A Thing I Wrote About Strong Females in Video Games -
Check it out if you are so inclined.
“If you’re in need of a quick lip scrub or exfoliant but don’t have anything handy, just grab an extra-soft bristled toothbrush - or one of the fancier toothbrushes that have cheek/tongue scrubbers on the back - and rub it gently along your lips.” — This isn’t a long-term solution, because it’s easy to overdo it and strip good skin away as well as the flaky/chapped stuff, but it’s handy in a pinch. Make sure whatever product you use after that has some moisturizing stuff to it!
As people expressed interest in my previous, “most hyped”/”most talked about” eyeliners on the internet, I thought I might do the same for other types of products. Like before, this is simply a compilation of my understanding of the most popular and well-reviewed products online; it doesn’t necessarily indicate personal experience. I reckon this list is best used as a guide when you are shopping for new products to try, or are curious about why some products are as popular as they are.
So, this post is about FINISHING POWDER (often also called setting powder), mainly because I’ve recently done a LOT of research into the whys and hows and whats of a good setting powder. From what I’m reading in reviews (both good and bad) is that the “best” setting powders suit what you need for your skin. This ranges from oil control to minimizing the appearance of pores, to mattifying your makeup, to giving your face a nice glow, and even bringing the different elements of your makeup together, giving a smooth and even finish (i.e., “setting” your makeup).
What generally pops up as “pros” for these products are how finely milled the powders are, how well they do their stated jobs, how long they last (both on the face and in the pot/compact), and the impact they have on your overall look. “Bad” or at least unpopular finishing powders tend to make your face look paler (especially where flash photos are involved), change the color of your skin/foundation, cause irritation, or are just difficult or messy to apply.
There’s a difference between loose powders and pressed powders, as well. Generally speaking pressed powders are much easier to apply and are far more portable, but loose powders win in almost every other category beyond that, except in ONE case, which I list in this post.
Now, I tried to write this post with prices in mind, but I’ve found that because you need so little powder for every application of makeup, people tend not to harp on about the price like they would with other products. By and large, the most popular finishing powders sit at US$27-$32 RRP.
Those of you who’ve read this blog since about January this year will know that I’ve recently come into the possession of the Beautyblender PURE. This is the latest version of a very popular, well-hyped beauty product that has become the talk of the beauty blogosphere.
For the record, I don’t own the WHOLE kit, just the sponge and the solid soap; I gave the “air” carry bag a miss for price’s sake.
The Beautyblender was originally developed by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, and you can read all about it here. But in short, it is a reusable, latex-free sponge that is used to apply foundation and other face products. It is typically used wet (and when it’s wet it swells to like twice the size, it’s awesome) and is pretty easy to clean; I’ve used both the solid soap that comes with it and my BECCA soap and they work very well. It’s been around for a few years now and has won quite a few beauty industry awards.
Okay, enough of that introduction; you can always read more of its history on your own if you’re curious. What this article will talk about is how I came to end up using and really liking this sponge, as well as how I find it justifies its own cost (which is pretty high, at US$20 RRP for a single).
Since my investigation into the “girly” world began with a look at foundation, it didn’t take very long for me to come across the term “undertone.” Being that every other “HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT FOUNDATION FOR YOU” article included some kind of reference to undertones, I felt this warranted investigation.
As with 85% of my research thus far, a wealth of not-always-consistent information is out there just waiting to be found. If you’re an arty person, much of this is already known to you, but basically the undertone thing is linked with color theory.
Makeup, as in art, is a composition of color rather than colors in isolation. A yellow circle on a red background looks very different from that same yellow on a blue background. By that same token, looking at someone’s face (and even their whole outfit and hair color) runs along the same veins: you’re looking at a whole PERSON, not just one part of their face. Understanding undertones is a way for people to make sense of what colors work to achieve what kind of look.
Now, I’ve read a LOT of reviews, blogs, and articles on various products. Whether it’s a blog or site that specializes in makeup (like MakeupGeek), a store that allows for online reviews to be posted (like Sephora or various individual brand websites like Urban Decay or Benefit), or Youtube videos, or community-generated databases of product reviews (like BeautyHeaven and MakeupAlley), you can punch stuff into Google and come up with a bazillion remarks on how a product is supposed to go.
For those of you without the time (or the patience) to sift through all the buzz and figure out precisely what products get the most favorable reviews online (by my reckoning), I thought I might help by compiling lists of talked-about products. I’ll try to include “pricey” options as well as more affordable ones where I can.
I cannot emphasize enough that just because a product has a lot of buzz going, it doesn’t automatically mean that it will be right for you. But if you’re really at a loss as to where to start looking for good products (some of which I have tried, sampled, or used myself), it might be worth getting a feel for what brands stick out.
So, without further ado, let’s begin with an easy one: EYELINER!
This Might Be the Best Beauty Article I Have Ever Read
“If you are having trouble sharpening a really creamy eyeliner pencil, stick it in the freezer for a little bit beforehand!” — A tip I got from the forums at BeautyHeaven.