Bobbi Brown launched a new lipstick formula called the Luxe Matte Lipstick ($41 each). This formula replaced the original Luxe Matte Lipstick which I don’t think I tried before so I’m not sure how they compare, but the new one is as flawless as it gets for a matte lip.
To this day I’m still a glossy lip lover but the matte lip formulas keep getting better every year. My top favorite formulas are from Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury and the new Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte formula is better (although I still really love the Pat McGrath ones).
Formula is ultra smooth and non-drying. The best part is they don’t look super dry either. I’d say they’re more of a velvety soft matte. Pigment is opaque and full coverage with a single swipe. The colors are all on point for the holiday season and they have a pretty good range of tones from neutrals, brown tones, bolds and reds.
As a neutral lip lover I would have loved if they made some of their best sellers like Bare, Blondie Pink and Buff in this formula, but I do see how that would be redundant and I can appreciate that they have new shades in this formula. (I think Pat McGrath has the best matte neutrals.)
Sunset Rose is a neutral-cool toned nude pink
Neutral Rose is a dusty rose
Boss Pink is a healthy warm pink
Parkside is a cool-toned brown
Afternoon Tea is a peachy almost orange shade
Big City Pink is a hot pink
Claret is a muted soft red
Ruby is a deep red
Power Play is an electric orange
Traffic Stopper is a bright warm red
Red Carpet is a true red
After Hours is a wine red
They’re not scented and lasting power is pretty good. They’re not transfer proof but I like the wear time and they feel very comfortable on the lips.
Swatches of some of the shades on the lips, also wearing:
Bobbi Brown sent over a selection of their holiday sets and palettes. I am absolutely in love with the Luxe Eyeshadow Duo ($48) in Last Dance. I love the luxe eyeshadow shimmers and especially love the tones in this one! There are a few other shades but it looks like they may have already sold out as I cannot find them anywhere online.
This holiday they have a lot of their best-sellers packaged in bundles at a value price. They make for some great stocking stuffers like the Extra Lip Tint Duo ($35, $70 value), Confetti Crush Lip Trios ($30 for minis, $59 value) and All Eyes Aglow Long-Wear Cream Shadow Set with Moonstone, Taupe, Cinnamon, Mulberry and Soft Bronze + Mascara ($99, $197 value).
There are a few cheek palettes out this season. I tried the Luxe Cheek and Highlight Palette in Rose Glow ($62). At first glance I thought it would be too light for my medium skin tone but much to my surprise it shows up beautifully for a natural glow.
Overall love. I think there are some really beautiful pieces to wear for a fresh look this holiday but classic enough to be able to wear come spring.
This holiday Chanel launched stunning Oversize Illuminating Face Powders ($95 each) in their Les Symboles de Chanel collection. There are five stunning embossed patterns to choose from and each symbol has a special meaning for Chanel: The Lion (strength), The Comet (luck), The Camellia (harmony), The Chain (style) and The Pearls (radiance).
There are three colors to choose from each design: Pearly White, Warm Gold and Precious Coral.
Pearly White
Pearly White is a glittery sparkling white. It has more glitter than most Chanel highlighters. Fun for holiday parties but VERY glittery. To my eye looks nearly identical to the sparkling bottom half of the Duo Lumiere from the Holiday 2023 collection. If I had to pick one I would opt for the Duo Lumiere because the color in the top portion is SO stunning.
Warm Gold is the perfect shade of warm gold. A little peachy, tiny bits of microsparkles (but not full on glitter) make this beautiful. There is another highlighter in the Poudre Lumiere formula called Warm Gold but the Warm Gold color in Les Symboles de Chanel is different. Noticeably different to justify owning both in my opinion. The holiday version is deeper, more golden and more sparkly/luminous.
Precious Coral is my favorite. It’s a beautiful light coral with the most perfect soft sheen to it. I want this shade in literally everything – tops, bags, lipstick, gloss, eyeshadow etc. I think it’s the prettiest color I think I’ve ever seen.
Overall beautiful and luminous. I collect Chanel highlighters so these were a must for me. I would have loved if the Pearly White were more of a smooth shimmer vs a glitter, but I still think it’s fun for holiday. My favorite is the Precious Coral although the Warm Gold is a very pretty flattering gold shade. It’s hard to pick a favorite pattern. I think they’re all beautiful but I think the Comet and Camellia are my favorites.
