Since I’ve been gone for so long I thought I’d just share some things I’m currently obsessed.

A few weeks ago I finally got all my potted plants outside. While they continued to grow we ended up getting 16 days straight of rain. So staring out the window at my rainy little garden has been one of my favorite things. Why fight it.

In between the rain showers I’ve been lighting incense outside and letting it come in through the windows. With being on such a 90’s trip (for the past year honestly) I rediscovered my love for incense. Well… the cones. But those aren’t popular or easy to find anymore. Instead I found these wood bricks to be a great alternative especially since they smell like a campfire and I can’t go camping until the rain quits.

I bought a sample pack from Amazon. Great price great scents! Maybe if I’m still feeling something more “incense and less campfire” I’ll order some from Blackbird. They have some really intriguing fragrances like BLOOD COUNTESS.

Beauty-wise my makeup routine has simplified since experiencing a bad drying out spell. I discovered I’m sensitive to talc products. I never realized. I stopped wearing almost all makeup for a period of time. I attempted to purge my skin with a gentle daily peel. It helped remove some of the larger stubborn acne spots but really made my skin’s texture worse. My skin is finicky especially when it’s damaged. Focusing on moisturizing with a thicker formula from Vanicream right now. It’s the only thing that would sink in for a while. And since using it I don’t feel the need for a primer. I also want to avoid silicones and excessive powders right now.

Currently I maybe wear a bb cushion once a week. Half the time I just wear a tiny bit of concealer or just dab and blend some Mario Badescu nude drying cream over the spots. My eye makeup has been nothing but glitter for the past 2 months. I’m so re-obsessed with glitter. If I want to do more I add colored eyeliner. Pretty much everything I’m using on the eyes lately is from NYX. They’re cruelty free, affordable, and easy to find.

I’m also highlighting daily. I highlight a bit beyond the generic youtube tutorial suggestions. I like to highlight my inner cheeks, around my lip and up the cupid’s bow, on the lids of my eyes, center of lip, and around the brows. I avoid my forehead, nose, and chin. Those spots get slick looking enough. Really my skin temporarily over-producing oil in the t-zone forced my hand with getting back into all-over highlight. It seemed futile to counter-balance the shine. But when I add shine to the rest of the face it comes together as more of a “glow.”

To match this “glow” I’ve gone glossy on the lips. I purchased Bite Beauty’s plain agave lip mask after trying multiple samples. At first I thought it was glorified vaseline but then I just started missing it when my samples ran out. I love it. Add a little of Pat Mcgrath’s nude pigment on top and it gives a really nice pout look.

I decided to record the most common looks I do with my Colourpop collection. There are 4 major looks I consistently go for with them. A single tone in brown and a smudgy rock look which both feel very 90’s. Then a fresh bright pink look followed by what I typically wear when attending a Capitals hockey game.

Colourpop Super Shock eyeshadows are spongy, velvety in texture and apply easiest with fingertips. I’ll go over it with a fluffy blending brush to blur the edges when needed. Their Lippie Stix are comfortable and the matte versions last a long time even with eating and drinking. Their Ultra Matte Lips last even longer with 0 transfer. I find they last on my lips about 6 hours with continuous eating and drinking before needing a touch-up.

In the video you might notice that “beeper” dries down to a dark dusty brown. “Clueless” looks similar in the tube but it dries to a more dusty pink shade.

I doubled up my two red lippie stix for a grunge style gradient lip.

Straight Trippin from the throwback collection is a bit of a miss for me. It just doesn’t blend as well as the others. So I only use it for messy, undone looks.

I wear a liquid lipstick to games because touch-ups usually mean missing gameplay and with all the food and constant soda sipping even my matte lipsticks were failing me. I always wear a red lip there so I got Creeper specifically for wearing to games and it lasts the entire night.

I usually wear a primer under the shadows but I’ve worn “glow” and “cornelious” without primer a bunch of times and never noticed any creasing (and shadows usually crease badly on my lids.)

I find the texture of the shadows really easy for hooded eye application too. Where powder shadows can be a bit tricky, especially without the right brush, these shadows can be swept over the fold without dragging. This is a huge benefit for me because I have very hooded and plump lids and sometimes getting color to extend past the crease takes so much effort with powder shadows.

