Review: Kosas Tinted Face Oil

If there is a beauty brand that is on everyone’s radar lately, I would say it is Kosas. Like many brands that are Insta-worthy, it has the minimalist aesthetic similar to coveted brands, like Glossier and Milk Makeup. It also uses “clean’ and “natural” formulas, which seem to be where makeup is heading right now. It is amazing to me, that Sephora even has a whole wall dedicated to clean beauty (well, according to their own terms for the word).

In recent months, their Tinted Face Oil has gotten a lot of good reviews. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t help but jump onto the bandwagon and buy it to try. I also love their lipsticks, so I was hoping for the same quality. Just summarizing off their website, this tinted oil is a mix of skincare and makeup, and is supposed to provide medium coverage. Mineral pigments are mixed in with six botanical oils that evens out your skin, minimizes pores, and hides imperfections. Providing lightweight coverage, it also self-adjusts to your skin tone leaving a velvety finish. So what did I think? The truth is I’m still a bit on the fence, but I’ll break down my thoughts below and you can decide for yourself.

Packaging

This tint comes in a squeeze bottle, which may seem ideal since you can control the number of drops you want. However, the product comes out so quick even with a simple squeeze, I don’t even need to squeeze it. I just let gravity do its work. I think this would be a situation where a dropper would have been more ideal. The product also builds up around the opening, so it can get quite messy. I usually give the opening a wipe every once in a while. You get the gist. I am not fond of the packaging.

Application

If you have read quite a few reviews on this product, you will know that it is “finnicky” to apply. Everyone seems to have their own opinion about what is the best way to apply it. The main problem seems to be that it seems to pill over certain skincare and I did experience that problem as well. Since it is an oil, I find that it seems to go well over my facial oil. My sunscreen is also oil-based too. With regards to primers, I found that it completely pilled over Tatcha The Silk Canvas, but seemed fine over the Fenty Beauty Instant Retouch Primer. I don’t know the science behind this, but I would love to hear which primers have worked for you with this tint. I found the best way to apply this base is to dot it over your skin and then pat it in. If you try to smooth it over with your fingers, it will tend to streak.

Results

I really think the results are what make others love this tint. It does a great job of evening out your skin tone, while leaving a lovely satin finish. I wouldn’t say it was completely pore filling but it does even out your skin texture. Your skin still looks natural, but “better.” I would say the coverage is really on the light side for me, but that is what makes it great for everyday wear.

Now onto the cons. I think the wear time is not that great. It looks the best the first 3 to 4 hours. I have dry skin at this point in my life. At the end of a work day for me, I find that it makes my skin look drier and my fine lines more prominent. I would love to know what your experience with this product is if you have oily skin. I tend to like base productions that wear better over time once it mixes in with your natural oils and this one is the opposite. It does seem to last better with a moisturizing primer though.

VERDICT: I am so undecided about this tint. It has its share of pros and cons. I think you might enjoy it more if you have combo or oily skin.

Review: THREE Shimmering Glow Duo

“Clean” and “natural” beauty brands have begun to pop up a lot more in Japan the last ten years. One of the most luxurious and beautifully packaged brands would be THREE, which focuses on using essential oils and organic ingredients in their products. Over the years, I have tried many of their products and enjoy their foundations and skincare the most. I love the look of cream makeup on my skin, and was excited to try out this blush/highlighter duo.

Not being able to read Japanese, I assumed both pans were highlighters. I did question how a person could use both shades for highlighting because the dark shade is just a whole lot darker. After using Google Translate, I figured out that the darker shade is for blush and the lighter shade is the highlighter. The blush is just meant to be illuminating as well.

Application

The texture of this cream blush is more on the “putty” side. In fact, it gets a bit messy in the pan as it starts to gather and clump together on the sides of the pan. I usually just apply it with fingers and it works great. The pigmentation is on the medium side, but you can definitely built it up a bit. It does take a bit of time to blend it out nicely and seems a little patchy upon initial application. However, after a few hours, as it blends it with the natural oils in your skin, it is not that noticeable.

