Painting The Lips Red: Thoughts on Red Lips

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Well, with February coming to a close and Valentine’s Day already feeling like an eternity behind us, with Christmas basically a distant memory, it seems like a weird time for me to be writing about red lips. Like, Ale, we’re about to enter Spring; we have pastels for Easter and green for St. Patrick’s Day to look forward to. Why are you bringing up red lips? To which I reply, I’ve just been thinking about them a lot recently, especially after watching Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s makeup tutorial on Youtube, which had been sitting in my “Watch Later” folder for months. Like AOC, I love a good red lip; some of my earliest memories involve me going into my grandmother’s makeup stash and applying her signature shiny red lipstick to look like her. As a four-year-old, I thought that as an adult, I would be wearing red lipstick every day, like my grandmother, and could not wait to be an adult so I could do that.

Reality, however, is quite different. I usually reserve the red lipstick for special occasions, performances, or going out; I’ve never worn red lipstick to class or on a day that I was just “hanging out.” Usually, there was some sort of occasion, even if it was just going downtown or out to dinner. Then I started thinking: why don’t I wear red lipstick all the time? It’s not like I don’t like it; every time I wear red lipstick, I feel powerful and confident and ready to take on the world, but it’s something more. When thinking about my article on uniforms, I realized that it goes back to not wanting to stand out too much. I exist in a weird limbo of wanting to be noticed for looking cute in my makeup but not wanting to draw attention to myself. And red lipstick is quite literally a bright red attention-grabber.

Then I started thinking about why I wear makeup at all; I wear it for myself, that much is evident by the lipstick and foundation stains in my mask at the end of each day, even if no one sees the full look except my roommates and me. So, if I’m just wearing the makeup for myself, why should it matter what people think about my red-painted lips? I guess that makes sense in theory, but in practice, that’s where it gets complicated, and it all goes back to me wanting to be noticed but not wanting to stand out.

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But then I think: my grandmother wears red lipstick every day, and it’s nothing out of the ordinary since we’re so used to it, so if I were to wear red lipstick often, would people just not even give it a second thought? I suppose so, but what about the first few times? That’s the hardest part, I think. When you start doing what you want or wearing what you want, people around you will notice, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Life is too short to not wear what you want, and think of your four-year-old self who was so excited to be an adult and wear red lipstick every day. I’m sure she would smile at you widely with her lipstick-stained teeth.

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Intrinsic Care (and Why the Makeup Stain on Your Mask Should Please You)

It was such a relief at first! Barely leaving the house under the requirements of the mandatory quarantine, I was left alone with my most innate self. Even if I did leave, the good-old glasses disguise of Superman had reincarnated into its new form - masks, making me almost unrecognizable outside.

There was no need to set my alarm for 30 minutes earlier to dress up, put makeup on. The solution to a bad hair day was as simple as a “Stop the Video” button on the left hand corner of the Zoom. My cozy, home-like portrait was squashed into a rectangular frame: A well-groomed body on the upper half and a pair of legs snuggled by a pyjamas on the bottom, referencing myself to a centaur was inevitable. 

Soon the mist of comfiness cleared up, unveiling my extrinsic motivations to take care of myself, which disappeared as soon as my ties with the external drifted apart. 24-hours of leggings and t-shirts, messy buns, and especially a me, who stopped looking at the mirror, not caring what to see on it, were not the synonyms of comfort.

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According to a research conducted by L’Oréal, involvement with makeup products rises as the interaction with other people increases. This research “found that some 34% of Chinese women wore makeup in February, during the peak of the lockdown - this figure has now increased to 68% in late June to early July,” when life turned back to its so-called normal state. The Youtube views of the fitness Youtuber Chloe Ting, who,as the movement of the quarantine, rose sharply in May, identified with the hopes of “glowing-up after quarantine” (Glowing to whom? Yes, the same question...), and slowly decreased to its pre-virus state as people realized that this situation is longer than a “21-day challenge.” A full circle, back to snack-fed bellies that we can hide under the frame of Zoom…

Even though I was relieved by learning I was not the only one who got motivated by her surroundings, this meant that there are even more people who perceive the process of “adornment” as something that is done for others. 

How one looks is a representation of self. Our characters are not solid; They are fluids that change and adapt, depending on the situations and people we interact with. Reminded of something? Yes, just like our fits. My location was the indoors of my home. The person I interacted with the most was myself. Yet, the girl I checked out on the tall dressing mirror did not reflect the “me.” Once a friend told me, if clothes are our armors, the girl I saw was the most defenseless me I had ever experienced, when she had to be the strongest in the midst of a pandemic, alone. 

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As Margherita Cardelli of Giuliva Heritage said,  “Dressing up is who we are. It is a way to stand up for our values that definitely are not going to be put aside because of the virus. Rather, they’re felt even stronger.” I was not going to be the one who put her zest to the shelf.

That day, I shuffled my most recent playlist and put on my “to wear at a very special event” fit. When I stood in front of the mirror, I realized that I longed to illustrate my appearance on a new day’s blank page. I dressed up. I wore my mask on top of my makeup. There was no one to see it. However, finally, after weeks of neglecting the need to look like myself, there I stood in my boots in the middle of the bedroom with my makeup smudged on my mask. 

And I loved it.

(picture by Su Karaca)

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The Most Enticing Deals At Sephora This Holiday Season

It’s that time of the year again… 

Edit: I wrote this article before the Holiday Savers Event Sale began. The sale is now over, but these products are still available, and they’re almost all holiday money-saving sets. Ie. they were already at discounted prices in the first place! I still think that these products are worth it - especially the limited-edition sets.

Sephora’s annual Holiday Savings Event is beginning (or has already begun!) for Insiders, VIBs and Rouge members: if you don’t already know what it is, you can save 10%, 15%, or 20% on every item, depending on the membership you have.

I took a look at everything, especially limited-edition sets for the holidays, and compiled what I find the most enticing, and also the best deals. Bear in mind, Sephora is pricey, and I want to stress that these products are not necessarily cheap now, but some of these deals are just simply unmatched in the rest of the year… so if you’re gonna give one of these products a go in your lifetime, now is your moment.

Hair

Save money on these cult-classics:

Olaplex Holiday Hair Fix Kit (Limited Edition)

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You’re sure to have heard of Olaplex before in the hair salon, from a friend, or online. This kit contains Olaplex No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 — the hair mask, the shampoo and conditioner, and the leave-in hair cream. The products are valued at $84 altogether, but this kit costs $60. Each of these four products is worth $28, so you are essentially getting one for free.