Available at Chanel.com and Chanel Beauty Boutiques. All limited-edition.
Merit launched a limited-edition set for holiday called the Le Gloss Holiday Essentials Set ($80). It looked like a beautiful set with effortless kind of essentials for an easy glowing look so I ordered it immediately and I think it’s beautiful.
A number of you have messaged me over the years singing praises of the line. I don’t think I’ve ever done a full roundup review of the brand so today I’m giving you a closer look at the holiday set along with thoughts on everything I’ve tried.
Le Gloss Set
The Le Gloss Set has five products with a mix of full-size items and minis (it’s exclusive to Meritbeauty.com). Everything in the set is new to me and I thought it would be a nice way to sample some of their classics. In the set you’ll find:
Great Skin Instant Glow Serum (mini) is something I have not yet had a chance to try yet as I’m in the process of testing other skincare right now but I’ve heard great things about it.
Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara (mini) offers a nice lengthened and defined look and I plan on ordering the full size.
Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade in Neutral is exclusive to the set, it goes on clear and I really like how it grooms the brows. I’m now intrigued and want to try one of the tinted options.
Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner in Bespoke is a new product exclusive to this set. It has a really interesting formula to me. It’s sheer and glossy but still offers a minimalist hint of definition and color. On me it’s almost a taupe brownish shade with a tiny hint of pink.
Solo Shadow Sheen Eye Color in Glace is exclusive to the set. This is the star product of the set in my opinion and I really hope they make this shade and formula permanent. It has a little bit more slip than the Solo Eyeshadow Mattes so the Sheen formula is easier to blend. It still sets very quickly so blending or patting on fast is still essential. The color is hard to detect on camera but in real life it gives you a really pretty wash of color. That being said if you have dry lids I think this could possibly emphasize fine lines.
By now I’ve played around with quite a few things from Merit. I know many of you are die-hard fans. Not everything has worked for me although I think there are solid staples for the minimalist who wants a no-fuss beauty routine.. Here are some quick thoughts on what I have tried. I’ve ordered most everything from Sephora although you can also order from the Merit website.
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick ($38) is a twist-up style concealer + foundation in one. I like the concept and the portability. It offers medium coverage. For foundation I think it’s a little too pigmented and thick to wear all over, but it seems to be designed as more of a touch up product. I wear either Sand or Camel – the color matches are very good for me. I think this is a solid product but I don’t find myself reaching for it often.
Flush Balm Cream Blushes ($30 each for the full size, also available in limited-edition minis) are the blushes that seem to be most loved by readers. Unfortunately I found them too dewy for my skin type and most of the colors I tried do not show up very well on my skin tone. The darker ones do give a nice soft flush of color with a stain so those show up, but the neutrals and baby pink tones disappear on my skin once blended out. Lasting power is absolutely non-existent on my skin type.
Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow ($24) are pure love for me, although I will say that I’ve only tried the lighter shades. I love the tones, lasting power and the way they look as a subtle contour. It makes you look a little more polished without a lot of work. Feedback from many of you is split – those who did not like these found them too matte and dry and difficult to blend/work with. I do agree they are very matte and they set fast so blending quickly is KEY! The Brush No. 2 that was created for this formula is pretty good.
Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick ($26) is another super popular product that did not work for me. I will say I think the colors are beautiful, but I did not like the pigment (too sheer) and the texture was off. These had good smooth coverage and natural looking color payoff, but the texture felt thick and waxy. It did not feel comfortable on my lips, almost had a drying feel and I had to wipe them off immediately.
Shade Slick Gelée Sheer Tinted Lip Oil ($24) is pure love for me. They’re sheer thin tinted oils which I find unique for an oil formula because they really don’t have an oil-like feel at all. They’re almost like a water tint – sheer put enough color to tint the lips in a really pretty flattering way. Unfortunately lasting power isn’t really there but I like how the look and feel enough to not really mind re-applying.
Overall some beautiful things for a natural fuss-free look. I am all about a natural makeup look but I didn’t really find any product from the line that stands out as an absolute must-have. I gravitate more towards Westman Atelier for natural looking makeup with sheer color payoff. That being said I’ve had fun testing and playing with the products I have picked up at Sephora. I think it’s nice when a makeup line is very edited and streamlined. Makes it a little easier to explore!
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That wraps up my Merit roundup! Have you tried anything from the line? What did you think?
