If You Buy One Thing This Month | Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder

Given my penchant for barely-there makeup looks, I'm so surprised it's taken me so long to try anything from the queen of natural-looking makeup herself, Bobbi Brown. I had tried a couple lipsticks here and there, but a couple weeks ago I was on the hunt for a new bronzer that wouldn't look like I had rubbed dirt on my face and for some reason happened to be drawn to the Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Elvis Duran.

I'll start by saying if you're as pale as me (I think I'm about NW15-ish in MAC terms), jump on this shade ASAP because it's limited edition. The shade is described as a warm terracotta brown on the Bobbi Brown website, but it doesn't read orange whatsoever - coming from someone with skin so pink that everything looks orange, that's saying something. The Bronzing Powder comes in eight shades, which is quite impressive, as usually bronzers only come in two or three. All of the shades are formulated with red and brown tones rather than the usual yellows and oranges, since those are the colors the skin naturally produces when tanning. The result is so natural that you really look like you've just come back from a 2-week beach vacation. It's absolutely impossible for me to tan, so it's nice that I can actually fake a bit of a glow now.

The powder is ultra finely-milled, so while it's pigmented, it's super easy to blend into the most natural-looking tan. I apply it either on the high points of my face to look more tanned, or in the usual "3" shape on the sides of my face for some everyday definition. I've noticed I've been getting a lot less "You look so tired!" comments since I started applying this every day. It's just healthy skin in a compact.

If you're in the market for a new bronzer and love the natural look, definitely check out the Bronzing Powders from Bobbi Brown - I've got my eye on one of the Illuminating Bronzing Powders next.

What's your favorite bronzer?

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Skin Focus | Products for Glowing, Luminous Skin

If you've read any posts on the blog before, you'll know what a broken record I am when it comes to how I like my skin to look. My skin is quite dry, dehydrated, and dull naturally, so anything I can do to add a glow, I'm in. Lately I've been taking extra care to really prep my skin to make it look its best when it comes time for makeup, and today I'm rounding up some of my favorite products to get that super luminous, dewy base.

Skin Prep

Prepping the skin for makeup is probably the most important step here. A painter wouldn't paint a masterpiece without properly preparing their canvas, so why should you apply your makeup without preparing your skin first? When I have time in the morning or for a special occasion, I love using the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask as a pre-makeup step. It has instant results, giving you that just-got-a-facial glow. It gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it super smooth but never red or irritated. Because of my skin type, I love loading up on moisturizers before makeup to ensure my base goes on as smoothly as possible - you would think this would decrease a foundation's longevity, but it actually helps keep my skin from drinking up the foundation, making it last longer. My favorite moisturizers for underneath makeup are both from Glossier - the original Priming Moisturizer and the Priming Moisturizer Rich. I've been using the Rich version all winter to help with my dry skin, but the lighter original version is my go-to in the warmer months. Right now I've actually been loving using both - the Rich version has a bit more of a velvety finish on my skin, so I apply that all over and then apply the original, which has a dewier finish, on the high points of my face. Another way to make skin really glow is to apply a facial oil underneath your makeup - Rosehip Oil is my favorite, as it's lightweight and sinks in quickly. As a finishing touch, a face mist is perfect - it locks everything in and helps amp up that glow. I've been using the Pixi Glow Mist* a lot since I received it last week, and it's already becoming a staple in my routine.

The Base

Once your skin is all prepped and primed, picking the right base product is next. I usually go for really lightweight, glowy bases, like the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, for a natural, glossy-skin look. When I want slightly higher coverage I've fallen back in love with the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation - it's the glowiest, most beautiful foundation ever and will give you Victoria's-Secret-model skin. On special occasions when I want my makeup to last a long time, or if I just need even more coverage, my holy grail is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. This really is worth all the hype it gets - it's absolutely stunning on the skin. To make it a little less "makeup-y" looking for everyday, it is beautiful when mixed with the Glossier Skin Tint. Concealer is also important - I like using a light layer of foundation all over and then going in with concealer where I need more coverage, rather than wearing full coverage all over my face. The NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is still my number one at the moment, and despite having "matte" in the name, it really lends itself well to this look. It isn't overly matte on me, but rather has more of a skinlike finish. The areas of redness that I usually need to conceal tend to be in oilier areas of my face as well, so something more matte is perfect. A 2-in-1 product like the Wander Beauty Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer* is perfect, too - one end is a matte stick concealer, while the other is a brightening, illuminating concealer. It's so convenient to have both products in one, so you're covered whenever.