Colourpop has just been my go-to splurge for whenever I’m feeling like I want a new eye or lip color. It’s affordable, cruelty-free, LA made, and the quality is good for the price.

So I ended up hunting down these studies and I found 2 major ones most commonly referred to in these makeup salary correlation type articles. The first is a 2008 study that found women with makeup in a work environment reinforced a sense of femininity which in turn made her appear less competent. While another popular study used is a 2010 study that instead found that women who wore “glamorous style” makeup in a work environment appeared more competent. This 2010 study was funded by P&G which looks suspect at best.

So what is the truth? This debate is most likely perpetuated for the sake of reinforcing control over women; whether your opinion is for makeup or against it. It’s still looking to dictate how you “should” be. It keeps you in a state of both knowing you should do whatever makes you happy but also trying to be strategic in your career choices. There’s no right answer because like many female conundrums it’s a trap.

If you are dead set on looking for an answer it’s better to assess your surroundings and assess your internal dialogue to discover what is right for you. Instead of reading regurgitated articles that rarely link actual studies there’s more solace to be found on Reddit boards, interviews with professionals, and discussing it with the women around you. “Be the change you want to see” but understand that no matter which path you choose it won’t put an end to the comments and questions about your appearance in today’s society.

I once read that it’s best to avoid bright lip colors in an office. I would say I agree only because I often wear bright lipstick and have had someone stop a meeting just to comment on it. I was presenting and they just stopped and asked if I was purposefully wearing it to match my outfit for the day. So yes it can be an actual distraction. And it’s whether or not you want to put up with that distraction that influences your decision on makeup in the workplace.

Personally I do both. Some days I wear no makeup and deal with any “you look tired” comments. On other days I wear the bright red lip and subtly gloss over any comments made on it. I never have a single reason why I wear makeup. Some days I do it to cover up a bad breakout (more for myself so I won’t be reminded and pick at it.) Sometimes I do it because I’m bored or I want to try a new technique. But mostly I do it to feel ethereal. It’s why I love glitter eyeshadows and shimmering highlight and bright blushes. It’s something that’s a bit beyond human and that has always appealed to me.

Lastly I want to recommend Lisa Eldridge’s Best and Worst Makeup Moments in History. It’s very informative and goes far beyond just a praise and slam video about makeup.

Onto that makeup I was talking about

I went through my collection and selected some things that would work best. I mostly want to bring some color back into my makeup routine even on days I’m running too late to do my makeup at home. These are things I won’t miss using after work or on the weekends while also being easy to apply at my desk.

Dolly Wink Long Mascara. The wand and formula was changed at some point. It used to be a favorite of mine but with the formula change I might not rebuy it again. Still a good mascara but I just liked it back when it had more fibers. This does however work well even on uncurled lashes so I’ll use it up instead of tossing.

These two blushes I got in a summer festival collection. They look untouched but I’ve actually used them a lot. They’re really pigmented and very soft to the touch. You can actually apply these with your finger they’re so smooth. I’ve been applying these on top of a cream blush for that “igari makeup” look.

Real Lasting Eyeliner is such a good product. I purchased this extra fine “micro” point one to see if it made tightlining easier. Yes & no. Yes tightlining from atop the lashes is much easier but I tightline from underneath usually and this tip is so skinny it would push through my lashes and leave a mark higher on my eyelid. Wouldn’t get it again but for subtle tightlining at work it’ll do just fine.

I bought this NYX butter lipstick because I needed the shade for this Lisa Eldridge “Tippi Hedren Makeup Tutorial.” It’s a nice sweet neutral coral. I wore it a ton in summer.

This is the original Ritual de Fille cream blush I bought last winter. I stopped using this shade after I got the others from them. Plus I have this shade in a Chanel blush I use more often. So I’m bringing this in as a fool proof blush choice.

I don’t wear these two lipsticks too often anymore. The bright pink from Shu Uemura really gave me that pink flush I was into a while ago and the Chanel was seriously my legitimate shade for over a year. A my lips but better. Lately I wear matte shades in dark browns or bright reds. So I’ll take these with me to work as alternative, easy to apply options.

