Product Criteria

What I Look For In Makeup For Personal Everyday Use

When I buy makeup or beauty products for personal everyday use, I like to keep a few criteria in mind.

Criteria

1. Affordable:

2. Easily Available:

3. Effortless Application:

4. Wearable:

Overall Beauty for Everyone Rating: 1 star for each criteria met.

1. Is it affordable? $65 for a blush palette is fine for my kit, but I could never justify such a splurge for something I wouldn't actually use very often. I wouldn't reccomend it to my friends either. For personal use I like to keep it under $15, unless I am actually treating myself, or it really will last forever.

2. How easy is it to find? Can I purchase it on a whim? If I didn't do makeup, going to Sephora or ULTA, Frends Beauty Supply, or even shopping on line might actually be a big hassle, not to mention overwhelming. My favorite hassle fee time to shop for things on a whim is when I am already there. I look for items on sale while waiting for a prescription at CVS or take a detour into the beauty isles at Target when I go pick up trash bags or toilet paper. If I have to make a special trip for it, well it's not that hassle free.

3. How easy is it to use and/or apply? I own a lot of makeup and a lot of brushes, but not everyone does. And honestly, sometimes I just don't want to be bothered with it. I look for products I can fit into my everyday 10min makeup routine. These are products I will usually put on while sitting at my vanity, but I can also toss in my bag if I am in a rush, or put on in the car just before going into work. I tend to lean towards the more sheer side, since it is more forgiving when the application needs to be very quick. But sometimes minimal and bold works too. For makeup, it needs to last to lunch, but not through it. If it rubs right off, fades, or just plain vanishes in an hour, it is probably not that great. I don't really have time for touch-ups every hour at work, but I don't mind a little maintenance at lunch. I very rarely do touch-ups at work, but I like knowing it is in my bag if I decide I want to.

4. How wearable is it? Do I like it enough to work into my everyday look? There are plenty of products I love, but are not really appropriate to wear to work. A slight iridescence is ok. but anything too sparkly or shimmery is is little too overdone for the office. (For my office anyway- I work in education). You don't want to look too made-up or like you are wearing the same makeup from your previous night out.

And now for some reviews...