Makeup Edit | Current Fall Makeup Routine
In an effort to make sure that I keep using products before they 100% go to waste (thanks, COVID), I’ve been surprisingly more interested in trying out various makeup products and looks. Prior to COVID I would do brows, a quick base, cat eye, mascara, and a tap of blush before I was headed out the door. These days it’s a mixture of no makeup, barely makeup, or a fun trial of new products.
I’ve been testing out the new concealer from Rare Beauty (read my first impressions review here) which I have been pleasantly surprised by. I do find it to be a touch dry (and a shade too light for me, at present) so I’ve been mixing it with the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer* for my perfect base. I was Kindly gifted the Artis Oval 7 brush* (I got the one with the collaboration with Swarovski) and it blends everything out like a dream. Combined the two concealers give me enough coverage for any redness or hyper pigmentation scars, but still lets my natural skin peep through. It doesn’t 100% cover any scars, but I don’t mind it.
I’ve noticed my skin changing a lot over the past few months and I find my skin getting a lot oilier in my T-Zone/chin area throughout the day. The only powder I’ve really exclusively used for the last (maybe 10? lol) years has been the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder*, and a brief stint with the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder*. While I still love it, I was open to trying something new. I had heard great things about the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder* and the CT team was kind enough to send me one to try. It really is lovely and helps keep my skin looking dewy throughout the day - not matte and flat. I think it’s a good size too so it’s definitely travel friendly and could easily be thrown in your purse for touchups throughout the day (if that’s your style).
For blush I’ve been reaching for a variety of products for blush, going back and forth between powder/cream/liquid formulas. One product I recently re-discovered was the ILIA Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment in Waking Up. A few taps of this on my cheek blended across my nose bridge gives that sun-kissed glow that I love. It blends in nicely and it’s usually hard to go overboard with it - worst case I’ll go back in with the brush I used to blend out my concealer. If you’re curious about the other blushes I’ve been reaching for, they are:
Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion in Peach* (a sheer light coral)
Glossier Cloud Paint* (of course) in: Haze (deep berry) & Storm (warm rose)
Sunnies Face Airblush in Biscuit (a warm nude)
For brows I’ve been using a variety of products.
Particularly, I’ve been using the SOFINA AUBE Couture Brow Pencil (it has a brow pen + powder) which is a favorite product of a friend of mine ☺️. She did get it from Hong Kong so I’m not sure where I’m going to get this when I run out.
I’ve been toying around with a more natural brow approach and have been testing the Bushy Brow Gel from Lime Crime. It has a thin bristle brush and leaves my brows looking brushed and fluffy. I got the shade Smoky which has worked out nicely for me, but I think I’ll probably pick up the clear shade next. I never really tried many brow gels aside from Glossier Boy Brow* (and a brief try of Benefit’s Gimme Brow), but neither gave as much hold as Lime Crime’s. Another product from Lime Crime that I picked up was the Brow Pen, also in Smoky. I was a fan of the Glossier Brow Flick* so I thought I’d give this one a try too. It’s definitely a finer brush and not as pigmented, so I’m still easing my way into using this. At the moment, I’m undecided on it.
Another product I saw some others using on IG was the Surratt Brow Shaping Pomade so I decided to pick it up on a whim during a sale. When I first opened this I was a bit surprised at how white and goopy it looked (it reminded me of Elmer’s Glue), but it dried down clear (no shine, as advertised) and it had a decent hold. I’m still working on mastering a feathery brushed up brow look, but I haven’t quite gotten it down. But I do think this Surratt pomade is getting me half there.
On my eyes I’ve been going pretty bare - sans liner with just a quick curl and maybe a touch of mascara. ILIA recently launched their Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint* and kindly sent me a few shades. I’ve been reaching for Glaze (which is described as a light nude / a warm champagne pearl. These actually apply very nicely and not patchy (at least the shades I’ve tried) and give a nice even matte shade. I’ve worn these all day and have not experienced any creasing, even without any type of eye primer which is ace in my books. I’ll sometimes wear this with a brush of mascara to help brighten my eyes and make them look more awake.
Other than that, sometimes I’ll smudge some eyeliner into my lash line (still reaching for the Smashbox Always Sharp Liner in Sumatra - it’s been my go-to for a few years now) or I’ll occasionally pop on a cat eye. I think I went cat eye free for ~4 + months (shocker) and got used to seeing my eyes without liner (which was greeeeat). I started reaching back for my Glossier Pro Tip Eyeliner since that has been my absolute favorite discovery (and to replace my previous go-to which was from KVD). I went on a massive liquid eyeliner hunt (and will probably do a post on my search) and the Glossier one is where I’ve landed. Obviously since I wasn’t wearing makeup for a few months, a lot of things went bad (check those expiration / recommended shelf life dates) or just plain old dried up lol. I’ve been in the process of purging my makeup collection out of sheer acceptance that a lot of it has since expired (we’re 7+ months into COVID now so really, most of our makeup has expired). I did have a new eyeliner from Kiss Me Heroine Liquid Eyeliner which I decided to finally try (perfect opportunity). I picked it up since I was a big fan of the Kiss Me Heroine Mascara already. To be frank, I am not disappointed. It has a precise and even application, it’s pigmented, and it’s long lasting. Price wise it’s not bad at all and much more competitive compared to those typical American brands you’d find at Sephora. I’ve only ever tried the black shade for both, but I do see they have a dark brown eyeliner + brown mascara so I may decide to pick those up next.
What are some products that you have been reaching for? Spot any favorites?
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Items marked with * were gifted to me. All other items mentioned were purchased on my own. All opinions remain my own.
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