Back in October we discussed How Much is Too Much when it comes to having way too much of things like makeup and clothes. Many makeup-fiends (like myself) have a stash of products so large that sometimes you forget what you have in there. Or if you’re like me and have been wearing the same makeup look to work for the past 3 months (I am sooo not a morning person so I go for what’s quick and routine), then I propose a challenge: wear at least one item from your stash everyday for a month! Not only will this force you to get creative, but it will also show some love to those forgotten products in your kit.

The challenge starts TODAY! All you have to do is post what you’re wearing today and what item from your stash got shown some love. You can even upload a pic of your look from your computer right in the comments section. We’ll keep all the looks for this month in this post so it’s all in one neat place. I’ll bookmark this post on the sidebar so all you have to do is click on the “Shop Your Stash Challenge” image and you’ll automatically be redirected here. This will be so much fun! Hey, you might even get some product ideas from what others have posted. But for this to work, everybody has to really get in the spirit and comment (especially you lurkers out there–don’t think I don’t see you in my site hits…lol)

And here’s some incentive for you to keep the looks coming–the person who participates the most in the challenge by posting looks comments (extra points for image uploads) throughout the month will win their choice of one of these cute makeup organizers from Target (up to a $40 value) to keep your stash all stashed in! International beauties are also welcome to enter.

How to comment:

So post those looks–I’ll even jump in on the fun!

Actress Nia Long was recently spotted looking absolutely gorgeous in neutral makeup at the In Style magazine Summer Soiree. What gives this “I’m naturally this beautiful” look a subtle “pop” is the bright (yet still subdued) color on the cheeks. Here’s the breakdown on how to get her look:

1. Great makeup looks start with great skin. Be sure to properly cleanse and moisturize your skin. (See The Skinny on Skin Care, Are You Taking Good Care of Your Brown Skin?, and Get Gorgeous Skin). Using a foundation primer like Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (try this for dry skin or this for oily skin) will help to “fill in” any fine lines and helps give your makeup a smooth foundation.

2. To get skin really looking gorgeous, apply a sheer highlight like Yves Saint Laurent Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancer in a shade that closely matches your skin tone with either a foundation brush or makeup wedge. If you need more coverage, first apply a liquid foundation like MAC Studio Fix Fluid and then apply a light coating of Complexion Enhancer. Set face products with a loose powder like Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder or Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.

3. Make sure your brows are properly groomed. They are the key to a fabulous face. See Get Beautiful Brows.

4. To make your eyes look alluring like Nia’s, first start out with an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion. An eyeshadow primer helps to smooth out any creases on the eye lids and helps eyeshadow last longer. Next apply an eyeshadow in a color similar to your skin tone to the lid. Then apply an eyeshadow a shade or two darker to the crease. Next apply a shade two to three shades lighter than your skin tone on your brow bone. For eyeshadow colors for your skin tone, check out MAC Eyeshadow Guide.

Line your eyes with a waterproof black eyeliner pencil like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Mat Black (this stuff is wonderful because your eyeliner will stay put ALL day even on the waterline). Apply two coats of mascara (I love Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara and Maybelline Lash Stiletto). For even bigger bolder lashes, check out How to Get Luxurious Lashes.

To brighten under the eyes or to fake a full night’s sleep, be sure to apply Yves Saint Laurent Touce Éclat in a shade that closely matches your skin tone to the area.

5. To keep neutral makeup from looking too washed out, a touch of color is needed. Grab NARS Blush in Taos and dust it lightly on your cheeks with an angled blush brush for a beautiful rosy-coral glow. Also see Blush 101.

6. Dress your lips in a neutral tone gloss. If you’re a dark skin girl like Nia, try MAC Lustreglass in Trance Plant. Fair skin, try MAC Lipstick in Blankety; medium skin try MAC Lipstick in Creme D’ Nude; olive toned skin try MAC Lipstick in Half N’ Half. Bobbi Brown also has a wide assortment of nude lip colors for all skin tones.

7. After your makeup is all done, spritz your face with MAC Fix + Spray. This genius stuff will help to set makeup, revive your makeup after a few hours, and help avoid the dreaded “cake face” look. Plus it feels really great on hot days.

8. Go forth and be gorgeous!

What are some of your favorite makeup looks? Tell me in the comments!

Lipstick Jungle star Lindsay Price was recently seen in this gorgeous makeup look at a MAC Cosmetics and V Magazine party in celebration of the new Hello Kitty Collection. The great thing about this look is that it can be flattering on a wide range of skin tones and eye shapes.

To start, try a mineral foundation like MAC for light coverage that allows freckles like Lindsay’s to shine through. Try MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation Loose.

Next, apply a sheer bright pink blush on the apples of the cheeks. Try MAC Blush in Dollymix or Mineralize Blush in Love Thing.