Results

This duo gives you the most beautiful glow. It gives your cheeks a more dewy type of glow than a metallic one. I love the highlighter as it gives you that lit from within type of glow. I wear it most often if I have a matter foundation on that day. With regards to longevity, this is not one of those long-wearing blushes, but it does look really good for like 4-6 hours.

VERDICT: If you are looking for a cream blush and highlighter with “cleaner” ingredients, I would recommend this blush. It gives such a beautiful and healthy glow to your skin.

Review: Naturaglacé Emollient Cream Foundation

Before I went to Tokyo last year, I thought that “organic” and “natural” beauty products would be quite a niche market in Japan. However, I was surprised to find entire stores and sections dedicated to organic and natural beauty products. I have been a long time fan of this Japanese brand, Naturaglacé, which uses 100% natural ingredients. I loved their products so much, I have even ordered them off Ebay. So when I got to try their products in-person at one of their counters in Tokyo, it was hard not to buy everything. Luckily, I was able to restrain myself and only buy two products, which included their cream foundation and eye makeup remover.

Brand Overview

Naturaglacé is a beauty brand from Japan. It uses 100% natural ingredients and their ingredients are also organic. Their formulations are made with essential oils and plant extracts and are targeted at providing the benefits of skincare in makeup. The brand is also cruelty-free and attempts to produce less waste during its manufacturing process.

Claims

This foundation is meant to provide a glowy finish and smooth out the imperfections in your skin. The cream formula is supposed to be highly moisturizing because it contains ingredients like Blackcurrant Seed Oil and Streptomyces Leaf Extract. The foundation comes in six shades and has an SPF 39 PA+++. The sunscreen ingredients do not contain nanoparticles.

Application

I actually really love that this foundation comes in a tube. It is easy to control how much you squeeze out. Since it is a cream foundation, the texture is on the thicker side so the tube packaging makes sense. However, I don’t feel like it is so thick you have to really squeeze it to get the product out of the tube though.

This foundation is definitely best applied with fingers. I tried applying it with a Beauty Blender and it didn’t work at all. I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that the oil from the foundation and the moisture from the Beauty Blender just don’t mix well together. Usually, I just dab it onto my skin and spread it out. As the name implies, it is definitely on the more emollient side, so it is does take a bit more work to blend it out.

Review

This is definitely one of my favourite foundations. It leaves such a beautiful glowy finish without looking oily. It does a great job smoothing out pores and fine lines. With a primer (I have been using Tatcha The Silk Canvas), your skin looks completely smooth. This is an ideal foundation for dry skin as it leaves even my super dry cheeks moisturized. Ironically, that is the same reason it might not be good for someone with oily skin or to be used as a summer foundation. Other things to note are the coverage is definitely on the light side and the longevity is good. It easily looks great for a 8-hour work day.

VERDICT: A glowy and moisturizing foundation that is perfect for the winter months or someone with dry skin. It provides that natural glow and also evens out your skin, which makes it perfect for everyday wear.

Loves of the Year

Let’s just get to it. These are my favourite beauty products of the year. This year, I have combined skincare and makeup in this post because I think I actually bought less this year. Ironically, having a blog and a couple of social media accounts has made me want to buy less. I think I realized how wasteful it can be to buy a bunch of products just to review. For this year’s favourites, I pretty much scrolled through my Instagram feed and picked out the products I wanted to repurchase or couldn’t live without anymore.

Belif Moisturizing and Firming Eye Cream

If there was an award for products I just loved applying this year, this one would definitely make it on the list. This eye cream has that thick texture which makes you think that it is really moisturizing, but yet it sinks in and is not heavy at all. It creates the perfect cushiony base for concealer and you need so little, it lasts forever. Due to the shape of the jar, I couldn’t tell how much was left in there. I actually had to put my whole finger in to double-check how much product was left.

