I like to use the following (keep in mind I'm naturally darker/medium skin tone, thanks to my Native American heritage):
face: Revlon Colorstay foundation. To me, it works better than several higher end brands that I've tried. This stuff doesn't budge and it comes in both an oily/combo and dry skin formulation. LOTS of colors too which is nice if you have darker skin. I also use a translucent HD face powder by Make-Up Forever which I love. It feels like silk on the skin.
eyes: I usually go to the same 2 or 3 looks for eyes, depending on if I'm dancing smooth or rhythm. I use Urban Decay Primer Potion under every time and my shadows don't budge (and I sweat alot so that's saying something), MAC shadows, Milani has nice shadows, a few NYX shadows, Urban Decay and NYX glitter liners (I will use glitter liners in place of actual glitter. It is sooooo much easier to use. I just dab some over the lid area and pat around with a ring finger. Voila! Gitter lids with no mess). I use Maybelline Studio Secrets gel liner. I love this stuff and the brush that comes with it is actually not too bad. I prefer a small angled brush but this would work if say... you forgot your eyeliner and had to run to the drugstore lol. I use Ardell lashes and Duo glue (in the dark tone). I also use MAC kohl pencil in white for my water line and between the wings of my liner. If I want a really strong definition, I will sometimes use it just under my eyebrows. Then put shimmer white shawdow over the white liner and it stays all day. IMO, the best thing you can do to achieve great eye makeup is invest in some great brushes. They literally do all the work for you and make application a breeze.
cheeks: I LOVE Nars blushes. The colors are fabulous and super pigmented. They last a long time and they have good colors for my skin tone. I also recently found a great cheek highlighter that has been my go to one recently. It is by Urban Decay. It is actually a cream highlighter and I was a little skeptical at first. But it works well and is really easy to apply. It looks beautiful. I also have a mineralized skin finish my MAC that I use sometimes too, but the UD one is easier I think.
lips: I really hate colored lips on me, so this is probably one of my least known areas of makeup. I always wear a nude lip in "real life", either lipsticks or gloss but always a nude or slightly rosy or peach hue. So I have trouble picking brighter lipsticks to dance in. I have had good success with a couple of Mary Kay shades (they look nice and bright but still flatter my skin tone, and they last). I also use Revlon matte and superlustrious lipsticks as well with decent lasting power. I think I will do as suggested above and try some of the lip stains though. I'd like to see exactly what kind of color payoff and selection they have. We'll see how that goes.
face: Revlon Colorstay foundation. To me, it works better than several higher end brands that I've tried. This stuff doesn't budge and it comes in both an oily/combo and dry skin formulation. LOTS of colors too which is nice if you have darker skin. I also use a translucent HD face powder by Make-Up Forever which I love. It feels like silk on the skin.
eyes: I usually go to the same 2 or 3 looks for eyes, depending on if I'm dancing smooth or rhythm. I use Urban Decay Primer Potion under every time and my shadows don't budge (and I sweat alot so that's saying something), MAC shadows, Milani has nice shadows, a few NYX shadows, Urban Decay and NYX glitter liners (I will use glitter liners in place of actual glitter. It is sooooo much easier to use. I just dab some over the lid area and pat around with a ring finger. Voila! Gitter lids with no mess). I use Maybelline Studio Secrets gel liner. I love this stuff and the brush that comes with it is actually not too bad. I prefer a small angled brush but this would work if say... you forgot your eyeliner and had to run to the drugstore lol. I use Ardell lashes and Duo glue (in the dark tone). I also use MAC kohl pencil in white for my water line and between the wings of my liner. If I want a really strong definition, I will sometimes use it just under my eyebrows. Then put shimmer white shawdow over the white liner and it stays all day. IMO, the best thing you can do to achieve great eye makeup is invest in some great brushes. They literally do all the work for you and make application a breeze.
cheeks: I LOVE Nars blushes. The colors are fabulous and super pigmented. They last a long time and they have good colors for my skin tone. I also recently found a great cheek highlighter that has been my go to one recently. It is by Urban Decay. It is actually a cream highlighter and I was a little skeptical at first. But it works well and is really easy to apply. It looks beautiful. I also have a mineralized skin finish my MAC that I use sometimes too, but the UD one is easier I think.
lips: I really hate colored lips on me, so this is probably one of my least known areas of makeup. I always wear a nude lip in "real life", either lipsticks or gloss but always a nude or slightly rosy or peach hue. So I have trouble picking brighter lipsticks to dance in. I have had good success with a couple of Mary Kay shades (they look nice and bright but still flatter my skin tone, and they last). I also use Revlon matte and superlustrious lipsticks as well with decent lasting power. I think I will do as suggested above and try some of the lip stains though. I'd like to see exactly what kind of color payoff and selection they have. We'll see how that goes.