Today’s the last day of the Sephora Savings Event! If you had anything on your wishlist today is the last day to save for Beauty Insiders! Use code TIMETOSAVE to take advantage of the 10% to 20% savings depending on your tier.
I hauled some of the new lipsticks from YSL Beauty and think the formulas are among the best they’ve launched. I picked out some of the new Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick ($45 each) and a few of The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks ($45 each, not new but there are new shades).
Rouge Pur Couture
above left to right: N1, N3, N5, N8 and N12
The YSL Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick is one of the best lipstick formulas I’ve tried. They are scented like the fruity lipsticks from YSL but it’s not quite as strong. I posted an Instagram Reel last week with a try-on haul of this formula and you girls seem to LOVE these tones! To me they are like a more pigmented less glossy version of the Rouge Volupte Shines. The new Rouge Pur Couture is creamy, smooth and opaque.
Based on the online swatches and stock photos, these look very different on me compared to what I see swatched online. N8 and N12 pull a lot warmer on me. Out of all of these I like N3 and N5 the best.
Also please keep in mind these may look very different on you if you’re cool or warm, lighter or darker. Neutrals are tricky with undertone and lip tone. I have a neutral golden undertone with pigmented lips.
N1 is a neutral beige nude
N3 is a pinky peach beige
N5 is a light cool pink
N8 is a warmer pink
N12 is a nude with slight mauve tones
A lot of you wanted swatch comparisons to the Rouge Volupte Shine so I pulled what I still have to swatch for you below. Some of them have been discontinued and I don’t remember the shade names but I have listed the numbers. Also added a couple of the Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick.
Swatch comparisons:
The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks
I picked up a few of The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks and really love the formula. It’s a satin almost matte finish (not quite matte). Super opaque and full coverage. Shades are indeed bold and more on the dramatic side. 12 Nu Incongru looks like a soft pink online but it’s a bold cool pink and I kinda love it. 13 Nude Era is a neutral-cool tone beige nude and kinda makes me look like a corpse but if I added darker liner I think I could make it work. 1968 is described as a nude pink but it’s really more of a warm pink almost reddish.
I did a Sephora haul online and in store! I received most of the items (one package is still in transit) and while I won’t have time to test or review them before the sale is over, I’ll share them below. Some of the items have sold out or are only available in store but if you missed out not to worry – I think there will be plenty of great holiday sales coming up soon!
Haul Picks Linked
I’m pretty excited to try the new Huda beauty picks and the Urban Decay moondust shadows! Did you splurge on anything exciting during the Sephora sale? What did you pick out?
I did a mini haul and picked up two items from the Westman Atelier Holiday launch. This year Westman Atelier has four limited-edition sets cased in a festive warm holiday red.
They brought back the Clean Glow Trio in two variations ($75 each) which I think is a great way to try three cream formulas. The minis are 2.5 g per stick while the full size options are 5 or 6 g each. I picked up the Clean Glow Trio II for the fun packaging even though I already own all the colors. Sets are SUPER mini in size but I think they give you enough product to really get a sense of how the product performs. They’re also great for travel.
I swatched the holiday set next to my existing stash to see if there were any variations in colors and there are. Colors are extremely close and variations are so slight you can’t really see them in photographs. Also since Westman Atelier products tend to run on the sheer natural side of pigment, once blended on the face I don’t think you can see any difference in the colors.
For those curious, my mini Dou Dou in this year’s holiday set pulls a little cooler toned than my other mini Dou Dou. I have 3 different Petal Blush Sticks and they all look just the slightest bit different in undertone. Also some of the Lit Up sticks in the minis look a bit lighter/sheerer in color compared to my full-sized options, but once blended color is so sheer you can’t really tell the difference.
Clean Glow Trio Set I has Nectar Lit Up Highlight Stick, Biscuit Face Trace Contour Stick and Petal Baby Cheeks Blush Stick.
I really love these although I don’t think they will be for everyone. If you like minimal makeup pigment for a super natural look or love dewy emollient products these are for you! I know a lot of you are HUGE fans of the minimalist super dewy look.
However if have oily skin, these creams will most likely not last long on you unless you set with a powder on top. Also if you want bold color payoff and pigment, these will be too sheer.
Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set
I really loved last year’s Petal Edition Set and anytime there are new colors I’m instantly like YES PLEASE – SIGN ME UP. This year Westman Launched the Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set with all new limited-edition colors and a new blush formula. Swatches of the set next to other products/formulas with the same names.
