Sammi the Beauty Buff: The Beauty Lover Tag

Hi, friends! I've missed you this week! Between a wonky work schedule and then getting sick, things have been a little hectic around here.

Today's post is a fun little questionnaire (or "tag") that any beauty lover can relate to. I was tagged by the wonderful Lauren of Little Blushing Birdie to do this not too long ago, so I figured it was time I gave it a go. If you haven't visited her blog before, reading her answers might give you a better idea of who she is. ;) But enough about that--let's get to the good stuff!

If you could have anyone in the world do your makeup, who would it be?

Ve Neill! If you don't know who she is, she's been doing makeup for film since the 1970s, and she's all kinds of crazy talented. She worked on Beetlejuice in the '80s, and she's the one who turned Robin Williams into a woman in Mrs. Doubtfire. I don't care what she turns me into, but I want her to work her magic on my face!

What's your top makeup tip?

I would say: don't stress. Honestly, no one is going to care about your makeup as much as you do. Few people will even get as close a look at your face as you will when you're applying your makeup to begin with. They'll just see the big picture: your beautiful face! Besides, makeup is supposed to be fun!

What one makeup item could you not live without?

I'm going to go ahead and say undereye concealer. Ever since I was little, I've had reasonably dark circles under my eyes. I can't battle my poor genetics by drinking more water or getting more sleep (though both are good to do anyway), so I settle for working on the offensive by applying makeup over the top of them. A favorite concealer of mine for this is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Brightener ($9). Despite the long name, this product is a cult-favorite in the online beauty community, and with good reason: it really works! I highly recommend it as a drugstore option if you're looking for something in a peachy tone to brighten up and cancel out blue-toned undereye circles. It color-corrected before color correcting was cool.

What one skincare item could you not live without?

Moisturizer! My face gets tight and dry if I go without, especially after washing my face, so it's a must-have for me. Right now I'm using Marcelle's Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel ($25) at night and I'm really liking it so far. It's a gel consistency, making it great for oily, normal, or combination skin types. I consider myself to lean a little on the dry side, but partnered with an oil or serum underneath, this works perfectly for me.

Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel

What are you worst at when it comes to applying makeup?

Probably eyeliner, especially liquid eyeliner. I lack the patience (and the steady hand) to get a perfect line across my eye on the first pass. I usually have to go back and do some tweaking. It's also why I typically wear my eyeliner smudged-out--it gives a softer look, and requires way less precision!

What's your biggest pet peeve when it comes to beauty?

Probably the tendency for people to escalate trends to infinity. I suppose this happens with just about everything (if you really like something, you obsess over it. I get it) but it seems like there must be some secret coalition of beauty YouTubers and Instagrammers I don't know about, because they all do the same look. Sometimes I'll look through an Instagram feed and see nothing but look after look using the same strong contour and Sharpie brows. Everyone should do their makeup the way they want, but I just feel like makeup is an artistry and that there are too many different methods and looks out there for everyone to be doing the same thing. I get where they're coming from, but I still wish there was a little more diversity in the online beauty community nowadays.

What's your favorite makeup era?

I really like the fresh-faced look of the '70s. Glowing skin, neutral makeup, clean skin. Not so much the disco-style glitter, but other than that I thing it's gorgeous!

The '80s was a hot mess, but I admire their ability to have fun with their makeup. It was a lot of bold colors partnered with even bolder colors. In today's makeup, there are some things that are "taboo" (all-over blue eyeshadow as seen on Mimi in The Drew Carey Show ) but back then it seems like everything was fair game. It was definitely out there, but I'm glad they had a good time!

What's your guilty pleasure product?

Right now? Probably By Terry's Baume de Rose Lip & Nail Balm because it's a $60 lip balm. It's so unnecessary, honestly. It makes the Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm seem like a bargain product at $28. But I love the way it makes my lips feel and the way it smells. I don't know what I'm going to do when this sample runs out.

By Terry Baume De Rose Lip & Nail Balm

What's your underdog product?

I use the eyeshadow primer from my NYC Union Square Palette all the time. It's just a little pan tucked into a $5 eyeshadow palette, but it works so well. I use it on my eyelids as well as under my eyes to prep for concealer, and it really does the trick! I like that it also offers a bit of coverage, so if the shade is somewhere around your skin tone, I think it's especially handy.

If you have super oily eyelids, I don't know if it will prevent creasing for you, but I find that my eyeshadow (and concealer) last all day over this. Once in a blue moon, I'll also use the eyeshadows in the palette (you know, the true purpose of an eyeshadow palette), but 99% of the time I just pull it out for the primer. It's a fantastic drugstore option if you're on a budget and don't have a major problem with creasing.

What was your favorite makeup product of 2015?

I can only pick just one? I have a whole blog post on my 2015 Makeup Favorites! Since you're twisting my arm, I guess I can choose. One product that stands out to me from 2015 is the Laura Geller Cool Lids Cream Eyeshadows ($19). They go on almost like water, feeling cool and wet for the first few seconds before they dry. They come in six gorgeous, metallic colors, and I want all of them. I waxed poetic about the shade Silver Sands in my Favorites post above. If you want to see a swatch, you can check out my Birchbox review, which was the way I originally discovered them!

Alright, I tag Simply Stine, Glamour & Giggles, From My Vanity, and Beauty Beyond the Scale, and ALL OF YOU! Tag me on Facebook or Instagram, or tweet me (@sammipenni) your answers! Feel free to comment an answer or two down below as well. I can't wait to read them!

What's your guilty pleasure beauty product?