Makeup Kit Essentials

     If you've ever walked through the makeup section at any store, I'm sure you've noticed the plethora of products available. I'm also sure that if you don't know much about makeup, this experience can be rather overwhelming. Before the girl at the beauty counter convinces you that you need to spend a small fortune on getting yourself put together, I want to share some of my makeup essentials and hopefully enlighten you about what you should start out with in your own makeup bag.

    This post is inspired by my little cousin. Last December, she told me and my sister that she wanted to start wearing makeup and that she wanted her Christmas gift from us to be a makeup starter kit. It got us thinking about what a girl really needs in her kit, and we figured out the basic essentials.

The Essentials

1.) Foundation- Now, I'll say that foundation isn't essential all the time. My cousin Val and my best friend Megan have beautiful skin, so in these cases, I'd be reluctant to push foundation. I personally tend to wear foundation on a regular basis because I get quite a bit of redness on my skin and the foundation helps me create more of an even base for my makeup, but if you have great skin, you can get away with wearing a tinted moisturizer for day-to-day usage. Foundation is definitely great for special occasions when you are getting glammed up. So, that's why I think it is a good idea to have some in your kit.

2.) Concealer- If you're going the tinted moisturizer route, this will be its best buddy. Concealer is great to cover the areas that your foundation missed and will help prevent you from piling on the foundation. I remember a tip I learned from a makeup artist who did my makeup for one of my dances and she told me that foundation should be used to create a base layer for your makeup. You shouldn't expect it to cover absolutely everything. Just create your base and go in with concealer for reinforcement on the areas your foundation missed. 

3.) Eye Shadow- Having a nice little eye shadow palette will allow you to get creative with your makeup and try out different looks. I think every girl should have some neutrals to start out with, and you definitely don't have to spend a fortune on them. The Maybelline The Nudes palette is what we started out my cousin with and it is a great little palette that you can find at most drugstores for around $10. If you want something high-end but don't want to break the bank, I'd say that you should try the Natural Eye Palette by Too Faced. Of course, if you go higher end you'll have a myriad of palettes to choose from. If you can still get your hands on the Gwen Stefani Palette by Urban Decay (pictured above), I highly recommend it!

4.) Face Powder- I don't have this pictured above, but I do think it is something that you should have in your kit, especially if you have oily skin. This product would go on after applying your foundation and would help to set it so that your makeup lasts longer. I used the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder for years, and I know you can get that one at Target.

5.) Mascara- If I could only apply one product, it would probably be mascara. Mascara just helps you look more put together and even on my no makeup days, I'll put some on. There are hundreds of really great mascara options at the drug store ( The CoverGirl LashBlast is a cult favorite). I'm currently testing out the L'Oreal Voluminous Superstar Mascara, which comes with a pretty nifty lash primer.

6.) Bronzer- This will help to prevent your face from looking too flat from your foundation. You can also buy a matte version and experiment with contouring. If you are completely new to makeup, I'd say, hold off on tackling contouring until you've got everything else down.

7.) Blush- Blush is also essential to look more natural after applying foundation. Try to find a Natural Shade that way you can wear it with any look you want to create. 

8.) Eyeliner- My go-to look always involves some liquid liner, but if you're just starting out with makeup, I'd avoid the liquid liner until you get more practice, but what you should for sure have is a good eyeliner pencil. I'd say go with a classic black, but if you have lighter eyes or fairer skin, a brown shade will look less harsh on you. Physician's Formula Eyeliner Trios are a great place to start.

9.) Lipstick- Lipstick is one of my favorite products and where I get most adventurous. I'd say that everyone should have a neutral pink to start out, though. Both CoverGirl and Maybelline make some fantastic lipsticks, so I'd check them out.