If you’ve been wanting to try the line, then this kit is for you. I especially recommend No. 3 and No. 6, since both have genuinely been life-changing for my curly, very-bleached hair. The shampoo and conditioner are excellent, albeit less worth it than the mask and cream, especially if your hair is straight. I would recommend the shampoo and conditioner to people with very parched hair, or for people combatting frizz on curls, because the texture of both is very thick. 

Give in to the hype:

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Care Set (Limited Edition)

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Gisou by Negin Mirsalehi carries “honey & propolis infused haircare from the Mirsalehi Bee Garden”, to quote from their Instagram bio, which is the platform on which the brand shot to fame: every influencer has the Honey Infused Hair Oil, if not also the mask. Plus, their components are gorgeous, minimalistic and #PFG. Sephora began carrying Gisou in August, and this set gives you the opportunity to live out your influencer dreams for less. The set, with $79 value, is $55: not cheap… but that’s the price you apparently have to pay for having hair like Negin’s. The products are made for every hair type, and help primarily with moisture and shine.

Makeup

It’s been reduced to almost a quarter of the price now...

FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Palette

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While these are marketed as highlighters, they’d be stunning as eyeshadows: Rihanna actually uses them for her eyes as well as her face in her demo video for the palette on Sephora’s website. This palette was in last year’s Fenty Beauty holiday collection for $54… now, it’s $15 (and, at this price, it’s limited edition). That’s just over $2 per shade, and the pans are big. Plus, it’s going to be less than $15 when the Savings Event discount is applied. If you like gorgeous shimmers as a wash of colour on your lid (very Euphoria) or as a topper for other shadows, I’d consider this palette, no matter what skin tone you have; the colours are very versatile and would look great on any complexion. 

Give in to the hype:

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo (Limited Edition)

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This duo is… so good. As is typical with Charlotte Tilbury complexion products, both the bronzer and highlighter are so flattering and give that natural-but-super-enhanced look. The bronzer especially is so unique due to its gorgeous cool tone: if you don’t like orange or warm bronzers, consider this product. Also, the SIZE! You can take it out with you (not that that’s happening just yet). Frustratingly, this bronzer shade would only work for light to medium skin tones: the full-sized duo in CT’s permanent collection does come in another slightly darker shade (called “medium-to-dark”), and hopefully they’ll also be offering that one as a mini too. The duo is $29, and don’t forget that you’re also paying for the gorgeous component!

Skincare

Save money on this cult-classic:

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

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I’ve heard so, so many stellar reviews of this SPF. I bought it once, and really enjoyed using it until it was empty. It is colourless (great for any skin tone) and non-greasy, with no sunscreen smell. It feels a lot like a silicone-style primer, and leaves you looking quite poreless and matte, but still with a glow from within. I personally experienced some pilling when using it, so you do need to be careful with the products you layer under and over it. SPF 40 is a good choice for adequate sun protection; just make sure you use enough of it! 

Give in to the hype:

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

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It’s marketed as “foundation”, but with its formula containing squalane, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide at what the Sephora description calls “active levels of (these) ingredients”, the purpose of the product seems to be to help your skin, instead of covering it up and making it worse. (It’s worth noting, though, that The Ordinary’s niacinamide and The Inkey List’s niacinamide serum both have 10% niacinamide, whereas this serum has 2%). What attracts me to this product right off the bat is that, since wearing masks a lot stresses out the skin, makeup-skincare hybrids are more worth it than ever. The product is marketed for all skin types, including oily, but I would take a good look at the reviews and consider if it might be too dewy for you if you have combo or oily skin. I’d love to just effortlessly put this on before a Zoom: serve that I’m-not-trying-at-all-but-I-look-really-good look. The price is $46, which is not cheap by any means, but everyone seems to love ILIA now, and you might want to give it a go.

Final thoughts about the Holiday Savers Event: just be mindful of what you really want and maybe don’t buy what you just kind of want, be very picky, and do your research. This year is tough; when you can, treat yourself!

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Monolid Makeup Inspiration

Monolids, an eyelid shape distinctive for their lack of a crease, aren’t often represented in the beauty industry. The lack of a crease can make following makeup trends difficult. However, a new generation of beauty influencers is showing us just how much is possible with monolid makeup. Here are some influencers and makeup artists to follow for inspiration for the best monolid makeup looks.

Hana Lee

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Youtuber Hana Lee is known for makeup looks featuring pink eyeshadow, dramatic falsies, and bold lips. She also posts a number of beauty and fashion videos inspired by Korean dramas and videos detailing her highly successful skincare routine. Check out her channel here.

monolidmua

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Laura, known as @monolidmua on Instagram, posts a variety of colorful, experimental makeup looks. I’m a fan of the way she plays with color in her eyeshadow and lipstick. Her bold eyeliner looks are also popular. Find her on Instagram here.

Sophia Chang

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Sophia Chang’s Youtube channel primarily consists of vlogs and lifestyle videos, but her occasional makeup looks are a joy to watch. Her looks are more muted in term of colors scheme, with a primary focus on darker black and gray tones. Watch her videos here.

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Makeup as a Form of Self-Care

When people think of the expression “self-care”, the images that usually come to mind are face-masks, bubble-baths, Netflix, sweatpants, or some variation of all of the above. Of the many different variations of self-care that I have seen or heard of, makeup is almost always absent, save for that euphoric feeling of removing it after a long day. But what if I told you that makeup can be a form of self-care as well?

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As someone who enjoys putting on makeup, I seldom leave the house with a natural face. I use the term natural very lightly here, though, since as a student who greatly enjoys sleep, my usual look is pretty simple. However, I enjoy that part of my morning routine, and would even go as far as to say it’s my favorite part (unless it’s one of those days I treat myself to breakfast at Medici); I enjoy the process of putting the makeup on my face, seeing how fast I can go and still achieve the same results, seeing what little extra flair I can add with the extra minute or so I have, but most of all, I enjoy that it makes me happy. I feel happy when putting my makeup on, I enjoy putting my makeup on. If there is a day where I don’t feel like putting on makeup, I don’t; I don’t want to make it just another chore in my morning routine. That, is what I believe makes it a form of self-care for myself.

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Because I enjoy that part of my morning routine so much, its outcome can often vary depending on my mood that day. I tend to set aside more time to apply my makeup on mornings when I need an extra boost, which I feel has a positive impact on my mood for the rest of the day. There are some days when I might feel a bit down or drained, and those are the days when I make sure to take some time in the morning for my makeup routine, which always helps to spark a bit of joy and perk me up. People often advise to look for joy in the little things, and one of my little things I find joy in is my morning makeup routine. I find applying makeup to be relaxing, not unlike how some people find painting or baking to be relaxing.

