A Base Product Roundup

My skin is far from perfect, but I like to pretend it is. I’m constantly searching for foundations and tinted moisturizers that will give me that perfected, smooth, glossy look to my skin. I always gravitate towards lighter coverage and dewier formulas. Despite having consistent breakouts, I prefer to use a lighter product all over my skin and go in and spot conceal where needed with something heavier. Lately I’ve been rotating between just a few formulas: the Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, and the Surratt Beauty Dew Drop Foundation.

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick, ‘Fair’

Much like its predecessor, the Flex Conealer, the Flex Foundation Stick has become a fast favorite and one of my most-reached-for products. It’s my go-to on especially rushed mornings because it’s so easy to swipe on and blend out effortlessly. It’s creamy, but not too creamy. It gives a solid medium coverage, is very smoothing, and has a skinlike satin finish, neither too dewy nor too matte. It’s probably the most perfect foundation for me. It has great weartime on me too, lasting throughout my whole workday. If I didn’t love testing new products so much, I’d probably just stick with this one forever.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, ‘Cameo’

When I first started this blog five years ago, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer was one of my favorite products. Once I ran out I didn’t repurchase and used lots of other things, but their recent reformulation had me jumping at the chance to try it out again. If I’m remembering the old version correctly, the new version definitely feels more weightless and hydrating on the skin. It leaves a lovely glow that isn’t greasy, and it has a beautiful light coverage that subtly evens out the skin while looking very natural. I find my skin drinks this one up by the afternoon (that’s still about a solid 6 hours of weartime), but it fades evenly instead of becoming patchy. I reach for this one over the Milk Foundation Stick if my skin is looking pretty clear, if I want a dewier finish, or if I need something more hydrating.

Surratt Beauty Dew Drop Foundation, ‘1.5’

This is the latest addition to my base collection. Extravagant? Yes. Beautiful? Also, yes. The Surratt Dew Drop Foundation just screamed my name when I first saw it announced. It sounded like it checked every box I have when looking for a new foundation. It promises light-medium coverage and a dewy, hydrating finish. The delivery system here is quite unique, too. It’s housed in a dropper-tipped bottle that instead of squeezing, you press a button on the bottom to deliver a small dollop of product at a time. I do like that it’s easy to control how much you’re getting, but sometimes I have to press the button quite a bit to get any product out. I typically use about three “drops” for my whole face, and it gives me the exact coverage I’m looking for. This one is definitely the dewiest of the three listed here, but it doesn’t feel too greasy or wet on the skin. It doesn’t slide around on my skin, and it lasts throughout my whole workday. I reach for this one when I want something glowy and with more coverage than the Laura Mercier, or when I just want to feel fancy.

Concealers

Like I said, I like to use a light coverage foundation and then spot conceal where needed. My most-used concealer will forever be the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer (I use the shade Fair). It gives good coverage, is easy to blend out with my fingers, and looks natural on the skin. I don’t like my concealers to be too dewy because then they draw attention to blemishes, but anything too mattifying will cling to my dry patches. The Flex Concealer strikes the perfect balance. I’ve also gotten back into using the Surratt Beauty Perfectionniste Concealer Palette (shade 1). This is like the cult classic Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage where you get two shades of heavy duty concealer to mix to your perfect shade, but this formula is creamier and doesn’t cling to dry patches like the Secret Camouflage does on me. The palette also comes with a setting powder that blurs out my pores, sets the concealer well, and doesn’t look dry. I don’t know why I ever stopped using it! I’ll reach for the palette instead of the Milk concealer on days where I really need coverage.

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The October Edit

I’ve been thinking about how I can get back into blogging lately, and I’ve been wanting to branch out with my content for awhile. (As soon as I figure out how to change my blog name/URL without wreaking havoc on this space, I’ll probably change the name to something less specific than “Beauty by Kelsey”) I love reading newsletters that some bloggers send out every month, noting what they loved wearing, reading, and listening to throughout the month, so why not start my own series of that here?

Big Life Changes

First things first, I’m about to go through a big life change this month: I’m leaving my job of almost 4 years and starting something new! I’ll be doing similar work, but it will be a whole new type of chemistry to learn, which I’m really excited about. My new job is also only a 20-minute drive from my house, while my current job is 45. I think I’m most excited for the shorter commute. Looking for a new job was something I’ve been thinking about doing but putting it off all year (I’m comfortable here! I have great friends here!), but it was time to put myself and my mental health first. I’m so excited for a fresh start.