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

For the mere fact that it makes my life easier, I would put this in my favourites list. Let’s just be honest, I am not into haircare or hairstyling. Makeup and skincare will always be my first love. However, the best makeup look will be hindered by terrible hair. I have always had issues with oily dandruff and buildup. I only use this once a week but it does such a great job of detoxing my scalp. The word exfoliating often brings up images of gritty particles sloughing away everything off your skin. This shampoo doesn’t do that at all. The vegetable-derived micro-exfoliators clean the scalp gently and leaves it refreshed and balanced. I highly recommend you try this product if you have a problem with oily dandruff.

Hurraw! Sun Lip Balm

I think I have found my favourite lip balm with SPF this year. I have been on a mission for years to find a lip balm with SPF that didn’t leave a white cast or was super thick. I have always loved Hurraw! lip balms. They hold their shape and glide onto your lips effortlessly. I have also always loved the oval shape of the lip balm because it fits the lips nicely. This lip balm is formulated to be a little thicker to stay on your lips longer to provide that sun protection. I don’t find it too thick, but you do feel a layer of product on your lips. It also has nice citrusy scent which I enjoy. However, it must be noted it only has an SPF of 15 (non-nano zinc oxide), so you have to reapply quite often, but I guess that is to be expected from a lip product.

Kosås Weightless Lip Colour

I don’t know where this brand came from, but this year, it seemed to be everywhere. If you wanted to get into more natural and organic makeup, I feel like lipstick is the easily way to switch over. For the longest time, I was in love with Bite Beauty’s creamy lipsticks, but now that I have switched over to Kosås lipsticks, I find that I love these more. Kosås lipsticks have a really lovely cream-oil formula that glides over your lips. It is again one of those products I love to apply. The formula is full of nourishing oils and butters, which keep your lips moisturized. The pigmentation is also pretty full coverage and adds a hint of shine on the lips. Plus, the scent is quite minimal, which I adore. I heard the new packaging also has a magnetic closure, which I can’t wait to try.

Herbivore Brighten Pineapple + Gemstone Mask

If there is a mask that will actually get me to mask regularly, it is definitely a favourite, if not a revolutionary product for me. I have never been able to get into sheet masks because the sudden shock of putting a cold sheet mask on my face is too jarring for me. However, with a wash-off mask, you can apply it on gradually and only on certain areas. Let’s face it, I still don’t that much, but since using this Herbivore mask, I will mask at least once a week. I love the gel formula of this mask. It almost feels like putting on a sleeping mask. Most of all, you notice immediate effects, as your skin looks brighter (as per the name) and smoother. It is just a lovely pick-me-upper during the week and is totally worth the 10 minutes of having to wear it.

Review:RMS Beauty Signature Set in Pop Collection

One of my favourite things about browsing the Sephora website is checking out their beauty sets. I find that it is such a great way to get an overview of a brand. I have actually been loving my Herbivore set from them latey. Today though, I really wanted to talk about the Signature Set I got from RMS Beauty in Pop Collection. If you have read my blog for a while, you will know that I love their cream highlighter and base products. However, there are a few items I still wanted to try from their line, so I decided to get this set.

Overview

This Pop Collection set contains five products. It comes with two of their cream blushers, Lip2Cheek, in shades Demure and Beloved. It also includes a cream highlight in Magic Luminizer and a bronzer in Buriti. The last product is the Simply Vanilla Lip & Skin Balm.

Packaging

Unlike other products in their line which are housed in glass tubs, the packaging for this set is made of plastic. The packaging is chic and minimal being all white with only their brand name printed on the front. There is no indication of what type of plastic is used in the packaging, so I am a little worried about how recyclable it is compared to their glass tubs.

