Wednesday, November 28, 2018

2018 Makeup Favourites

Makeup wasn't on my mind for these eleven months. More or so, it has been a combination of "stuck in a rut" and "whatever" situation. A pretty colourless year for someone who loves the bling. I've discovered some gems; somethings worth repurchasing.

2018 Makeup Favourites, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Diffused, The ordinary serum foundation, Kryolan lip n cheek tint in dahlia

Face

The Ordinary Serum Foundation

I was way too sceptical to get these (I am using the demonstrative pronoun "these" because I bought three shades). Most of them said it separates on them and does not provide much coverage. But boy! there is nothing I dislike about the formulation. When I added these to my cart, I shrugged assuming £18 won't hurt. One pump and it evens out the skin without looking like I'm wearing any makeup. It does not separate on me, irrespective of using primer or setting it with powder. What makes me consider this a great foundation? It does not settle in my laugh lines.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

At first, I didn't like it with all that dusty, fine powder particles on the mirror and rim. I believe that is the peculiar thing about baked powders. Considering it is so expensive, a little goes a long way. I barely touch the surface of the pan with a large fluffy brush and buff and sweep all over the face. I use this as finishing powder and swoon inside every time. And yes, I have been asked why I'm glowing. This is basically Instagram filter in a compact. There were days when I used this over the tinted sunscreen and that's that. I have used this almost every single day of 2018 and the dome has barely any dent on it. I am going to repurchase this all my life would be an understatement.

Bioderma Sebium Global

I have used this as a primer for redness. Though it soothed the redness, I could not figure out its texture. I have used this exclusively through summer and on most days on the cheeks and nose. Somedays it would work great but some it would make the skin dry leading to more sebum secretion. And the worst possible it did was draw an appearance of texture as if layers of foundation lived on the surface of my skin. Not flattering.

This controlled sebum but also dehydrated those areas.

LA Girl Pro conceal Green Corrector

Red pesky acne and the ever-deepening redness on my nose and cheeks are more troublesome than ever in winter. The redness is an unwanted side effect of adding acids to my skin care. This has been my rescue agent in all those red distress signal situations.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Golden 

My go-to mineral foundation for 2018. I like this even more than I like Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. The formulation is light, buildable and meshes with the skin. It does not transfer unless you use too much, and the best part is skin looks like skin. This has a sheen to it, which accentuates the natural high-points. Though it evens out the skin, it cannot conceal nor it accentuates the dry flaky areas. I prefer using tea tree oil-based skincare under mineral foundations.
This is the kind of foundation you wear to the gym. *wink*

Wet n Wild Photofocus Pressed Powder in Neutral Beige

This one is almost invisible on the skin. It sets and does not leave a cast. It works great for flash photography! Though it does not have any coverage, it looks and turns out exactly like Mac Mineralize Skinfinish. If only it had coverage! But I think this is the best cruelty-free dupe for MAC Mineralize Skinfinish.

Wet n Wild Photofocus Concealer in Light/Medium Beige

The best undereye concealer ever! I bought the most loved Mac Prolongwear Concealer, and I did not like it, even a bit. For gloopy thick texture it had, it was impossible to spend time blending every day. And the texture thickened with time. MAC is a better choice to hide acne scars, but I prefer something light for under eyes, so this does the job. I like this better than Maybelline Fit Me.


Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight swatches review is Kevyn Aucoin cruelty free?

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight

If I believed in love at first sight, this would ascend the list. I love everything about it: the colour, texture and longevity. This is a no-nonsense highlighter. It has warm reflect that is subtle and not sparkly or blinding. For lit from within look, this is so far the best highlighter. I like this even better than the Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer.

Natio Loose Crystals in Beige

Another mineral foundation. This is drier than the other ones I have tried and takes a lot of buffing and blending to look natural. The undertone is a lot more beige for neutral undertone, but the difference is not noticeable. And this one at times does oxidise after a while, especially on the T-zone.
Funnily, it looks patchy at times. I mix a drop of jojoba oil and tea tree oil in the moisturiser. I am not sure, if this is worth a repurchase.

Kryolan Lip n cheek tint in Petunia swatches, The body shop cheek and lip tint hibiscus

Cheeks

The Body Shop Lip Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus

My love for cheek tint dates back to 2008. I prefer tint and creme finish to powder finish. The formula could have been better, I think. Three dots give the same blushed cheeks with 3 km run. Bad math, you got my point. I see this is going into "will always repurchase" list until I find something better.