So whether or not you think makeup should be considered a form of self-care, I think that makeup really is a kind of self-care when used properly. By this, I mean when it is because you enjoy it and for no other reason. Since after all, isn’t what self-care at its core about taking the time to do those little things that bring you joy?

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It's More Personal Than You Think

The other day I was getting ready to go to my grandma’s house, just down the block, for an impromptu Mother’s Day brunch. After two months of waving from the front door, we felt it was ok to finally reunite. Despite the fact that a bright blue mask would be covering my face for the majority of the afternoon, I took advantage of the first chance to get a little dressed up.

I threw on something more than the sweatpants I had been living in and headed to the bathroom mirror to start my makeup routine, if you can even call it one. I was almost nervous to open my hand-me-down pouch full of what was likely expired foundation. Months in quarantine made me too comfortable with a naked face, but once I dampened the beauty blender and drew NARS concealer on my face, I questioned why I ever stopped. Growing up, I never wore makeup. I mean never. In fact, it probably wasn’t until junior year of high school that I ever opened a bottle of foundation. Gone were the days of good ol’ BB Cream. The whole industry was daunting and I didn’t know where to start. Luckily, I was blessed with pretty clear skin, a product of my mom’s genes, which meant there wasn’t even the incentive to cover up the spots that did pop up here and there.

The first makeup advice I ever received was, naturally, from my mom. She told me, “You know you did it right if it looks like you aren’t wearing any.” Although this tip seemed sort of ironic coming from the woman who wears Bobbi Brown’s darkest shades of red lipstick, they hold some truth. Whenever I start to step too far out of my comfort zone, like standing in front of the mirror with a Champagne Pop Becca highlighter in one hand and a brush smothered with product in the other, I can’t help but hear her mantra in the back of my head. I live by these words now, but it took awhile for me to fully understand it. I’ve always been the most fascinated with makeup out of the three girls in my family—me, my mom, and my older sister. To this day, I like to think of it like face paint. The ability to completely transform and/or enhance your features amazed me. 

Personal archives.

It took awhile for my mom to fully support my makeup endeavors. My sister and I used to do competitive cheer and if it wasn’t crazy enough to ask a herd of uncoordinated five year-olds to set up a sturdy human pyramid in front of a panel of judges, we were also required to wear a disturbing amount of stage makeup. Nothing was too much for the cheer world—blue eyeshadow, red lips, silver glitter, and really anything you can think of. To keep everyone away from my face, my mom told me and everyone else that I was “allergic” to all brands of makeup. All except hers. 

Looking back at it now, I realize this may sound ridiculous. How could I be so gullible? But come on, I was practically a toddler. Besides, even if I had understood, it wouldn’t have changed a thing. My mom was never the type to cave. She took “no means no” to a whole other level. There was no swaying her, which is why I had to take my makeup education into my own hands. My timeline begins with British YouTuber Zoe Sugg, formerly known as Zoella. Zoe was kind, sweet, and everything you’d want to grow up to be. Little did I know she’d take the platform to the next level in the near future. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon Jenn Im, Sophia Chang, and Weylie Hoang, none of whom have the same following as Sugg, that I recognized the issue of representation in beauty.

Even with three beauty gurus, who looked more like me than anyone else on the internet (at least that I knew of at the time), I couldn’t see myself in any of them. It was comforting to know they came from similar backgrounds, but I couldn’t pull off winged eyeliner like Sophia or be bold with an eyeshadow palette like Jenn. I quickly learned to take what I liked from each of them. They were all creative and all had something to offer.

I can’t speak for everyone when I say this, but to me, representation extends far beyond the color of your skin. We’re all on the lookout for something special. 

In the past few years, brands have released more shades of foundation than any other point in history. Commercials and ad campaigns are featuring a wider variety of people, but it’s still pretty impossible to find someone just like you. Maybe we have to stop placing all the responsibility on the industry and start asking ourselves what we’re doing to move things forward. A large part of the problem stems from consumers’ constant attempts to fit into a certain mold. Makeup and skincare are much too personal to be categorized into a “trend.” From all my years of trying to navigate the makeup world, I learned there are no rules when it comes to beauty. 

It is for this reason why I fell in love with Vogue’s Beauty Secrets series so quickly. The magazine’s collection of the best kept beauty secrets of models (old and new), artists, actors, and other influencers is one of the few YouTube series I still take the time to watch. If I’m going to be honest, more than half of the people they ask to participate are unfamiliar to me, but that’s precisely why it’s such a genius idea. Beyond the odd thrill that comes from getting a peak at Cindy Crawford’s marble covered bathroom, there is something comforting about learning from people whose tips, just like everyone else’s, have been passed down from friends and family. For me, the OG Beauty Secrets started in the bathroom of one of my oldest friends, Delila Brown, my earliest friend from school and practically my second sister. 

Personal archives.

Delila, Dede, doesn’t look anything like me. With wavy blond hair and fair skin, she’s quite the opposite. Even so, she taught me everything I know about makeup. She was more successful in training me than any YouTuber because she knows me better than anyone else. She knows I’m a minimalist, who won’t go near glitter or a bright orange eye. She also knows I would rather have a rogue blemish show through my light coverage foundation than feel like I have a second layer of skin to breathe through. And while I still don’t remember all the steps to contouring, one lesson I’ll never forget learning from her is that makeup should enhance your features just as much as they should strengthen your self-confidence. 

I know not everyone has access to a “personal makeup artist” like Dede, but for the sake of all the little kids aching to take a stab at their own makeup look, take the time to experiment. It’s so easy to forget that makeup has no limits. You don’t need to look a certain way, you just need to be comfortable with yourself. Afterall, finding what works best for you, although difficult at times, can feel more rewarding than getting your eyeliner right for the first time (a challenge we’re all too familiar with).

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The Age of Celebrity Cosmetics

“The last thing the world needs is another beauty brand. But that’s too bad,” Lady Gaga proclaimed in an advert for the launch of her makeup line, Haus Laboratories. She is not wrong to point out that there has been an increase in the number of new beauty brands hitting the market—many being led by celebrities. None of this is necessarily new, but the rate at which celebrities are taking control of their cosmetic lines has increased dramatically in the last decade.