Current Makeup Favorites

I couldn’t pull something like this together without any beauty favorites, right? I’m still completely obsessed with the Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick, but lately this month I’ve been reaching for the Surratt Dew Drop Foundation. I had it on my wishlist for all of September during my beauty no-buy, so I allowed myself to buy it as soon as it was October. It has a beautiful dewy finish that doesn’t look greasy, it smooths over imperfections and makes the skin look perfect, and it doesn’t feel or look heavy. It’s just the kind of product I reach for every day. I’ve also been really into a blurred lip look with a berry lipstick shade - my favorites have been the MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick in Burning Love, Kosas Weightless Lip Color in Royal, and ILIA Color Block High Impact Lipstick in Wild Aster. Smudging some lipstick into some lip balm makes a more bold shade more wearable for every day, so I’m actually getting use out of my non-nude lipsticks now.

Current Skincare Favorites

I’m working on really paring back my skincare this month - I want to stick to more consistent routines, both to use up products and also to better take care of my skin. I’ve noticed it does freak out when I change up my products too often. Lately I can’t stop using products from the Bioderma Hydrabio line. The Mist feels so soothing and contains minerals like zinc to help clear the skin, and it’s not an overly-aggressive mist. It comes in a huge bottle, so I don’t feel guilty spritzing it on in between each skincare step. I also absolutely adore the Serum - it’s a gel consistency that doesn’t get sticky and it REALLY delivers in the hydration department. I’ve also been really into doing my skincare routine earlier in the evening, piling on a hydrating mask, and leaving it on until bedtime, when I wash it off and complete the rest of my routine. I’ve been loving the Paula’s Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask, Institut Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Masque, Korres Hydra Biome Mask, and Caudalie Moisturizing Mask.

Cooking

Over the past couple months I’ve REALLY gotten into cooking. I have no idea where it came from - I used to hate cooking and pretty much only ate boxed mac & cheese every night. I’m fully embracing it though. I love both how it feels scientific to follow a recipe, but you can always put your own creative spin on it. I’ve been getting most recipes from Bon Appetit. The crowd-pleasers have been the All-American Cheeseburger Pasta, the Chicken Tinga Tostadas with Bacony Black Beans, Strawberry Shortcake, and Fudgy Brownies. I also have a whole Google Doc full of linked recipes I want to make for my husband and his friends on football Sundays. Is this the new me?

Watching

My husband’s work schedule rotates every month, and this month we’re on opposite shifts. It normally makes me really sad to not get to see him, but one thing I do to make myself feel better is find a show to watch that wouldn’t be something we’d watch together. This month I started The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and I’m obsessed. I knew I would like it, being a huge Gilmore Girls fan, but it just took me a while to get around to watching it. I love the costumes, the characters, and of course the dialogue. Amy Sherman Palladino can do no wrong. I’ve also been watching a lot of movies on Amazon or Netflix as they pop up - in the past few weeks I’ve watched and really liked First Wives’ Club and Book Club.

Listening

I’ve been SO into podcasts lately. Maybe it’s my long commute, so who knows if this will continue. I have a long list of new episodes I’m getting through now. Ones I listen to every week are My Favorite Murder, Bon Appetit Foodcast, This Might Get Weird, Do You Need a Ride?, Pia’s Pod, Seek Treatment with Cat & Pat, and My Dad Wrote a Porno. As for music, after seeing both Kacey Musgraves and Carly Rae Jepsen in concert last month, I can’t stop listening to their new albums. Golden Hour and Dedicated, respectively, are both perfect. I also am loving Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood - they were the opening act when I saw Kacey Musgraves, and they were so good. Her voice is amazing and unique and it gives me Karen Carpenter vibes.

Reading

….not much! I was going strong with reading a book each month, but I’ve really let that get away from me lately. I’m still only halfway through The Godfather. I don’t even read blogs much anymore, which is why I was having such a hard time getting back into writing again. Let me know any and all reading suggestions: books, blogs, magazines, anything!

What have your favorite things been lately?

Sephora VIB Sale: My Recommendations

Who else gets thrown off by Sephora having an extra VIB sale in the summer now? I thought I was safe until November! I’m making an effort not to buy anything in the sale this time, but I still wanted to talk about some of my favorites that are worth checking out if you are looking to shop the sale.

Roen Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes - This is a new product to me, but after just a week of wear I’m sold. These are quads of cream/powder eyeshadow hybrids (I still can’t decide what I think the formula is) in either a warm or a cool tone. I have the cool-toned one, and I’ve worn it every day since I got it. It’s perfect for an undone, easy look - I find the shadows apply best with fingers and blend out easily. They’re quite sparkly, but to me they don’t look like “too much” for an everyday/office look. They’re creamy to the touch and have that effortless, glossy look on the eye that cream shadows give. They crease a little on me, even with a primer, but they smudge back into place easily. I personally prefer a more lived-in, effortless look, so the creasing doesn’t bother me at all. If you’re looking for a quick way to pull off a polished eye, check these out.

