Sunshine, Warmth, and Sandy Toes... Well we can pretend

This time every year I start getting a little antsy for sunshine, warmth, and the feeling of sand beneath my toes.  After a vacation to Florida, and a week of unseasonably warm March weather in New England, well let's just say that the itch for summer winds has increased tenfold as the temperatures have plummeted back down to a chilly 44 degrees.  With that being said, I've been inspired to create a uber natural, warm, sun kissed look... without overdoing it.  Let's face it, as winter drags on, skin can reach a certain shade of paleness that creates a thin line between bronze-goddess and muddy cake face.

Long story short: If you can't lay out on the beach somewhere with an umbrella embellished drink, you might as well at least look the part.

To start:  a clean face is a must for this look, preferably after a little, minor exfoliation to remove the dullness.

• Apply a good moisturizer and let in sink in fully.  I'm partial to Clinique's "Dramatically Different" moisturizer.  It's clean, scentless, and non-irritating.  Makes your skin look moisturized and glowy. 
• For a little sheer coverage I do a layer of Aveeno's Tinted Moisturizer, (I know, I know, we just did a layer of moisturizer, but I find this gives you coverage without looking too make-upy - * If you're oily, you may want to skip the first moisturizer) and let that set.
• Then I dab just a touch of Covergirl's Natureluxe Foundation on my forehead, chin, and each cheek and blend.  This gives me a little more coverage where I need it.  You can use what you want, I personally like this foundation because it's super light, a nice cross between a standard foundation and a sheer coverage.  Whatever you choose, it's important to use only a touch of it.  Remember the idea is to look natural.  You just want to enhance what your mama gave you. 
• If your eyes are looking sleepy or dark, just a touch of under eye concealer on the interior corners, should do the trick.  Sweep on a powder to set.

Now for the good stuff: 

• I do a light dusting of theBalm's Bahama Mama (the name is just yummy isn't it?) just on the spots where the sun naturally touches the skin - the cheeks, chin, tip of the nose, slightly along the jawline, etc.  This is a great, high quality bronzer... a nice deep camel color that I find to be flattering on many skin tones.  TAP your brush before application!  I cannot stress this enough. 
• Then you sweep just a touch of theBalms Hot Mama blush on the apples of the cheeks... this is a peachy, slightly shimmery blush that really brightens up the complexion.  Instant fox-i-tude... I promise.

The eyes:  I mixed a few colors to create the shade I wanted.

• I swept theBalm ShadyLady eyeshadow in Shameless Shana (a pretty pinky-bronze) on the lids, with Mischevious Marissa on the brow bone.  To finish, I lightly applied the same Hot Mama blush that I swept on my cheeks, over my lids.  The result is a golden pink shade that makes the eyes pop.  I also lined it around my eyes.  Subtle and pretty... kind of the "anti-smokey eye".

Finish your look:
I am currently obsessed with MAC Surf, Baby! Lipglass Strange Potion.  I picked up a tube while I was at a cosmetic outlet outside of Ft. Myers... what a gem!  Now, it's not a current collection (came out in summer of 2011-limited edition) but I did some web surfing and discovered that it is more than easy to purchase a brand-spankin'-new tube of this gloss from several online vendors.  Actually, you can find *most* of this collection online.  It really is fab: a pink coral non-sticky gloss  in a fabulous cream, orange, teal, and yellow beachy tube, adorned with a hibiscus flower.  Let's face it...just looking at the packaging can brighten anyone's spirits.  This gloss has great pigmentation and is wearable and flattering for many skin tones.


Previous reviews for reference: http://beautyconfessions5.blogspot.com/2011/03/natureluxe-my-new-love.html