The makeup roundup: the new, the rediscovered, and mascara talk
Products I've been reaching for nonstop lately and the never-ending quest for the perfect mascara
I’m back today to talk about some recent makeup products that I’ve been reaching for on repeat, from new and newish products to me, some rediscovered products, and a follow up on some products from my previous post on products I’m testing.
The New(ish)
Amuse Dew Power Cushion Foundation (code SHOPBEAUTYU for 10% off) - Since first talking about this Korean cushion foundation in my earlier post, I can happily report that this is an excellent foundation. It provides a natural glow with just the right amount of coverage, and an easy application thanks to the meticulously designed cushion. I recently wore it on a series of long work days with post work drinks and dinner, and this foundation held up beautifully after a solid 12-14 hours of wear. It does get dewy on my combination day by the end of the day, but nothing veering into the oily or greasy category, and it doesn’t break down or fade significantly. The cushion format is also a major plus on mornings I’m running late as the sponge applicator just taps and blends the product onto my skin effortlessly. I wear shade 02 Healthy, which is a good match for my winter skin, though I’ll definitely need a deeper shade once I start getting color on my face again - use code SHOPBEAUTYU for 10% off your purchase.
Shiseido RevitalEssence Skin Glow Foundation – also available on Shiseido’s website.- I demoed this on my Instagram, and have reached for this most days when I’m not wearing the Amuse foundation. This one is so natural and skinlike, I can barely tell I’m wearing any foundation, and it has a beautiful dewy finish. It’s much dewier than the Amuse foundation or most foundations I typically reach for - but dewy in a fresh moisturized skin way, and not in a “I applied too much face oil on my face” way - which makes sense as this formula is packed with skincare ingredients like fermented kefir - and the formula itself feel likes a serum instead of a foundation. If you love a healthy glowy undetectable finish (and who doesn’t), this is one to try. I wear shade 330 Bamboo.
Colourpop Lip and Cheek Tint (code BEAUTYUNHYPED for $5 off $25+) - Cheek tints usually make me skeptical because they rarely last on my combination skin, but these adorable Colourpop Lip and Cheek Tints are not just cute for show, they have a fantastic formula as well. The 3 shades of pink are flattering and approachable, and the easy blendable formula makes it easy to apply a sheer layer. The best part is that these last a full day (about 10 hours) on my skin without any additional powder blush on top, which is kind of a small miracle for my skin that loves to eat blush. My favorite shade is Heart’s Content, which is a coolpink that isn’t too cool for my skin, and also doesn’t have a lot of white pigment, meaning that it actually shows up as a cool pink and not a pasty pink on me. For only $12 each, these are a steal - don’t forget to use code BEAUTYUNHYPED for $5 off your $25+ order.
Romand Twinkle Eyes Eyeliner in Midnight Ash ((code SHOPBEAUTYU for 10% off) - It’s no secret that Asian beauty brands do most things really well (except for shade ranges…) and liquid eyeliners are one of those categories where Asian brands are exceptional. This one is a lightly shimmering brownish burgundy kind of shade, but the glitter barely shows through in real life, which I actually like. This is that shade that just looks different enough and gives my eye look the finishing touch it needs. I like to apply this just as a small flick to the outer ¼ of my eye instead of lining all the way into the inner corner. I find that this makes my eyes look bigger and longer and keeps my eye makeup looking a little more natural. The best part? These are under $10 at Stylevana, and my code SHOPBEAUTYU will get you 10% off.
Haus Labs PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze Plumping Gloss - At this point I need another lip glaze/oil/treatment/gloss like I need a hole in my head, so believe me when I say I was absolutely intent on not buying another one….until I saw the shades of these. If you have any olive undertones, these shades are meant for you. All of them are somehow flattering and not too cool, too warm, or too bright. If you struggle with pinks and rosy tones, these shades are for you. For me, Fig is the must-have shade. It’s described as a deep brown, but it actually has a hint of plummy tones so it doesn’t look like I’m smearing chocolate all over my lips (which is delicious, but not such a flattering color all the time). The formula matches the brilliance of the shades, too - it’s lightweight and comfortable - not as thick as some lip oils, but hydrating all the same. If most lip oils feel heavy or sticky, definitely give these a try.