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick - This is officially my new favorite foundation. I’ve been such a fan of the Flex Concealer for years, and I’m so excited that the Foundation Stick is really working for me as well. It has a natural satin finish on the skin, glides on super easily, and blends out flawlessly just with your hands. It seems to just smooth over my skin so effortlessly, leaving a perfected finish that still looks like skin. It lasts well throughout the day without becoming greasy, cakey, or patchy too.

Primera Alpine Berry Water Cream - Primera is a new brand to Sephora, and I was very interested in trying something from them when I first saw the line. I grabbed the Alpine Berry Water Cream and have been absolutely loving it. It has a “cloudlike” consistency, somewhere between a gel and a cream. It’s lightweight and yet extremely hydrating. It leaves the skin feeling so soft and smooth, and it gives a lovely glow. I’ve been using it morning and night, and it works well either way.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen - This is one of my go-to sunscreens. It’s a clear gel that has a bit of a silicone slip to it, but once it’s rubbed into the skin you don’t feel that at all. It makes the skin smooth and works excellently as a makeup primer. I love that it not only contains SPF 40, but it also protects against blue light exposure. If this one isn’t right for your skin type, I highly recommend any SPF by Supergoop!

Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara - This is truly the best mascara I’ve ever tried, and I have no desire to ever use another one. I’ve been through two tubes already and can’t get enough - it fans out and thickens the lashes, lengthens them, holds a curl, and stays put all day without smudging. It meets every requirement I have for a mascara, so I can’t imagine myself reaching for anything else.

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask - This might be my favorite mask by Fresh now. It comes in a tub with two halves: you first apply the gel mask, which sinks into the skin quickly and gives a burst of hydration. Then you seal it in with the cream side of the mask, which has a similar consistency to their Rose Face Cream (another favorite). It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, but it does keep me moisturized all night. I always wake up to such plump, dewy, soft skin the morning after applying this.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Calming Mist - This is another new favorite! I love the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair line, so I was super excited to try the new mist. It really is the most soothing face mist I’ve tried. It feels cooling and refreshing, the mist isn’t too aggressive, and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and not sticky. It helps to bring down redness, too.

Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer - This is probably one of the most unique products in my collection. It’s water-thin out of the bottle, but as you pat it into your skin it really feels like you’ve added a moisturizer. I always reach for this when my skin is feeling tight or dry, but it’s a pleasure to use any time. I load up a few layers of this and my skin stays hydrated all day. I use moisturizer on top, but if your skin is more oily than mine, you could probably get away with using this as your moisturizer.

Amika Supernova Moisture & Shine Cream - I’m kind of lazy about styling my hair. More often than not, I just let it air dry and then pin it back instead of dealing with it. But this hair cream helps to tame frizz and puffiness of my freshly-washed hair, so I actually like how it looks when it’s air-dried. I always work a nickel-sized amount of this through my hair after the shower, and it makes all the difference without weighing my hair down.

Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Exfoliating Acid Potion - I have no idea why I decided I needed to try this, but I’m glad I did. It’s an exfoliating toner containing glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids to slough away dead skin and clear out the pores, and it also contains niacinamide and reishi mushroom extract to hydrate and soothe the skin. I go back and forth on exfoliating toners - usually after a while, they just dry my skin out and I have to take a break. But I’ve been able to consistently use this one for months with no issues. It’s helped make my skin smoother and clearer, and although I still get my usual hormonal breakouts, this seems to make them clear up faster.

Kosas Weightless Lip Color Lipstick in Rosewater - If I had to get rid of all but one of my lipsticks, I think I would keep this one. The formula is one of the most comfortable I’ve tried: not too slippy and shiny, yet not too matte. It’s super creamy but lasts a long time without sliding or fading. All the shades I’ve tried are beautiful, but Rosewater is my favorite. It’s the most perfect pink neutral/nude with a slight cool tone. It looks quite similar to my natural lip color, but you can still tell there’s something there.

Laura Mercier Caviar Chrome Veil Liquid Eyeshadows - I almost forgot to mention these, but I wear one of these just about every day. They give the eyes a glossy wet look, but the formula itself is weightless and sets down so you don’t feel it at all. It stays all day without creasing on me, which is almost unheard of. I usually wear the shade Gilded Fresco, which is a shimmery pink-beige that goes with any look. I’ll even use it as an eyeshadow primer, and it keeps other products on top from creasing, too.

What are some of your favorites from Sephora?

Rouge: 20% off August 19-27 with code SUMMERSAVE

VIB: 15% off August 20-27 also with code SUMMERSAVE

I will update with Beauty Insider info once I find it!

Some products mentioned have been gifted, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.