Sometimes (honestly, most of the time right now with a 9 month old), I can’t do a full makeup routine. I recently had to do a full face in the car, without any brushes, in under 10 minutes (my husband was driving, don’t worry!). I wanted to share the exact products I reached for that made it possible to still look put together. Each product is easy to apply with fingers, quick to blend, and reliable enough to last all day without any powder. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.
Basma The Foundation Stick in 35 (light skin with neutral olive undertones) – The stick isn’t too stiff, and I can use it to spot conceal just where I need to. The formula is super buildable so you can get light to pretty full coverage. It feels really lightweight and has a natural, almost finish that isn’t too matte or glowy. It lasts really well and is my new go to when I don’t want to deal with liquid foundation, like in a car. Plus, since they have actual olive shades, I don’t need to use green color corrector with it. The left swatch is unblended and the right is blended – it starts out a bit intense, but blends out beautifully and matches my skin so well.
About Face Beach Freak Bronzer Stick in Beach Goth – This has quickly become one of my favorite cream bronzers because of how effortlessly it blends and how natural the finish looks. The formula has such a nice texture that melts into the skin without disturbing any makeup underneath. It’s a bit dewy as you can see in the swatch, which makes it easy to blend with my fingers before setting down into a soft, skin-like finish that never feels sticky or heavy. The color is beautifully balanced so that it’s warm enough to add life and dimension, but not so orange that it looks like I put Cheeto dust on my face. I love that it builds easily depending on how intense of a look I’m going for. It’s the kind of product I can swipe on in a hurry, blend with my fingers, and instantly look more put together.
Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm in Glassy Cayenne- This is one of the easiest cream blushes to apply without a brush. It glides effortlessly onto the skin and blends out seamlessly with fingers. Glassy Cayenne is a deep warm rose that creates such a flattering, flushed look that instantly brightens my complexion without ever looking overdone. The formula has just enough of a natural, skin-like finish to look healthy, and it stays put throughout the day. It’s the perfect blush for a quick, no tools applications.
Make Beauty Infinite Hold Brow Gel – This continues to be my all time favorite tinted eyebrow gel, and it makes the perfect base for filling in with a pencil. The combo of this with the Rare Beauty Eyebrow Gel (mentioned later in this post) gives shape, color, and hold reliably. The spoolie makes this really easy to throw on, even in a moving car. The Cool Brown shade works really well for me, but I do wish they had more shades.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in 5 – Because of an empty spot I have in one of my brows, I never skip this step, so I had to include both this and brow gels in my travel bag. I love this pencil because it goes on so quickly and naturally and the size makes it perfect to fill areas in fast but not overdo it. And unlike other pencils, it stays all day, so I don’t end up with a hole in my brow by the end of the day. This shade also works great for me, and I appreciate that they have a pretty wide range.
Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel – I’ve tried so many brow gels, and nothing has ever really held my brows in place all day until this one. I was honestly shocked that they stayed put until I washed them off, with zero crunchiness, flaking, or stiffness. The hold is strong but flexible, and it actually looks natural. It’s my perfect last step to finish off my brows.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve – This shadow has quickly become a one and done favorite. The mauve shade is the perfect neutral on my skin tone and looks so polished with very little effort. You can tell in the swatch it ends up being essentially a neutral brown. It applies super easily, blends out quickly, and once it sets, it stays put all day without creasing. It’s exactly what I want in a liquid matte shadow. I also love how easy it is to get just a little bit off the doefoot because the formula is a little thick, which means you don’t end up with way too much that blends out all over your face. That also makes it super easy to use even in a moving car.
Rephr Lash Curler – I’ve tried so many lash curlers over this years, but this one is by far my favorite. It works with my eye shape really well which a lot of other curlers don’t seem to. It gets all of my lashes including the corners, and my lashes actually curl. It was also super easy to use even while the car was moving, which I appreciate. This one also never pinches my lashes or does anything weird.
