January certainly flew by for me! I had a few makeup shopping sprees with gift card assistance and some sprees without gift card assistance because … YOLO. I love that my January 2015 makeup favorites include a variety of high-end and budget buys, though.
Anyway, back to the important stuff. Makeup. I had a couple totally random surprises, some rediscoveries and some highly-hyped fail safes in this month’s lineup.
bareMinerals blush in Golden Gate // I bought this blush for my sister for Christmas after she had a Sephora employee use it on her and she loved it. Anything that says the word “golden” immediately attracts my olive/golden-toned (or as my sister says, “sand-colored”) self. It is a pretty, poppy pinky-coral. This blush packs a massive punch with the tiniest amount – you’ve been warned. It’s perfect for winter when I feel like Edward Cullen, as well as, awesome for spring/summer when I have a tan.
Burt’s Bee’s Cleansing Towelettes in Cucumber and Sage // Face towelettes are super hit or miss for me. The beloved Neutrogena wipes break me out, as do Mac’s. Simple and Cetaphil’s wipes are a nightmare for me, also. Basically, everything breaks me out. These wipes, however; do not. They also smell like a spa. The cucumber sage scent is mild, calming and refreshing. I use these wipes to clean up eyeliner (great for perfecting a cat eye, FYI) and eyeshadow mistakes. I also use them to remove makeup in the evening if I’m feeling extra lazy. I find these babies at my local Target or grocery store (in the health foods section).
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard // Nars says this item is, “A creamy concealer with hydrating, multi action skincare benefits and light diffusing technology to create a softer, smoother complexion.” Yes, yes and yes. Each time I eyeballed this nugget at Sephora, it always seemed strangely dry in texture. But I buckled and bought one to see if it was different when used on the face. I love it! It is equally great under the eyes to conceal and brighten (and not crease), as it is on discolorations and blemishes.
Ardency Inn Modster Smooth Ride Supercharged Eyeliner in Coffee // I’ve mentioned this eyeliner before, so it’s no surprise it made it to January Favorites. It’s the perfect dark brown that defines without being as harsh as black. It smudges out beautifully and lasts 16+ hours. Stays put in the waterline, too. There is nothing bad I can say about this product and wish I could buy 563,423 backups.
Ben Nye Banana Powder // This powder is a cult favorite among professional makeup artists and has found its way into many cosmetic aficionado’s vanities as of late. I picked this up early in summer 2014, but forgot about its fabulousness. It is an extremely finely milled (if you’ve ever tried Make Up For Ever HD powder… that white, smooth silica powder… the consistency is very similar) and the yellow tone corrects blue/purple undertones, so it’s perfect for setting under eye concealer. I mainly use this powder to set my Nars concealer (or whatever I’m using under my eyes that day) but I also have used it to set my foundation all over my face. If you’re paler (or more pink-toned) than me, Ben Nye also makes a Cameo Powder, which would suit you better.
Have you tried any of these items – what are your thoughts? What have you been loving lately that I should add to my February must-tries?
Happy Superbowl Sunday!
-Steffanie