Back in 1987, Elizabeth Taylor created one of the first, and certainly the biggest, celebrity-launched perfume line. At the time, celebrity endorsement was growing as a means to advertise products, but Elizabeth opted to start her own company, the House of Taylor. Her first perfume would win her a Fifi award, the most prestigious award in the fragrance industry, and her subsequent perfumes would establish her perfume line as a staple of celebrity brands.

Thirty-two years later, and the Haus of Gaga (Lady Gaga’s creative group) would launch their own beauty brand, Haus Laboratories. The line currently sells eyeliners, lip glosses, shimmer powders, and lip liners. Although technically a collaboration with Coty Inc. and Amazon, the brand’s public image is all Gaga. Gaga joins a long list of contemporary celebrities starting up their own brands. Selena Gomez has recently launched Rare Beauty, and Ariana Grande launched her own “thank u next” perfume line.

Although Grande’s perfume is her first dip into the fragrance world, she has been collaborating with makeup brands for years. Most notably, in 2015 she joined the ranks of Selena Quintanilla, Mariah Carey, and Madonna with her first MAC Cosmetics collaboration. The proceeds to her collection go towards helping those affected by AIDS. MAC is iconic for their inclusion of celebrities, and Ariana’s partnership with them proved not only that she was stepping into a new realm of stardom but that MAC still knows how to remain in the social consciousness.

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As is apparent with Ariana Grande launching her own line, though, celebrities are seeking more autonomy over the products they release. It seems that many have grown past the desire to have their names attached to a prestigious beauty brand. It has now become a race to make one’s own name prestigious.

Indeed, after launching her own brand with money she had saved from modeling, Kylie Jenner surpassed any and all expectations with the success of her Kylie Lip Kits. Since 2016, the brand Kylie Cosmetics has launched its creator into becoming the youngest “self-made” billionaire. It stands to wonder if the success came from the already established Kardashian fame, or did Kylie Cosmetics really revolutionize the lip market?

Whenever Kylie Cosmetics is mentioned, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is not far behind. Certainly, Rihanna’s cosmetic line has grown to be one of the most notable cosmetic brands of the past decade despite only being released in 2017. With its focus on an inclusive shade range, it quickly eclipsed other brands in sales and publicity.

Fenty Beauty has clearly become the focus of Rihanna’s attention for the past few years, much to the disdain of her music fans. Any time a new release comes, there is as much praise for the products as there are, “Where’s the album?” comments. Similar comments have been directed towards Lady Gaga as Haus Labs appeared to be her focus over her “Chromatica” album. Do celebrity beauty brands come at the cost of their art? The annoyance directed at Rihanna’s beauty venture has nevertheless been eclipsed by praise. Her latest photo promoting her Savage x Fenty lingerie line has become one of her most like posts in a matter of days.

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Da girls like it Savage! So I had to bring @AdamSelman back for another collab! 🖤 Available May 1st only on savageX.com #UXTRA

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Apr 30, 2020 at 2:23pm PDT

On a different note, brands like that of Rihanna and Gaga are not as entirely independent as they first appear. As mentioned, Haus Labs is owned by Coty Inc. This company is also affiliated with Kylie Cosmetics, Katy Perry Perfumes, and many other well-known brands. Notably, 50% of Fenty Beauty’s revenue is now owned by Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH). Despite celebrities having more control of their beauty products, the major beauty corporations have managed to forge new partnerships that benefit them. The names of brands have shifted, but the big players have not.

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that celebrity-owned brands are growing in cultural influence over past, well-established brans. Kylie Cosmetics is in the top 10 most influential beauty brands of 2019, and Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has been adapted in the social lexicon for beauty brand excellence. Fenty was popularized for being one of the first beauty lines to release a truly inclusive shade range. This followed various scandals of brands promoting a diverse range but failing to execute. It is clear that celebrity brands have a reputation for being at the forefront of innovation and inclusion.

As established beauty brands continue to collaborate with celebrities, and opening the world up to YouTube celebrities as well, it is clear that this a symbiotic relationship that will continue to flourish. However, the artist’s need for control over their art is driving celebrities to gain as much ownership as they can over products that use their likeness. As the beauty industry shifts towards more inclusivity and diversity, the biggest names in Hollywood like Rihanna and Gaga are leading the charge. The real question—will traditional brands allow this takeover?

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Decorate Yourself for Spring: Arting with Makeup

Spring is now officially around the corner, so it’s obviously the perfect time to draw on your face with makeup!

Maybe you’re thinking, “But I’m not artistic!” Well, I’m here to tell you that that’s some silliness, and if you want to draw on yourself you shouldn’t let that stop you. Take a look at your planner/notebook/hand…see any doodles? Mhm, I thought so. Try putting one of those on your cheek or as eyeliner and see if you like it!

These are endorsed by Nadaya (go check out her blog posts!), and it feels like it might be time for the rest of us to invest in some too…

What you’ll need:

1. A lil inspiration (nature? google?)

2. Everyday makeup + brush

Some of these looks are more labor-intensive than others (the wave took FOREVER), but none of them require any special tools—just some combination of a wet eyeliner brush, eyeshadow, lip liner, and eyeliner pencil (and a whole lot of Google Image inspiration).

Here are some other examples to get you started!

Happy arting! <3 <3 <3

Images via here, here, here, here, here, here, here

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Maximalism Is In

Minimalism is not boring. There’s a certain charm, a gentle allure in the ability to dab a bit of color on your cheeks and lips, to darken the eyes just a tad, in order to freshen up. Highlight your cheeks and nose. Swipe a bit of gel on to lock your brows in place. Blend some concealer under your eyes if need be. It’s nice, quick, and easy.

“No makeup-makeup is meant to enhance your features, not hide them.”

I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of that statement. Sure, it rings true, but who says we’re hiding? 

ART VIA JULIANA

OF @VESPERUCCA

There’s a sort of magic in being able to transform your face into a canvas: in blending rainbows into your lids, nailing wings that cut, and fashioning mind-blowing graphic looks through the tiny mirror of your eyeshadow palette. In turning your tools into paintbrushes.

The past couple of years have seen a sky-rocketing high in the creativity of MUAs, especially through the use of Instagram. There was a point in time where—and I think every avid fan of makeup remembers—makeup tutorials would consist of the same looks, back to back: natural smokey-eyes, cut creases, nude lips, and the same shades of orange and pink like clockwork. Now, there’s something about it that’s just so special.

ART VIA LUCIA

OF @GEMINIBLUSH

Maximalism is in, with all of its eccentricity. 