10.) Brushes- There are many different brushes and brush companies out there, but when you are just starting out, I'd say you don't have to break the bank. The bare minimum brushes you should have in your kit are a Powder brush ( you can use it for powder, blush, and bronzer), a flat shader brush ( to apply eyeshadow to the lid), and a crease brush ( to blend out eyeshadow). Brushes can range greatly in price, but some really great inexpensive ones to try out are EcoTools brushes. You can usually find these at places like Target, Walmart, or Ulta and they are typically reasonably priced.

Non-Essential (but helpful!) Extras

1.) Eyebrow Pencil- Filling in your brows helps to create a more polished look, and will amp up your look, especially if your natural brows are pretty sparse. One of my personal favorites is the micro brow pencil by NYX.

2.) Primers- Using a primer will help your makeup last longer, and also will aid in making your eyeshadows pop and will help prevent them from creasing.

3.) A Fun Lip Color- Besides your natural lip color, it's always great to have another fun color to wear for special occasions or when you just want a pop of color. I always love a classic red lip, but a bright pink or fuschia lip always look beautiful too!

     Of course, there are hundreds of other beauty products you could have, but these are just the basics that I think will be great to start off with. Hopefully, this was helpful! I hope you have a great week and I'll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3

Bras 101

     

     I’ve been meaning to make this post for quite some time now as bra knowledge is an area that I would say I’m pretty savvy in, so I figured Today’s post would be a great time to share that knowledge. The first thing (and I would say most important) thing that I wanted to address is how to check for a proper fit. I made a short video ( It’s the video below) about what to look for when trying on bras, but I also want to dedicate this post on elaborating on what I mentioned in the video.

Fit

     The video above focuses on the different areas that you should be checking for a proper fit: Band, cups, breastbone, and straps.  The band is the most important place to check for fit, as it is responsible for around ninety percent of your bra’s support. To also check the band, put the bra on and raise your arms above your head. If your bra slides up when you raise your arms, then the band is definitely too big.

     The other ten percent of your bra’s support comes from the support offered by your straps. As the percentage the straps offer is minimal, it is not the most important part of the bra. A manager I worked with actually made a comment that with a supportive bra, you should be able to take off the straps and still feel supported by your bra. While writing this post, I totally tried this and to my surprise, my bra stayed in place and still felt pretty supportive. So, that was rather neat.

     The cups should fit smoothly on the top of the breast. If it is beginning to indent the breast tissue, the cup is too small. If you have extra space in cup, the cup is too big. Another thing to note is that if the underwire is poking you in the armpit, then the cup might be too big. A proper fitting cup should encircle the breast tissue, but stop comfortably at the side of the breast.

     As I mentioned in the video, a proper fitting band should feel snug, but still wearable. You should be able to fit at least a finger in the band and have a little bit of give. I mentioned being able to fit two fingers in the video, but one finger is actually best. For the straps, you should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your shoulder. Of course, if your straps feel like they are sliding down, by all means tighten them. The two-finger trick is just a general rule.

      In summary, a proper fitting bra should be smooth in the cup, have a snug yet supportive band, comfortable straps, and a centerpiece that lies flat on the breastbone. The last portion might not always be true though (I elaborate on that in the video).  Overall for fit, the most important thing is that you are comfortable. You are the one that will be wearing it, so make sure it is something that you are happy with.

Sizing

     For bras, the sizing is broken up into two components: the band (number) and cup (letter). The band measures the width of your rib cage, while the cup measures the amount of space you need to fit your breast tissue. I like to think of these two factors as separate entities as it makes it easier to understand sizing. It’s funny because I vaguely remember a situation where a girl was bragging about her bra size saying, “Yea, I’m a 38!” and it was comical because she thought that meant she had big boobs, when in reality it just meant she had a wider rib cage.

     To start with sizing, I’d say it is super important to get measured because it will help you get a better estimate as what band size you should be wearing. The band is measured by the bra’s number and this number can range anywhere from a 30 to a 44 and increases in increments of 2 (ex: 30-32-34-36-etc.). You can also find numbers outside of this range, but for the most part these are the most common ones. For places to get sized, I recommend either Soma or Nordstrom’s.  If you work at Victoria’s Secret, I am sorry, but I’ve had so many people come in with the size VS measured them and it doesn’t fit well. Just saying.

