Hey everyone!
January has been a wonderful month – I’ve been able to try so many new products and am glad to share with you some of my favorites!
I actually had so much more, but had to cut it down to these 13 items.
Here’s my full face of makeup using all these things (except the Covergirl foundation because I obviously can’t wear two foundations at a time!).
Read on for mini reviews and swatches galore!
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Pomeade
I don’t know why I waited so long to get my hands on these. I just thought they were hyped up for no reason, but boy was I wrong. So glad I got this while I was in the States. This has totally changed my brow game – my brows have never been more on-point!
Still natural looking because I brush the excess off and disperse them with a spoole, but it’s much sharper and precise than usual. Long lasting too! I’ve been using this nonstop ever since I got this.
2. Cargo One Base Concealer + Foundation
The fact that this is a concealer and foundation in one really interested me because as a new mom, I rarely have time to do my makeup. Heck, I sometimes don’t even have time to brush my teeth! LOL.
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| Cargo One Base Concealer + Foundation OB-03 |
So this really does the trick for me. It’s super lightweight but the coverage is buildable! Check out the swatch below – it really isn’t as thick as foundation, but evens out the skin really well, and has enough coverage to conceal dark circles.
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| Cargo One Base Concealer + Foundation OB-03 |
Perfect for new mommies and if you’re often in a rush! Perfect for travel too!
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| My current travel essentials! The Cargo One Base Concealer + Foundation is a staple because it’s two products in one! |
I highly recommend this!
3. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow
I remember being very skeptical about the bronze shade when I did a first impressions review of my Charlotte Tilbury haul here. Again, I was so wrong – I shouldn’t have doubted the Sculpt shade.
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| Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow |
I was skeptical because it seemed too light, I didn’t think it showed up on my skin well. But that’s actually the catch! It’s not supposed to be too visibly orange or red or brown. It’s supposed to be a “natural shadow” color.
The Sculpt shade is perfect for contouring because it’s a greyish brown. It’s perfectly toned – not orange at all, and not too reddish or muddy. If you see my photo up there, you can notice my jawline is slightly contoured, but it’s the perfect “shadow” shade.
It literally looks like shadow! And I love the fact that it lasts all day!
4. Cle de Peau Silky Cream Foundation
I got this during the Shiseido Sale, check out my haul here. I have been using this foundation nonstop ever since I got this. This is my second tube and I don’t think I will ever stop repurchasing this.
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| Cle de Peau Silky Cream Foundation B30 |
B30 is the perfect shade for me when blended out well. My skin undertone is neutral, and even though this foundation leans more toward the pink side, it actually suits me really well. It brightens up my complexion without giving a white cast, and it really feels and looks like skin.
But the main reason why I love this so much is the consistency and finish. It’s literally “silky” smooth, and doesn’t feel thick although it’s named “Creamy”. It seems to have light coverage, but is actually very buildable.
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| Cle de Peau Silky Cream Foundation B30 |
I have so many other open foundations in my stash now and I know I should circulate my foundations – but I just can’t!
Another thing I love about this is that it doesn’t break me out or clog my pores even though I use it every day.
5. Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer 202
Again, I got this during the Shiseido Sale! Check out my first impressions/mini review here.
This is my current purse lippie staple. I never go out of the house without this.
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| Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer 202 |
It’s a very wearable rosy pink shade – easy to slap on without risks of it bleeding out or looking messy. Its slippery, balmy texture also makes it very moisturizing.
My lips are very sensitive and easily chap whenever I wear lipstick, but this doesn’t make my lips chap/flake at all!
6. Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm
OMG – this is probably one of my many blushes that I own that cannot live without.
I’ve been trying out a lot of blushes lately, and I don’t know why, most of them just seem too cool-toned for me that it sort of darkens my whole complexion. When I don’t have time to fix them, this Clinique Chubby Stick is my lifesaver. I just wipe off a bit of the blush I was wearing with a dry cotton pad, and swipe this Clinique Chubby Stick on!
This 02 Robust Rhubarb shade is a peachy pink shade and has a warm undertone. It automatically warms and brightens up my whole complexion!
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| Swatches: Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Cream Limitless Pink and Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm 02 Rhobust Rhubarb |
It lasts more than 8 hours on my skin, and has a very velvety (kinda powdery) smooth finish, which I love. It isn’t patchy either, which is a major plus for cream blushes!
7. Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Oil Free Foundation
I purchased this foundation in Vegas during the New Year, and immediately fell in love with it! It’s oil free so it’s perfect for hot, summer weather, but it’s also suitable to be worn during winter because it doesn’t dry out the skin. I guess it’s suitable for all skin types!
This does not oxidize, which is great because once you blend it out on the skin it will remain the exact same color throughout the day.
It also:
- Has great oil control
- Lasts up to 12 hours (set with powder)
- Feels lightweight on the skin
- Matte finish but doesn’t dry out the skin
- Has a cream texture, but not thick at all
- Has light to medium coverage
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| Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Oil Free Foundation 210 |
This shade is tad too yellow on me, which is why I’ve been using the Cle de Peau Silky Cream Foundation nonstop ever since I got it towards the end of the month. But I love both so much, this definitely has got to be my favorite drugstore foundation EVER!
