside of my lashes instead of applying it on the top. It feels a little crazy having it done but I now use this trick every day!
8. Eyeliner - After the lash liner, Meili applied a soft wing gel liner right on top of the lash line.
9. Under Eye Concealer - I have always applied my concealer first thing, but MeiLi explained it is better to apply if after all eye makeup is complete. This way, you catch any eye shadow flakes or correct a wayward liner.
10. Contouring - I have been really interested in contouring but a bit intimidated by the process - especially after watching many Youtube videos of women completely changing the look of their face using this technique. I wanted to accentuate my cheek bones, shorten my long face and shrink my nose. To achieve this, MeiLi applied the dark contour shade directly under my cheekbones from the hair line to the outer corner of my eye, on my forehead at the hair line and on either side of my nose bridge, bringing it under the nose tip to help give that turned up appearance, then blended all. To break up a long nose she swiped a fine line of contour across the middle bridge of my nose. I have started putting this into my daily routine via the Beauty Blender (natch), and it works fantastically.
11. Bronzer - A light wash of powdered bronzer went on the cheeks, forehead, and chin.
12. Blush - Applied in a teardrop shape from cheek bone to apples, wisp out in a circle with a very fluffy brush. More highlighter on top of cheek bones, over the bridge of my nose and a light dab at the tip.
13. Mascara - I curled my own lashes before we started with a technique I like to use starting from the base and lightly curling upward in sections to ward the tips, this gives the lashes a nice curve and really helps open the eyes. A few coats of mascara, some lip gloss and done!
Don't be overwhelmed with the13 steps I listed! MeiLi and I only spent an hour on this process and it was so fun and informative. Our session is saving me from making tons of makeup faux paus and I've added a few things to my bag of tricks and loving how my skin looks - P.S. I'm still not spending more than 15 minutes on my morning routine. I highly recommend visiting with your favorite make-up artist to get a refresher for your look, it will serve you well on those night you fall asleep past your bedtime.
xoxo
Carrie
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Where to Buy These New and Old Favorites
Blush Brush (Similar to) | Shadow Brush | Eye Liner Brush (similar to) | Beauty Blender | Lash Curler | Brow Pomade | Blush | Powder Foundation | Primer | Eyeshadow Palette | Contour Duo | Complexion Rescue | Mechanical Eyeliner | Gel Liner
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Shot on Location at Paragon Salon
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Stay tuned for future blogs featuring; Naomi Newirth of Acacia Swimwear, Kaili Lickle of Olympia Activewear, Distance Between Dreams star Ian Walsh, big wave charger Paige Alms, local designer Hayley Kaysing of Hayhay Couture, Ryan Burden of Coconut Information, Meghan Gould of Seeds and Stone ceramics, Sarah Howard of Maui Hiking Tour, Kipa Beach, Paia Bowls, Amanda Robson of Feast Hawaii, Anna Kim Photography, Vintage Kantha, Sara Smith of Wrappily, Jasmine Honey, Bullet Proof Aura and many many more!!!
DRIFTWOOD
1152 Makawao Ave
Makawao HI 96768
808-573-1152
3 comments
Showing items 1-3 of 3.
Thanks Judy and Stella!
Carrie … I think you have done an amazing job with Driftwood. The location presents a few challenges, and I think you’ve overcome all of them. It’s a gorgeous store, and I always recommend to friends to shop there for gifts, etc. Your blog is great, and I love receiving it. Everything you do is very trendy but also uplifting, informative and fun for any age. I love it all. Aloha, Judy
Loved your make-up explanations/blog! Thanks Carrie!