I’m not just talking about the swipe of a colored liner on the eye. Young artists today have been going all-or-nothing, and it’s remarkable to observe the way makeup has evolved from a daily routine into an art form, something that evokes inspiration in people worldwide. Accounts from the likes of Juliana Horner (vesperucca), Chloe Denyse (sylvurdust), Lucia Pereŝová (geminiblush), June Noel (visiblejune), and Ana Takahashi (anatakonyourface) take up the majority of my Instagram feed, and I could spend hours scrolling through in awe at their dauntless talents. 

The creativity artists these days exhibit is utterly entrancing, and it kindles a fire in me (and many others) that desires nothing more than to burn and create. And that, I think, is simply what art is meant to do. 

ART VIA CHLOE OF @SYLVURDUST

ART VIA ANA OF @ANATAKONYOURFACE

FEATURED IMAGE VIA JUNE of @VISIBLEJUNE

Balenciaga Comments on the 'Future of Beauty'

From boxy suits to larger-than-life ball gowns with bold colors, Balenciaga never fails to push the boundaries of fashion. In last month’s Paris Fashion week, Balenciaga’s Spring 2020 collection pushed its creativity to new heights. The new designs are not only accompanied by overemphasized features like huge shoulders and oversized cuts, but also noticeably, the absurdly exaggerated facial features.

Swedish model Elsa Sjökvist wasn’t totally unrecognizable as she came down the runway in a peak-shouldered dress, but her cheekbones were hard to overlook

Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia asked makeup artist Inge Grognard to extend the exaggerated elements of the collection to facial features. With a resounding yes, Grognard used prosthetic facial makeup to resemble extreme cheekbones and enlarged lips, transforming models into unrecognizable figures. 

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““Demna works a lot on volumes to reshape the body and he wanted to do the same on faces without changing the strong character of the person involved””

The virtually imperceptible makeup with the oversized pieces together emphasize the overarching theme of excess and empowerment that Balenciaga has always stood for. Yet, it also seems to reflect today people’s obsession with plastic surgery. 

Brazilian beauty Jamily Wernke Meurer’s blown-up pout with “a few botched lip injection treatments”

“My actual quest at Balenciaga is to create a modern luxury brand that is inclusive, that is sustainable, that is involved and that is avant-garde, because that is in its DNA,” said Gvasalia in her previous interviews. In Gvasalia’s ideal future, people gravitate to a fashion brand not only for the look, but for the values it upholds. He wants to use garments as a tool of communication and want Balenciaga to be socially involved. With this ideology and his unorthodox approach, Gvasalia made Balenciaga a fastest-growing brand in the past years.

Whether it is a social comment to the new beauty trend or a playful design of the runway show, Balenciaga continues to be a disruptor that challenges conventional definitions of fashion and luxury.

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Jeffree Star x Shane Dawson: Where Controversy Meets Beauty

When two of Youtube’s most controversial figures get together, there’s bound to be a slew of drama on the rise with an obvious paycheck.

During the first documentary Shane Dawson did on Jeffree Star last year, we glimpsed into the beauty world and got confirmation of the partnership that is now taking the beauty community by storm. The collab between the duo includes not only Shane’s six part docs-series that reveals details on the makeup industry, but also the Jeffree x Shane makeup collab which includes: one main palette, a mini palette, six liquid lips, a clear gloss, mirrors, and new merch.

One of the many new merch items Shane Dawson has released through his new partnership with Jeffree Star. Via

The first part of the new docu-series follows Shane as he experiences the glamorous and not so glamorous parts of Jeffree’s meet and greets. It isn’t until the second part we start seeing the tea that will come throughout the rest of series. During this, we start to get a glimpse into the vicious business side of the beauty industry and how easy it is to get scammed through partnerships with big brands. Even Shane, who has been on youtube for more than a decade, decimated his own profit from his merch sales for being naive and not understanding his worth.

It is in the final parts, we are starting to see the process of how a successful beauty company rolls out a new product. We get to see how the colors, layout, and packaging are chosen. It is also during these parts, we see Shane’s full, volatile reaction during the most recent (but definitely not the last) “Shane is over Party,” resulting from comments he made on his old podcast in bad taste about his cat. Not only that, we are let in on the secret that Jeffree was robbed of product worth a million dollars. To sum it up, it seems like the beauty community doesn’t want to see them succeed. Jeffree even concludes that the two are linked in an attempt to take them down.

One of Jeffree’s latest releases: the Alien Palette Via

I wouldn’t expect anything less from a collab of these two. With this projected to be Jeffree’s biggest launch yet with a profit of over thirty million dollars, I suggest you check it out.

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The Spooky Truth About Glitter

That glitter eyeshadow is cute - but at what cost?

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It’s almost time for Halloween, which means one thing: lots of glitter. Whether it’s in costumes, makeup, or your next prank on your roommate, glitter is a fun, harmless way to let out your creative side. Or is it? 

Not true: contrary to popular belief, non-eye safe glitter poses real threats to your health, including scratched corneas and infections that can send you to the ER.

What, exactly, is non-eye safe glitter?

In order to understand what makes glitter eye-safe or not, it’s first important to understand what exactly glitter is. According to the BBC, glitter can be made from various materials, including plastic, metal, glass, biodegradable kelp, and mica. The first two are often used to make big glitter particles - what you would traditionally think of as glitter. Because of environmental concerns, however (glitter is a type of microplastic), many companies are using non-traditional, more eco-friendly materials such as kelp or mica. [1]

In addition to material, glitter can be informally sorted by grade. Craft glitter is what you think of as glitter - bigger, chunky, usually made of metal or plastic, and with sharper edges. On the other hand, cosmetic-grade glitter is the name of glitter that follow standards set by the beauty industry. Typically, cosmetic-grade glitter are small particles made from polymers, with hexagonal edges as to reduce the risk of injury. It tends to be smaller, and is thus considered “safer” for eyes. [2]

What are the dangers of glitter?

Two words: eye damage. Craft glitter is out of the question - the metal and sharp edges mean that there is a very real risk of scratching your cornea, which can lead to eye infections and long-term eye damage. Even cosmetic glitter, which is considered by some to be safer, carries risks - it still has sharp edges, and because of its small size, can be harder to wash out once it’s in your eye. As stated before, the sharp edges can cut the cornea which result in corneal scratches. Although most corneal scratches usually heal in a day or two, they require special attention, especially those caused by plant matter. Otherwise, they can turn into eye infections and eye ulcers. [3]

What are the dangers of glitter? Two words: eye damage.

