Weddingbee boards

Hi Miss Key Lime! As a makeup artist (and beauty addict haha) I frequent cosmetic stores and know Sephora carries a wide range of Make Up For Ever products. If you live around a Sephora, I definitely recommend going over to check it out!

As for Smashbox & MAC, I carry both in my kit, and recommendations really depend on what you're planning to buy. For example, I prefer Smashbox's primer to MAC's, but I prefer some of MAC's shadows to Smashbox's. Please describe what you're planning to purchase (such as foundation, lip color, eyeshadow, etc) and I'll be happy to give you some recommendations!

I'm so sorry to hear you don't live near a Sephora =[ I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my beauty stores to go to!

Here are my recommendations based on what you need:

Primer: Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light. I really like this, as I myself have oily skin that can be sensitive at times, and this is light enough that it doesn't irritate my skin. I find applying this really helps to create a smooth & even canvas before I put on the foundation, and have used it on countless clients with good results. Since it is translucent, you can go ahead and purchase it online as you don't need to match the color to your own skin. I've only heard of ladies using Monistat Chafing gel as a primer, so I can't really give you any tips on that unfortunately =[

Foundation: I often use MUFE HD foundation on my clients, but since you don't live near a Sephora, I wouldn't really recommend buying it without finding what your shade is, as you could possibly get the wrong color.. Everyone's computer monitor displays colors differently, so there's always a chance for that. And doing returns and buying a new one is just too much of a hassle IMO.. Another one of my favorite foundations to use on clients is Cinema Secrets & RCMA. These brands are not as well known as MAC, Smashbox, MUFE, etc, but professional artists use them all the time. The best part is you can buy samples of these online from a reputable store to find the perfect match for your skin, and once you find what that is you can buy the full size one. The samples are available here & here. Make sure to dilute them before applying though, as both can be heavy when applied bare.

Powder: I'm currently loving Cargo's Blu-Ray Pressed Powders. These powders are colored, and a lightly dusted layer over foundation helps to minimize oil on your skin. I brush on a light layer whenever my skin starts to get a shiny. Sadly the Blu-Ray line is being discontinued, but it is still available online at retailers like dermstore.com. There are only 4 shades available there, but in this case that's a good thing because you can buy one that you think will be close to your skin color (for example if you are fair skinned pick light). The color doesn't need to be an exact match, as you will only be using it to neutralize the oil on your skin. If you're not used to too much makeup though, even foundation might feel heavy, and the powder will only make you notice it more. If that's the case, I suggest buying oil blotting sheets, and you can use that throughout the day.

Phew that was long~ Please excuse my rambling in some of this, I genuinely hope this helps you out a bit!

I'm just happy to help! We're all ladies here, so I understand that looking good on your special day is very important (: I always say, if I can't go the distance for you physically, at least I can do it metaphorically! & Thank you for the kind words about my site, I'm lucky to have had such amazing models and brides to work with!

Since you'll be visiting the Sephora by your parents' house, you'll be able to check out the MUFE foundations! YAY (: Also if you're interested in Cargo's Blu-Ray powders I mentioned, you can ask the sales rep if they have any more. I know for awhile they were on sale for only $15 (normally $30-$35), and that's a steal for such a good powder! It's all sold out on the Sephora site, but the store you're visiting might have some still (: Good luck and happy shopping! Let us know how it goes!