Given the abundance of makeup that I own, you’d think it would be almost impossible for me to fall into a product rut, wouldn’t you? Well, it ain’t so! Lately I have found myself reaching for the same products every morning, so I decided to shop my stash in an effort to switch things up and get through all the makeup. I had a good rummage around my collection and discovered some forgotten gems, and here they are…
Stila Colour Correcting Cream in ‘Light’
Disclaimer: This has been discontinued. I know, I know, I shouldn’t even be writing about it, but it’s what I’ve been using for the past few weeks and I’m pretty devastated that I won’t be able to replace it once it’s finished. What I love most about it is that it never settles into any dry patches – it just glides over everything and leaves my skin looking glowy and plumped up. The coverage is light, and the wear time is surprisingly good for such a moisturising formulation – it’s the perfect ‘no makeup makeup’ foundation. Why did you discontinue this, Stila? Why??
Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n Kohl Iconic Liquid Eyeliner Pencil in ‘Elizabeth Violet’
As much as I love brown eyeliner (love you forever, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in ‘Whiskey’), there’s something about this violet liner from Charlotte Tilbury that is totally bewitching. The formula is soft and smudgy, yet once it sets, it doesn’t budge. It strikes the perfect middle ground between a brown and black eyeliner: it creates smoky definition without the harshness of a black liner (on me, anyway). When I pair it with a pink/purple eyeshadow and my Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils in ‘Burgundy’, the effect is spectacular – the combination really flatters my eye colour.
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in ‘Sugar Rosé’
This tinted lip balm is delicious – its got the signature Fresh scent that I adore (sugar and lemon), and it leaves such a pretty flush on the lips. It contains a blend of reparative oils, waxes and real sugar to ensure maximum hydration, plumping essential fatty acids to cushion the lips, and various antioxidants to provide protection from free radicals.
Again, this is an ideal ‘no makeup makeup’ product because it leaves the lips with a hint of glossy colour that looks natural and effortless, yet polished at the same time. It’s an Allure ‘Best of Beauty’ winner for good reason!
LORAC Pro Palette
Let’s just gloss over the smashed black shadow, shall we? Even though I would never have used it, it still irks me that it’s ruined, you know?
The shadow selection in this palette is excellent, and it contains the perfect balance of matte and shimmer formulas – ‘Mauve’ and ‘Taupe’ are fantastic transition shades, and ‘Garnet’ is probably one of my all time favourite eye shadows. It’s such a versatile palette and I can create such a wide variety of looks with it. The formulation is excellent and all of the shadows have good pigment, they blend well, they wear well and there is minimal fall-out. What more could you ask for?
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in ‘Exposed’
When I say I’ve used nothing but the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in ‘Mood Exposure’ for the past 9 months, I’m not exaggerating. I was reluctant to use anything else, but I knew I needed to delve back into my collection to stop the rest of my blushers from collecting dust! This one from Tarte is an oldie but a goodie – it’s a neutral matte which suits any skin tone and compliments every possible makeup look. It doesn’t steal the show, it just enhances everything else, which makes it pretty perfect. It applies evenly and it most certainly lives up to its name – it stays put all day long!
Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer
Man, I forgot how good this is! The pan contains two shades of bronzer, and when swirled together they create a beautiful faux sun-kissed glow. The darker shade also makes for an excellent eye shadow transition/crease colour – when used on the eyes and the cheeks, it really ties the look together. This really is fantastic quality, I’m so happy I rediscovered it.