     The bra’s cup is represented by a letter. This typically ranges from A-G, but of course other brands can have different lettering. For the cups, the most common would be: A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, and G. Most brands don’t offer E’s or F’s, but some do. The A-DDD is pretty standard lettering in the bra industry. Once you go past DDD, the lettering can mean a whole different thing to each brand, so I’d be aware of that. For most of us, this typically isn’t a problem we need to worry about as most ladies tend to be in the lettering range I mentioned.

    Putting the two components together, you’ll end up with a number-letter combo (eg. 36D). The most important part to remember though is if the bra is not fitting properly, you’ll want to consider the two components separately. For example, if you try on a 36D and it doesn’t fit right, note where it doesn’t fit. Is the breast tissue spilling out of the cup but band feels okay? Try a bigger cup size but keep the band the same (so, if you tried on a 36D, try on a 36DD). Does the band feel uncomfortably tight? You’ll most likely have to go up a band size and down a cup size. Why is this? Because when you go up a band size, the cup size also gets a bit bigger. So, a 36D cup won’t be the same as a 38D cup. If when you tried on the 36D the cup felt fine but the band felt too tight, I’d try on a 38C next time to give you more space in the band but keep the cup the same. If the band and the cup don’t fit, then you’ll have to change the size of the cup and the band. So to illustrate, if you tried on a 36D and both the band and the cup were too tight, try on a 38DD next. As you can see, sizing can be a little complex, so you might need to play around with your letter-number combos when trying bras on.

     Remember, the size is just a size. It doesn’t have any meaning behind it. So, if you are wearing a 32A or a 42G don’t get fixated on the size. Just focus on whether or not the bra is doing what it’s supposed to be doing, giving you support. I say this because I’ve had so many ladies come in to try on bras and they’ll refuse to wear a certain size because they’re “not a 38” or “a DDD sounds horrible”. If the 38 fits you well, wear the 38, end of story.

Care

     For care, the most important thing to remember is that if you take care of your bras, they will last you longer. The best way to care for your bras is to hand wash them and hang them up to dry. The hand washing part you can be a bit lax on, as who really has the time to do that. You can either wash them in a lingerie bag, or if you have enough of them, wash them by themselves on gentle. What you can’t be lax about is drying. Never (and I mean NEVER) put your bras in the dryer. The heat degrades the fabric and destroys your bras. If you’ve had a situation where the wire is popping out, you more than likely were drying it in the dryer (Shame on you!).  Always hang dry your bras. I know when I was in college, I would hang them on the rod in my closet to dry. It was super simple, and something you can do if you don’t have a laundry line.

      On average, bras last about 6 months. This number will of course, depend on how often you wear and wash them. If you have one or two bras that you wear every day, they might not make it to the 6 months. But, if you have 4-5 that you rotate, you could make it 6 months and beyond, depending on how well you take care of them. I have quite a few bras, so I’ve had some of mine for at least two years and they still are in great condition. I’ve obviously washed them many times and none of the wires are popping out, so this is evidence that with proper care you can make them last. Ideally, I’d say aim for at least 3 so you can rotate them, but obviously having more than that is better.

Quality

     Like any other article of clothing, bras are an investment. If you buy yourself a good bra and take care of it, you can get it to last you a while. I know the bras we sell at our boutique range from $44-$60 depending on the style, but the fabric we use is really great, so paying the price tag is totally worth the money. So, when you are out shopping, pay attention to what you are purchasing, because more money doesn’t always necessarily mean better quality.

     I know this was a lot of information, but I am hoping it made sense. As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment. I love getting feedback about my posts and also offering what I know. I hope you guys had a great week and stay posted for what I have coming next week. Next Thursday, I have my monthly recap, and that one is always really fun, especially if you want to know what I’ve been up to. Have a really great weekend and I’ll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3