Makeup

Product Spotlight: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare

October 13th, 2020 by Karen 17 Comments

it cosmetics your skin but better foundation skin care 1 — Well this is a gem!

This is GREAT stuff! I haven’t been this excited about a base product in eons. If you’re into a natural matte look and want a foundation that covers juuust enough, It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare is so on the money.

OK, I get it. Everyone’s masked up, we’re in a pandemic, hardly anyone’s been wanting to wear makeup, myself included, but I’ve been falling back into my face painting groove lately, and part of the reason is because of this new foundation from It Cosmetics.

It handles basically every lighting and photography situation I’ve throw it. It makes my skin look dayum good, if I do say so myself, AND IT FEELS LIKE NOTHING ON MY FACE!

Here’s Tan Warm 42.5 in natural daytime light, without any powder or primer, with a 10-minute makeup look. The eyeshadow is the Urban Decay Born to Run Palette; the blush is Charlotte Tilbury Ecstasy; and the lipstick is NUDESTIX Mystic, in case you’re wondering.

Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare is a medium-coverage liquid foundation with a very natural looking matte finish. If you want enough coverage to even out areas of pigmentation and redness, along with some minor pore blurring, but you don’t need to hide everything and the kitchen sink, it’s perfect.

Lazy ladies who still lurve wearing makeup now, this one’s for you, because there’s no trickery required to get it to look nice. I do one pump, and then use my fingers to rub and work it in. Then I quickly blend with a skunk brush, and that’s it. You don’t need a primer underneath it or a powder to set it, either. Use it all by itself, and it stays put all day long (yup, even with a mask on).

For reference, I have combo skin. It’s dry on my cheeks and around my mouth, and oily on my forehead and my nose, and this foundation handles all of the various areas well.

I think it also looks good where I have “experience lines.”

it cosmetics your skin but better foundation skin care natural light blues — Here it is in indoor natural light.

it cosmetics your skin but better foundation skin care natural light green look — Here’s the foundation in outdoor natural light.

I will say that if you’re extremely oily, you’ll probably want to set it with a light dusting of powder. I wouldn’t go too heavy with it though because this foundation’s ability to look like real skin is its superpower, and using a whole mess of powder will just undermine that magic anyway.

Also, it’s super lightweight, which I probably should’ve said right at the beginning, LOL! The formula is on the thinner side, much like Dior Nudeskin Air, so it’s featherweight and feels like nothing, which is actually the reason I started wearing it. After months of barely wearing any base, I have absolutely no tolerance for face products that feel heavy, and this one feels like nothing at all.

It’s available now at Ulta in 40 colors (hello, Fenty effect) for $39.50 each for a 1-oz. glass bottle with a pump. Oh, and speaking of colors, I wear it in Tan Warm 42.5 (but will switch to Tan Warm 41 once my toasty summer tan disappears in month or two), and this is the first time I’ve ever been able to wear an It Cosmetics foundation without having to mix it with something else. Seems like they FINALLY figured out that not every “tan” or “medium” shade has to have a sh*t-ton of peach undertones, and both Tan Warm 42.5 and 41 are pretty good matches for warm skin with yellow undertones.
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Product Spotlight: $10 Honest Beauty Liquid EyeLiner

October 1st, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

Dude, this long-lasting black liquid liner is SO GOOD, and it’s only 10 bucks at honest.com!

How do I love thee, Honest Beauty Liquid Eyeliner? Let me count the ways…

1. Concentrated

Despite the fact that it only comes in a single matte black shade, it’s deep and dark like the most gorgeous black cat coat, and it doesn’t have any blue undertones at all.

2. Durable

It isn’t quite waterproof, but it’s very water resistant and long lasting (also doesn’t transfer). I’ve been wearing it all summer long.

3. Flawless

It comes in a tube with a wand that has a long, flexible felt tip that’s absolutely foolproof to use. The wand is just the right length to perfectly cradle in my paw, and the dainty felt tip draws crisp thick and thin lines equally well. Normally, I wouldn’t even think of drawing with liquid liner when I’m rushing through a fast face, but I can do it with this one.

honest beauty liquid eyeliner swatch — A matte deep black

4. Flexible

Thin lines, thick lines, dainty flicks, big ol’ bat wings — it can do it all.