Kryolan Cheek Tint in Petunia

This is already a repurchase. I called the store to check if they had the shade Rose in stock, it was. Two days later, I visited the store to pick it up; It was gone. Someone just took away my dream blush. Rose, a subtle mauve pink, flattering for Indian skin tones. I love how natural this looks with dewy no makeup makeup. I always end up purchasing orange coloured stuff from Kryolan. I don't know why.
Probably, I will repurchase this again in a different shade?

Eyebrows

Benefit Gimme Brow Tint (sample sized) and NYX Micro Brow Pencil: these two products sorted my life. I have almost finished the NYX brow pencil. Is it Anastasia Beverly Hill's dupe?
Not exactly, the texture is quite dry compared to Anastasia's. Even in terms of pigmentation, NYX is nowhere near. I have been going low on the brows. Nothing too striking. Most days, it is just setting them in place with a brow gel.

Mascara

Essence I love Extreme Volume Mascara, Maybelline Falsies Push up Drama Mascara

Essence I love Extreme has to be my favourite. I used the combination of volumising and lengthening mascaras.and lots of curling! Other mascaras that I used were Essence Multi-action and Tarte Tarteist Mascara. Tarte is better and I have one more tube to really form an opinion.

Lips

NYX Soft matte lip cream in Cannes swatches, Tarte Tarteist Lip paint in TBT, NYX Suede Matte lip liner in whipped caviar review, The body shop lip and cheek tint in pink hibiscus, forest essential rose lip balm
The Body Shop Lip Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus, Kryolan Cheek Tint in Dahlia, NYX suede liner in Whipped Caviar, Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint Tbt, NYX SMLC Cannes
Natural light
From L <-> R: The Body Shop Lip Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus, Kryolan Cheek Tint in Petunia, NYX suede liner in Whipped Caviar, Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint Tbt, NYX SMLC Cannes
The Body Shop Lip Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus, Kryolan Cheek Tint in Dahlia, NYX suede liner in Whipped Caviar, Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint Tbt, NYX SMLC Cannes swatches
With Flash
From L <->R: The Body Shop Lip Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus, Kryolan Cheek Tint in Petunia, NYX suede liner in Whipped Caviar, Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint Tbt, NYX SMLC Cannes

Neutral Pink-Brown/Mauve dominated my 2018. These are the ones that I have used throughout with a little variation, of course. A little mixing, experimenting and creating new colours. In the first half of 2018, rose pinks dominated, and the rest half, a subdued brown with a hint of pink. I have fallen in love with TBT's colour, texture and finish. I like Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint Tbt better than NYX Lip cream. I love that mint kick too!
These appear exactly the same with a slight undertone difference. Tarte's TBT has cool undertone while NYX's Cannes is warm.


NYX suede liner in whipped caviar is definitely a MLLB. Everything that goes on it looks good.
Forest essential sugared rose petals lip balm is a repurchase. I have been kind of missing it lately; I thought it was not worth repurchasing, but I changed my mind. Shelling out money for a lip balm that costs as an average lipstick was something I didnot reconsider. I loved it and will repurchase, because I cannot have too many lip balms, can I? 😏

I have a makeup/skincare hate hitlist that my contemplative state of mind would not approve.


8 comments

  1. Wow, you tried and tested a great range of make-up products this year! I love reading these reviews as it opens my eyes to items I wouldn't normally consider. Shall have to add a few of these to my list!

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  2. I've been looking at more vegan makeup this last year because I have been in a rut myself. Great ideas :)

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  3. What a great selection of make up in the post, I am always looking for new make up all of the time .I usually buy from Body shop if I can get there too.

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  4. What an extensive list! I like the way you broke everything down and made it super easy to follow. I wear make up but don't spend a lot of time researching it so this was super helpful.

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  5. I’m not a huge make up person but when I do I never know what to buy but thank you for sharing I learnt a lot from concealers to lip liners! 🙂

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  6. Love those lip colours. And your photography is extraordinary.

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  7. I love your review here. The products look great. I love that you photographed the swatches too.

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  8. The lip colors sound like something I'd love to give a try. I'm more of a foundation gal.

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♥Xo♥

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