Non-plastic glitter also carries risks. Lush USA, when reached for comment, verified that their glitter is plastic-free, but recommends against getting it in the eye area. The Food and Drug Administration goes so far as to go against any use of glitter, even cosmetic-grade, around the eye area. [4] Clearly, the danger is real.

What does that mean for me, the consumer?

Unfortunately, many companies still do not disclose whether the glitter they use is eye-safe or not. Other times, the label is barely visible, serving as a way for companies to claim plausible deniability when something goes wrong. It’s wrong and unfair to consumers. After all, why put eye glitter in products that are clearly meant to be used in the eye area unless companies know they can get away with it? Sadly, the current trend of glitter-mania shows no signs of stopping, and so it becomes up to us, the consumers, to be aware of the dangers. The author recommends using glitter, if you must, around the eyes only if it’s explicitly stated to be eye-safe. Be careful in removing the glitter. And please, please don’t use craft glitter.

Unfortunately, many companies still do not disclose whether the glitter they use is eye safe or not.

So this Halloween, skip the glitter around the eyes. Your corneas will thank you.

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War Paint For Men Unnecessarily Genders Makeup

I’ve always been fascinated by the art of makeup. When I was really young, my brother and I would binge watch Michelle Phan’s videos, memorizing every step of her routines, but since we didn’t have any makeup of our own, we would convince our mom or our cousins to follow the tutorials on our behalfs. We would stare in awe at how these women could change their faces with makeup; it was something that we felt we could never really understand; it was as if they were transforming themselves into someone else, or perhaps exploring a new side to them. It was magic to me.

James Charles, Covergirl’s first ever Coverboy is credited as one of the most successful male beauty gurus on YouTube. Image via

Since those days, I’ve been amazed at how the industry not only expanded into being more accepting of different skin colors and lifestyles, but also into being more inclusive of gender. Whether we like it or not, the makeup industry and the huge influx of male beauty influencers has really put so much effort into showing that makeup can and should be for everybody.

I bought my first ever bottle of foundation in my first year in University, and I remember finishing it off within a semester, I was so in love with the way makeup made me feel, how it gave me a sense of creative control over things that I thought were unchangeable. I’ll admit that even I was hesitant to the idea of applying makeup as part of me still saw it as a feminine craft, but now that I’ve been wearing it for over a year, I see it as a means of self-care and something that is definitely not gender restrictive.

The full set of War Paint for Men’s products.

I stumbled across an ad the other day for this brand called War Paint for Men, whose matte-black packaging appealed to me, but upon further probing, I was disheartened or perhaps confused at what I saw. Essentially, War Paint specializes in makeup for men, which I suppose in theory isn’t too shocking, but what haunted me was how hyper-masculine their marketing images were.

In some ways, I’m glad that there is a cosmetics brand out there that is really tailoring themselves to marketing makeup for men: I love the matte black packaging, and I love that their products are a really solid introduction to makeup: foundation, powder, concealer and applicators. Their products are vegan and contain ingredients that really nourish your skin (which for someone with sensitive skin, I really appreciate), but I can’t shake the idea that this brand is off somewhere.

While the brand seems to be expanding the accessibility of makeup, I fear that it may be perpetuating a masculine ideal that almost contradicts its message. In particular, I was deeply affected by War Paint’s advertisement, which featured a tattooed man in the shower (I’d say Axe commercial circa 2002 bod) applying concealer and foundation before donning his huge skull ring and cutting to logo. For one: why would you ever apply makeup in the shower? and secondly, why is this ad so insistent in maintaining this awkward standard of machismo?

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Even its name “War Paint for Men” rubs me the wrong way: this push towards militaristic, aggressive masculinity seems unnecessary and odd. It’s like their message isn’t that “makeup is for everyone” but rather “this particular brand of makeup is for only the manliest men”, which might have been alright in the days of Axe and the Jersey Shore, but now seems dated, insensitive and frankly, kind of silly.

I’m hoping the brand notices its error and leans in more towards accessibility, and inclusivity rather than aggressive manliness. Makeup is amazing, it opens up a whole different side of one’s creativity and I like the idea that there is a brand that is trying to open up that side in men specifically, I just don’t like that the brand feels the need to sell toxic masculinity, but make it makeup.

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Update: the brand took down their advertisement, oddly enough not because of angry comments, but rather because the marketing team got into copyright music trouble.

Grace Beauty Is Opening Doors for All Makeup Lovers

Whether it be the small, swift strokes necessary to apply the right amount of mascara or the precision needed to flick out the perfect winged eyeliner, the steps that are a part of many people’s everyday makeup routines can be much more difficult to achieve for those living with physical disabilities.

This is where Grace Beauty comes in. The U.K.-based brand is offering three different attachments for mascara wands to ease application for persons with physical disabilities. These attachments include the Safe Grip and Ring Grip, which are pictured below.

At only $11 a grip, Grace Beauty is ensuring that all makeup lovers can easily access the necessary tools for application. On their website, their mission statement reads, “Anyone, regardless of ability, should be able to use any beauty product they want to.”

While this brand only offers three attachments currently, they are looking to expand to fulfill their objective of offering a better makeup experience for everyone.

With the emergence of a brand like Grace Beauty, it is refreshing to see startups and outsiders addressing the needs of a larger community that is often overlooked in the beauty industry. Their future launches and innovative products will be a model for future makeup brands to follow.

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All images via Grace Beauty’s Instagram. Feature image via Into the Gloss.

Fenty's Slip Up and Tokenism in the Beauty Industry

If you follow Instagram accounts along the likes of Diet Prada and Estée Laundry, you have most likely seen that what seemed like a “do-no-wrong” brand has made a major mistake in product naming. Ever since its launch, Fenty Beauty has been praised for its shade ranges and its inclusivity in marketing promotions. Rihanna has certainly made diversity a priority in her brand. Unfortunately, her latest product was inconsistent with her established brand.

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An addition to the Killawatt Highlighter line, a product with the shade name “Geisha Chic” hit Instagram, being teased by various influencers who had received PR packages to promote a future launch.

Pages such as Esteé Laundry were quick to call out this racial insensitivity and lack of cultural understanding or appreciation relating to the term geisha. Those of Asian background took to their Instagram question log, describing the ever-present exoticization and misunderstanding of what geisha and geisha culture represent.

Fenty fans questioned the intent of the brand as well as whether this product would be renamed or entirely pulled from its launch. Considering that influencers already had their hands on the product, manufacturing was likely nearly complete and the product ready for sale.