Application

If you have watched RMS Beauty videos or read their website, you would know that they recommend you apply their products with your fingers. They praise the benefits of using your fingers or what they call “skin to skin application.” I personally really enjoy applying their cream formulas with my fingers. I find that the bronzer and highlighter are very creamy and blend out easily. I would say the blushes have a more putty texture and take a little more work to blend out. The balm is also very emollient and blends out easily.

Review

I am going to go through each product individuality and review whether I would purchase the full-size. There were definitely some hits and misses from this set for me.

Bronzer in Buriti

This was one of the surprising hits from this set. Since it only comes in one colour, I really wasn’t sure it would work for me. I am around a MAC NC 25. As claimed on their website, this bronzer is not orangey at all. In fact, it is more of a warm brown. It looks darker than it applies on the skin as it sheers out quite a bit. I am amazed at how well it blends out on me. It really gives me that summery glow from within look.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? Yes!

Magic Lumizier

Many of you might already be familiar with their Living Luminizer. Many celebrities love to wear it. It is also one of my favourites because it gives you a beautiful dewy glow. I must admit that when I started using the Magic Luminizer, I didn’t love it. I think I was so attached to the Living Luminizer that I didn’t see its merits right away. Unlike the Living Luminizer, it has a slight metallic sheen. I feel it takes a little longer to blend, but it is worth it because I was surprised that it had such great longevity for a cream highlighter. I think this highlighter gives a more subtle glow, which is perfect for a work day.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? Yes!

Lip2Cheek in Demure and Beloved

Their cream blushers seem to have a lot going for them. Are they pigmented? Yes! Are they long-lasting? Yes. However, since they have a more putty texture they are a bit harder to blend. They also can appear a little bit patchy on the cheeks. I do enjoy both colours. Even though the shade Beloved looks really intense in the pan, it does give you a very healthy glow. I just take a tiny dab and it is enough for one cheek. Demure is a lovely pink shade which is great for everyday wear. It can be easy to overdo either shade so I usually start off with less and add more if I want to build more intensity. Overall, the blushes wear really well throughout the day. I just wish they were less patchy.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? No.

Simply Vanilla Lip & Skin Balm

Unfortunately, I am not try able to give a fair review of this product because the vanilla scent just got too strong for me. I am quite sensitive to scents and you smell it for a while after you apply it. It applies on smoothly and dries down on the matte side. It is one of those lip balms where you feel a layer of product on your lips as it doesn’t really sink in. I did try to keep it on for a few hours and it does feel moisturizing. I would just not purchase full-size because I disliked the scent.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? No.

Do you have any favourite RMS Beauty products?

Review: Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint

Like Glossier, Milk Makeup is made for the modern woman. She is chic, on-the-go, and health-conscious. The brand originated from Milk Studios, a photo studio from Los Angeles. Clean and effective ingredients paired with their push for diversity and creativity in their products are the brand’s main ethos. All the products are cruelty-free, vegan, and paraban-free. The packaging also has a clean and minimal look reminiscent of Glossier. Basically, this is what all the cool girls should be into.

Let’s be honest. Who doesn’t want to be a cool modern woman? I certainly too. I had previously used their Coverage Duo (which I don’t see on their website anymore) and loved it. That is why I decided to pick up their Sunshine Skin Tint to see if it was just as good.

The Claim

The Sunshine Skin Tint is housed in a preservative-free packaging and instead uses antimicrobial silver to keep the product fresh. The preservative-free aspect seems to be a big selling point for this product as it is used in this product’s taglines. The product is dispensed through the rollerball tip at one end. The tint is supposed to give a dewy finish to the skin due to the formula’s blend of avocado, mandarin, grape, and olive oils. The coverage is sheer, but buildable. It also contains an SPF of 30 and comes in 8 shades.

Packaging

The rollerball packaging is indeed quite innovative as base products aren’t usually housed in this format. The packaging is almost clear so you easily see how much product remains, which is very handy. I am sure everyone has encountered the moment when their favourite foundation runs out abruptly because you have no idea how much is left inside the packaging. The whole packaging seems to made of plastic, even the rollerball itself. I checked on the FAQ section on their website and it states all the packaging is recyclable.

