Even though I roll out of bed at the last second possible and slap on my everyday face at my desk when I get to work, I've still been making a bit of an effort in the makeup department. I know I don't need to wear makeup, and I'm not expected to, but it just makes me feel more pulled together and ready for the day. Since I think I'll always be an everyday-makeup-wearer, I thought I'd take my November Makeup Bag post from last month and turn it into a monthly thing. I keep my everyday products in a Glossier pink pouch that I carry around with me, and I like to make sure I switch out the products every so often to get good use out of my collection.
This month, I'll be doing a lot of mixing. As much as I love a perfect standalone product, I also really enjoy mixing my products together to get a customized finish that's perfect for me. Lately I've been needing a bit more coverage, so I've been taking the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream and mixing it with a bit of the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint. It still has the coverage of the CC Cream (which is insane for a CC cream by the way - definitely try it out if you haven't), but the Skin Tint makes it look more natural and give it a lot more glow. I've been doing the same thing with concealer - mixing something with coverage and staying power with something with glow. Amelia mentioned mixing the Glossier Stretch Concealer and the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer the other day, and I tried it right away and am officially hooked. It's going to be my go-to concealer pick of the month, I'm sure of it. Both concealers look quite natural on the skin as it is, and mixing them creates the perfect finish.
My brows seem to be in a pretty wolf-like period, so I've only been brushing through them with some Boy Brow in Brown in the mornings. It's just enough definition, but if I have any sparse areas showing through, I'll go in with a little bit of the Milk Makeup Gel Brow in Pilsner. I don't need my brows super defined at the moment, because eyeshadow has been as simple as possible lately. I'm back on that sheer-wash shadow train, and the new Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coats are the most perfect product for this. They're a bit squishy in the pot, and they feel a little like the Chanel Illusion D'Ombres. I have the shade Grey Brown, and it's perfectly sheer and shimmery. This shade in particular goes beautifully over top of Burberry Pale Barley (shown here), but it's also great on its own. I officially need every color. If I want something a little more sheen-y and less sparkly, I've been going for the MAC Eyeshadow in All That Glitters. It's the perfect peachy pink color to brighten up the eyes. I've got a new mascara love this month, too, in the Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. After using sample after sample of this, I finally bit the bullet and bought it with my Sephora coupon. I like that one coat beautifully separates and defines the lashes, but it builds up to a more dramatic effect without ever getting clumpy or spidery.
As for cheeks, I'm going in with a bit more powders than usual. I've been absolutely obsessed with the lilah b. Bronzed Beauty Bronzer Duo, and I've even got my sister hooked on it, too. It has such a nice formula that builds up to the exact intensity you want. The color is perfect, too (and I've heard mixing them together makes it a dupe for the limited edition Marc Jacobs Coconut Bronzer). For blush I'm still using the Glossier Cloud Paints - I just can't bring myself to use anything else. I keep all four in my bag to have my bases covered for whatever mood strikes, but right now I'm really feeling the mixture of Puff and Dusk. It makes the most perfect neutral pink, like Charlotte Tilbury First Love or Tarte Exposed in cream form. Shock Horror, I've been using something other than Glossier Haloscope for my highlight. My sister was raving about her Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette (review) at Thanksgiving, and it made me really want to reach for mine. I've been hooked since - I mix together the pink and gold shades for my perfect champagne highlight.
On an everyday basis, I always keep my lips on the neutral side (if I'm wearing anything other than lip balm), and I'm still hooked on the NARS Powermatte Lip Pigments smudged into some Balm Dotcom. Last month I was all about Save the Queen, but this month I know I'm going to be reaching for American Woman religiously. It's a rosy brown shade that matches the blush mixture I mentioned above perfectly when blended out. I hope you're not sick of me raving about these yet, because I don't think I'm going to stop soon. Outside of work, I've been working on using more of my bolder lip products and getting more comfortable wearing them out and about. Seeing as it's almost Christmas (!!!!), I know I'm going to be rocking a red lip a lot this month, and I don't want to reach for anything other than the Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored. I was skeptical about one red for everyone, but it truly looks amazing on everyone I've seen wear it. On me, it's the perfect slightly cool-toned red (I'm wearing it in the selfie I linked above with the eyeshadows). It has a super comfortable formula (you almost can't feel it!) that doesn't feel dry or crackly at all. It does transfer a bit if anything touches your lips, but it still holds up extremely well through eating and drinking. I hope she makes more shades in this formula, because right now it's almost topping the NARS ones as my favorite!
What makeup will you be reaching for this month?
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