The set has a new powder blush called the Baby Cheeks Powder Blush and she launched it in Petal. This pulls very similar to the cream version, but the powder pulls a little more muted and dusty in color. Pigment is beautiful! Right along the lines of Westman Atelier’s sheer style but it is buildable which I LOVE. I hope she launches every single product in a powder form eventually.
above Baby Cheeks Powder Blush in Petal
The set has a new Lit Up Highlight Stick in the shade Biscuit. I swatched it below next to her contour stick in Biscuit. Undertone is the same. The Lit Up Stick in Biscuit is a very sheer cool-toned flesh brown with a pretty sheen. It’s very sheer and gives the skin a natural glossy sheen.
above Biscuit Lit Up Stick on top of the Petal Powder Blush
We also have a new gloss shade in the Squeaky Clean Lip Balm formula called Nectar. This is almost identical to the Lit Up Stick in Nectar – sheer, luminous, soft and peachy. On my lips it’s very sheer but layered on top of a coordinating pencil and it’s perfection! I love it on top of Pat McGrath’s Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Nude Venus.
above just the Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar
above Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar + Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil Nude Venus
Overall vibe is natural looking, fresh, dewy and glowy. I love everything even though the items pull on the sheer side. I would really love if she increased the pigment by maybe 10-15% but I love what she’s created.
I’m really hoping she extends the colors in powder formula. I think it layers beautifully on top of the cream. I’m still waiting and wishing for her to launch lip pencils or lipsticks (or even a chubby stick).
I passed on her Mini Brush Set as I have a couple of her brushes and while they’re very well made, they’re just not my favorite. If you’re looking to splurge big on a brush set I think the Hourglass Travel Brush Set is a better buy. The brushes are full-size and I use them all the time (I bought it last year during the Sephora sale).
You can find these sets out now at all Westman Atelier retailers. Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Violet Grey and more. If you’re shopping the Sephora sale use code TIMETOSAVE to take advantage of the discount now through 11/6.
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Did you check out the new holiday sets? What did you think?
The Sephora Savings Event is here starting with early access for Rouge Members! I’m putting together a few updated “best-of” shopping guides and today’s roundup covers the Top 5 in Lips for every category from lip liners, lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, glosses and more. If you’re not a Beauty Insider you can sign up now for free here to get access to the Savings Event. Use code TIMETOSAVE during these dates (exclusions apply):
There are so many good lip liner formulas these days. My top 5 favorites are below.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 ($21, color Pinky Brown shown) has the best long-wear lip liner formula. They glide on with full coverage pigment and I love that they’re packaged in a twist up format with a removeable sharpener at the base. My favorite shades are Pinky Brown, Terracotta, Honey Beige and Sandy Beige.
Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil ($29, color Structure shown) is another great formula with the best colors. Structure is the perfect neutral brown, Nude Venus is a perfect peachy nude, Buff is the best nude pink.
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil ($22, Wherever Walnut shown) is another great classic pencil. The formula can be used on eyes, brows and lips – they are easy to blend with a matte finish. Wherever Walnut seems to be the most popular color, but I also really love Up & Down Tan and Anywhere Caffeine. They launched a really cute Mini Artist Pencil Set ($35) which has their best-selling shades.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat ($25, Pillow Talk shown) is my most-worn lip pencil. Pillow Talk is my lips but better shade. I also love Pillow Talk Medium and Iconic Nude.
Sephora Collection Lip Liner To Go ($6, Light Brown shown) is a mini lip pencil perfectly sized for the smallest clutch or pouch. I have a couple colors and Light Brown is my favorite everyday neutral.
Best Lipstick Formulas
Sephora carries so many great lipsticks. Narrowing down my top 5 was really hard as I can list at least a dozen formulas I think are excellent. Here are the best ones I reach for the most.
Armani Lip Power ($45 each, Shade 109 shown) is one of the best creamy opaque smooth lipstick formulas I’ve tried. There are lots of great colors but 109 is the best everyday pink in my opinion. They also launched this in a Matte Formula too (lots of great nudes, I love Shade 111 Matte).
NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick ($32, Orgasm shown) is my favorite formula for a shine lipstick. Pigment is impressive for a shine formula. They have a comfortable hydrating feel that feels like a balm. My favorites are Orgasm which is a peach pink gold, Breathless a beige nude and Dolce Vita which is a classic rose.
