Ask Kara: Should Your Lipliner Match Or Contrast With Your Lipstick?

At 28, which overnight and anti-aging facial products do you recommend? I have sensitive skin and am prone to breakouts, so I’m worried that sleeping with formulas on will encourage breakouts.

If you have sensitive skin, I recommend Alchimie Forever’s Kantic Calming Evening Cream which not only renews skin while you sleep, but also calms redness caused by irritation or rosacea. The best part? It’s perfect for those with sensitive skin (thanks its blueberry and grape seed ingredients). If you’re on a budget (and just for the sake of another option), I also like Yes to Carrots C Through the Night, Night Moisturizing Cream. This $15 cream will not only keep your skin hydrated but also protect you from the dirt and oil you attract during the night. And don’t forget to cleanse when you wake up in the morning! Leaving product on your face and not cleansing in the morning can cause breakouts too.

Should your lip liner match or contrast with your lipstick? 

Unless you’re looking for a dark lip pencil/light lipstick look (probably one of the worst beauty trends of all time), your best bet is to match your lip liner with your lipstick. Liner should always be either one shade darker than your natural lip color, or a shade darker or lighter than your gloss or lipstick of choice. Right now I’ve been using bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipliner in Liberated (a creamy nude/almond color). A while back I totally splurged on Le Metier de Beaute’s Dualistic Lip Liner in Rose and still use it to this day as well.

How often do I need to wash my makeup brushes? How long do they last before I have to toss them?

Washing your makeup brushes is super important because using dirty tools can lead to blogged pores and pesky breakouts. I deep-clean my brushes once a month (using baby shampoo) and once a week or so, I spritz them with a brush cleaner. You can scoop up a daily brush and sponge cleaner for just $3.50 at Ulta. Once you notice hairs starting to fall out, it’s time to toss them!

Have a beauty question for me? Email me at Kara@thebeautyminimalist.com and I’ll answer them on my blog.