I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my blog and what I want to do with it recently. I know that I’ve definitely established it as a blog about writing and books thus far, but as anyone can tell, I haven’t had much consistency in that venture. It’s not that I don’t love writing or books- on the contrary, they’re a huge part of me and my identity. But there are a lot of other things I’m passionate about, and every time I look at my blog, all I can think is that if I only post writing-related things, I’m just creating a persona. I believe very strongly in the importance of maintaining some degree of integrity using social media, and so I’ve decided to introduce a few new features to round this baby out.

Today, I’m proud to present my first “Makeup Monday.”

Trust me. The irony of achieving integrity by posting about makeup is not lost on me. But frankly, despite popular misconceptions, no one topic is inherently shallow or one-dimensional. Makeup is a huge passion of mine and plays a big role in my life and the way I present myself, and it’s something I really want to share on my blog.

On this feature, I will be discussing favourite products, favourite trends, and favourite techniques within the makeup world. This is still in an experimental phase, of course, so there may be some surprises (hair product reviews, perhaps?), but I’m really excited to get started and can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks!

Alex’s 10 Makeup Commandments

To kick off this party, I’ve decided to tell you guys a bit about my make-up bible; that is to say, the ten makeup products that I live, die, and swear by. Without further ado, here we go!

(actually, before we start, I want to put it out there that I’ve been in no way asked to endorse any products)

10th Commandment: Ceralip Lip Repair Cream

I know, I know, this isn’t technically makeup, but this product is my winter skin lord and saviour. I suffer from some incredibly chapped lips (only made worse by the fact that I have to live through Canadian winters), and I have tried dozens if not hundreds of chap sticks, lip balms, and repair creams in my day. This one is far and above the best product to ever touch my lips. Apply a generous amount right before bed, be careful not to rub or lick it off in the night, and wake up with the smoothest lips you could ever have imagined. Your lips will never betray you again.

9th Commandment: Naked Palette

If the only eye shadows I could ever use for the rest of my life had to come from this palette, I would have no objections whatsoever. This thing is a miracle. You can choose from three different palettes depending on what neutrals look best on your skin: gold tones (Naked), silver tones (Naked 2), or rose-gold tones (Naked 3). They even have a smaller “Naked Basics” palette. Personally, I just use Naked, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t be perfectly happy with any other members of the collection.

8th Commandment: Sephora Pro Airbrush #55

This brush, you guys. THIS BRUSH. I haven’t even been using it very long, and it is so far ahead of any other foundation brush I have ever used that it’s honestly laughable. I have a terrible problem with getting streak marks when I apply foundation, and that has never been an issue since I started using this brush. Even better? It’s so soft and smooth, you don’t want to remove it from your face even after you’re done with your foundation routine. It’s just that wonderful.

7th Commandment: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Who needs fancy designer lipsticks when these are on the market? They come in a ridiculous range of colors, they last for-freaking-ever, they moisturise your lips, and they’re super easy to apply; no need to worry about random tooth stains.

6th Commandment: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

I confess: I’m usually a foundation type of girl. I like a pretty full coverage, and nothing makes me feel more in control than wielding the perfect blending blush. So I don’t always use BB cream. But when I do, which one I’m going to use is never in question. This stuff is soft, moisturising, evens out your skin, and even has SPF. This stuff really is a girl’s best friend.

5th Commandment: Stila Stay-All-Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

I learned how to apply eyeliner using this stuff, and I have not yet been able to find it’s match. Before this product came into my life, I could not get a straight line on my lid and was on the verge of losing an eye due to the number of times I managed to stab myself during the torturous process. The control this product offers you, the ease with which it glides on, the amazing ability you gain to wing out eyeliner as soon as this stick is in your hand, it all leads to the same conclusion: this product is an absolute lifesaver. Or, at least, an absolute eye-saver. Whether you’re just learning to use eyeliner, still struggling to master the techniques, or a seasoned expert in the art of painting lines on the tip of your eyelid, I recommend this eyeliner so, so, so much.  Trust me: you will not regret it.

4th Commandment: NARS Orgasm Blush

This is the best-selling blush in the world, and with good reason. It is quite genuinely universally flattering- I’ve never seen it look bad on a single person. Every single time one of my friends has finished applying makeup and found the result lacking, a tiny dab of Orgasm was all that was needed to achieve perfection. I’m still in shock to this day at how ridiculously effective this stuff is. The universal pink tone and the spatter of gold sparkles manage to illuminate the face of every person who wears it, and I genuinely struggle to look at any other blushes when I know that I have this baby waiting for me at home. When a product is so good it actually prevents you from impulse buying, you know it’s true love.

3rd Commandment: Benefit “Watt’s Up!” Highlighter

It took me a pretty long time to figure out highlighter, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I used to try to contour using pale eye shadows (don’t judge me too harshly), and until I got this as a free sample, I didn’t have a clue how much my makeup would improve with just the tiniest touch of illumination. I suggest rubbing this stuff between your fingers before putting in on your face- applying it straight from the stick makes it harder to blend. It can take a few tries to figure out how to make this product best work for you, but once you get the hang of it, there’s no going back. The good news? A little of this stuff goes a really long way- I’m still on that sample tube I got almost a year ago. There are a lot of products that run out ridiculously, unnaturally quickly, but this is not one of them.

2nd Commandment: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeliner

I quite literally use this eyeliner every single day of my entire life. Even when I wear black liner, I tend to put at least a bit of this stuff on, whether underneath or in the corner of my eye. I apply it with a little gel brush, and believe me, the results are consistently spectacular. It glides on like a dream, and due to the need for a brush to apply it with, ends up giving you amazing amounts of control. I am, undeniably, in love with it.

1st Commandment: Benefit “They’re Real!” Mascara

I’m at a genuine loss for words as to how to describe the sheer miracle of makeup that this product is. Your lashes go on forever, thick but not clumped and sensuous but not trashy, and only need a tiny bit compared to what you need from other brands to achieve similar, but still vastly inferior, results. This stuff means never needing fake lashes again. This stuff means business.

Well, there you have it, folks! My 10 Commandments of make-up. I hope they were helpful!

What are your make-up or skin care must-haves? Have you used any of the products listed above?