Hi all! It’s been awhile. Hope you’re doing ok. Here are a few thoughts about where we are at, and what we can expect for Fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Makeup Notes

The biggest news around here is that I switched my contour product. I never believed that would happen; Kevin Aucoin has been my ride or die for years. But then I found my daughter’s cast off Nars Bronzer Blush and realized that I *could do better*! I got it in the coolest tone they offer – Talia – and it’s just incredible. It blends better then K.A. and stays on WAYYYYY longer. And is a more natural color. All in all–a huge win.

I also switched to Stellar Foundation in shade 504, which I am completely obsessed by. It’s a kind of satin finish that just looks like…. skin. Not too matte, not to glowy… just-perfect. Today unfortunately I layered it over two foundation samples I just got from Sephora (an Estee Lauder and a Pat McGrath) so the color is a bit off – it’s a bit dark/warm – but in future weeks you’ll see it in all its glory.

Also a sample from Sephora: Stellar brand Brilliant Primer! Today I used it for the first time and I like it a lot. I don’t think I’ll purchase it, though, because at my age, I need a pretty powerful blurring primer and this is not that. But it delivers good holding power and some glow.

More big news: Ive switched my blush! Faithful Makeup Monday readers might recall that I’ve been obsessed with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure forever. Well.. sometime during the pandemic I turned away from the plum/mauve shade range. Why, I have no idea. It just suddenly seemed… dreary. And everything is so dreary that I couldn’t abide making it worse with my blush. So I statted experimenting around, and lo, in my Ipsy bag a couple months ago I got this Manna Kadar Buildable Blush in Bali Babe. It’s weirdly peach for me, yet looks amazing, brightening, and natural. I don’t underestand it but I’m not arguing. I touch it up with another Ipsy get: The Balm Will Powder Blush in Worth the Wait. It’s a tricky product – basically a peachy pink highlighter more than a blush, so it needs a light hand, but it’s good as a boost to the Manna Kadar.

And last of all, a major find which I have to confess, I did discover marketed directly to me on Instagram by Sephora: Hourglass Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray. The model did a full face and ended with this spray and she was SO excited about it that I decided to try it, and yeah, it’s good. It does some sorcery where it blurs pores and lines without being otherwise visible—while setting and holding your makeup. I’m impressed!

Oh and Instagram ALSO delivered up to me the Voir App, and now I’m hooked. With Voir you can try out ALL THESE MAKEUP LOOKS, and it’s very precise and realistic and legit. You actually look like yourself with different makeup on! My mind was blown–i saw looks taht i would not have dreamed of trying myself…but now I will.

Of course I STILL HAVE NOWHERE TO WHERE THIS MAKEUP. But as I’ve said all along, just playing with it is one of my hobbies and I still do it at least once a week. Thank god for live webinars–i at least get to put on a look for those!