Finishing Touches

You can't talk about luminous skin without mentioning highlighters, right? I think creams work best for this look, as they're usually more toned down and mesh well with the skin, making it look like you're just glowing from within. I can't go a minute without proclaiming my love for the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz - it's just the best in my opinion. It adds just the perfect amount of dewiness to the skin, but can still look quite intensely glowy. If you're looking for something with no shimmer whatsoever, take a look at the new Ciate London Dewy Stix. This is literally just a skin gloss/balm in a stick. It adds a glossy sheen to the skin that looks like you've been eating right and sleeping well your entire life. I prefer to dab it on with my fingers rather than striping it on straight from the tube, and it looks beautiful dabbed on the eyelids as well. Adding a bit of a flush to the skin is important, too - it adds to the healthy look we've been building here. My favorite is the Glossier Cloud Paints* - they're the most natural-looking blushes I've tried. They blend effortlessly into the skin and look just like a natural flush. My favorites for my skin tone are Puff and Dusk, especially mixed - they make the perfect neutral pink. If you haven't tried at least one of these yet, you need to.

What are your necessities for a glowing skin look?

I mentioned a lot of Glossier products in this post, and you can get 20% off your first Glossier order here. I do make a small commission on orders placed through my rep page, but all that money earned gets invested back into this space on equipment and products to review!

*Products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

The Five Product Face

I feel like my makeup look as of late has been getting more and more minimal. Whenever I would see people post "five product face" looks, I could never pare down my routine that far. But lately I've been just using these five products to get a polished, pulled together, and minimal look in a flash - perfect for me because I've gotten into the habit of rolling out of bed only 10 minutes before I need to leave for work.

Product 1: Do-it-all Concealer

I love the look of perfected, glowy skin, but on a rushed day I don't have time for layers of primer, foundation, concealer, and powder. Luckily my skin has been behaving lately, so a creamy concealer that works well on redness, blemishes, and undereyes is the perfect amount of coverage for me and the only base product I need. My favorite is the Glossier Stretch Concealer - it's basically the tinted moisturizer of concealers. It evens everything out while still looking like skin, and it makes you look glowing and healthy.

Product 2: Brow Fluffer + Filler

I can't go anywhere without helping my brows out a little, and the Glossier Boy Brow is the most perfect all-in-one product for definition and hold. It gives me that fluffy, full brow look I'm always after without being crispy or crunchy. I don't even feel the need to use any pencils or pomades to fill my brows in - the Boy Brow does it perfectly.

Product 3: Fluttery Mascara

Another go-to product I can't go without is mascara. A little bit of mascara helps me look so much more awake. I haven't been able to shut up about the Wander Beauty Unlashed Volume & Curl Mascara lately, because it just might be the best one I've ever tried. I just recently bought a backup because I can't stand the thought of running out of it. It perfectly fans out my lashes and makes them ultra-fluttery. It keeps the curl all day long to keep me looking wide awake. If you're looking for a good everyday mascara, this is it.

Product 4: Cream Highlighter

I know some people wouldn't include a highlighter when forced to choose only five products to use, but they're just a necessity to me. I like to make sure my skin looks dewy and glowing at all times, so I'm never without my Glossier Haloscope in Quartz. Real crystal extracts and a solid oil core add a dewy glow to the skin that doesn't feel sticky or tacky. I stripe it on directly from the stick and blend it out with my fingers - it's super easy and oh so pretty.

Product 5: Lip + Cheek Product

Is this one cheating? I love to add a bit of color to my cheeks since I'm so pale - it really helps me look healthier and less like an extra from The Walking Dead. The Bite Beauty Multistick works well on both lips and cheeks, so it's a lipstick and blush in one here. It also performs well on the eyes if you'd want to use an eyeshadow, too. I've collected more of the Multisticks than one person probably needs, but my favorite of them all is Cashew. It's the perfect pinky brown that works on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. I use it underneath my cheekbones to add definition to my face, and I dab it on my lips for a soft, blotted color. The Multistick lasts such a long time, too.

What five products would you choose for a five-product face?

I mentioned a lot of Glossier in this post, and you can get 20% off your first order here! I do make a small commission on orders through my rep page, but that money gets invested back into this space on equipment and products to test!

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