Underrated Product | Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments

Lately I just can't shut up about how much I love sheer lip products, and I've got a new favorite to share today. A few weeks ago I was sent the new shades of the Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments,* and I've already added the three original shades to my wishlist. I haven't heard many people talking about these, so I think we've got a bit of an underrated gem on our hands here.

The Fresh Sugar Cream Lip Treatments are meant to combine skincare and makeup, giving the look of a soft, creamy gloss with the nourishment of a lip balm. Everyone talks about their original tinted lip balms, but I think these are even better. They feel so plush and luxurious on the lips, and while the tinted balms can feel a bit slippy at times, these stay firmly in place. Reapplying certain lip balms throughout the day can end up irritating my lips, but these keep them smooth and nourished no matter how many times I apply more. It sticks around for quite a long time for a moisturizing lip product - it actually feels a little like the Glossier Lip Gloss. 

All six shades have a subtle shimmer running through them that gently enhance the lips without ever feeling gritty or goopy. I have the three newest shades, and I've been rotating through them interchangeably over the past few weeks. They're quite sheer, so there's not too much of a difference between shades on the lips. I think this makes them such a good everyday product though, and they make great lip toppers since a lipstick or lip liner color will show through.

The colors I have are Pearl, a subtle pearly pink, Gilt, a warm shimmering gold, and Baby, a sheer baby pink. I think my favorite of the three is Pearl because of the opalescent sheen it gives the lips, but they're all just beautiful. I've been on the hunt for a product that will give me the look of the Desi x Katy Lip Gloss with Dose of Colors that just came out (still trying to limit my spending), and I feel like Gilt gives a very toned-down version of that look. And Baby is perfect for adding a soft flush of color to the lips. It's the least sheer of the three I have.

Like I said, using these three shades has got me itching to get the other three. They all seem like perfect shades for everyday. Have you tried any of the Sugar Cream Lip Treatments?

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

A Look | Pink Dewy Glow

It's not often that I post makeup looks on the blog, or even on my Instagram, but this past weekend I was so happy with how my makeup came out that I just had to write a post on it. Once we're settled in the new house I really want to start making these kinds of posts a more regular thing, though, as a way to get me to use more of my products. I've been into glowy skin looks for the longest time now, but it's only recently that I've really been embracing pink tones. I know it's almost autumn, but I think this would make a perfect spring look.

I really spent a lot of time perfecting the skin. I started with the Cover FX Calming Primer to plump up my skin and soothe redness. I wanted to let as much of my skin show as possible, so this was helpful in minimizing redness so I wouldn't need as much coverage. For my base I used the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint - it's my all-time favorite base product, because although it doesn't have much coverage at all, it leaves the skin looking so beautiful and healthy. Once the base was down I went in with the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer in areas where I needed more coverage - right on my dark circles and in the corners of my nose. On larger areas that needed a little coverage, like on my nose and chin, I used the Glossier Stretch Concealer with a Beautyblender. And to top off this concealer concoction, I spot concealed with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.

I kept brows simple with a few swipes of Glossier Boy Brow and the NYX Micro Brow Pencil, and eyes were given a subtle sheen using the MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch. I've been skipping eyeliner since I'm so terrible at it, but this video by Karima McKimmie inspired me to try a smoked-out wing. I drew a wedge shape on the outer corner of my eye with the Colourpop Eyeliner in Brew-Haha and then dragged out the line into a soft wing with a Real Techniques Detailer Brush. I tightlined with the same eyeliner and then finished the eyes with a couple coats of the Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara - I absolutely loved this the first time I used it, but I had to comb my lashes out a lot this time so they didn't look spidery.

On my cheeks, I really piled on the product for a dewy flush. I started with a bit of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Baked on my cheekbones, temples, and across my nose, and then I used a healthy dose of the Glossier Cloud Paint* in Puff on my cheeks. This is still my number one favorite blush, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Before I bathed in highlighter I hit up my oilier spots and set my undereyes with the Glossier Wowder* in Light/Medium, and I went over the areas I applied the Milk bronzer with the Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Bali Sands. I couldn't pick one highlighter to use for this look, so I mixed three that gave the perfect pink glow: the Milk Makeup Holographic Stick* in Mars, Nudestix Nudies All-Over Face Color in Illumi-Naughty, and Glossier Haloscope in Quartz. The effect was really something.

