If you're a beauty product lover like me, you know how difficult it can be to decide which products are most essential to pack on a trip, throw in your bag for touch-ups, or get rid of when you're running out of space. Honestly, I follow the same rule for beauty products that I follow for clothes; you only get rid of them to make room for more. Luckily, I have Professional Stylist, Jaimie Maynor's help when it comes to narrowing down my must-have products.
JM Artistry the Salon
Jaimie is the owner of a local full-service salon, JM Artistry the Salon. She is phenomenal at what she does and has done my hair and makeup for all of my Brand Ambassador appearances, commercials, and photoshoots.
On a recent two-part Living Local Carolina Segment, Jaimie did my makeup on camera for viewers so that she could give them different makeup tips and techniques as she walked them through the application process.
Jaimie used many different products on the segment, but I had her narrow it down to her top 5 must-haves. As a professional stylist, Jaimie uses many high-end products on her clients, but she gave me some of her favorite "drug store" brands that are more affordable ways to create similar looks. Below, I've listed save and splurge brands for each of Jaimie's must-have products.
Foundation
Even if you have the perfect complexion, and let's face it, the vast majority of us do not, foundation is a necessary base for any makeup look. Not only does it even out skin tone, reduce the visibility of pores, and hides blemishes and fine lines, it acts as a perfect barrier against pollutions and toxins in the environment.
Save: Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation
Splurge: Lancome Tient Idole Ultra Wear 24H Long Wear Foundation
Concealer
The last year has been stressful, to say the least, and if you're like me, stress means under-eye circles and breakouts. There's no better way to hide these unwanted occurrences and brighten up your face than with a great concealer.
Save: Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer
Splurge: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Bronzer
Once you've got gotten your skin perfected to a nice base with foundation and concealer, it's time to go back in with bronzer to add color and definition. You should add bronzer to the places on your face with natural shadows, such as under your cheekbones, jawline, and temples; this will give you a naturally sculpted look.
Save: Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder
Splurge: Benefit Cosmetics-Hoola Matte Bronzer
Eyebrows
Not only are great eyebrows super trendy right now, but they're also a great way to add structure to your face and frame your eyes. Although there are a lot of different eyebrow trends, Jaimie recommends following the natural shape and color of your brows when you fill them to accentuate your natural beauty.
Save: Morphe Micro Brow Pencil
Splurge: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Mascara
They say that our eyes are the windows to our soul, and there's no better way to make those babies pop than with a little mascara. The right mascara can transform your lashes, making them look long and voluminous. However, the wrong mascara can get EVERYWHERE and end up clumpy. Check out Jaimie's suggestions below.
Save: Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara
Splurge: Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara
Lips
I like to think of lips as the finishing touch to any look. If you're feeling fun and sassy, you could try a bold lip or a shiny gloss to really draw attention to them; just make sure the shade you choose compliments your skin tone. It's also super important to have an everyday shade that goes well with your complexion and brings a bit of color to your face.
Save: NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss
Splurge: NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment
Bonus: Skincare
Makeup is a great way to accentuate your natural beauty, but you should always accompany it with good skincare. Learning to apply your makeup correctly is super important, but if you're going to put it on, you must know how to take it off.
"A makeup wipe is not enough," says Jaimie.
She recommends everyone use a daily cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. And even if you're not wearing makeup, it's always a good idea to practice cleaning your face and taking care of your skin.