Persona Tubing Mascara in Black – I love tubing mascaras for how easy they are to remove, but many of them are too heavy for my straight lashes to stay curled. This lengthens, separates, and holds a curl without smudging. It comes off with just warm water like all tubing mascaras. It took a few days for me to warm up to this one, but I’m really enjoying it. I’m currently putting together my tubing mascara recommendations, and this might make it to the top 3. That said, I still prefer the one from Finding Ferdinand or Em Cosmetics.
Peptide Glow Hydrating Lip Treatment in Brûlée (*PR) – The texture of this balm is really smooth and thick (in a good way) and feels incredibly hydrating. It’s almost like a lip gloss in the form of a balm. It sits comfortably on the lips without feeling sticky or heavy. Brûlée is a sheer warm nude that adds just enough tint to make my lips look more even, but it still feels super low-effort. It turns pretty pink on me as you can see in the swatches, but I actually really like that for a “my lips but better” kind of look. It’s not the longest-wearing lip balm I’ve ever tried, but it wears off evenly, leaves my lips feeling soft and nourished, and I don’t feel like I need to use another balm after it’s worn off. One note – this has a coconut/beachy scent which is a little strong. I love this balm enough to look past it, but if you’re not a scent person, I’d recommend the Queen Musia Skincare Supercharged Tinted Hydrabalm in 1993 instead.
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
I’ve been trying out a bunch of About Face products lately, and I have to say, I’ve been pretty impressed overall. Some of them have quickly become staples in my routine, while a few have some quirks worth mentioning. I wanted to share my thoughts on what really stood out—both the hits and the misses—and why some of these are definitely worth checking out. Thank you to About Face for sending me a few extra products to test – products marked with * are ones that were sent, otherwise I bought things myself. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own and unsponsored.
The Performer Foundation in F2 Olive and L2 Olive* – I love this foundation so much I have it in two shades (one for winter and one for summer). This is a super lightweight serum-y medium coverage foundation that builds really easily. It has a skin-like finish that’s hydrating but not overly dewy. It doesn’t dry out my skin, and it wears really well throughout the day. I particularly love that they have actual olive shades – this is one of the only foundations I own that I don’t have to wear with a green color corrector. In the swatches, L2 Olive is pulling a bit more yellow than I find it to be in real life but keep in mind these are definitely warm olive shades. The packaging isn’t my favorite because I don’t prefer a giant doefoot, but that’s not enough to keep me from using this constantly over my other foundations. *I bought the original two bottles myself, and the brand sent me a new L2 Olive which I’m so excited to have.
F2 Olive, L2 Olive, Capulets
Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Capulets – I’ve been using the Merit Solo Shadows so much as one and dones or as a base that I totally forgot I had this About Face liquid eyeshadow. I decided to try it again, and I’m so happy I did. It’s so easy and fast to throw on and blend out with a finger or a brush. It dries fast enough that I can easily put other things on top of it but not too fast that it gets stuck where I don’t want it. Capulets is a perfect light brown that doesn’t go orange on me (as someone with an olive undertone, that tends to happen a ton with browns). It also has great lasting power so I love to throw this on when I only have 2 seconds and then can add other things on top of it later in the day, and it’ll still look just as good.
Cheek Freak Blush Balm–This blush dries down to a matte finish that actually lasts such a long time for a cream blush. It starts off really balmy so it’s really easy to pick up on a brush or finger and blend into the skin, and then it stays where it is. I also love how the packaging matches the color of the blush since I have three of these – it’s always easy to find the one I want. Laid in particular is a super bright pink blush that is just the quickest way to that flushed look, especially in the summer. If I want to look really awake and hydrated, this is my go to since it’s so bright and flattering. Get Some is a warm rose that gives a soft, natural flush that pairs well with almost any makeup look. I wanted it to be more brown but it definitely leans more in the red direction on me. Score is a beautiful bright purple that is so good for warm olive skintones. This was one of my first real purple blushes, and I’m so glad it introduced me to how good purple looks on me.