The products I wanted to use on my lips actually inspired this whole look. I put down a layer of the Glossier Generation G in Like and topped it with a bit of the Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Creme Lip Gloss in Pink Pearl. The effect was so pretty, and now I'm adding all the shimmery glosses to my wishlist.

I'm thinking I might do something like this (maybe with the highlighter a little toned down) when we get our engagement photos taken next month.

What's your favorite tone to go for in a monochrome look?

Since I used almost every makeup product by Glossier, I thought it would be a good time to remind you that you can get 20% off your first order through my rep link! I make a commission on orders through my link, but that money gets funneled back into content for the blog.

---

Nudestix Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balms | Review & Swatches

You may have noticed over the past few months more and more products from Nudestix have been popping up in my posts. I don't know what took me so long to try the products, but it's quickly become one of my favorite brands. They're very much in line with my usual "effortless chic" aesthetic, and they're perfect products for on-the-go and minimal, fresh makeup looks. They're already up there with Glossier and Milk Makeup for me. I was recently invited to join their #Babeboss Program (meaning I have a discount code for you at the end of this post!), and it was one of the most exciting emails I've ever gotten. I wanted to talk about the Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balms today because they're one of my favorite Nudestix products, and I was also recently sent a few more shades to add to my collection!

The Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balms are, as the name suggests, creamy, balmy pencils with a sheer glowy finish. These are my favorite kinds of products for my lips at the moment - they make everything look more plumped up and alive. They feel super comfortable on the lips and don't wear away quickly like other balmy lip products - in fact, pretty much all of the Nudestix products I've tried have been super longlasting. They're easy to apply, and depending on the shade you have, possible to apply without a mirror. They can be applied quite sheerly for a soft wash of color, or built up for a more pigmented look - super versatile products like this are always my favorite. Despite having a glossy finish, they don't feel sticky on the lips, and they also don't highlight dry patches. I've tried all of the Nudestix lip formulas in the #Babeboss Faves Box (review), and this one is definitely my favorite. They're fantastic on the cheeks as well - they give a beautiful glossy sheen that makes you look model-level dewy. They are available in eight shades, and I have six of them in my collection.

T-B | Haven, Posh, Rebel, Pulse, Siren, Wicked

Haven* is a lovely peachy nude that looks really natural strays far away from "concealer-lips" terrirtory. This gives my lips a wash of warmth that balances out my face if I'm wearing warmer-toned eyeshadows. It's also beautiful on the cheeks as a subtle blush.

Posh* is another nude, but more pink than Haven and with a bit of a metallic sheen. This is my go-to nude - I love anything with a pink tone. This is a definitely "my lips but better" shade for me, and one I can see myself wearing with pretty much any makeup look. This has been living in my makeup bag lately.

Rebel* is the prettiest petal pink. I usually go for nude-pinks, but this one is just too beautiful to pass up. I love that a little bit of my natural lip color shows through, making it look really natural and fresh. This one is an obvious favorite for the cheeks too - it's like a glossy version of my beloved Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff.

Pulse is the first shade of the formula I tried - it's the one that comes in the Babeboss set. It's a plummy nude that adds a bit of definition and really makes the lips appear more plump and full. I wear this interchangeably with Posh, sometimes mixing the two for a customized cool nude.

Siren* is a slightly cool-toned brilliant red. If you're easing into a red lip, then this is the formula to try - you can sheer it out to look more natural as you get used to it. I've been loving this one for a bitten, flushed lip look where I lightly blend it over my lips and then concentrate more of the color on my inner lips - I'll post a look featuring this on my Instagram soon. I've always been a little afraid of reds, but this one is so easy to wear!

Wicked is a beautiful deep berry red that looks stunning as a soft wash of color on the lips and cheeks - it will be an autumn staple for sure. This can really give that popsicle-stained look that's perfect for summer, too. If I had to choose a favorite of the shades I have, I think it might actually be this one!

Have you tried the Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balms? What is your favorite product by Nudestix?

And as promised, my discount code! Using the code DADMUNK10 at checkout on nudestix.com will get you 10% off any order - I do make a commission on orders using my code, but just like my Glossier link, that money will get invested back into this space! Thank you all for your constant support, I couldn't do this without you!

---