After this major backlash, Fenty announced that it has decided to “completely remove this shade from online and in stores until further notice.” It was definitely a faster response to beauty community scrutiny than other brands have shown in the past.

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Unfortunately, this is just one of the more recognized cases of racial insensitivity toward Asians in the beauty industry. Brands like Tatcha have indulged in a similar exoticization and almost fetishization of geisha culture, while in reality, white-washing the brand to appeal to wealthy, non-POC populations. The marketing scheme behind Tatcha certainly requires more revision, as seen below, the brand has committed some heavily insensitive collaborations in the past.

View this post on Instagram

Dear @tatcha and @helena_quinn, when selling a traditional garment not of your culture it's important to be aware and respectful of its significance The way you've styled your kimino is only appropriate for the dead Kimono are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right except when dressing the dead for burial

A post shared by Stephen Alain Ko (@kindofstephen) on Mar 29, 2018 at 5:26pm PDT

It is only with hope that callout culture will adjust brand behavior in the future and create a more accountable and racially-appropriate environment in an industry that profits off of tokenization and ignorance.

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Makeup Inspo for Atelier MODA

Fashion shows… We love them for the iconic looks, the runway models, the statement pieces. But my favorite part (and what’s often not even talked about) is what pulls the whole look together: the makeup. You can have the outfit, the hair and the personality to boot, but if you don’t have the makeup look, your ensemble will never be complete.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a makeup expert to pull a great makeup look together. For the MODA show, we want you to shine just as much as the models strutting their stuff on the runway. Maybe you’re not sure what look you’re going for, or maybe you’re just here for some inspiration. Keep scrolling for some great makeup looks to choose from:

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Colorful + Unapologetic

The MODA Fashion Show is the perfect time to experiment with makeup looks that you’ve been dying to copy, whether it’s something you saw Kendall Jenner do (well, likely not because that woman does not do interesting makeup) or (much more likely) a look from Jeffree Star or James Charles you’ve been dreaming of since both of their palettes dropped.

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Some inspiration I’d offer is to coordinate your eye looks with your outfit, whether that’s to create a bold cut crease with complementary colors or to entirely define your eyes with a matching eyeliner. Pop on a bold lash, and any look will be complete. Lately, lash companies have been creating eye-color flattering lashes, and I’d certainly say that’s an investment worth considering.

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Too afraid to rock an eyelid look? Well, it’s finally time to break out that strange Kylie Lip Kit shade you bought but never use! Lip color is a true personality statement, and switching it up from pinky nudes and reds will be a breath of fresh air and a definite showstopper.

If you don’t have any fun lip colors, stop by your local drugstore or ULTA and I can guarantee that there are loads of affordable and fun options to choose from.

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Matte + Nude

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I get it. You want to keep it safe, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping things in your comfort zone (unless you’re Kendall, and then it just gets BORING). For a perfect nude makeup look, you can probably draw inspiration from one of the many iconic Kim Kardashian nude-makeup selfies done by makeup god, Mario Dedivanovic. The good thing about this type of makeup is that it’s a really good way to bring out the best of your facial features through contour without looking like you have cakey makeup on.

With a matte, nude look, you’re going to want to have a foundation and concealer duo that really does your skin justice. Consider finding a true match when it comes to these items, and you’ll be on the road to countless perfect skin days. Also, invest in a solid setting powder because it really pulls the whole look together.

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Creative + Artistic

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So you bought the James Charles Artistry palette, didn’t you? Yes, I am guilty of the same crime (of loving makeup!), and when you have palettes like this, it’s almost impossible to not want to venture into the realms of makeup blogger experimentation.

If you really want to go this direction, I highly recommend drawing eyeshadow inspiration from your outfit, whether that is patterns, color scheme, or just general vibey-ness.

Sister James has fortunately gifted us with all types of color-based looks from his palette, but there are infinite other looks you can find if you check out Nikkie Tutorials or Jackie Aina on YouTube.

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General Makeup Tips

Blend

Eyeshadow is tough. There’s nothing worse than having what looks like a massive Pinterest fail on your face. But when things (inevitably) sour, fear not! A lot of blending will really help a look. Sometimes things are pigmented strangely and will look weird. Luckily, enough blending will always soften out a look, so you can keep your panic at bay. Unless it really is messed up beyond repair… Then I highly recommend a soft makeup remover, and try, try again!

Setting Powder

Find a good setting powder, especially if you have an oily skin type. It’ll help your makeup last longer, look less cakey, and add a nice finish to your face. Of course, beware of flashback, especially because the MODA Show will have a lot of flash photography.

Find What’s Right for You

Just because everyone swears by Fenty Foundation or Shape Tape doesn’t mean that it’ll be great for you! Everyone’s face is very different from each other, and it’s definitely not worth putting your skin through hell for one night of glam. I assure you that there are the right products for your skin type out there! You just have to search a little and go through just enough trial and error.

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Feature Image Into the Gloss.

Hungry Yet?

New Year, New Me: a cliche tagline that has most people already nosediving straight back to their old habits by the second or third week of January. This new year, the penultimate year of what I believe is the worst presidency of all time, I pledged myself to sustainability and reducing makeup waste. In that vein, I officially put an embargo on all makeup products and am currently still very much clean. Fortunately for me, the newest releases aren’t really what I’d consider covetable. So I present to you: the Pizza Palette.

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Perhaps you’ve given up on junk food for the new year or just the month of January, but here’s another reason to keep your aversion to this “foodstuff.”

This palette seems to be the favorite child of Glamlite, a small online brand that is currently growing in popularity. Retailing for $40, the Pizza Palette boasts its cruelty-free, vegan, and allergy-tested status while also providing a unique space for artistry in the world of quite square and rectangle beauty products. Compared to a palettes around that price range (think Anastasia, HUDA Beauty, etc.), the Pizza Palette is marginally cheaper and lands a little massive on palette size. The palette contains 18 shadows, with shades that range from your normal warm-tone shades to absurdly green shades inspired by produce items that often don pizza orders.

I certainly applaud Glamlite for its attempt to appeal to the lackadaisical millennials who constantly mention their unending love for pizza and eyeshadow, but I’m not entirely sure the idea was so great in execution. Just by the looks of it, the color story is all over the place and seems a little too experimental for someone like me.

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Despite its questionable take on aesthetic boldness, many reviews of Glamlite’s palette fawn over this product’s intense pigmentation and impressive coverage, so it looks like the product is well worth the hype–even Jeffree Star has given this product his stamp of approval!

Will you be ordering this pizza?

