Make-up Essentials....My favorite picks....

So, I've been really busy the past few months, working on the new issue of Regard Magazine and doing hair and make-up for an up-coming reality series (with a few Red Carpets sprinkled in). This has been a great few months, though, because I love to be busy!  The next issue of Regard Magazine Issue 8 (available onliine on June 15) is on fire so here are a few behind the scenes from the shoots we did with Blogger, Fashionista and YouTube sensation  Dulce Candy and Actress Claire Coffee (who is in the new TNT show, "Franklin and Bash.")

                                             Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8

                                                Val and Dulce Candy for RegardMag.com Issue 8

                                         Val and Claire Coffee for RegardMag.com Issue 8

Since I've been doing so much make-up, I wanted to share some of my favorite go-to products that I love to use. Many are drug store brands (I'm a big fan of many of them) but all are essentials in my kit.

For Face: I've never really liked primers until I tried this one by Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics... It leaves the skin soft and silky and makes foundation application a breeze.

Celestine Signature Color Cosmetics

Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder is a great a great finishing powder that can be worn over foundation or alone as a light base.  I love the texture of this powder and the colors include colors for golden toned skin.

Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder

P.S. I found out about Maybelline's Fit Me Pressed Powder from the fabulous Ms. Loretta Devine when I did her for the May cover shoot for Ebony.  She wanted to know if the powder that she just bought was a good choice and when I tried it, I loved it. Thanks, Ms. Loretta....

My favorite trick for creating amazing cheek bones is to use a highlighter at the top of the cheek bone.  This one by The Balm is amazing because it has a fine gold shimmer that works on any skin tone. You can also use it to highlight under the eyebrow or as a shadow base.  

                                                  Hot Mama highlighter by The Balm

Eyes: 

I almost always use fake eyelashes when I do make-up so I don't know which mascara works the best on natural lashes.  But my favorite mascara for my kit is Maybelline's Volum Express Classic.  It really plumps up the added lashes and makes them look really fabulous. 

                                                  Maybelline's Volum Express Classic Mascara

I usually use gel liner because it stays put when it dries but lately I've been mixing in a little liquid liner (Thanks to a tip from Dulce Candy) from Wet n Wild for a more dramatic look. 

                                                              Wet n Wild Liquid Eyeliner

Lips: 

I am really a fan of using a lip liner, filling in the lips with the color and then using a gloss on top.  Most pencils are thin but I love the jumbo lip pencils that are sort of a lipstick and pencil in one.  One of my favorites is the Elf Studio Matte Lip Color. They are a great for lining and as a base under any lip gloss color.

                                                               Elf Studio Matte Lip Color

I love mixing lip glosses to get unusual colors and I love color with lots of shine.  So some of my favorite glosses are the Diamond Sparkle Lip Glosses from NYX Cosmetics. They have  a smooth moisturizing texture and lots of shine.

                                                              Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss

I also love the Celestine Signature Lip Gloss Trio.  Great color and shine without being sticky.

                                                    Celestine Lip Gloss Trio