So what did I think? I like the packaging. The rollerball makes it super convenient to just click and roll the product all over your face. I usually need about two clicks to cover my entire face. If you are worried about the rollerball become too “germy,” you can use a bit of alcohol to sanitize it. The product actually doesn’t continue to dispense until you click on it again so you don’t have to worry about product coming out when you clean it.

Now to the con. The rollerball applicator can get quite dirty with the product building up on the tip. So I will usually roll off all the product I can onto my face and then if there is a bit left on the rollerball, I will roll it off on my forearm till the whole rollerball is completely clean. I know this sounds kind of strange, but it really helps to keep the rollerball from getting really buildup with product.

Ingredients

Milk Makeup prides itself on using good and clean ingredients. However, if you are super into green, natural, and/or organic cosmetics, this might not be for you. If you check all the ingredients on EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (a database often used by those are into green beauty), not all the ingredients are in the green zone. That being said, the brand does aim to use more natural and clean ingredients, so if you are trying to start using more green beauty items, this might be a good one to check out.

The SPF in this product is a combination of chemical and physical sunscreens (octinoxate 7.5% and zinc oxide 5%). It contains many moisturizing oils, like avocado, mandarin, grape, and olive. It does contain fragrance as well, which might be irritating to some people. I can’t seem to find any information about if their fragrance use comes from a natural source though.

Review

Initially, I thought this product was alright, but soon loved it, after tweaking and working with it after a few weeks. However, this may be a deal breaker for some who expect a product to work immediately amazing on them. I think one of the main criticisms I had with this product is longevity. It is a base product that looks really good when first applied, but by the end of a work day it looks faded, too dewy, and has gotten into the fine lines a bit. Lo and behold, as summer as kicked in, I decided to wear a separate sunscreen under my SPF foundations (which I should probably have been doing all year) and it lasts longer and I’ve been using it everyday.

Compared to some of its “less-clean” counterparts, this base takes a bit more effort to spread on the face. Initially, it feels a bit tacky, but after a few hours the tackiness is gone. I don’t find the smell particularly appealing to me (but smell is so personal). It smells “coconuty”, which is on the ingredient list, and a bit floral. The coverage is definitely on the sheer side, but that is to be expected since it is a skin tint. It is buildable, but I would say the coverage is at most sheer-medium. It will even up your complexion, take down redness, but won’t cover freckles, acne scars, and any sort of darker pigmentation. I did find it helped fill in fine lines and pores though.

It is interesting that they claim this base will give a dewy finish. I didn’t particularly find it really dewy. I would say it is more on the satin side. However, since it is a sheer foundation, it tends to take on the qualities of the skincare used underneath it. For example, if I use a more oily-controlling primer or sunscreen, it tends to just look more matte. That is perhaps why I have loved using it in the summer. Using a primer has really kept it looking good for longer on my skin.

VERDICT: A lovely sheer base which evens out your skintone and diminishes your fine lines and pores. Longevity of the product is greatly increased by a good primer.

Review: YSL Couture Eye Primer

I have been on a mission to find the best eye primer ever since I started using makeup in university. I have tried many in my lifetime. Some that of have been my all-time favourites, like the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and the Balm Put a Lid on It Eyelid Primer and others have not fared as well, like the Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer. If you want a complete rundown of all the eyelid primers I have tried, you can check out my blogpost here. Now, to the primer I want to review today, which is the YSL Couture Eye Primer. This is probably the one of the more expensive eyeshadow primers I have ever purchased. I figured even if it didn’t work for me, it would look beautiful on my vanity with its black and gold packaging.

Background

This eye primer comes in two shades: 01 Fair and 02 Medium. It claims to amplify the colours of your eyeshadow and keep your eyeshadow in place all day. It also evens out the colour of your eyelid and creates a bit of luminosity. Lastly, it can also be used alone to create a nude eye look.