And if you love diffused edges like I do (no harsh lines, baby!), the formula is easy to smudge, too. Just be sure to do your smudging before it sets, which takes about 30 seconds for skinny lines and a minute for thick ones.

INGREDIENTS:
Water (Aqua), Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Pullulan, Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510).

5. Swift

Also, as if it needed even more going for it, the fast-setting formula won’t creep up into your crease when you blink!

What a gem for only $10! I’m going to wish upon a star for Honest Beauty to add a few more colors, as I would LOVE a dark brown option (a liquid version of MAC Coffee would be my Disney princess dream come true) — ooh! — and a gray for everyday looks.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FOTD: Fall Vibes With Plum Lids and Berry Lips

September 29th, 2020 by Karen 7 Comments

mac prunella got a callback — Fall is a berry good time to wear dark berry lips!

Hiya! On this stop on our tour of MAC Eyeliner Greatest Hits is Prunella! AHHH!

In my opinion, it is one of the very best things in the entire MAC world.

Boom. There, I said.

In a nutshell, it’s a purple eyeliner…but not just any purple liner. It’s a deep blackened plum with a hint of shine to softly define your lash and water lines in ways a basic black liner just can’t do.

I’m wearing Prunella here as a one-and-done lid and lash line color. It’s a little smoked out and a little smudgy, which is my favorite way to wear it.

Prunella is a perfect perennial product, but I think it kicks major rear in fall when it’s paired with berry lipsticks, and it turns out that there are two great new berry shades in the MAC Powderkiss Liquid Lipcolour fam. Here I’m wearing Got a Callback, a mid-toned berry mauve; and Burning Love, a straight-up berry. Both have a soft matte finish that complements Prunella’s soft shine well.

mac prunella burning love — MAC Burning Love

mac got a callback burning love swatches — Fall vibes: MAC Powderkiss Liquid Lipsticks in Burning Love (a berry) and Got a Callback (a mid-toned mauve berry)

And because I can’t resist wearing pink lips with everything (!), I threw on a pink lip to see how it would look with these eyes… Definitely skews the makeup to a springier vibe.

If you’re into the pink, FYI, it’s Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Pillow Talk lip liner and lipstick topped with Hourglass Fever lipgloss.

Speaking of Charlotte Tilbury, if you’re in a “bougie blush mood” (because they happen, LOL!), I highly suggest checking out her Ecstasy blush. It’s the one with a peachy outer ring and a pink inner ring. When you blend the two together, you get this perfect balance of a neutral pink with a slightly warm peach. It’s not too warm or cool, and it goes surprisingly well with most looks — especially plummy and purple lids and lips like this.

mac prunella eyes down — Just Prunella on my lids, babe!

mac prunella eyes — Pink lips! Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk (lip liner and lipstick) topped with Hourglass Fever Gloss

Makeup worn in this look

BASE

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Hydrating
Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Sand
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in 4.0

CHEEKS

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chick in Ecstasy

EYES

Chanel Eyeshadow Base
MAC Prunella Liner
Urban Decay Brow Beater in Neutral Brown
Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara
MAC Clear Brow Set

LIPS

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Lip Liner
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick
Hourglass Unreal Gloss in Fever
MAC Burning Love
MAC Got a Callback

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Brand Spotlight: Bossy Cosmetics

September 25th, 2020 by Karen 4 Comments

bossy cosmetics sexy — Feeling Bossy! I’m wearing Bossy Cosmetics Liquid Matte Lipstick in Sexy

Bossy Cosmetics is a new cruelty-free Black-owned indie makeup line of lip products that caters to all skin tones. I’m a fan, especially of the lipgloss!

Do you know the Kelis tune, “I’m Bossy?” It’s practically my theme song, ha ha ha!

If you’ve ever been called bossy by your friends and family, you’ll probably get a kick out of this.

Hues for bossy gals of all shades

Bossy Cosmetics cruelty-free, vegan line of lip products launched in 2019, so they’re pretty new. The founder, Aisha, is a mom of three and a self-proclaimed “lipstick junkie” who worked in investment banking before starting the brand with the intent to 1) help women feel beautiful, and 2) pay it forward, as part of the proceeds go toward charities that support women and girls.

Inclusivity is one of their main pillars, so you’ll find colors for all skin tones and ethnicities.