Laid, Score, Get Some
The Curtain Call Set & Smooth Loose Powder* – This powder is a bit tricky for me because it ended up being a little too drying for my undereye area, which is usually my primary use for setting powders. However, I have it in the pink shade, and it actually works really well for brightening around other parts of my face, especially the center of my forehead and other areas where I want to highlight without using an actual highlighter. It has a finely milled texture that blends seamlessly without emphasizing texture, making it perfect for targeted brightening rather than an all-over powder. If you don’t have incredibly dry skin, you might really love this powder, and I do really like how the pink doesn’t actually read as pink on my face.
Coquette and Side Eye
Blurred Matte Lip Plump Soft Matte Liquid Color in Side Eye and Coquette* – I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this formula. It has a soft matte finish that’s incredibly comfortable and doesn’t dry out my lips at all, which is impressive for a matte lip product. It genuinely does make my lips appear plumper and smoother. The plump comes from a mentholy/minty type of ingredient, so be aware if you’re sensitive to that. Side Eye is a “nude brown” but I find it leans quite warm and almost turns too orange on me. I’m happy it doesn’t though because I think it’ll be great for summer with bronzy looks. Coquette is a classic soft pink that just looks really nice. For my high contrast features, I wish it was a little bit darker, but it’s easy to throw on and goes with a lot of what I tend to wear. The staying power is fantastic, and even as it wears off, it leaves behind a soft, even tint.
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
I took a look at the products I’ve been reaching for again that I just haven’t in a while, and these 5 really stood out to me! They are so easy to use, especially now that I’m 36 weeks pregnant and don’t have very much energy to do much of anything. I’m also so excited to have these front and center for quick makeup looks moving forward! Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Bionic Liquid Bronzer in Time Travel – I totally forgot how much I love this bronzer. It builds up beautifully because it’s a bit sheer, which also means that I don’t have to worry about putting on too much right away when I’m half asleep getting ready in the morning. It looks so natural on me even if I accidentally build it up too much too. Even though it’s sheer, the formula has some heft to it, which makes it much easier to control than I’m used to with liquid products. I love how I can get a precise application that still looks so healthy and skin-like and am so glad I decided to revisit this one.
Make Beauty Diffusion Set Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair – I’ve been using so many lightweight powders that I forgot how good this was for when I really need a powder that actually is a powder. Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a the most coverage of all the powders on this list, which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover vs just trying to mattify or set makeup all over my face. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable, and I can pop out the pan if I want to put it in a travel makeup palette. I’ve actually been using it so much lately I’ve hit pan! I took a swatch photo of this but it blends so seamlessly that you can’t see anything – you’ll just have to trust me.
About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Capulets – I’ve been using the Merit Solo Shadows so much as one and dones or as a base that I totally forgot I had this About Face liquid eyeshadow. I decided to try it again, and I’m so happy I did. It’s so easy and fast to throw on and blend out with a finger or a brush. It dries fast enough that I can easily put other things on top of it but not too fast that it gets stuck where I don’t want it. Capulets is a perfect light brown that doesn’t go orange on me (as someone with an olive undertone, that tends to happen a ton with browns). It also has great lasting power so I love to throw this on when I only have 2 seconds and then can add other things on top of it later in the day, and it’ll still look just as good.
Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I’m back on the Space Cowboy train! I have been trying so many eyeshadows and palettes lately and really trying to rotate through my collection, but this is really the best eyeshadow for me. It’s perfect to top off the About Face liquid eyeshadow for a super quick look (how I’ve been doing my eyeshadow the past few days). It also works on top of just about anything else or alone, and I’m a little sad I’ve pulled it back out because I’m not really using anything else now. It’s just so easy and pretty as well as being incredibly reflective and glossy. It doesn’t have any fallout and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue).