Gucci Care Glow and Shine Lipstick ($47, Sally Soft Honey shown) is another great shine lipstick formula. Pigment is very good with these and I love the glossy finish. Sally Soft Honey is the best everyday pinky nude. Call It a Day is the best mauve (great for fall). I also love Julie Blush for a bright peachy shade.
Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick ($39, Nude Venus shown) is hands down the best matte lipstick formula I’ve tried. It’s smooth, opaque, doesn’t look dry on the lips and the color selection is outstanding. They have a good range of neutrals, reds, bolds, browns – my top 3 shades are Nude Venus (peachy nude), Christy (pink nude) and Divine Rose (rose pink).
YSL Rouge Pure Couture Caring Satin Lipstick ($45, N5 Tribute Nude shown) is a new formula and after trying a few shades I have to say I am REALLY impressed. It has an ultra smooth formula that glides on the lips with absolute perfection. I’ll have a full review on the shades I picked up soon.
Best Liquid Lipstick Formulas
Gucci Transfer-Proof Matte Liquid Lipstick ($47, Grace Cinnamon) is a beautiful formula. Grace Cinnamon is the perfect nude pink shade with smooth coverage and a super lightweight texture.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Longwear Liquid Lipstick ($27, OG Backtalk shown) is the best long-wear liquid lipstick in the sense that once it sets it does not budge or transfer. OG Backtalk is a really pretty mauve. I also think Text Em is the best rose pink shade ever made.
Tom Ford Lip Luxe Matte ($59, Naked Haze shown) is another exceptional formula. I’ve only tried one shade in Naked Haze which is a great everyday nude pink. I plan on picking up one or two more during the Sephora Savings Event. Texture is lightweight and coverage is smooth and really good.
Dior Rouge Dior Forever Transfer Liquid ($45, Shade 100 Forever Nude) is another great long-wear formula that is also transfer proof. I have this in a couple shades and they really do stay put without transferring. Shade 100 Forever Nude is perfection.
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick ($15, Shade 70 First Date shown) is a budget-friendly Liquid Lipstick with an impressive color selection. Formula is full coverage with a creamy satin finish. I love that these feel super lightweight on the lips and they don’t look dry. All Sephora Collection items are 30% off during the Sephora Savings Event.
Top 5 Lip Glosses
I’m 100% a lip gloss girl at heart. Here are the best top 5 formulas I reach for the most.
Lawless Forget the Filler ($26, Cherry Vanilla shown) is the best smoothing lip gloss that plumps without any tingle. I like the darker/bolder shades for a lush lip look. They are on the thicker side but I love the finish. Cherry Vanilla is the best sheer red I’ve ever tried. Juicy Watermelon is the prettiest bright pink. They also launched a few shades in a Jumbo Size ($38 each) and for holiday they have a cute Mini Dreamy Darlings Plumper Set ($27).
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss ($40, 12 Rosewood shown) is my most-worn lip gloss formula for the color and texture. I splurged on nearly all of the shades and can easily say they were 100% worth the splurge.
Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($21, Fenty Glow shown) is another favorite. It’s been a favorite since the day they launched Fenty Glow. Every color is wearable and super flattering. I love the smooth texture and shine. I think every color is a must-have.
Pat McGrath LUST Gloss ($29, Nude Venus shown) is another great smooth texture gloss. Nude Venus is the best peachy pink color with pretty good coverage. Flesh Fantasy is a pretty beige pink. Divine Rose is a stunning plum pink.
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss ($33, In the Buff Shown) offers hydration, color and shine in one. Finish is very comfortable and they are great for vacation (or beach) no-makeup days where you want a little bit of color to look polished.
Most-Worn Tinted Balms/Sheer Lips/Oils
Last we have a look at the best tinted balms. A lot of these double as sheer lipsticks.
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump ($24, White Peach shown) is a formula I always have in my bag. Every single color they’ve launched is super wearable. They’re smooth in finish and I love how they feel on the lips. During the holiday season they have a lot of great value sets and limited-edition shades. If you’re a fan of the Maracuja Lip formula definitely check out the 2023 Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips Set.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter ($24, Vanilla Beige shown) is another formula I carry in every single purse. I also have the clear one on my night stand. Each shade has a different scent to match the color name but they aren’t overpowering. Love the cute Mini Lip Butter Set too which I think would make a super cute gift.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil ($22, Revealed shown) is one of my favorite tinted lip oil formulas. It actually doesn’t feel thick like you’d expect from an oil. Every single shade is beautiful. The one I get asked about the most is Revealed which I’m wearing in this post.
