Be Fabulous - with Coco

This is my co-worker Courtney. She shares my passion for makeup. She also loves costume makeup and introduced me to the show Face Off - where makeup artists compete by creating amazing prosthetic pieces. Basically all of the cool costumes you see in Star Trek and Star Wars films - those guys. I wanted to use this picture of Court (more commonly known as Coco) because I felt it showcased her awesome personality. She doesn't dress as a She Wolf everyday - in fact, she has great makeup skills. So I couldn't wait to hear what she had to say:

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Name: Courtney MacDonald            
Age: 27
Skin Type: Combination (oily/dry)

Tell us a little about your skin care routine: 
Every morning I wash my face with Biore Ice Cleanser. I like this cleanser because it refreshes with a cool tingling feeling. I’ve also noticed that since I’ve been using it I’ve had less acne, so that’s a bonus. Then I moisturize. Usually I use Garnier Dark Spot Corrector because I found I had a mix of acne scars and freckles that were more like blotches I wanted to try and lighten up. I love this product because  after only seven days I noticed a more even skin tone, and now that I’ve been using it for a while I really see a difference. However, I recently started using Simple’s moisturizer with SPF. I’ve only been using this product for about a week, but I’ve noticed that my skins a lot softer than it was before. In the evening, I keep it simple and use a cleansing cloth. Right now I’m using Target’s Up and Up facial cleansing cloths, they are comparable to Biore’s cleansing cloths (but a little more budget friendly).

What is your go to beauty routine? 
Well first I would cleanse my face, then moisturize. After that, I take my green concealer stick and cover all the little red blotches I have. I use my fingers to blend in the concealer. Then I take my foundation and put it on my cheeks, my forehead, and my nose. A lot of people use brushes or sponges to blend in their foundation. I find the easiest tool is my fingers. They allow me to blend the colour without creating streaks like sponges and brushes do. Next, I apply my blush, and seal with powder. For my eyes, I start with my lash curler. A tip for getting nicely curled lashes is to curl your lashes at the root and hold for 10 seconds,  then moves the curler up so it curls just the tips of your lashes and hold again for  10 more seconds (don't forget to repeat on your other eye).I have lots of eyeshadow palettes, but I think my favourite would be my Sephora palletes. If you like high-quality eyeshadow, but you find your wallet to be… bare...empty...a cavernous void... you should try Sephora brand eyeshadow. It’s comparable to Tarte or Urban Decay for pigment and wear. After my eye shadow, I generally finish off my eyes with a little bit of eye liner. My personal favourite would be my Mac eyeliner pot, it offers a precision line and, when smudged, it creates a great smoky eye.

If I took a look in your makeup bag what would I find? 
Cover Girl green concealer stick- for those unwanted red spots.
Revlon Photo Ready foundation in shell – this is by far the best foundation ever. This foundation delivers a total coverage that actually lasts all day. I find that it doesn't wipe off very easily considering my oil slicked face.
Maybelline Fit Me powder in 120 and 220- I start with the darker one all over and blend using a my Real Techniques brushes. Then I use the lighter colour to highlight under my eyes, my T-zone and my jaw line. 
Maybelline The Rocket mascara in blackest black – it took me awhile to find a mascara I could actually use ( I have very sensitive eyes). This mascara is literally the best; it lifts and thickens your eyelashes.

If you could only have one makeup item to use everyday (deserted island style) what would it be and why? Mascara! For me it’s always been about the eyes, and nothing defines an eye quite like a super black mascara. You never know who you will be winking at on that desert island ;)

What is the best beauty product you've come across? Why do you love it?
The best beauty product I've come across would have to be… lip stains. I like lipsticks, and lip glosses but they don't often stay for as long as you want. You have to carry them around to apply them. They could melt, get lost or destroyed. But with a lip stain you just apply it in the morning, and it usually lasts the whole work day. Some of my favourites are: Joe Fresh (a dark berry shade), Maybelline 10 hour lip stain (berry/light pink). 

What was the worst beauty purchase you've made? Why was it awful? 
There been a lot of poor purchases, but more often than not it’s been foundation. I have bought into every gimmick possible because I have combination skin  which is difficult to cover. Either it would make my skin look super flaky where it was dry, or make my oily areas look extra oily. The very worst foundation I ever purchased would be Rimmel Clean Finish Matte foundation. When this stuff dried, it settled into any little crack and/or line that I had on my face, and aged me about 1000 years. Not to mention made my face ultra shiny. Worst.ever!

Do you have any beauty secrets you'd like to share? If so, please tell us: 
I would have to say nothing makes a face glow like a smile. It may sound corny, but a smile lights up your face and is the perfect accessory no matter what the occasion.

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I loved reading Courtney's answers this week! She had me laughing out loud - as I can totally relate to many of her beauty struggles. One being finding the perfect foundation. 

I want to know if you've found the perfect foundation yet? Do you have a stash of failed foundation attempts sitting at home? Finding the right balance between how makeup feels and sits on your skin, along with the right amount of coverage is a tricky combo to achieve. So I totally get it.

I'd love to hear what you think by filling out the survey (to the left).

Thanks for reading and have a fabulous Friday (and weekend) everyone!

xo
Bree