OK, I’ve definitely fallen in love with some new products lately. I suppose I can probably thank my ipsy subscription for that (5 beauty products and a cosmetic bag for $10/month). It’s funny because everyone seems to have their go-to products and cosmetics. You think that what you use now is the end-all, be-all. Then, BOOM, the perfect highlighter comes strolling into your life and you’re like, “OMG, how did I ever live without?” Yep. I’m here to take the trial and error process away as much as I can today and tell you about some of the best products I’ve tried and LOVED over the last few months (and some that are my old true blues).
#1 trèStiQue Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick: This is one of my and Erin’s favorite products. We love it so much that we are giving it away in our giveaway that ends this week (Hurry and enter if you haven’t yet)! It’s super easy to use and has a blending sponge on the other side. It gives your skin a subtle glow and should be applied once you are finished with the rest of your makeup.
#2 The Original Beautyblender®: I have used a lot of different blenders from TJMaxx. I found that most of the time they’re too firm or just don’t blend well. Then, one day, I saw an Original Beautyblender while in the checkout line at TJMaxx. I couldn’t believe I found one there being that they retail for around $20. It was $3.99! I would recommend checking TJMaxx first, but if you can’t find the Beautyblender brand there, splurge on this one. It’s the best. I use it to blend my under-eye make-up (#7). I wet the blender a little and squeeze it out and then do my blending once the illuminating concealer is applied. Erin and I got a pack of the 2 smaller Beautyblenders from Sephora and split them.
#3 Elizabeth Mott- Show Me Your Glow: ipsy find! I loved the sample of this I received from ipsy so much that I used it all and had to order another. I’ve never actually used it as highlighter, but I use it as my eyeshadow base daily! It makes my eyes look so bright and blends well with darker colors. This brand isn’t super popular yet, but I have a feeling Sephora will be carrying Elizabeth Mott in the near future. My package shipped from Honolulu, Hawaii, where the company is based. Though it shipped from the other side of the world, it arrived so quickly. If you have a second, check out the Elizabeth Mott website and read about the founder, Alice K; it’s a cool story.
#4 Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil: So, of the three Benefit products I’m about to discuss, this is the third one I discovered. I actually found it recently while in California at the Sephora at Downtown Disney! It’s super light and wispy, so it’s great if you have light features like me! I use it to fill in the spots in my brows that are a little blonder!
#5: Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel: OK, so when Erin and I went on our New England road trip last summer, we went shopping on Newbury Street (upscale boutiques and shops in Boston). We ended up going in the Benefit store and met this awesome Benefit employee who shaped and filled in our brows with the products. Prior to, I never did anything with my brows. They’re so light and everything I had ever attempted to try (my friends’ products) was wayyy to dark. This gel is actually the second step I use with #6. I just brush it through when I’m done and it makes them look amazing! I use #1 Lightest Blonde, but I only use a little. Too much is still too dark. You can also use this one if you’re running late and don’t have time to fill in.
#6 Benefit Ka-Brow: This comes in a little jar with a brush and you apply it through your brows to fill in any empty or light spots. Erin and I both use this (in different colors, of course). It’s nice and light for me and allows me to fill in those lightest blonde places to make my brows look more even. It stays on all day too! Oh, and I’m still using the same jar that I got a year ago with about half left. I use it pretty much every day; it lasts forever! Totally worth it.
#7 It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Illumination: This is hands-down my favorite cosmetic product. It makes my eyes seem so bright and takes away any trace of dark circles. I’ve never used their regular under-eye concealer– only the illuminating one. I got a small tube of this kind in my ipsy bag and fell in love with it. The small tube lasted a long time. A few months later, I got a large tube from Sephora and I’m still using it. It’s been quite a few months now. I will say that for under-eye concealers, I usually get the lightest possible shade. For this one, after reading the reviews, I opted for medium and it’s still really light. Any lighter would be too light and the reviews did say that “light” was way too light.
#8 Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer: So, this is one of the true blues I’ve stuck with. I’ve been using it since I was in college. I’ve told you before how much I absolutely love this stuff. It’s such a nice brown color and makes me appear to have a sun-kissed glow even when I don’t. It lasts forever and smells like milk chocolate. YUM. Ask Erin if you don’t believe me; she loves this stuff too! We’ve both been using it for years!
#9 Christian Dior Airflash Spray Foundation: This has been my go-to foundation since I graduated college. I have yet to find anything I like as much. It’s airbrush, but I’ve never sprayed it directly on my face. I usually blend 300 and 400 or 302 and 400 together, depending on my current level of tan. I use 300 alone when I’m really pale, 400 alone when I’m really tan. I spray the foundation on a foundation brush and apply it to my face. I don’t use a whole lot and a little goes a long way. If you’re looking for something that’s super high-coverage, it’s not for you. It’s actually pretty lightweight and you can adjust your level of coverage with how much you apply to the make-up brush.
I hope I helped you find one of your new favorite beauty products! I have so many other fun products I can’t wait to review with you. I’ve finally established the best routine for long hair and have found some pretty amazing products with the help of Erin and ipsy! <3
xo,
Ash
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