Queen Musia Lipstick in Becky Sharp (*PR) – The formula is extremely lightweight and super comfortable for a matte lipstick. I will say it’s not quite as matte as some of my favorite matte lipsticks, but I’m so glad I have it for when my lips aren’t feeling up for a true matte (which is currently all the time). I’d call this a creamy matte, and I actually wish that more matte lipsticks leaned in this direction. This color is one of the best “my lips but better” shades I’ve found in awhile especially as someone with olive undertones. This color goes with everything and just looks so natural on me. I’m so glad I pulled it back out especially now that I’m in my third trimester and am way too tired to think about what lipstick will look good on me.
What are your tried and true easy to throw on makeup products? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!
Seeing everyone doing their Best of Beauty posts and videos made me realize that I totally didn’t do one in 2022, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget this year. It’s been really fun to look back and see what’s still a favorite from the years before that and what was newly discovered this year. Like last year, I’ll be splitting out the makeup and skincare lists so these posts don’t get too long. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for 2023 in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. Some links are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Primer:Make Beauty Moisturizing Reverse Emulsion – This is my favorite moisturizer (and if you’ve been to this blog before, you know I’ve tried so, so many moisturizers as I have incredibly dry skin). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. It’s like a super sophisticated version of the Glossier Future Dew and will definitely be my replacement for that (which has been my favorite primer for yeas) when I run out of all my Future Dew back ups. Because of that, it’s definitely my primer pick for the year even if I still have some Future Dew bottles to get through.
Green color corrector: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Wand in Green – This is the green color corrector I’ve reached for the most (so much I actually ran out of mine and am almost done with my new tube of it). I’m planning on doing a full green color corrector comparison post because I actually have 6 in rotation right now that I like and use for different reasons. This one is the most green of the bunch and doesn’t lean matte or dewy so it works really well with whatever primer, foundation, concealer, and powder combo I’ve used that day. Because of that quality, I can’t use it as a primer by itself like some of my other green correctors, but a lot of those require I top them up with this anyway because they’re not nearly as green. Plus, this one is only $4.99 at Target right now.
Under eye corrector: Ulta Under Eye Brightener – I have super dark undereye and can’t get away without a corrector, and I’m so happy to have discovered this one. It’s about $10 and a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot!
Foundation: Fenty Foundation Stick in 02 - I ended up with a ton of foundations this year, and I honestly would be happy with any of them (let me know if you want a foundations for light olive skin run down!), but I think the one I’ve leaned on the most this year and been the most excited about is the Fenty Foundation Stick. This foundation is absolutely beautiful and so easy to use. I’m so glad that I grabbed this because when I want to put on a more high coverage (for me) face of makeup, this is what I reach for. It blends out so quickly, is quite blurring, and make my skin look amazing without being too dewy or matte. It also is great for spot concealing because it builds really well, and it’s super easy to get just a little bit on a brush straight from the stick. This is definitely my choice out of all the stick foundations for dry skin, and I like it even better than the original Eaze Drop (even though I still love that foundation).
Concealer: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring 24H Hydrating + Radiant + Correcting Creamy Concealer in N95 – This concealer is as good as everyone says it is, especially for those of us over 30. It’s incredibly hydrating while still offering a really good amount of coverage because it has such a creamy texture. I love using it all over as both my foundation and concealer, and it just looks so nice. It builds up really nicely if I want more coverage in certain areas while still looking incredibly natural. It plays well with all my powders and primers, so if I’m traveling, this is the one product I’ll bring with me because I know it’ll work no matter what else I do.
Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – This was my favorite in this category in 2020 and 2021 (which is news to me how old this product is because it still works like it’s brand new). Nothing beat it out this year yet again. It is the perfect color and texture for a natural looking contour. I also love the packaging – it feels super luxe with the magnetic closure, and I really appreciate having a stick for a quick makeup look. If I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.