The Rediscovered
Chanel Stylo Ombre et Contour in #12 Contour Clair - I recently put this back into my everyday makeup rotation and, I’m not sure why it ever left. I rarely see this eyeshadow stick formula from Chanel talked about, but it predated this recent waves of eyeshadow sticks in the past couple years. This particular shade, #12 Contour Clair, is a beauty that was ahead of its time but fits in perfectly into the cool, matte and sculpted 90’s inspired look of today. It’s a cool matte greige shade with a formula that blends when you need it to, and doesn’t budge or crease once it sets down. The genius of this shade is that it could also work as a contour when used lightly, a light eyeliner, and I’ve even seen it used as a lip liner - though this particular shade is slightly too cool for my lips. Trust me when I say this might be the only eyeshadow pencil you really need. Get it on their website, or thankfully it’s also on Ulta where you can also earn or use points.
Fenty Beauty Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick in Ballin’ Babe - Lip oils and glosses might be all the rage right now, but I still love a traditional cream lipstick, and this Fenty lipstick is vastly underrated. First, the packaging is beautiful and cool and different as Fenty has managed to do with most of their products. And second, this formula is incredible. It’s a full on opaque formula that glides on in one swipe, and it has a cream finish that eventually sets down and lasts for hours. It’s not transferproof, which is always going to be the case for a cream bullet form lipstick, but the long lasting and non-drying formula make this a pleasure to use. I have several shades, including an incredible red lipstick shade that would look great on anyone and a beautiful berry shade that is especially stunning for olive skintones, but Ballin’ Babe, a warm mauve, is my most worn everyday shade. It’s one of those shades I wear when I want to look polished and put together, like the rare days I go into the office, or I want a more subtle lipstick shade than a red or deep berry when I go out to dinner. Fenty has a lot of amazing products in the line, but don’t sleep on these lipsticks.
The Mascara Chronicles
I’m always deep in the search for the perfect mascara, and while I have a few favorites that have stood the test of time (and tears and humidity), I still love trying new mascaras. Here’s how a couple of my recent acquisitions have worked out for me:
Surratt Relevee Mascara - code STEPH15 for 15% off - This is Surratt’s tubing mascara, and the beauty of this one is that it gives my lashes the most natural fluttery look thanks to the little fibers in the mascara. Some tubing mascaras can make my lashes look a little too…tubey and stick-like, but this one is the most natural one I’ve tried. The downside is that for my stubborn straight Asian lashes, the does drop my curl after a few hours, but the upside is that it’s so natural it makes for a great no-makeup look for days I’m out running errands and want a little something, but don’t want to look like I’m wearing makeup. For me, the Noir Lash Tint from Surratt is still that girl, but if your lashes have a natural curl to them, or maybe if I got a lash lift one day, this would be the ideal everyday mascara that is also even easier to take off than other tubing mascaras I’ve tried. Don’t forget to use code STEPH15 to save 15% on your order.
YSL Lash Clash Waterproof - one of my favorite lash formulas in a waterproof formula? Sign me up. Lash Clash is a beautiful formula, but since the original version is not waterproof, I have to layer it over other waterproof mascaras (like this one, my ultimate holy grail) to get the super volumized dramatic effect I want -which actually only makes my puny lashes look like regular lashes. I had high hopes for the waterproof version, but sadly it just comes up a tiny bit short for me. I find it doesn’t have quite the same volumizing oomph of the original, but it is a small tradeoff to have a waterproof formula that holds my curl for most of the day. I think I’ll continue to stick with the OG formula, just because the finish is so unrivaled for me, but don’t let that stop you if your lashes aren’t quite as hard to work with as mine are!
This was quite the roundup this time from me, and I also want to hear what you’ve been loving lately. What have you rediscovered? What is changing your beauty world - or not? I want to hear all about it.
Until next time - and as always, thank you for reading.