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How to Smartly Navigate Holiday Beauty Releases

Sephora floods with holiday gift releases around October, which is honestly a little rude. No one realistically considers gift shopping this early in the year. If you’re even slightly interested in the makeup scene, this time of year brings in more than just general interest from new releases; it seems like the best time to save money on products you’ve been eyeing all year through bundles and other techniques the brands have. But after being a veteran to the holiday season makeup hauls, I’m here to give you some insight so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did, or even worse, buy a present that sucks for someone else.

Ignore Theoretical Retail Value

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Beauty brands love to do this evil thing to its consumers where they put a “originally sells for” or “has a value of” price under the holiday selling price. Who doesn’t love to maximize gift value without inflating the price tag? Well, this is an evil scam we all need to learn to ignore. It’s common knowledge that a single Anastasia Beverly Hills shadow or an Hourglass highlighter has an individual price tag of about $10-20 per pop. But everyone also knows that it is so much more economical to buy palettes. This is sort of the same knowledge that applies to holiday set pricing; the brands inflate pricing value to make it seem like you’re saving more money. This year’s “new” holiday release from Tarte, Pineapple of My Eye Collector Set (retailing for $59 this year) is a perfect example of the holiday scam season. Containing about the same shadow amount as a regular palette, a blush/bronzer quad, and some miscellaneous eye and lip products, this set looks like a great deal. When looking deeper into it, the miscellaneous products are easily redeemable as free samples on the Tarte website with each purchase, and the palette only costs around $9-10 more than regular palettes. So basically, you’re paying a little more than usual for a blush/shadow duo palette… which really isn’t that original or groundbreaking.

Beware of Product Quality

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I love myself a Marc Jacobs shadow, so obviously seeing a massive Marc Jacobs holiday palette made me shake last year. I bought it, for a pretty hefty price too, and then found myself more than disappointed. In hindsight, I’m not very surprised. The skyrocketing demand for makeup in the holiday season coupled with the effects on mass producing theme-less products is bound to create some deterioration in product value and quality. But for Marc Jacobs, I expected better. The only impressive part of this holiday palette was its packaging, deviating from the regular sleek, black packaging classic to the brand. What disappointed me the most was the patchiness and lack of pigment in the palette. The quality fell so starkly compared to the regular releases from the brand. I’ve heard similar horror stories from brands like Too Faced, so if you see a product in the holiday season that seems too good to be true, you’re probably right.

New Isn’t Really “New”

Here’s my biggest issue with holiday releases: the products aren’t really new. Either the products in the holiday packages are just smaller sizes of currently existing products that are slightly smaller or bigger than the travel-sizes or they are just repackaged releases of the previous year’s holiday bundle. I think it deceives newer customers into thinking they’re getting a great deal when they’re not. A lot of times, the smaller products are bundled with other products that end up overpricing the holiday collection for little value. It ruins the point and originality of holiday releases that are supposed to make them special.

Maybe with this information, people will just opt to doing what I’ve done in the past. Instead of getting special people non-special gifts with incoherent price tags, I normally pick out something a little higher on the price point, but a product that is loved by everyone, something that really works, or something that I think will match the personality of the gift receiver. Let’s stop picking easy, generalizable gifts… it’s only begging for the inevitable relegation to re-gifting.

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Glossier Drops a Reformulated Generation G–Is It Worth the Repurchase?

If there is one makeup item I cannot live without, whether I am late to my morning class or heading out for a nice dinner in the city, it’s my Generation G lipstick from Glossier. And when I heard that Glossier came out with a reformulated version of the original cult favorite product, I had to see how they could make this already amazing lipstick even better!

The redesign Gen G was prompted by complaints that the product’s existing packaging often cracked, making it easier for the cap to fall off and dry out the lipstick–or worse, get product all over the inside of your pocket/pencil case/makeup pouch! Gen G has also been reformulated to make it harder for the product to crack or fall out of the tube–a common problem with the older model.

While I was missing my family and wallowing in self-pity on Black Friday, I was immediately cured with the notification that my package had come in from Glossier. I immediately tore open my box and popped open my new Gen G lipstick.

The redesign is so sleek and compact–an effort on Glossier’s behalf to minimize the drying out of the product. It has such a luxurious essence; it feels like you’re not just putting on a tinted lip balm, but a special occasion lipstick. As for how it feels, it is just the same texture that we all know and love, but this time the actual bullet is chunkier for an easier, more effortless application.

For those who are not familiar with Gen G, it gives you that effortless, I woke up like this aesthetic. The buildable product has a matte yet moisturizing finish. If you’re just not feeling an ultra bold lip moment or makeup isn’t really you’re thing, Gen G is the perfect middle ground and allows you to determine just how much color you want to show and just how bold you want to be.

You will definitely catch me in the Quad using my new Gen G lipstick (in shade Crush) every single day until finals.

Use this code for 10% off your first online order! Happy shopping :)

All images via Glossier.

Blogger Beauty Routines: Laura

Curious about a new beauty product on the market or looking to switch up your skincare game? Welcome to our Blogger Beauty Routines series, where our writers take you through their skincare, beauty and haircare regimes and talk favorite products, tips and tricks.

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These are some new products that have worked for me this Fall!

TOO FACED Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer

COLOR: Warm Beige - medium neutral

I can say this concealer is definitely a must have for me. This product especially works great for dark circles or redness and lasts all day for me. I used to use Tarte’s shape tape concealer before discovering Too Faced’s concealer; I prefer this one because its consistency is lighter and applies well on my dry/combo skin.

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TOO FACED Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer

COLOR: Chocolate Soleil - medium to deep

I love this bronzer because it does not show up orangey looking and is great on warmer complexions. This bronzer gives you the perfect natural “glowing from within” looking tan on your checks and cheekbones.

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BURT’S BEES 100% Natural Blush with Vitamin E

COLOR: Bare peach

One of the best finds I’ve come across this Summer (maybe this year)! Originally, I purchased this blush in “toasted cinammon,” as recommended by beauty Youtuber and influencer, Kathleen Lights. However, I found the shade, “bare peach” works well if you are looking for a deep peachy, pink-ish shade that will still cast a bright and fresh look on your cheeks.

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L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

This is a great, long wearing mascara, especially in color payoff and volume! Even if you have the teeniest lashes (like myself), this will work great on anyone.

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COVERGIRL The Super Sizer Mascara by LashBlast

I love to pair this particular mascara with the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous lash paradise mascara. Covergirl’s super sizer mascara will give you that extra length on your lashes that you are looking for!

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