I remember the night I bought this Sephora Moonshadow Baked Nude palette. It was on impulse because the use of “moon” and the color choices being so gorgeous. I still used this palette a lot but damn is it messy. The shades are easy to apply wet or dry and I felt it was being under-utilized lately. So leaving it at work will hopefully mean more opportunity to use it.

Products Used

• Hourglass mineral veil primer
• L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator
• YSL TOUCHE ÉCLAT concealer
• Anastasia Brow Wiz
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder
• Bobbi Brown shadow in wheat
• Milani Tantastic Baked Bronzer
• Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Powder
• Shu Uemura Aya Takano Reindeer Kiss Palette
• Majolica Majorca Lash King Brown (br666)
• Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain

Shu Uemura teamed up with Maison Kitsuné for this year’s holiday collection. While the collection itself at times made me go, “…hmmm,” the cheek and eye palette was too eye-catching for resistance. So I purchased it. Used a promo code for the free makeup bag which is really nice, sturdy, and fits a ton.

I have a lot to say about this palette and the collection as a whole. Some of the promo shoot photos are a bit… obnoxious. The east meets west concept just sort of washes over me at this point. But with that said if anyone was going to do it Maison Kitsuné at least makes sense. But man some of the official promo photos make me side-eye. There were much better Youtuber collaborations and blog posts that made this palette desirable and in the end the main makeup looks were what made me consider really buying the palette.

I especially loved this look below.

The Plum Eye & Cheek Palette looks very colorful but I’m here to tell you it’s extremely sheer. I don’t wear bold colors outside of neutral tones very often. I was surprised by just how wearable these shades are. They’re sheer especially when using fiber brushes. If you want more of the pigment you’ll need to use the sponge applicator provided or your finger…

The top 3 shades in wine and plum are the most pigmented and go on easily with a fiber eyeshadow brush. The rest of the eyeshadows are varying forms of glitter. The silver and gold are shimmery glitter. If you’ve gotten these colors in past holiday palettes they do not compare. These are just glitters, with sheer pigments. The pink and orange are big chunky glitters that you’ll need to use something more sturdy to really pack them on. And yes, there is fall-out. A lot of it. I have glitter on my upper cheeks still from packing on the pink yesterday even with an eyeshadow base.

The blush is one of the nicest shades of orange I’ve ever used. I had tossed all my old orange blushes because they washed me out. But this one doesn’t. It works more like an orangey bronzer. I was pleasantly surprised! The eye colors really do compliment the blush shade. It’s a fun take on what was my everyday look of neutral neutral neutral.

The formula is much different than past palettes. I had 2013’s Shu Uemura x Takashi Murakami palette which was creamier in texture and much more pigmented than this year’s. And I had the infamous 2010 Aya Takano x Shu Uemura collection which, hands down, was the best formula of shadows and blushes I’ve ever owned.

All-in-all I’m happy with my purchase! I like the color choices and the easily wearable looks I can get from the palette. It feels more future-forward than a lot of the other popular palettes out there this holiday season and it’s a fun to wear. Plus deep down I’ll always be a sucker for anything paris-tokyo mashup (gamine style for life.) The formula could have been better or the price less. I probably won’t be purchasing another of Shu Uemura’s palettes for a few years. I keep finding that they don’t work with any other brushes but their own and the formulas keep having a low-quality feel to them.

I was hoping to take some photos of the palette on but I’ve been very sick lately. I just wanted to get these up and my thoughts about it out since I took the photos in early November. It’s long overdue.

First up this elf cosmetics complexion brush. I bought it while visiting family this summer to go with a bronzer I picked up while there. I just needed something to hold me over until I could use my IT Cosmetics face brush. Well, to my surprise, I found myself reaching for this a lot even after getting home. It’s really nice for applying bronzer, highlight, face powder, anything. I hadn’t planned on keeping it but I really like it for travel and for using when I want to apply a heavy bronzer look.

I posted on Instagram when I ordered a bunch of Morphe brushes after finding recommendations on YouTube. These 3 were instant stand-outs.
G14 – OVAL SHADOW
G17 – ROUND BLENDER
M500 – DELUXE POINTED BLENDER

The G14 oval shadow brush is fantastic. I use it mostly as my eyeshadow base brush or if I’m only applying a single color. It’s large and soft and does a good job of both aplying color and blending out the edges a bit while you apply. It was my immediate favorite.