Last but not least, I really love the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine ($43, Shade 162 shown) and YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick ($39, 15 Showcasing Nude in hand, 13 Flashing Rose in background). Both have a balm-like formula. The Rouge Volute Shine has more slip with a sheer glossy finish while the Candy Glaze is thicker and feels like a jelly finish. Both are really phenomenal for formula and color.
That wraps up my extensive best-of lip shopping guide! If you’re looking for the best of the best in lip formulas I hope you found this round up helpful. Happy Shopping!
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Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsored this post.
Sharing an updated roundup of the best of the best in makeup from Sephora! Today’s roundup focuses on favorites for the face, eyes and cheeks. I’ll have a dedicated lip roundup going live tomorrow because it’s going to cover the best in every category.
Primers
I’m not really into primers because with skincare layering and SPF I don’t really want another layer of product on my face, but here are two that I love. Both are available in minis if you want to try a smaller size before committing to the full size ones.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is the best multi-tasking moisturizer and primer in one. It’s hydrating, smooths out the skin, and doubles as a foundation primer. It’s the one I have used up multiple times and keep going back to.
I have so many foundation and base favorites. I’ve tried to split my recommendations by type/coverage/finish level because I know some of you like super light coverage while others need satin finish or full coverage.
Hydrating Tints/Bases
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint is one of the best sheer skin tints (emphasis on sheer). Coverage is very light and finish is dewy and glowy. It does have enough pigment that you need to find a good match but it looks very natural on the skin. I wear Shade 4.
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Dewy Foundation Drops is the best glowy hydrating base. It’s the best for dry skin in my opinion but on the sheer side so you definitely need to add some concealer for more coverage (or layer a stick on certain areas you need more color). I found the shades of the drops match the stick formula.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Glow Foundation is a great hydrating foundation with medium coverage. It’s not so hydrating that it looks too dewy or emollient but it is definitely on the hydrating side. I wear N280 or W310.
Natural Looking Bases
Too Faced Born This Way Healthy Glow Skin Tint is my favorite new base of the year. It has natural medium coverage, lightweight feel and looks like skin but better. It has a nice satin dry down with a subtle glow. If it’s separating on you I highly suspect it’s your moisturizer that is not compatible with this formula. I wear Warm Beige.
It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Foundation is the best CC Cream I’ve tried (aside from the Chanel one that is temporarily discontinued). I like that it’s not super thick but has substance to it so it’s still creamy. I’ve tried all the It Cosmetics foundations and this is the best one in my opinion. I wear Medium Tan.
Patrick Ta Major Skin Crème Foundation Powder Duo is the best solid cream foundation I’ve tried. I really like the powders that come with this too because the pigment level is low so it acts as a natural setting powder without adding color (also does not oxidize). Colors run darker than described in my opinion. I’m typically a medium or medium tan but in this formula I wear Light Medium 1 or 2.
Medium Coverage
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick is the best natural looking foundation stick I’ve tried. It’s easy to blend and evens out the skin perfectly. I wear Shade V, VI or VII depending on how light or tan I am. Most of the year I wear Shade VI. See it in action in this reel here.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is a classic formula I think everyone needs to try. Has a natural glow and the perfect amount of coverage. I wear Shade 6.5 most of the year.
NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is a favorite but I don’t think it’s universally loved. It does have medium coverage that is a bit more opaque than most so a little goes a long way. It’s easy to blend and doesn’t take much work to buff out. I do think your skincare needs to be good though (ie don’t apply this on super dry skin, make sure it’s well moisturized). I am a match to Santa Fe right now, but also wear Sahel and Vanuatu.
Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation is another classic. Anytime I wear this I wonder why I don’t wear it all the time. Has natural finish and whenever I think of a classic solid foundation this formula is THE one. I wear Light Medium 14.
Concealer
Natasha Denona Hy-Glam is THE BEST CONCEALER I think I’ve ever tried. If I had to use only one the rest of my life this would be it. Coverage is really good and texture is still easy to blend (which isn’t the case for all opaque concealers). I have several different shades I rotate depending on how bright I want to go. I can wear Shade N5 to N9.