Next, apply an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion to the eye lids. Then line eyes with a black eyeliner pencil like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Mat Black. Take an angled eyeshadow brush and smudge the liner. Then dip the angled eyeshadow brush into a matte black eyeshadow (try MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon) and “wing” the eyeshadow at the corners of your eyes. Don’t worry about getting it too perfect for this look because next you will blend the eyeshadow like it owed you money. Use a blending brush like MAC #224. Then apply a few coats of mascara.

Last, apply a sheer pink gloss to the lips like MAC Cremesheen Glass in Petite Indulgence.

Ms. ‘5 time Grammy-nominated singer’ Jazmine Sullivan recently released the video for “Lions, Tigers, & Bears” off her self-titled debut album. Not only am I loving the song and the video, but I am absolutely loving her makeup! So I thought it would be fitting to do a recreate on this hot look which is completely flattering on various skin tones.

FACE:
1. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize skin as usual.

2. Apply a foundation primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

3. Apply a satin finish foundation like NARS Balanced Foundation. Set the foundation with a loose powder like Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder.

4. Give the face a few spritzes of MAC Fix+ Spray to ensure a finish that looks like real skin.

EYES:
1. Apply an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion all over the eyelids.

2. Apply a lilac matte eyeshadow shade all over the bottom lid. Try MAC Eyeshadow in Purple Haze.

3. Apply a frosty pinkish-purple shade on top of the matte shade. Try MAC Eyeshadow in Parfait Amour.

4. Apply a pinkish beige eyeshadow on the brow bone. Try MAC Eyeshadow in Grain.

5. Using a pencil brush, apply a shimmery silver shadow to the inner corners of the eye and under the bottom lash line. Try MAC Eyeshadow in Electra.

6. Line both the top and bottom of eyes (just the top if your eyes are on the smaller side) extending the line a bit past the outer corner. Try Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner in Mat Black.

7. Apply dramatic false eyelashes (trim them to fit the length of your eye) with lash glue. Try MAC #37 Lash with Duo Adhesive Glue in Black.

CHEEKS:

1. Apply a matte pink blush like NARS Blush in Desire.

2. Top the cheekbones with a highlighter like NARS Blush in Albatross.

LIPS:

1. Make sure lips are properly exfoliated and moisturized. You can exfoliate the lips by rubbing a clean toothbrush over them and then top with Chapstick.

2. Apply a lavender creme lipstick like MAC Up the Amp Lipstick. Smudge the lipstick either with a lip brush or your fingers.

3. Top the lipstick with a pale pearl gloss like MAC Lustreglass in Morning Glory.

And here’s the video:

You can get makeup as pretty as Heidi Klum’s in the picture above in about 5 minutes! Yep–women of all shades can follow this quick and easy routine for beauty in a hurry. You’ll never have to leave the house without beating that face first!

1. Be sure to cleanse and moisturize face according to your skin type. Don’t forget to use a moisturizer with at least SPF 15.

2. Apply an emollient foundation like MAC Studio Tech only in areas where you need it. What I love about MAC Studio Tech is that it works on all skin types and a little goes a long way to cover blemishes with a beautiful finish. Lightly dust a loose powder like Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder to set the foundation. I love Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder because it’s jet milled so that it provides coverage, but lets beautiful skin shine through so you don’t look “powdery”.

3. Apply a light dusting of NARS Blush in your favorite shade. NARS Blush is highly pigmented and comes in shades to fit every skin tone. To figure out which blush shade is for you, check out our previous post on Blush 101. Blush is an important component to every makeup look because it not only helps to define the face, it allows makes skin look more vibrant and alert.

4. Now let’s bring those beautiful eyes out! First apply an eyeshadow base like Urban Decay Primer Potion. UD Primer Potion not only makes eyeshadow look more vivid, but it also prevents creasing and allows for all-day wear of your favorite shadow. Next, apply a quick dusting of eyeshadow like MAC Eye Shadow in a shade close to your skin tone all over the bottom lid. Then apply a shade two to three shades lighter than the crease shade on your brow bone. Apply a black (or brown if you have light colored hair) liner like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner as close to the lash line as possible and follow with a few coats of mascara (try Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point). For tips on eye makeup, check out our series All About Eyes.

5. Give your pout some attention. Apply a gloss like MAC Lipglass.

6. You’re almost done! Spritz a few sprays of MAC Fix+ Spray to finish your look. Fix+ not only helps to refresh makeup throughout the day, but it also helps to keep things in place AND prevents that cakey makeup look.

Last but not least, blow a kiss at your foxy self and you’re out the door

See also:
Makeup for Dark Skin Girls
Makeup for Olive Toned Skin
Makeup Tricks
Makeup Brushes 101
Skin 101
Foundation 101