Cream Bronzer: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in 0.5 and Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in light/medium – I noticed that I chose these two as my favorites in 2021, and it’s also still what I would choose, especially given how much I reached for these this year. Both are cream products that give a super natural look in about 2 seconds. They are super blendable and easy to build up to the opacity I want or leave fairly sheer. I actually think the colors and formulas are pretty similar (even though the Salt New York is warmer and the Tom Ford is more neutral) so if you want to not spend way too much on the Tom Ford, I would definitely recommend getting the Salt New York paired with one of their highlighters to replicate the duo. I did really love the Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer and the Milk Makeup Bionic Bronzer, but these are the two I keep going back to.
Power Bronzer: Haus Labs Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in Light Level 2 and Gucci Poudre de Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in 01 – I also have two favorites for this category – one for summer and one for winter. The Haus Labs bronzer is my pick for spring/summer because it leans warm and the Gucci is my pick for fall/winter because it leans more rosey. Both are fantastic -they’re just so easy to throw on and blend out and looks super natural. If I don’t have time to think about what I’m doing, this is what I’m going to reach for. Neither are powdery or patchy at all, and just make my skin look great. Both of these I can reach for regardless of what other makeup I have on, they look seamless without having to spend any time blending, and are what I reach for when I can’t quite figure out what’s wrong with my makeup and need to add something.
Cream blush: I honestly have no idea how many cream blushes I have at this point, but it’s enough that choosing just one would have been impossible, so I’m doing my favorites for different color categories: beige, berry, and pink.
Beige: Finding Ferdinand Creamy Blush x Kackie Review Beauty in Latte and Au Lait – When I don’t know what blush to use, the ones I reach for are Latte (a desaturated, light beige with a touch of rose) and Au Lait (a neutral, medium beige with a hint of warmth) from Kackie’s collab with Finding Ferdinand. These colors just go with everything and always look so natural on me, so they’re perfect for no makeup makeup looks or pairing with a more colorful eyeshadow (when I choose not to just wear something brown). I do recommend using a pretty densely packed brush like the BK Beauty 106 because it’s quite a stiff formula in the pot even though it blends out so seamlessly on the skin. The formula is super blendable (I think because there’s quite a bit of marula oil in these), easy to layer, and very buildable. They do dry down on the skin but they still have a dewy, hydrated finish that just looks really nice. *I’m a little biased because I’m friends with Kackie, but I did buy these with my own money.
Berry: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Faith – This is one of the only liquid blushes I’m willing to use, and it’s because the formula is honestly just so great. This shade is in the matte formula, which I actually prefer to the dewy one because it really dries down and almost stains my cheeks. It has incredibly lasting power, and if I still want a dewy look, I have plenty of highlighters I can layer on top of it. It really is as good as everyone says it is, and I’m not surprised this blush keeps going viral. The shade Faith is a deep purple toned berry that really packs a punch, and you definitely want to use just a tiny bit at a time. This is my go to for the “cold girl” winter look or to pair with deeper brown or mauve eyeshadow looks.
Pink: About Face Cheek Freak Blush Balm in Laid –Similar to the Rare Beauty blush, this dries down to a matte finish that actually lasts such a long time for a cream blush. It starts off really balmy so it’s really easy to pick up on a brush or finger and blend into the skin, and then it stays where it is. I also love how the packaging matches the color of the blush since I have three of these – it’s always easy to find the one I want. Laid in particular is a super bright pink blush that is just the quickest way to that flushed look, especially in the summer. If I want to look really awake and hydrated, this is my go to since it’s so bright and flattering.
From left to right: MAC Glow Play Blush in Heat Index, Blush Please, So Natural, Grand, and Totally Synced
Power blush: MAC Glow Play Blush – This formula has been my go-to for finishing off my cheek looks because it has a really incredible blurring quality that really pulls together any look I’ve done. Because the texture feels like a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. I own 5 of these, and I found myself reaching for all of them depending on my mood and the time of year. Between So Natural (golden beige), Blush Please (neutral light mauve), Heat Index (bright pink), Totally Synced (light lilac) and Grand (petal pink), I’m covered with any look I’m trying to do.