YSL Touche Eclat is the best lightweight hydrating brightening concealer. It’s great for under the eyes to brighten and bring the complexion back to life. Very expensive but 100% worth the splurge. I wear Shade 3.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Concealer is another favorite. It live up to the hype 100%. It’s creamy and the wand picks up a good amount of product so you don’t have to layer or swipe a million times to get good coverage. In action here.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is the concealer I think I’ve used the longest. It’s for sure a classic and one I think is universally loved. By comparison to other formulas though I do think the sponge applicator could use an update. It’s small which is nice for detail application, but sometimes I feel like I have to really pump the product to get enough on the applicator.
Gucci Multi-Use Concealer is one of the best new concealers I’ve tried this year. Full review + swatches of lots of shades in this post here.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder is my holy grail pressed powder. It has the perfect amount of color to give the skin a flawless finish. I wear Medium. I hope they never change the formula and that it stays around forever.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is the setting spray I’ve been using the most lately. There are lots of great formulas from Gucci, Urban Decay, Omorovicza etc. I’m not really committed to one single formula, but the Charlotte Tilbury is one I’ve been using a lot.
NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder is another favorite. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea because it has a stiff finish. I really love it for a natural finish – when you swipe it on the skin you will literally see your face transform into a smooth finish. It’s like magic.
Cheek Bronzer/Contour
I love a good bronzer and there are so many great formulas. Here are the ones I love from Sephora.
Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick is one of the best creamy bronzer sticks. I wear a couple shades and really like the formula and undertone. They’re creamy, satin in finish and easy to blend. I wear either Happy Sol or Always Sunny.
Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour Stick is another great natural contour. I wear Truffle which is a nice neutral-warm brown shade. It’s easy to blend, natural looking and smooth. If you’re new to Westman Atelier I highly recommend checking out one of her Holiday Trio Sets (one has Biscuit, one has Truffle).
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light is the best naturally glowy bronzer. I do recommend opting for the Ambient Lighting Cheek Palettes though because they have a bronzer included. I like Jellyfish or Leopard the best from this year’s options.
Dior Rosy Glow Blush is another powder favorite. I like Pink, Coral and Rosewood. You can read the full review here. I wear the pink one the most out of all the shades.
NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush is my favorite natural looking liquid blush. I like that the pigment isn’t too opaque so it’s more forgiving on the skin. If you want a super opaque liquid blush Rare Beauty is the way to go (they have lots of great colors, I think this Mini 4-Piece Set is a great way to start).
I have so many favorites for highlighters but I think if you’re looking for the best of the best, Tom Ford Beauty is the way to go.
Tom Ford Soleil Neige Glow Highlighter is new for holiday in two shades. I didn’t think they were worth the steep price but the most I wear them, the more I like them. They’re absolutely beautiful on the skin and I think the Rose Irise is the better one but they’re both stunning. Swatches in this post.
Tom Ford Soleil de Feu Glow Highlighter is from spring/summer and it’s available in two options. I bought and love Oasis for that gorgeous champagne bronze glow. Review here.
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Duo in Moodlight is a classic that’s been around for years but I think the newer Peachlight is even better. If you’re looking for something with a pink or peachy sheen rather than your standard champagne I think Peachlight is really flattering and more modern looking.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands are also holy grail material. I think Pinkgasm and Pillow Talk are the best ones but they are really all so beautiful. Definitely lives up the hype and the colors are SOOO good. If you don’t know that you want to commit to the full size I recommend checking out the Superstar Glow Kit Mini Duo which has Spotlight and Pinkgasm.
Eye Makeup
I still swear by my Top 5 Eyeshadow Palettes I rounded up two years ago. Half of you have told me this is boring, the other half have said it proves these have withstood the test of time. I agree with both sides. I really wish I had something new to share every month for the eyes but palettes are tricky because it’s so rare that I am in love with EVERY single shade in a palette.
If you’re looking for something new and fresh, I say the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude is the best palette of the year (I think it’s better than the Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes). I really think anything from Natasha Denona is a solid win – if you’re new to her line this is a great time to splurge/save all at the same time. Her formulations are the best of the best.
I still really love the Tom Ford Eyeshadow Palettes. This year they added some great new variations including Lumiere D’Hiver (swatches here), Hazy Sensuality and Golden Hour (review here). These three are the best ones and they all launched this year.
