Mommy Hospital Makeup Bag

Hey, Beautiful Blogosphere!

I wanted to do a quick post for you all about what I am taking to the hospital this time around in regards to makeup. Let's be honest: childbirth isn't the most glamorous thing you will ever do. But take my word for it- it is WITHOUT A DOUBT, ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL! No matter what your tired, bloated, red-faced condition, you are bringing forth life, and there will be few moments if any in life that you are in a more genuinely beautiful condition. Glamorous- no...beautiful-yes.

Still, a little bit of makeup never hurt anyone. (Particularly when there are pictures involved.) While you will more than likely be in a state of overwhelming, exhausted, incredible bliss at the site of your baby, you will be moments away from friends and family snapping pics of you and your little one. I made sure my first time around to wear waterproof mascara during delivery because my blond eyelashes are basically nonexistent without something on them, and I put on a touch of concealer before the family came into the room. I brought along a makeup kit last time, too, for the days after delivery in the hospital with visitors (and their cameras), and ended up using only a few basic essentials. Quite frankly, while you want to look presentable in person and decent in pictures, it isn't the first thing on your mind because...you know...you are bonding with a little human who relies on you completely for everything. So, you are a little preoccupied.

This time around, I am bringing a small bag with just those necessities that I found myself reaching for in the days after delivery. These are items that are quick and easy to apply, look very natural, and helped me feel pulled together during my hospital stay. Here is my makeup survival kit for my hospital stay round 2.

I am using one of my Ipsy bags (awesome $10 to spend each month) because it is small and compact. Last time, I brought a BB Cream by Garnier that I loved for my face. I don't want a full on foundation routine in the hospital, so I find that a lighter, moisturizing alternative is easier. I am a little pale for that product now, so I have a tinted moisturizer by Sonia Kashuk (pick it up at Target). This one feels great, evens out my skintone, and gives a refreshing dose of moisture to the skin. It is a light to medium coverage, but it will help things settle out well. To cover the undereye area that will inevitably start looking dark from lack of sleep within the first 24 hours, I am bringing elf's maximum coverage concealer. This stuff has great coverage, a blendable consistency, and a little bit goes a long way. I may even use this to spot cover if needed. For a natural eye look, I have the NYX eye pallette in natural, BareMinerals Flawless Definition mascara, and a Sonia Kashuk brow pencil in taupe. For lips, I will use an elf lip balm tint in grapefruit, and I will also use this as a blush if needed. I will have a couple of elf brushes in the bag to apply shadow with, but otherwise, most items will be finger application.

Overall, the look I achieve will be simple and natural, and that is just what I want. I am not one to feel the need to look like Miss America post-birth. (Not that there is anything wrong with that...you do whatever makes you feel best.) Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Have a wonderful day, and I hope to hear from some of you soon!

In Christ Alone,
Brittney

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My Little ELF Obsession...

So, anyone who knows me would tell you that I have one serious addiction, and it is to makeup. If you put me in Sephora, I can spend literally HOURS browsing through all of their wonderful, colorful, shimmery, glossy, fantastic goodies! Unfortunately, I have discovered that my adult budget doesn't quite allow for all of the makeup splurges that my high school and college budgets (somehow) did. This has caused me to seriously cut down on the amount of makeup I purchase as well as look for very affordable options for what I do buy.

I am one of the lucky(?) people who has oily skin, and I absolutely MUST have oil-free foundation or my face becomes breakout city. I have tried so many different foundations, but I recently stumbled across one that made my heart so happy because it solved for me a budget problem as well as gave me great results.

So, before this product realization, I had been using the amazing Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation after it was recommended to me by a consultant at Sephora.

Don't get me wrong; this foundation is fantastic! It has an amazing, lightweight feel and keeps oil under control while not making my face feel dried out or look cakey. It is terrific; but on my budget, it is a splurge at (minimum) $43 per bottle. While I liked using it for special occassions and evenings out, I couldn't justify this being my everyday foundation. So, the search continued.


I tried a few drugstore brands, which I mostly peruse at Target. I always noticed a section of very inexpensive makeup by the brand name of ELF, but being so inexpensive, I never thought that its foundations would work well for my picky skin. One day recently, in a pregnant, hormonal fog of feeling "I am looking awful and feeling tired and unattractive," I took the plunge and bought a bottle of ELF's Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain, which is oil and paraben free and cost only $6. Added bonus: it has a built in SPF 15. I was blown away! Not only did it feel just as good on my skin as the Laura Mercier foundation that I love, but it had serious staying power. And, one night when I fell asleep with it on, I woke up with my skin breakout free and still looking really nice. I was SUPER impressed, and I will recommend this foundation to EVERYONE!!

That same day, I went home with several other ELF products. I told you already: My name is Brittney, and I am a makeup-aholic. But at these prices, I can now afford to be one! ;) In addition to the foundation, I came home with an ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink ($3), a Studio Bronzer Palette ($3), and a Tone Correcting Palette ($3) to help cover up some mild rosacea I have on my cheeks. Each of these worked beautifully! The bronzer palette has four different colors in it, and you can combine them in any way you want to make your perfect glow! Use the darker combos for summer, the lighter combos for winter, or swirl it all around for a perfect year-round glow. I also purchased a couple of ELF brushes: the Powder Brush ($3) and the Complexion Brush ($3). Although inexpensive, these brushes feel soft and luxurious and give great coverage and control with applications of blushes, bronzers, and powders.

With all of this talk about how great these products are, I may have to make a pitstop at Target on the way home to try a few more products. I am definitely going to double up on the complexion brush as I like to use it for my loose powder and my bronzer application. If you are a makeup afficianado like I am, definitely look into trying some of the products from this brand! They have my seal of approval! :)

Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
Brittney

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