Cream shadow sticks: I've tried cream shadows in the past that were underwhelming, but I've been experimenting with more colorful shadows and different types and found the sticks work well for my shadow technique. I have hooded eyes, so trying to do most shadow stuff is pointless (which has not stopped me from trying forever). But this year I've been leaning into doing bolder single color looks with heavier liner/shadow under my lower lash line. Anyway, I've bought shadow sticks from urban decay, sephora collection brand, and the glossier matte eye paint, and all these products were really nice. I have mixed feelings about Bobbi Brown, it's a nice formula but i don't like any of the colors and they seem expensive. Ones that are not good: I tried Glossier lidstar this year and did not like it - came off too easily. Same problem with Pixi's cream eyeshadows when I last tried one.
Liquid/cream blush: I am a huge huge whore for blush, its my favorite makeup product. it's been even more popular than ever this year, which has been great. I have purchased all of these: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch, 100% Pure Lip and Cheek Tint, Milk Makeup, Cheek Stick, Colourpop Blush Stix, Colourpop Cheek Dew, Benefit BeneTINT, Juicy Pang Blusher, Canmake Cream Cheek, Pat MCGrath legendary glow color tint stick, Makeup by Mario soft pop blush stick. I've swatched many more, though not all of them. My favorites are Colourpop Blush Stix, 100% pure cheek and lip tint stick, 100% pure lip and cheek stain, and Soft Pinch. Worst/least favorite are Colourpop cheek dew (patchy), Juicy Pang (it's okay but annoying to apply), and Glossier Cloud Paint, which I tried a few years ago and found patchy and not "easy" like they claim
Some I swatched and want to try/buy: Fenty beauty color changing mood balm (fenty beauty has been pretty good to me lately, they have a contour stick that's the perfect cool contour shade for my skin), Patrick Ta blush duo (swatched this color and it was gorgeous, but unfortunately all sold out)
Swatched and did not like: Tarte cream blush, Fenty cream cheek in the compact, Rare Beauty Cream to Powder
Thoughts: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch was hyped up a lot this year. Is it worth it? Yeah, it's actually pretty nice. The texture is soft, and the pigment is good. It's not patchy. It's not my favorite product here, but I would definitely buy it in other colors.
Pat Mcgrath - I wanted to try this brand for awhile, since they're ~fancy~ and I'm a sucker for this kind of marketing. I mainly know them for their eyeshadows, but eyeshadow palettes are usually a mistake for me, so I've avoided them until now. I swatched this on a whim, and was amazed at how sheer and lightweight the formula was. I got it in a really nice berry color. These texture is impeccable.
Cheap brands: Canmake cream cheek had good color and is a decent product, but the packaging is really ugly. I wouldn't say that it is bad, though. Colourpop Cheek Dew is bad. Very patchy and just kind of a weird formula. Colourpop Blush Stix is probably my most used cream blush - it's just really foolproof. It has a good color, and it's smooth and really easy to apply. I like sticks in particular because they are so easy to swipe on and blend out with a brush, but some sticks are creamier than others (the milk tint stick and 100% pure lip and cheek tint stick "drag" on the skin and therefore have a less pleasant application and end up being patchier). I only wish they made this in more colors, it's existed in the same like 5 colors since forever. I would buy more of this in a heartbeat if they expanded the color selection. Juicy Pang blusher - hovers somewhere between good and bad. It's annoying to apply because it comes witha shitty little brush and it's in a bottle like it's nail polish, which I thought would be cute but is actually pretty weird.
Lip products - it is my holy grail to find balms with just the right amount of sheer tint that moisturize my lips, have just the right texture, and don't taste bad. But, I also try other products. I have very dry lips and discovered just this year that if I exfoliate every day, my lips actually are smooth and nice! In light of this information I bought a bunch of lip products.
Tried and bought and don't hate - maracuaja juicy stick, rare beauty soft pinch lip oil, fenty beauty poutsicle, benefit benetint, 100% pure lip and cheek tint stick, 100% pure lip and cheek stain, charlotte tilbury pillow talk gloss, charlotte tilbury pillow talk tinted balm, lawless beauty forget the filler lip plumping balm, too faced lip injection, tower28 juice balm, tower28 plumping gloss, yves saint laurent lip gloss, kaja beauty lip gloss keychain, colourpop fresh kiss gloss, colourpop blotted lip, kosas balm
Best: tarte maracuaja juicy stick, Tower28 brand, colourpop blotted lip. Though it threatens to become the next Nars Orgasm in overhyped shades with porny names, charlotte tillbury pillow talk is actually worth the hype in my opinion; it's just a really flattering shade. However, the products have a thick texture I find unpleasant and don't taste great.
Too Faced lip injection: actually works very well. However you can get used to it over time so it's better to use sparingly.
Colourpop blotted lip: I usually don't like matte but I tried this on a whim and I absolutely love the look and formula, would get in other colors
Tint products: Benetint regular is a nice and flattering red shade. Somewhat patchy, but I think thats just how tint products are. Probably the best formulas of those I've tried.
Not worth it: the YSL gloss was an expensive impulse purchase and it's just fine. lawless beauty balm doesn't plump like it says it does, which I didn't really expect it to anyway, because most plumping products dont work, but it's not a bad product.
Sorry that this got super long, I wrote this post partially beforehand after a makeup shopping spree and realized it fit the makeup products you love theme. I hope this information is of some value to someone. I try a lot of these products so these are just the best I found of what I sampled, and my honest opinion.
. I have an assortment of stuff and no budget limit, so I can pick up anything I'm missing. Could someone share a good BASIC tutorial for light day-to-day stuff? Also, how do I handle freckles in the midst of all this? They always look weird coming through.