Packaging

Unlike many eyelid primers that come in a tube, this one comes in a small glass tub with a twist-off lid. In one sense, it is great because you can use it the same way you would a cream eyeshadow. However, over time, the product does dry out a bit faster. It hasn’t completely dried our or anything, but the texture has become more puddy-like and less creamy. Of course, there is also the sanitary issue when you continually dig your fingers in a pot over and over again.

Application

I usually will just use my fingers to grab some of the product and then spread it out on my eyelid. In general, it spreads evenly on the eyelid just using the tip of your fingers. If you have some dry areas, it can go on a little patchy though. Does it even out the eyelid? Yes, it does. However, I would consider its coverage on the lighter side. Does it provide some illumination the eyelid? Yes, it does. You definitely notice a bit more of a glow on your eyelid after application as there is some micro-glitter in the formula. It is subtle and unless you have eyelids on the paler sider, it wouldn’t show up enough to use as a nude eyeshadow per se. Lastly, does it amplify the pigmentation of your eyeshadows? Yes, I think it definitely does.

Longevity

I have tested this eyeshadow primer for months, using it on one eye and comparing it with my favourite Nars primer on the other eye. I even made a spreadsheet because there wasn’t a clear-cut winner in this category initially, which pretty much means that the YSL primer holds up almost as well as the Nars one. If I were to be nick-picky, the Nars one does prevent creasing on the eyelids a little bit longer. On average, creasing occurs usually with the YSL one about 4-6 hours, whereas the Nars one can last about a whole 8 hour work day.

VERDICT: This is a good eyeshadow primer. It is not my favourite one, but I would still recommend it if you don’t mind paying for it and you enjoy using products from a pot.

Beauty Binds #4 – I Give Up

If you have been following my blog the last few weeks, I have been doing a series about beauty dilemmas. So far, I have discussed battling forehead wrinkles, under eye circles, and of course, smudging eyeliner. For my final post in the series, I want to discuss those beauty binds I have given up on solving or have not bothered with anymore. Do you have any beauty steps and/or dilemmas that you just have given up on?

#1 – Keeping my eyelashes curled, defined, and separated

Shiseido Eyelash Curler

I have stick-straight short lashes, so it literally takes a village to keep them curled and defined. I don’t know how many tubes of mascara I have tried and how few have actually worked for me. Even those that have worked, usually take too much time and effort to remove for me to consistently use them. I also wear glasses and curled lashes become quite a hassle when they constantly hit the lens. Therefore, I have basically resorted to using mascara only on special occasions.

When I do curl my eyelashes, my favourite is the Shiseido Eyelash Curler. The shape is a bit flatter and is ideal for my more almond-shaped eyes. I find the infamous Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler tends to be rounder and I often find myself pinching my eyelids. I usually will also use the Panasonic Heated Eyelash Curler to lift my eyelashes even more and keep them curled. Even with these steps though, my eyelashes will only stay curled for a few hours. If I had to choose, my favourite mascara is probably from Heroine Make. It has a lot of fibers which help lengthen my lashes and it is very separating.

#2 – Sheet Masks

To be honest, I have pretty much given up on masking of any kind. I am aware that many skincare fanatics use sheet masks on a regular basis. I mean, I want to be that person, but it has never quite happened for me. For some reason, I don’t mind doing a 10-step Korean skincare routine or even the 7-Skin Method, but masking is just not my thing for some reason. With the sheet masks, I hate the feeling of putting something so cold on my face. I find it too jolting to me. Then, with the wash-off masks, I literally have no excuse really. I think doing mask just takes an extra 10 to 20 minutes that I don’t want to waste and having to go back into the bathroom to remove it requires an extra step I don’t want to do possibly. Who knows really? Right now, I have few mask samples hanging around in my drawers, including a deluxe sample of Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask and L’Occitane’s masks. Maybe, I should try masking once a month to start off and see if I can do that. How often do you mask?