The G17 blender brush I like for blending my concealer. It didn’t do much on my eyes. My lids are very plump and textured hoods. I need something harder for blending eyeshadow. But for concealer this has been fantastic for airbrushing over zits and blending out around the under eyes and nose.

Lastly the M500 is a nice versatile face brush. I got it because the shape reminded me of my Paul and Joe travel blush brush which I love. It’s a bit softer and thinner than that though. It does a great job with bronzer when you want to slowly build up color (office look) and I use it for highlighter and blush as well. It’s for soft application. I use it every day I do makeup now. It works really well for me as winter approaches and I’m grower ever paler. I can easily apply too much color as I transition to vampire pale…

This thing is what I use for contouring. Sephora’s Classic Mini Multitasker. I went through so many brushes looking for one to do my contour just right and this has been it ever since I ordered it on sale months ago. Contouring on pale skin leaves very little room for mistakes. Angle brushes often cut “outside the lines” when I used them (I had to be too precise.) The soft medium stiff round brush here was perfect. It runs $14 full price but I got it for $6.99. Hopefully it goes on sale often.

That’s it for now. I have a few others that I only sort of like or am still experimenting with. A few eco tools brushes and a new elf mini blender brush for eyeshadow.

Last month I received the new Night Visions collection from Rituel de Fille. It contained a pale pink eyeshadow and a deep plum lipstick. This is the first time I tried their “eye soot” and it’s somewhere in between a powder and cream so very aptly name. It’s a subtle shimmer that I’ve been wearing when I only want a hint of color that’s quick and easy to apply. The lipstick is the opposite of subtle. It’s bold and deep. I wear it over my NARS matte lip pencil in Cruella. The color comes out nicely when paired with the red plus it adds moisture to the matte NARS formula.

I really liked how this look turned out. I posted a pic on Instagram when I was recording some of the video and it just looks so 90’s grunge which is where my head is totally at this fall.

Wearing in the video:
LOVELY ME: EX PASTEL CUSHION BLUSHER 02 CORAL CUSHION
FACE IT ARTIST TOUCH SHADOW 02 EMERALD CITY
ARTIST TOUCH LIPSTICK OR201

I was familiar with THEFACESHOP brand through online shops and beauty reviews but I don’t recall ever using any of their products until now. I stumbled upon a THEFACESHOP while in Ottawa and bought up a ton of things! Actually, so much that I’m not going to list everything individually.

I’m currently avoiding oils and collagen in any long term skincare products so I skipped many of their skin care sets. Almost everything has collagen in it right now.

I picked up their Blemish Zero products and a ton of face masks. The Blemish Zero looked a lot like the Clinique Acne line I’ve used for years but when comparing the ingredients THEFACESHOP has aloe and less ingredients including peppermint extract which can be irritating to skin.

The Volume My Lips glosses are my favorites. They last and last and don’t feel tacky at all. I was so impressed with the fuchsia one that I went back to buy the rest of them!

The Aqua Tint Jelly is gorgeous but the taste is a bit off-putting. It’s very artificial like the taste of plastic. The Milky Moisture Tint and the Marker Aqua Tint both had artificial tastes as well. The color is excellent though.

Lightning Reviews!

Artist Touch Lipstick OR201 – Love it! Lasts, moisturizing, creamy, color payoff!

Artist Touch Shadow 02 Emerald City – Pretty, subtle, soft, a bit powdery and low pigments.

Milky Moisture Tint 03 Apple Red – Pretty! Tastes terrible until 100% dry.

My Lips Eat Cherry Aqua Tint – Pretty, deep red tiny that lasts. Tastes artificial u til dry.

You Make Me Glam Volume My Lips – Like these a lot especially fuchsia and glitter clear. Really makes lips look fuller.

Aqua Proof Marker Tint 02 Pink – Love this for natural tint when outdoors and minimal makeup.

Real Nature Masks – Liked these a lot! All the ones I tried.

Mango Seed Lip Balm – Nice! Like to apply this before lipsticks.

Clean Face Sebum Control Soothing Mask Sheet – Yeah, like it!

