Long time no favorites post, right? Since I haven't done a Favorites in a couple months, there are too many products I want to write about to fit into one post. So part one, The Makeup, is today! I can't believe we're already halfway through the year - it's certainly flown by and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. Here's hoping I can actually get more time to sit and pump out a few more posts than I've been able to lately.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter | If you're a fan of glowy skin, run, don't walk and pick this up. I put off buying this for awhile because I wasn't really sure what it was, but the reason it can be confusing it because it literally does it all. Wear it all over the face as a glowy primer, mix into foundations to make them dewier, or apply to the high points of your face after foundation for a subtle highlight with no shimmer. It works equally well at all three, which is usually quite rare. My favorite way to wear it is by mixing it with other products (are you surprised?). I stripe it on all over my face, concentrating it on the high points of my face, and then I go straight in to my foundation without blending the Flawless Filter first. This was a bit of an impulse buy, but it's become my favorite product from Charlotte Tilbury that I've tried.
Charlottle Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation | Speaking of Charlotte Tilbury, I've fallen back in love with the Light Wonder Foundation. I don't know why I ever stopped using this for a second, because it truly is the most beautiful foundation I own. It gives a good amount of coverage (light, bordering on medium) and yet is totally undetectable on the skin. Seriously, usually you can see foundation sitting on my skin just a little bit, but not with this one. It becomes one with the skin and gives the perfect glow. It lasts pretty well on me, too.
MAC Eyebrow Styler* | I don't change up my eyebrow products often, so when I do, you know the products are great. I got a box from MAC last month full of eyebrow products, and I instantly fell for the Eyebrow Styler. It's a skinny pencil with a spoolie on one end, which is normally the type of brow product I go for. The shade Stylized is perfect for me - it's an ashy brown that almost has a bit of a green tone to it, which surprisingly works really well with my skin and hair color. It's quite pigmented but easily blends when brushed out and lasts so well. I wore it in my brows for my wedding!
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter, 'Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal' | This one was influenced by Joelle Hyman, one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. I had this highlighter sitting in my collection for a couple months (I grabbed it when my sister decluttered it), but I always tend to reach for cream highlights over powders. Seeing Joelle talk about it reminded me what a beautiful product it was - it looks like a cream highlight once on the skin, so it's perfect for summer when you want the look of a glossy cream highlight, but you don't necessarily want the feel of one. I've been dipping into the Lightning Dust shade almost every day (with an Elf Highlighter Brush) and I'm obsessed.
Glossier Cloud Paint, 'Storm'* | Of course I had to include the newest Glossier launch. Out of the two new Cloud Paint shades, Storm is definitely my favorite and the shade I was waiting for. It's a warm rose-y brown that gives the perfect flush of color to the skin. I have to use a very light hand, but the result is always so lovely and fresh-faced. The Cloud Paints are my favorite blush formula anyway, so I'm happy to have this new addition to my collection.
Milk Makeup Kush Mascara + Glossier Lash Slick* | If you want fluffy, fluttery lashes that look like extensions/falsies and don't smudge at all, I'd definitely recommend trying this combo. The Kush Mascara gives a good dose of volume and really makes the lashes look soft and fluffy, and then combing the Lash Slick through after the Kush Mascara has dried really separates the lashes and lengthens and fans them out even more. Kush lasts pretty well on me on its own, but using the Glossier as a "top coat" really seals it in and makes it not smudge at all. I wore this pair for my wedding, and despite lots of happy tears and dancing until I was sweating, I didn't have mascara smudges under my eyes all night.
YSL Liquid Color Balms | You can always tell I love a lip product if I buy it in multiple shades. I first bought the YSL Liquid Color Balm in shade #10, wore it twice, and loved it so much that I went back and got #12. They feel like water going onto the lips, are more pigmented than I was expecting, and look soft and balmy. It's such a good everyday lip product because it wears away evenly and leaves a subtle stain. I like that these aren't overly glossy, but they still seem to glide over lip lines and make the lips appear plumper.
Lancome L'Absolu Lacquer | I have since bought a second shade of the Lancome L'Absolu Lacquers after taking the photo for this post, too. These initially feel quite similar to the YSL Liquid Color Balms when applied to the lips - almost water-like and cooling, but they look quite different. These are a bit more pigmented, much more glossy, and yet feel weightless on the lips. It pretty much feels like you don't have anything on. My favorite thing about these, though, is their longevity. When applying them, they feel like they're not going to last very long, but they last hours and hours and even stay put through eating. When they do wear away, the glossiness fades first, and then the color evenly fades into a stain. If you're wanting a glossy bright punch-y color for summer, definitely go with one of these - they'll last you through barbeques and ice cream!
Bobbi Brown Lipstick, 'Sandwash Pink' | I had to mention this one because it was my wedding lipstick. I love the formula of Bobbi Brown Lipsticks - they don't feel too thick or heavy on the lips and yet have good pigmentation, leave a nice satin finish on the lips, and last well through eating and drinking. Sandwash Pink is the perfect neutral pink that makes it a lovely "my lips but better" shade. It showed up really well in wedding photos without drawing attention away from the rest of my bridal makeup look.
NARS Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm | Another impulse purchase that I thoroughly do not regret. I'll admit I was sucked into this by the packaging and also because it was the last one in my Sephora when I went to "just swatch it." But it's become one of my everyday go-tos. It gives the lips a nice wash of pink, and the golden shimmer running through it doesn't look foiled or frosty, but rather gives the lips a plumped, glossy sheen. The balm itself is lovely and actually hydrates the lips with NARS's Monoi Hydrating Complex. I've been reaching for it as my daytime lip balm no matter what other makeup I'm wearing!
What makeup bits have you been loving recently?
Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.