Prices range from $16.99 for a liquid lipstick, to $13.99 for a lip liner, to $14.99 for a gloss and $18.99 for a lip/eye/cheek glitter, so they’re pricier than Revlon or Neutrogena, but slightly less than MAC.

bossy cosmetics — Sexy Liquid Lipstick, Shiraz Gloss and Rush Lip Pencil

Take me back to the ’90s, please

I’ve tried a few of their items, including a lipgloss, liquid lipstick and a lip pencil, and I’m impressed! IMO the makeup is on par with MAC.

Liquid Matte Lipstick in Sexy: This O.G. ’90s-style flat matte brown takes me back to my college days! It’s warm with a slight hint of red (but the red isn’t as present as MAC Paramount or Revlon Rum Raisin). The texture’s a light-as-air mousse, so you can lead it to the corners of your Cupid’s bow exactly where you want it to go… Smells a little like cocoa butter at first, and I kind of want to eat it, LOL! (Don’t do that, though.) Very faint sugar cookie flavor. A little goes a long way, and the product completely coats my lips without settling into horizontal lip lines.
Hydra Gloss in Shiraz: This semi-sheer pearly mauve-pink feels like one of the revamped MAC Lipglasses. It’s thick, so it’s THERE and you know it. It’s not sticky, though, and it’s pretty moisturizing too. I get a faint sugar cookie flavor, but it’s not all up in your grill. If you’re like me and nude, glossy and lips are your thing, Shiraz is a color you’ll reach for all the time.
Lip Pencil in Rush: A high-pigment matte rosy pink that glides across lips without tugging. Contains shea butter for moisture!

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FOTD: Another Single-Product Eye Look With a MAC Classic

September 24th, 2020 by Karen 15 Comments

If you want to be truly terrified, don’t fire up a horror movie on Netflix. Instead, put on your makeup in full sunlight. HAHAHA! Dude. It’s kinda scary seeing a lot of product on your skin in such unforgiving light. Or maybe that’s just me because I haven’t been doing a lot of full-on makeup over the past few months (#pandemiclife).

So, I did this look yesterday morning because I made a promise to myself to put on some makeup. (I realize that my mask covers almost everything, but still, sometimes putting on makeup still makes me feel better.)

Connor had an outdoor playdate with a friend, and we were going to be outside for most of the afternoon, so in the morning I decided to use the natural sunlight streaming in through my window to help guide me through this one-product eye look with MAC Powersurge pencil.

I used it as an eyeshadow and a liner all on my lids!

Connor’s playdate was for outdoor “cake painting,” an idea I got from Busy Toddler on Instagram.

I taped a bunch of big boxes together to look like an oversized cake, and Connor and her buddy painted the layers with washable tempura paint.

I guess the most frightening thing about doing your makeup in the unforgiving light of the full sun is seeing just exactly how products behave according to the texture of your skin. GOODNESS GRACIOUS. It really forced me to blend my base and buff down all of the excess areas where there was a little too much lying there. I’m making this sound frightening, I know, but I think you gotta do it once just for fun because it really is eye opening!

I might do it again today because I guess I’m a masochist like that, LOL!

Like my makeup the other day, there’s also a bunch of O.G. MAC faves up in this makeup mix, like Powersurge on my lids, Blushbaby on my cheeks, and Whirl lipstick mixed with a little bit of Honeylove on my lips. (I wanted it to look like fall makeup, but I didn’t want it to go too brown.)

Initially, I went with a rosy brown matte lip because I was going for a fall look, but I also tried it with a brighter pinkish rose matte lippie…

I had an inkling that the eye/cheek combo would go really well a brighter pinkish rose lipstick…

This is Model Off Duty, one of the new MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolours. I think it looks really beautiful with this eye/cheek combo, and the next time I wear it I think I might do this lip color instead.

One more thing about Powersurge before I go — when you do these one-and-done looks with liner, the beauty of them is that they don’t have to be super perfect on your lids, because if you’re just wearing one color, if there are areas on your lids that are more elegantly blended than others, then don’t worry about it because as long as you have a relatively smooth transition of color that fades up toward your brows, you’re going to be fine.

As with any lid action, for instance darkness on the outer third, or when you deepen the outer v, you can do that for more dimension here too, but if you try and it doesn’t get where you want it to go, buff it a little more, don’t mess with it, and move on with your day.

I think these are great because they really don’t emphasize mistakes too much, and that’s a wonderful thing!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen