New Beauty Spotlight | Rare Beauty Review & Swatches

If you follow any beauty accounts on Instagram, then I’m sure you’ve seen the news of the latest celebrity beauty brand, Rare Beauty created by Selena Gomez. When I first heard early news of this launch, I wasn’t super interested - celebrity brands don’t really pique my interest unless I’m a pretty big fan. All that changed once I saw the packaging and what kinds of products would be launching - everything spoke to me! I ended up ordering a variety of things on launch day to get a feel for the line and have been testing them ever since.

I picked up the Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes in Bliss (matte), Grace (matte), and Happy (dewy), Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight in Enchant, With Gratitude Dewy Lip Balm in Support, and Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick in Fearless. (I later went back and ordered another Dewy Lip Balm in Empathy and Lip Souffle in Courage). I skipped on the rest of the line because they were products I don’t use too much (or in the case of the brow product, something I have too many backups of what I’m currently using to get something new). I love the thought put into the products and packaging - a lot of them have features that make them easier to use for those that have limited mobility/strength in their hands. For example, the ball on the end of the tubes are to make it easier to open, and the eyeliner is a thicker pen than most on the market so it’s more forgiving with shaky hands.

Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

I initially wasn’t going to order the foundation and concealer because I really haven’t been wearing any for months (check my latest post for my current everyday makeup routine). But once the initial reviews were coming in from people who had tried the products early, the foundation really seemed right up my alley. It claimed to have a barely-there feel, natural finish, and buildable coverage. The shade range is quite expansive (48 shades with a good spread between light/medium/deep), and I wasn’t sure which to get. I used Sephora’s shade finder, and after plugging in a few foundation shades I already use and know are a match for me, it suggested I get 160C. It’s a perfect match!

This foundation has a thin, serum-like consistency that is easy to apply with a doe-foot applicator. I have tried applying this with a sponge, a brush, and my hands, and surprisingly my favorite is the brush. It gives a flawless finish that is basically undetectable on the skin. The sponge gives a nice finish too, although it sheers out the product a bit. I usually use my hands for everything, but I found I still liked using the brush better - I didn’t have any issues with the way it looked applying it with my hands, but it just looked so good with a brush, and then I didn’t have to wipe my hands off afterward.

Honestly this is one of the prettiest foundations I’ve tried. It somehow manages to make my skin look quite perfect yet also natural. The way I apply it, it gives about a medium coverage, which is just what I like. I’ve tried building it up, and it builds nicely on itself to add coverage without caking up. I always apply face oils under my makeup, so that glow shines through this foundation. I think “natural finish” is a true descriptor. It’s one of those products that will mimic what you put underneath. I’ve tried wearing it over just moisturizer rather than moisturizer + oil, and the finish wasn’t as glowy. My skin is quite normal right now, but I have noticed it looking a little dry around some spots on my chin if I don’t take extra care to prep them properly. Some of my natural oils peek through throughout the day, but I don’t turn into a greaseball. It lasts throughout a whole workday on me with only minimal fading on my chin, which I’m assuming is from my mask rubbing against it all day.

Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

The concealer has also become a fast favorite of mine. I’ve seen some mixed reviews, so I think it just really depends on personal preference. When I first applied the concealer, it seemed like it would be pigmented with high coverage, but this actually has a lighter coverage. I’d put it at about the same level of coverage as the foundation: medium. It’s quite hydrating and hasn’t ever looked dry on me. It has the same natural finish as the foundation - it’s neither too matte nor too dewy. They’re really a perfect match and work extremely well together. I got the same shade as I did in the foundation, 160C, but the concealer is a bit lighter. Because the coverage is on the lighter side, it doesn’t really look that light. It adds a nice subtle brightening effect under my eyes, but it doesn’t call attention to any other spots where I apply it on my face. It doesn’t crease under my eyes, and it doesn’t allow eye makeup to transfer onto it. Because of its lighter coverage and hydrating finish, this is also great on its own on minimal makeup days. I think I’ve found a new everyday staple!

Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

I really like that they came out with two different blush formulas - there a matte one and a dewy one. I was fully expecting the dewy blushes to be my preference, but I actually really love the matte formula. They both are housed in a similar component to the concealer and have a rounded doe-foot applicator. In my opinion, the applicator picks up a little too much product because boy are these pigmented. I have two shades of the matte blushes: Bliss, a nude pink, and Grace, a pinky mauve, and I have one shade of the dewy blush: Happy, a bright pink. I only need a small dab of each of them, and it’s more than enough product for both cheeks. These tubes will last forever! The matte blushes set fairly quickly, although not so quickly they’re difficult to blend. I find it’s best to apply these one cheek at a time. The finish is beautiful - it doesn’t add any extra radiance of its own, but it allows the glow of the foundation to show through. It gives a really natural, lit-from-within kind of look. The dewy blush has a little more playtime until it sets down, and it does still set despite being a dewy finish. This gives the cheeks a really juicy look, but it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on the skin, and it doesn’t transfer. I find these last amazingly well on me throughout the day, even lasting longer than the concealer. The matte blushes last a little bit longer than the dewy ones, but it’s not a big difference.

Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight

This is the only thing from my initial haul I could take or leave. It’s a lovely liquid highlight, but nothing about it really stands out to me. It has a gel-like formula that again is applied with a doe-foot. The tube is larger than I was expecting, too! I thought it would be the same size as the blushes, but it’s somewhere between the blush and the foundation size. It has a little bit of shimmer, but it’s not chunky or glittery. It blends easily and adds a really lovely glow to the skin. Right now I tend to prefer my highlights really natural and glossy, and this isn’t really like that. It looks more like a soft powder highlight. It’s definitely very pretty, but just not the look I’m going for most days! I’ve also been using it on my eyes as a pretty, glowy everyday eyeshadow, and it works wonderfully for that.

With Gratitude Dewy Lip Balm

Top to Bottom: Dewy Lip Balms in Empathy & Support, Lip Souffles in Courage & Fearless, Liquid Luminizer in Enchant, Liquid Blushes in Bliss, Grace, & Happy

The lip products in the Rare Beauty launch really spoke to me, especially the Dewy Lip Balm. All I ever wear anymore is tinted lip balms, so I knew this would be something I’d get a lot of use out of. I actually really love the packaging of these - it has a flat side, which looks cool and also is nice from keeping it rolling around. I have the shades Support, which is a plum brown, and Empathy, a neutral rose. They’re more pigmented than I thought they would be! They look more like a glossy lipstick rather than a tinted balm. They feel gorgeous and balmy on the lips, and the color lasts quite awhile and continues to feel nourishing even after the shine has faded. The first time I applied it I had some dry patches on the lips, and it did catch on those, so make sure your lips are exfoliated before applying. They have a kind of odd scent, like vanilla mixed with wax and sunscreen (despite there being no SPF), but it isn’t noticeable for long. I have noticed, though, if I apply too much I can taste it, which isn’t great. But my favorite way to apply this has been dabbing it on my lips to gradually build up the pigmentation, and I don’t have the taste issue when applying this way.

Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick

I can’t remember the last time I wore a liquid lipstick, but when I heard that these were similar to Korean lip tints I wanted to try one. I got the shade Fearless, which is a similar plum brown shade to the Dewy Lip Balm I bought, as well as Courage, a nude mauve. These have that signature velvety texture of Kbeauty lip products due to the silicone content. They’re super comfortable and not drying at all, and they give a really pretty blurred effect to the lips. I think it makes my lips appear fuller, even without overlining. The formula seems to “adhere” better closer to my lipline than it does to the center of my lips (I’m guessing it’s a moisture thing), so I have to layer it a bit to avoid looking like I’m wearing lip liner with nothing on my lips. Still, to me this extra effort is worth it for the final effect and feel on the lips. I’m not sure if I would like a bolder color - I feel like it could be hard to get an even application, but I’m still eyeing the berry shade for fall anyway. This has the same kind of vanilla + waxy scent as the lip balm, but it fades much more quickly as the product dries down.

Did you pick anything up from the Rare Beauty launch?

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My Minimal, No-Foundation Everyday Makeup Routine

I mentioned in my August Favorites last week that I’ve been keeping my makeup super minimal, not even wearing foundation most days. I still love the process of putting on makeup and what a soothing ritual it is for me, but when only half my face is showing outside a mask it’s easy to spend some extra time laying in bed in the morning instead of taking more time on my face. I have a few key steps I follow every morning to look pulled together, but still able to get out the door and to work quickly.

Tinted Sunscreen

I’m a big proponent of wearing sunscreen every single day. I’ve noticed since I started doing this a couple years ago, the pigmentation left over from breakouts fades much faster, and my skin has been staying clearer for the most part. When I decided to stop wearing foundation/tinted moisturizers daily, I instead added a tinted sunscreen as the last step of my skincare routine. I use the EltaMD UV Elements SPF 44. The tint is quite sheer, but still just enough to even everything out. It gives my skin a beautiful glow that never looks greasy, and the tint doesn’t wipe off onto my hands/mask throughout the day.

Feathery Brows

With half my face covered, it puts even more emphasis on my eyes and brows, so I like to really make sure they’re looking their best. I really love the feathery brow trend and have been looking for brow gels, waxes, and pomades to give me that perfectly piece-y, fluffy look. I just posted a video on IGTV comparing the Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Sculpting Wax Pencil to the Patrick Ta Major Brow Shaping Wax, and if I’m not using one of those two I’m using the Surratt Expressioniste Brow Pomade. In my comparison I said I preferred the Patrick Ta Brow Wax, and it’s the one out of these three I reach for the most. It makes my brows look voluminous and full, and I’m able to sculpt them exactly how I want them. The hold is incredible as well and will last all day until I wash my makeup off. I also love the Surratt - it gives a similar effect to the Patrick Ta, although it doesn’t make my brow hairs look thicker, and it feels a little more flexible on the brows. It still has great hold, and it’s quicker and easier to use than the Patrick Ta as it’s just one step. Once my brows are thoroughly brushed up and separated, I fill in the gaps with a brow pen or pencil. If I’m using the Surratt Brow Pomade, I like to go in with a pencil - the MAC Eyebrows Styler is my favorite. It’s a skinny pencil that can create hairlike strokes, and the pigmentation is a little sheer and easy to layer and build up - I find I get the most natural-looking brows with this. If I’m using the Patrick Ta Brow Wax or the Fenty Brow MVP, they feel a little thicker in my brows, so I like using a pen in strategic areas rather than dragging a pencil through my hard sculpting work. I like the Glossier Brow Flick the best, but I’ve also been experimenting with the MAC Shape & Shade Brow Tint. It seems, like the MAC pencil, their pen has sheerer pigmentation to make it easier to build up and look natural. The Glossier is more pigmented from the get go, so it’s quicker to pop some extra “hairs” in.

Thick, Fluttery Lashes

I’ve been skipping eyeshadow for months, just because it’s easier. I always make sure I tightline and add a tiny wedge of eyeliner to my upper lashline though. It makes such a difference in how thick my lashes look. I prefer to use a dark brown rather than a black, as it looks softer. My favorite is the Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in Brew-Haha, although they don’t currently have that shade on their website (I will be so upset if it’s discontinued). I’ve also had great luck with the ILIA Clean Line Gel Liner in Dusk. Both of these go on smoothly, are pigmented enough for one swipe, and last all day without smudging or fading. For mascara, I’m still really loving the Roen Beauty Cake Mascara - I can really layer it up to make my lashes fluffier and fluffier without it getting clumpy. This also lasts really well on me throughout the day - it doesn’t smear under my eyes or flake, and it holds a curl well, too.

A Glowy Cheek & Lipstick No One Will See

My last steps get covered up by a mask, but they’re still fun to add, so it’s a little treat for myself. I’ve picked up a new little technique for applying my blush and highlight for a really naturally glowy look. I first apply my cream blush to the apples of my cheeks and a couple extra dabs along my cheekbones going back towards my ears. I’ve been using the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal a lot lately - it’s super creamy but not slick and lasts well. Before blending, I add some Saie Beauty Glowy Super Gel in Starglow to my fingertips and apply that to my cheeks, starting on the tops of my cheekbones and then blending down into the blush to make it extra radiant. Then, to make sure my cheeks stay really rosy, I add another dab of cream blush on top of this mixture on just the apples and blend out. For my lips, I’ve been loving a rosy tinted balm that feels comfortable and makes me feel more put-together, even though I’m the only one that will see it. I have a few I rotate between, but they’re all quite similar in shade. The one I’ve been reaching for most often is the Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Venetian Rose. This is such a nice, comfortable formula. It feels plush and soft, and the shade is just a really pretty neutral rose. I think it would look lovely on anyone.

It takes me about five minutes every morning (ok, maybe ten, but that’s including breaks for coffee and puppy cuddles) and helps me feel more ready to face the day!

Are you still wearing makeup daily? What are your everyday staples?

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August Favorites

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a favorites post (or a post in general), and I always like writing August Favorites specifically because it was my very first post on this blog in 2014. This has been the weirdest year, obviously, but I feel like it’s both dragging and flying by at the same time. I can’t believe it’s September already. Anyway, since this year has been so crazy, I’ve really settled into solid routines that I don’t stray from very much. Wearing a mask all day at work has made me really cut down on my daily makeup so as to avoid irritation/maskne (I hate that word), and I’ve been focusing more on the self-care/ritual aspect of my skincare.

EltaMD UV Elements | I noticed a few weeks into wearing a mask at work that my skin was getting irritated and breaking out. Since I always could see my foundation smeared inside my mask at the end of the day, I decided to give it up entirely, and my skin improved right away. I decided to throw a tinted sunscreen into my routine instead, just to subtly even out my skintone. I decided to go for the EltaMD UV Elements after reading Devan’s review, and I’ve really fallen in love with it. The tint is very sheer, but it does help to even out my complexion. It has a beautiful soft glowy finish that doesn’t read as greasy, and it feels like a normal moisturizer on the skin. I’ve never used a mineral sunscreen that does that! Since it can be difficult to apply the proper amount of sunscreen when it’s tinted, I apply this over a layer of my usual Krave Beauty The Beet Shield to make sure I’m properly protected.

Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser | I’m a huge fan of the original Laneige Cream Skin Toner (in fact, I have a new favorite use for that: as a body lotion!), so I was so excited to try the new additions to the line when they launched in the US this summer. I grabbed both the new cleanser and the face mist, and the cleanser has surprisingly become my favorite. It’s a true milky oil cleanser - it doesn’t have the same slip as a traditional oil cleanser, but it rinses away clean and breaks down all makeup and SPF as a first cleanse. It feels super gentle on the skin and leaves it clean rather than stripped, so I like using this as a morning cleanse as well.

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex | Yes, there’s two cleansers on this list. I was looking for a more clarifying cleanser (that still wouldn’t be drying) recently to help keep my skin clear. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen in my stories that I’ve stopped my birth control pills after being on them for over 9 years. I’ve been worried about side effects, but admittedly I’m most worried for my skin. I don’t want to have any major acne flare-ups! I didn’t struggle with acne before going on the pill and only had some hormonal breakouts every month while on the pill, so I’m hoping for the best. Anyway, I’ve heard nothing but good things about this cleanser, and although it’s a bit pricy, it seems like it will last a long time. I use it every night as my second cleanse, and I can now see what all the hype is about. It’s just a gel cleanser that gently lathers, but it’s not drying at all. My skin feels clean and clear after cleansing, but I never get that “squeaky” feeling. It contains white willow bark to help clear out pores and exfoliate, as well as antioxidants from chamomile and centella asiatica to heal skin damage. It’s a truly perfect cleanser!

Patrick Ta Major Brow Shaping Wax | These days the only makeup I really wear is brow products, a little eyeliner, and mascara. I was itching to try something new a few weeks ago and decided on this raved-about brow wax from Patrick Ta - it’s a little solid pan of wax (I have the tinted version, but there’s a clear one, too) that you “activate” with some misted water or setting spray, rub a spoolie in it, and brush it through your brows. It’s supposed to give you that ultra feathery, “brushed up” brow look that’s very in right now. It’s a little extra work than my usual brow gel but it’s worth it - my brows do not move all day long, and the wax makes them look extra full. I use this first, followed by a little bit of a brow pen to fill in any sparser areas, and it looks like I have model-status eyebrows. I have an IGTV video on my Instagram from when I first tried it.

Roen Beauty Cake Mascara | Like I said, brows and mascara are mostly all I’m wearing right now. I was really happy with my usual daily mascaras (1 coat of ILIA Limitless Lash followed by 1 coat of Glossier Lash Slick), but I was intrigued by this launch and have never been disappointed by a Roen product. The mascara is a win, too! Some of the promo images almost dissuaded me, because they showed really clumped up, editorial lashes. I bet you could achieve that look with lots of product and some strategic lash maneuvering, but when I apply this as I normally do with other mascaras, it’s not clumpy at all. It fans my lashes out, lengthens them, and gives them a really pretty fluttery look. It doesn’t smudge or flake, and it holds a curl all day for me. It’s my new everyday favorite.

Saie Beauty Really Great Gloss, ‘Chill’ | I usually wear just a clear lip balm under my mask, but when I want to feel a little fancier I’ve been loving the Saie Beauty Really Great Glosses. They nourish the lips like a balm would, and they also contain strawberry extract to help exfoliate. I feel like they do make my lips feel smoother as I wear them. They’re not sticky or slippy, just the perfect in-between for a comfortable gloss. It doesn’t have a super glassy finish, but rather more like a glossy balm. My favorite shade is Chill, a warm rose, and I really want to get my hands on the berry shade next!

Girlfriend FLOAT Bike Shorts | I’ve obviously been spending most of my time at home, when I’m not at work. I’ve been trying to motivate myself to get into more home workouts, and I found the best way to do that was to get some cute new workout clothes (oops). These bike shorts from Girlfriend in their new FLOAT fabric are hands-down my favorite. They’re comfortable and lightweight, but they’re structured enough for just a little compression and a flattering fit. I love that they don’t roll down my waist as I’m moving around, and they’re comfortable enough to double as both workout gear and loungewear. I’m dying to try more from Girlfriend now! (These are all out of stock now, but they’re worth waiting for a restock!)

RCHL Ashlyn Hoops | I’m always on the lookout for minimal, everyday jewelry. I was in the market for some mini gold hoops (I had a pair I wore a lot, but they were a cheap pair that were starting to discolor and would also turn my ears green if I wore them too many days in a row), and I stumbled upon RCHL. They have some really beautiful pieces for everyday, and I immediately knew the mini Ashlyn Hoops were exactly what I was looking for. They’re nice quality, look cute, and have been working really well as my everyday earrings.

What did you love in August?

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