#3 – Body Care

I live in a city where it is only warm maybe 3 months of the year, so most of the time I am covered up in coats, scarves, and toques. At least, that is the explanation I give for not keeping up with body care. For the most, I only fully moisturize my body in the summer because there are just more limbs on display. Plus, it is just so much more convenient to moisturize when you are in shorts and a t-shirt. During the cooler months, I tend to only moisturize when my skin is dry and itchy and small patches of eczema start emerging, which is probably not that the best thing to do. However, if you are looking for some great moisturizers for eczema, I would recommend the Spectro Face & Body Moisturizer and Guérisson 9 Complex Cream. If you have any recommendations of body creams that work without being sticky, I would love to know.

What are beauty dilemmas that you have given up on?

Japan Beauty Haul – High End

I just came home from Tokyo and I am so excited to talk about the beauty products that I purchased. With most vacations, I am often worried about whether my suitcase might be overweight. However, since I spent the bulk of my budget on beauty products, my suitcase was pretty light compared to usual. I am a big fan of Japan beauty products because of their quality, effectiveness, and of course, their beautiful packaging. Like other aspects of their culture, their attention to detail and constant search for innovation are also seen in their beauty products. I feel they are some of the best in the world. I will split the haul into two posts with this blogpost focusing on higher-end products.

Naturaglacé Emollient Cream Foundation, Point Make-Up Remover, and UV Protection Base

As you can tell by the number of products I bought, I am big fan of this brand. Naturaglacé is one of the first natural brands from Japan. Flipping through Japanese magazines the last few years, I have noticed that green beauty has become more popular. During this trip, I even found dedicated sections in department stores for green beauty. I wish we saw more of that in North America. This brand’s concept is to create products that are 100% natural. The second part of their name “glacé” loosely translates to “glossy” ( I used Google Translate), which I assume means that their products will give you a healthy glow.

Naturaglacé has rebranded over the last couple of years and I love the new pastel paint smudges on their packaging. After the rebranding, they have actually introduced a few more base products. After discussing with the salesperson using broken Japanese, I decided to get the cream foundation because it has a dewy finish and has anti-aging properties. It also comes in a tube which I love! I’m also always up for trying a new dual-phase makeup remover. I am still on the hunt for one that is pretty much scentless and will not leave the eyelid too oily after cleansing. Lastly, I got their sunscreen because I still haven’t found a natural sunscreen that I love. Wish me the luck that this might be the one.

RMK Liquid Foundation

From one end of the spectrum to another, this foundation is not natural or organic, but RMK’s base products are some of my favourites. I tend to buy green beauty but I haven’t found the green replacement for this brand’s base products yet. Have you ever dreamed about repurchasing a certain foundation for years? For me, this is that product because I finished their Gel Creamy Foundation a few years ago. I had bought it online and guessed my shade correctly only to forget to write it down. Fast-forward to today, it has been so amazing to go to the counter and find my shade again. This time I got their Liquid Foundation which has a natural skin finish and is supposed to be waterproof and long-wearing. So far, I have found this foundation to be really natural-looking allowing your skin to show through. It might not be for those that love a heavier base though.

THREE Shimmering Glow Duo and Triple Three Treat

If you are looking for a luxury beauty brand with beautiful packaging and a natural approach to beauty, then THREE is your best bet. All the packaging is super sleek and minimal. The matte grey packaging doesn’t get super dirty like the Nars packaging. The brand has a natural and organic lean, but none their products are 100% natural. For example, their skincare is has at least 85% naturally-derived ingredients. Like many green brands, their ingredient lists include many essential oils, so if you are sensitive, this might not be the brand for you.