Milk Plus Lotion – Good lotion but smells like baby powder (ugh.)

Coral Cushion Blusher 02 Coral – Meh. A bit too shimmery and can highlight pores.

Lovely Moisturizer Mango Body Lotion – Eh, mango toothpaste-like scent. Loved at first but got tired of scent. Absorbs nice and clean though.

Clean Face Anti-Imperfections Patches – Nah, didn’t do much.

Hydro Gel Mask Sheet Vita E – Difficult to use and sliding everywhere, no skin difference.

Cream Shimmer Eyeshadow – Pointless best describes this product.

CK ONE Pure Color Lipstick “Little Liar”
CK ONE Shine Lipstick “Alarm“

And also Ulta exclusively sells the ck one makeup line. Which I didn’t even know existed until a few months ago. The packaging is so sleek and… 90’s. I read the lip products were pretty good and picked up 2 for fall. I really want to wear bold colors this winter.

I really like the color shine lipstick. It lasts a surprisingly long amount of time. I had it on for an entire afternoon at work before it started to finally fade. These two shades look similar in color but the formulas are very different. Little Liar applies more red-orange where Alarm applies more like a bright coral shade.

Just to clarify none of these break me out or else I would have returned the product. :) You know I breakout easily…

I really really REALLY like these two Revlon True Match LUMI items. The one on the right is a primer that comes out as a liquid pearl serum. I sometimes just use these on my bare cheeks alone with no makeup or I actually use it as a primer before bb cream or even mix it in with my bb cream and it adds a subtle glow. The illuminator on the left is in shade “icy” and is a great pearl toned highlight for cheeks.

On the far left there are two Rimmel Exaggerate automatic lip liners. I hadn’t used lip liners since swearing off Mac a few years ago but these showed up on a couple of beauty reviews and are so affordable I went ahead and got some. A nude pink shade and a deep red. They’re pretty good. Not flawless but creamy and long-lasting. Revlon’s Visible Lift Blur cream blush is fantastic. It really does blur your pores and the shade is so build’able and natural. And then I’ve purchased Loreal Double Extend fiber mascara again and again. I always use it when I want dramatic lashes that are super easy to remove. And then the Loreal Manga Rock mascara. I tried the original manga mascara and it was OK but this one really does add more drama. I like spider lashes if I’m in the mood and this does it really well. Hard as hell to remove but still nice.

I got this Physician’s Formula Mineral Glow Pearls in beige for a golden powder highlight. It’s more of a shimmering bronzer on my skin. It’s pretty subtle. I probably wouldn’t buy it again but I’ve actually been using it a lot on minimal makeup days for an added bit of color and shine.

I got this Sonia Kashuk matte palette from Anupa a while ago and boy do I get into cycles where I only wear this palette! The color range is great and the shadows aren’t too chalky. They’re easier to blend than some of my other matte palettes. I also purchased this stipple brush a few months ago and, though it wasn’t super cheap, it’s really nice for applying liquid highlighters plus it’s so easy to hold not to mention sleek looking.

So no, I do not have a beautyblender. I wasn’t sure if I’d use it so I purchased this Real Techniques Miracle Complexion version for 1/4 of the price of a beautyblender. Just to see if I’d like the concept. I love it. I’ll probably upgrade to Beauty Blender when this is ready to be tossed but honestly if I only ever repurchase this version I’d be more than happy. It’s great for applying bb cream no matter how thick and the coverage I get when I use it is great. I don’t even remember the last time I applied my bb cream with my fingers or foundation brush. I thought using it would make application longer but it actually cuts my time in half.

So I saw this while grocery shopping last weekend and I got it because it claims to give you a tingling lip sensation much like a lot of lip plumpers out there. It’s Lip Bang’s Lip Freak Buzzing Cherry Atomic stick. This is more like a lip tint because it goes on with a fairly noticeable red tint. It smells like cinnamon and tastes a bit fruit like cinnamon cranberries. The tingling starts after a few minutes and just lasts and lasts and lasts. I know a lot of people don’t like that sensation but I love it. I’ve actually been using lip products like this to help distract me during high-anxiety situations. Such as office meetings, going to the doctors, or meeting with a large group of people. Sometimes my anxiety just feels overwhelming and is stressful but this tingling distraction helps keep me more focused and calm in those situations. Much like chewing gum does for some people.

