[This post is all over the place, but I purchased everything or was given to me by a friend]
I considered doing a monthly favorite post but since my inbox is inundated by these right now, I think you guys might want a change of pace. This post is broken into 3 parts:
- Base pairing discovery of the month! I have very oily skin and I think with the combination of colder weather these two products really get it done.
- My secret way of concealing blemishes effectively. Seriously, I've tried everything and this is the best accidental pairing ever.
- I was in Nordstrom Rack. I found the Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box for $10. It was purchased. It's only $10 on the UD website but there's shipping involved.
Hourglass Mineral Primer Veil is a very high -end primer that I probably wouldn't have thought to try myself but was given this by a friend. It feels very silicone-y and silky on the skin. Although it doesn't feel particularly different from many primers on the market, I think it acts as a great barrier between your skin and the foundation you use. I don't notice a huge difference in oil-control and longevity with this and other foundations but for some reason, the Almay Clear Complexion Makeup really latches on and creates a great base. Separate from the primer, this is already my favorite foundation from the drugstore (yes, even over the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum). It's a light texture, medium coverage foundation with a matte (but not powdery) finish. I've said before that I don't like heavy feeling foundations yet those are geared towards oily skin. This is meant for my skin type but is super liquidy. They've since added a pump to this but I don't think the formula has changed much (if at all). It doesn't have alcohol, which is also surprising for such a light foundation. I apply this with a stippling brush or buffing brush.
I would say my favorite traditional concealer is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. It works best with a tiny precision brush and is very opaque and long lasting. However, I always owned it in a shade too light for me and it can emphasize dryness. The Real Techniques Deluxe Crease brush is like a tiny kabuki/buffing brush that's great for working product into a tiny area. Used with the Everyday Minerals Base in Matte, this is an amazing, opaque and most importantly, undetectable way to hide blemishes. It works over the reddest areas with ease and doesn't look cakey which is completely counter-intuitive, I know. It's replaced my other concealers for heavy duty concealing or for days where I skip foundation and just use this.
This is a very "old" palette that has UD's original eyeshadow formula. I don't think I've ever tried the new formula so there's no comparison there but I was really drawn to the two purples and the bottom row of neutrals. Sadly, as with most purples, they are the hardest to get to show up in the palette (but the vibrancy makes up for this) and the neutrals are gorgeous. For $10, if you're going to place an order anyway, add this to your cart for an fun palette option.
UPDATE: The purple shadows are extremely vibrant on the eye and SO PRETTY. I can see why UD really set themselves apart from the beginning with their shadow quality!