Since I had tried out their foundations before, I decided to pick up their Shimmering Glow Duo. I have always been more fond of a glossy-type highlighter over those that are too metallic. My favourite glossy highlighter is still RMS Beauty’s Living Luminizer. This cream highlighter is supposed to give you a more natural glow and will blend into the skin seamlessly changing into a powder form. When I purchased it, I didn’t know that the formula changed to a powder form, so  hopefully that won’t take down the glow of the product. I also picked up this awesome set called the Triple Three Treat which included deluxe samples of three of their products. They include their the Whisper Gloss for Eye in Cement Serenade, Lyrical Lip Bloom in Movement Feel, and the Epic Mini Dash (cheek colour) in Post Pink. I can’t wait to try these out and report back.

Beauty Binds #2 – Smudging Eyeliner

 

This is the second post in my series about beauty dilemmas. If you are interested, you can check out my first post about tips and tricks I use to stop concealer from creasing. It only makes sense that since I named my blog, Smudges, that the next beauty dilemma I am going to talk about is dealing with smudging eyeliner. After many years of testing out multiple eyeliners, I think I have now resorted to the fact that most eyeliners will smudge at least a little bit on me. I understand that my hooded eye shape and watery eyes just makes it a bit harder for eyeliner to stay put on me. For me, eyeliner usually starts disappearing on the outer corner where I wing out my eyeliner. So here are a list of tips and tricks I have tried over the years to keep my eyeliner from smudging.

Method #1 – Simply Find an Eyeliner That Won’t Smudge

I have tried a lot of eyeliners in my life time. There are a few eyeliners that have stood up the best on my eyelids. For pencil eyeliners, this would include Clinique’s Quickliner For Eyes and Etude House’s Play 101 Pencils. An honourable mention for me would be Stila’s Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner. I have been wearing the Clinique liner since university and I love the glide of this pencil and it is also is a turn-up pencil so you don’t need to sharpen it. It pretty much stays put all day expect for the wing part of the liner which tends to smudge a bit on the bottom of the eye. The Etude House one actually has better longevity, but like many gel liners, it dries out pretty quick. My favourite liquid eyeliners are Kate Super Sharp Liner and msh Love Liner. Both of these liquid eyeliners draw beautifully and also last almost the whole day.

Method #2 – Wear Eyeshadow Primer

If you want eyeliner to stay put, your eyeshadow better stay put as well. Since I have oily eyelids, I pretty much have to wear eyeshadow primer every time I do an eye look. My favourite eyeshadow primers are the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and the Balm’s Put A Lid On It Eyelid Primer. The Nars one is amazing for keeping eyeshadow crease-free all day and it blends so smoothly onto the eyelid. I have not found one better than the Nars one. However, if you want something a bit more hygienic thats comes out of a tube, I would recommend the primer from the Balm. It’s performance is almost as good as Nar’s primer. I have also tried putting primer on the outer corner of my eye where I would wing out the liner to prevent smudging, but my eyes are so watery, it doesn’t really help.

Method #3 – Don’t Wing Out Your Eyeliner

This is a technique I often use when I am just fed up with my eyeliner smudging on the outer corners. I know, winged eyeliner is such a beautiful thing. It elongates your eyes and gives your eyes more definition. However, it is such a hassle sometimes to check to see if it has smudged that I actually don’t wing my liner sometimes. I will just end it at the outer corner of my eye. Sometimes, I actually prefer this look as it makes my eyes look rounder. Most importantly, I don’t have worry about smudging as much.

Method #4 – Carry cotton buds

Recently, I have started to carry tiny cotton swabs and even cotton swabs with eye makeup remover to fix smudges. Usually, when I am lazy, I will just wipe the smudged eyeliner away with my fingers. Sometimes, I will also use a tissue or even a paper towel if I am desperate. However, tiny cotton swabs are perfect for this job. My favourite are from Muji and I have also discovered Muji’s Cleansing Cotton Buds which I also enjoy if you are wearing waterproof eyeliner.

If you have any tips and tricks dealing with smudging eyeliner, please share below!