Highlight: Auric Glow Lust – I wrote about the Auric Glow Lust so many times, and I’m still in love with it. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, whether I use it as foundation, a primer, a mixer, or a highlighter. Of all of my glowy, liquid products, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch. The packaging is also amazing, especially the pump – it’s so much easier to use than something like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. It feels like much more of a luxury experience, from the packaging to the formula. I have the shades Selenite and Morganite, and I love using Selenite all over as foundation or a primer and Morganite as a true “high points of the skin” highlighter. I have a full review here if you’d like to see more comparisons between the two.
Powder: Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – If I could only pick one powder, and I weirdly have a ton for someone with dry skin, it’d be this one. Honorable mention to the ELF Prime Stay Finishing Powder which I also love but is only $4. The Givenchy powder blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. It really does provide a soft focus blur in real life. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I have so many eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes, and there’s so many that I love, but I knew right away which one I used the most and would keep if I could only keep one. It’s a sheer shimmery eyeshadow that adds a wet look to any shadow without really adding any color or changing the color of the look underneath. But somehow it still has enough of a beige-y base that you can wear it on its own. It’s incredibly reflective and glossy, doesn’t have any fallout, and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue). I can’t count how many times this year I wore a matte brown shadow with Space Cowboy on top and got a ton of compliments on my eyeshadow. I’m honestly upset I have so many other eyeshadows given how much I use this one.
Brows: NYX Thick It Stick It Brow Mascara – It’s so quick and easy to fill in and shape my brows with this – I’ve been reaching for it over my other brow gels (which I oddly have a ton of – the ranking post is coming, I promise!). Unlike some other fiber containing brow products, this really lasts all day and actually keeps my brows in place. The only thing about this that I don’t love is that the wand is bigger than I’m used to so I tend to get some of the brow gel on my skin. The good news is that it’s very easy to clean up before it dries, and this is so inexpensive I’m happy to deal with that issue.
Mascara: I fell out of love with all my mascaras this year and am currently on the hunt for a new one that I love. The front runner right now is the Finding Ferdinand Lashlift Mascara, which I would be perfectly happy with using as my main mascara. It’s a tubing mascara that’s lighter weight than the Thrive mascara so my lashes don’t fall as quickly, and it otherwise works exactly as I would expect a black tubing mascara to work. That said, I have 6 other mascaras to test throughout 2024, so I will report back!
Lip Liner: Thrive Causemetics Lip Filler Long-Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner in Kackie – I still love this lip liner, and it’s one I reach for all the time. I don’t know how Kackie did it, but this is the most perfect neutral brown shade for me. I can put any gloss or lipstick over top of it, and it looks great. The formula also manages to be creamy, not drying, and have great staying power. It’s the lip liner I use when I don’t want to worry about my lip look coming together, especially in the morning before I’ve had coffee and just want something I know will work. I think I started writing about this one in 2020, and I’m surprised how it continues to rise to the top of my lip liner collection.
Lip gloss/shiny lipstick: YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – I’m honestly so annoyed by how right Kackie is about this one, because she’s obsessed with it, and now I am too. If I had to choose between these and the Hourglass ones, I’d choose these every time. If you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than my other clear lip balms, so it lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear, and I’m always stopping myself from buying more of the shades.
Satin lipstick: Make Beauty Cream Supreme Lipstick in Equilibrium – This was my go to lipstick until I got the Givenchy lipstick I’m going to mention next. The formula is creamy and non-drying while still being much longer lasting than I expected. It’s a touch glossy, but not overly so, and it just looks so nice. Any time I need a “looks like I tried and will last” lipstick, I choose this one. I also love the color – Equilibrium is the perfect rosey nude that goes with any look I put together. I absolutely love the packaging and how easy the shape makes to get a precise application. I don’t need a lip liner with this, and it’s pigmented enough that I only need to swipe once. It’s also refillable so when I run out, I’ll only have to buy the refill!
Matte lipstick: Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is now my favorite matte lipstick formula because it looks blurred out and matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it.
What were your favorites this year? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
Makeup and Skincare Reviews 