So if you’re looking for a great affordable foundation, you definitely have to give this a try!
8. Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Cream – Limitless Pink
This is also another current purse lippe staple of mine! I can’t handle how beautiful the color and finish is!
I got this from the Josie Maran Winter Dreams Argan Color Collection from Sephora.
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| Josie Maran Winter Dreams Argan Color Collection |
The texture seems to be a combination of oil and cream when you first squeeze it out – you can see the oil separating from the color below.
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| Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Cream Limitless Pink |
Once blended out it gives the cheeks a very dewy, natural flush. See the swatch above (with Clinique Chubby Stick).
However, I don’t actually use this for the cheeks – I mainly use this for my lips!
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| Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Cream – Limitless Pink |
I love the naturally glossy finish look it gives, and the pink MLBB shade is just perfect for everyday use. I was using this on top of the Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer 202 in my photo at the very beginning of this blogpost.
9. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow – Rio de Rose Gold
I also got this in the Josie Maran Winter Dreams Argan Color Collection and I seriously don’t think I can live without this product!
I’m a big believer in using cream shadows as a base before using powder shadows to ensure longevity, and this “watercolor” is just the most amazing thing ever.
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| Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow – Rio de Rose Gold |
It comes in a transparent glass bottle and the pigments don’t mix in with the water until you shake it up. Once the bottle is shaken well and the pigments are mixed with the water, twist the cap open and it comes with a doe foot applicator.
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| Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow – Rio de Rose Gold |
Simply apply this lightly on the eyelids and blend it out with a clean finger (or a brush – both hair and synthetic works!). See below for the swatches – left one is first application without blending, the one on the right is after it’s blended out with a finger.
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| Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow – Rio de Rose Gold |
I was wearing this as a base in my photos in this post. It acts as a perfect base for all my looks because this particular shade is very neutral. The sheen and 3D-like effect it gives is beautiful beyond description! It lasts the whole day even without primer during hot, summer days!
I will definitely be getting more shades from this range!
10. Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting
Because I have dry skin, I always aim to dew-up my skin every single day because dewy skin seems more youthful looking. So I’m always on the hunt for awesome highlighting/luminizing products.
I’m so glad I ended up buying this. I’ve already got the powder version of this, and I really liked it, so I was wondering if the liquid version would make the highlight look a bit more natural because I can mix it in with foundation…
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| Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting |
Just look at that glow!
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| Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting |
I love that I can mix this up with my foundation, and even when worn alone, it isn’t patchy at all, unlike most liquid highlighters when worn on its own.
I’ve also tried the Josie Maran liquid highlighter from the set, and it seems a bit patchy and obviously artificial on the skin. So the fact that this has a very smooth, skin-like finish really makes me appreciate it despite the price! 😛
11. Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7 Plush Shadow – 206 The Lolita
UGH! I don’t need to say much, just look at those shadows!
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| Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7 Plush Shadow – 206 The Lolita |
I love love love the pigmentation, shade and finish variety, texture and blendability, creaminess, pigmentation and color-payoff, and of course PACKAGING!
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| Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7 Plush Shadow – 206 The Lolita |
In my eye look above, I wore the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rio de Rose Gold as a base, and topped if off with the Marc Jacobs The Lolita palette shadows – furthest right color as an all-over wash of color on the lids, second from the right color in the middle of the lids, inner lower lashline and inner corners as highlight, darkest brown shade as contour on the outer corners, and the second from left color as a skin-color blending shade.
I added a bit of blue in the outer corners, and that’s using the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette, which I am in the process of reviewing.
12. Tarte CC Undereye Corrector
I’ve struggled with dark undereyes all my life! Genetics, hyperpigmentation, and lack of sleep are not to blame because the culprit behind my dark undereyes is my eye shape – the darkness is mostly caused by shadow! The skin underneath my eyes are also very thin so my dark circles are a bit bluish. So I’m born with dark undereyes and sadly there’s nothing I can do about it.
However, this color corrector has been a lifesaver. I use the Medium shade and it has a very peachy, orange undetone and it corrects my undereyes really well.
This is not concealer so I don’t use it on its own because it acts just to cancel out the bluish hue, so I usually top it off with my favorite concealer, the Cle de Peau concealer. The Cle de Peau concealer has a drier finish, and this color corrector has a rather tacky finish, so the Cle de Peau concealer sticks really well on it. It can last the whole day if I set it with powder!
13. Vera Mona Color Switch Duo
People are becoming more and more inventive these days and I am just beyond grateful for the existence of this perfect lil’ helper of mine.
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| Vera Mona Color Switch Duo |
So the outer (black) sponge is basically a sponge that can completely remove eyeshadow color when you stroke/swirl your brush on it. This makes eye makeup application a breeze because I don’t need to constantly wash my brush when I need to use it for a different color! I usually have to have tons of eye brushes out when doing a colorful, complicated eye look – but with this around, I really only need a couple of brushes out! No need to worry about not having a clean brush!
The tiny white sponge in the middle is a sponge that you can soak in water, and use it for wet makeup application. Simply dip your brush in the wet, white sponge to pick up any eyeshadow you want with a wet brush!
PHEW! That was a lot!
Hope you guys enjoyed that, and hope you had a lovely January!