It’s been really fun getting back into picking things up on a whim. There isn’t all this guilt if I don’t love it, returning items I don’t like is way easier, and that feeling of “am I buying the best version of xyz!?” is gone. Sometimes it feels like we have turned makeup into this constant competition of having to buy the best and only the best. Like 19 out of 20 beauty bloggers have to recommend it before you dare buy it. You know? Like I know there are way better lip colors out there than Revlon’s Colorburst. But I like them! I like the color payoff and the minty formula. I like that I can usually buy them at 2 for 1! Sometimes it feels like you’re not even allowed to buy, let alone like, a beauty product unless you’ve got a dissertation on why it’s the be all and end of of products. But maybe that’s just the bubble I got myself into over the years and am very much in favor of popping. :)

Heroine Make eyebrow pen – natural brown
Pmel under-eye color pen – beige
Love Fille Nude Face Veil
Royal Apothic Lip Tintie – Kissed

First the Heroine Make eyebrow pen. I’ve used this brand’s eyeliner many times over and bought this on a whim. I haven’t use anything besides the Anastasia Brow Wiz in a long time. I’ve used Japanese brand eyebrow pencils and powders a lot in the past before there were more eyebrow product choices in the US. Those brands were ok but I was always looking for a holy grail product. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by this pen! It’s not too dark or too red. It’s a more grey-brown and goes on as more of a tint rather than heavy marker. Lasts a while too.

Heroine Make eyebrow pen

Pros
Good neutral color
Easy to use

Cons
Too subtle for adding shape
updated: Dries out incredibly fast

The Pmel under eye color was more of a “cute treat” when I got it. An easy cheat! I hadn’t done this trend for a while. Is aegyo sal still trendy, I don’t even know to be honest. But this color is nice under the eyes either way. It goes on so smoothly. The pen is really nifty as it sort of twists and springs open and gathering the powder from the cap.

Pmel under-eye color

Pros
Easy application
Buildable pigments

Cons
Color wears off too easily

You only need to know 1 thing about the Love Fille pore minimizing face veil… it smells like roses. Fresh cut roses! And the fragrance lasts a while after applying too. But does it work? So far I’m unimpressed. It feels a bit drying and my makeup doesn’t look all that fresh throughout the day. Though I’m happy it has yet to break me out unlike a lot of similar products.

Love Fille pore minimizing face veil

Pros
Fragrant rose scent
Smooths out deep pores
No breakouts from it

Cons
Doesn’t add much of a lasting matte effect
Couldn’t stand up to my oily t-zone (combination skin)

Lastly a little lip gloss pot from Royal Apothic Lip Tintie I picked up from the sale section of Anthropologie. I had seen it online and nearly ordered it because the pot was so attractive. I didn’t realize at the time it was actually a lip butter and not a gloss. It’s very creamy and the shade is very opaque. It’s a nice nude “your lips but better“shade. But it’s definitely more lipstick than a gloss. Glad I got it on sale. Wouldn’t pay full price as it’s a bit boring.

Royal Apothic Lip Tintie

Pros
Attractive packaging
Neutral color
Long-lasting
Moisturizing

Cons
Bulky to carry around
Not as expected
Bit boring

I was obsessed with moody plum shades and Rituel de Fille’s “Lovesick” was a perfect winter cheek with pigment that easily lasted through snowy walks and freezing winds. Dab a little on the cheeks, paired with a shimmering eyeshadow, and some chapstick for the lips, and that was my daily winter routine for quite a long time!

Then I was asked last month about how I was liking the blush and I realized it had become my favorite and I wanted more…

It was difficult to choose which shades I wanted. Outside of the official swatches there was little reviewed about them. Usually I don’t feel compelled to review any new makeup because there’s usually already 50 other blogs with swatches and thoughts and nice photos. Rituel de Fille didn’t seem to have as much of a presence unfortunately. So I decided I’d try my best at putting a review together for anyone that may be interested in these cream blushes. It’s my first swing at a video review so bare with me.

Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Cream Blush

Pros
Buildable pigments
Long lasting
Simple natural ingredients and cruelty-free
Fragrance free
Every shade is cheek, eye and lip safe
Captivating sleek packaging

Cons
Takes a few practice runs to master application

What I like about Rituel de Fille’s cream blush is how bare-bones they are with ingredients. There’s nothing extra. No fillers and no synthetic dyes or fragrance. It’s free from paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and cruelty. And even on my very acne-prone skin it hasn’t caused a single pimple. Not even questionably. Some cream blushes make me think, “Oh, is this pimple from the blush? I dunno, I dunno.” But Rituel de Fille hasn’t given me a single skin woe to question.

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre

Pros
Sparkles like a star (photo doesn’t do it justice)
Easy to apply
No fallout
Easy to remove
No creasing when used with an eyeshadow base

Cons
Application brush is really stiff
Some sparkles left after initial face washing

The application brush is a lot stiffer than I thought it would be. It’s ok for applying the color as a liner but I haven’t quite found a good use for it. Also there is some dreaded “leftover” sparkle after washing away the eyeshadow at first but a quick second splashing can remove that. I haven’t been stuck with glitter all over my face for days like I have been with other cream glittery shadows. If I accidentally touch too low under my eye when applying I can simply wet a tissue and wipe it away easily.

The mirage color is even easier to apply and remove and both of these are great for low-maintenance makeup days. Really glad I got these. :)

When taking these photos I realized I’m really happy with the amount I currently have. Not too much but not too lacking either for my needs. I used to feel like I always had too much and it gave me a lot of guilt. But I don’t sweat it much these days.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT in 2 Luminous Ivory
Anastasia Brow Wiz Ash Blonde
Ettusais BB Mineral Cream shade Light 10
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Coffret D’or shade Peach 02
Majolica Majorca Cream de Cheek Shell Pink
Majolica Majorca Cream de Cheek Shiny Highlight
TOO FACED Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush Peach Beach
KISS mix heart shade Dolly Pink
Anna Sui Rose Cheek shade Mystic Rose (100)
KIKO Rosa Confetto
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek shade Cherry Macaron (rd414)
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek shade Peach Macaron (pk301)
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek shade Raspberry Macaron (pk415)
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek shade Vanilla Macaron (highlighter)
Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek shade Apricot Macaron (or302)

Shu Uemura bowwow! magic queen palette
Shu Uemura reindeer kiss xxxx palette
TOO FACED Boudoir Eyes
Shu Uemura 6♡ Princess Enchanted Black Parallel palette
SUQQU Himesango palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics
Paul & Joe Beaute eye color Siamese, Please
NARS Earth Angel
Majolica Majorca Jeweling Eyes RD 784
Integrate Pure Big Eyes BE332

Chanel ILLUSION D’OMBRE eyeshadow Mirage
Chanel ILLUSION D’OMBRE eyeshadow Vision

Stila brown liquid eyeliner
Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Mascara
Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara jet black
Love Switch Pink Brown Mascara
Lovedrops Long Brown Mascara
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Benefit Eye Bright

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Evasion 48
Chanel Rouge Mademoiselle 05
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited PK 315
Guerlain Shine Automatique 760
Dior Addict Gloss No Angel
Fresh Sugar Cherry Tint
Yojiya Yuzu lip balm
Benefit benetint

Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheers 600
Chanel Rouge Allure Insolente

deborah lippmann Flowers in Her Hair
deborah lippmann Mermaid’s Dream
butter london Slapper
Dior Waterlily
Chanel Frenzy
Chanel Black Satin

Estée Lauder Pure Red
ciate’ Mistress
Estée Lauder Fallen Angel
YSL Rose Baby Doll
Estée Lauder Narcissist
deborah lippmann Mermaid’s Kiss

OPI Glitter-off base coat
deborah lippmann quick dry base coat
Dior gel top coat
Integrate [インテグレート] WT951 (white shimmer)
Nail Parlor [ネイルパーラー] Ginger Ale
Sephora by OPI Keep Me on My Mistletoes
Sephora by OPI Good Tidings We Bling!

Maison de Reefur Petite Mer

Baggu Duffle in Sailor Stripe

Madewell bien fait surf tee

A Cup of Jo: Mermaid Tail Braid how-to

A Cup of Jo: Ponytail Twist how-to