Tag Archives: Complexion

The Fall Beauty Wardrobe Reveal

Planning my first fall beauty wardrobe has been almost as fun as thinking about wearing sweaters again. I didn’t start planning out my fall beauty wardrobe until almost the end of August. I knew I craved the return of black liquid liner but wasn’t as intentional about the next steps as I was with summer. Right before Labor Day, after a cleaning binge, I went through my makeup and selected items that were exciting me and that I missed. There were quite a few “yessss, I have this already,” moments that almost felt like I was shopping. You all know that ‘new new’ high that comes when you buy something. Satisfying but gone in a flash. This was decidedly better. My plan to “trick” myself may actually be working well. But, I did buy a few things also that I’ll point out.

Fall fell into place after a cozy weekend at home after what felt like back to back travel. Ultimately, it’s a return to classics. The makeup I know and love with a luxurious twist. A beauty wardrobe that will be reliable on sleepy mornings (it is so dark right now when my alarm goes off!) and also makes me feel really amazing on those nights I take myself out, as I plan on doing often the next several months. And, obviously, the kind of makeup that complements the prelude to cozy sweaters.

I decided organizing by product type was a capital B bore, so I’m filtering it by mood. This is what my fall beauty wardrobe looks like on my counter. A perfect balance of classic, autumnal and luxe.

CLASSICS

L-R, top to bottom:
Dusk / Skin Tint / barePro / Wowder / Haloscope / Stretch Concealer / Easy Baked Eyeshadow / Smudgeproof Eye Base / Paint Pot / Grain Eyeshadow / Boy Brow / Trestique / Sheer Lipstick

These are the workhorses of my makeup bag. My NARS smudgeproof eye primer, brows and wear everyday eyeshadows.

No surprise, there is also a ton of Glossier in here. Skin Tint and Wowder will be in every beauty wardrobe, as will Boy Brow and Haloscope. I also included Cloud Paint in Dusk—couldn’t get enough of it in summer—and Stretch Concealer. These truly are my favorite beauty products, and I’m so not saying that just because I’m a Glossier rep.

I’m also testing out the new barePro Performance Wear Liquid – bareMinerals is an instant classic when it comes to complexion. This is a new launch and I’m so excited to see how it wears. I’ve tried it a few times and first impressions are positive.

I also have a tiny nub of one of my fav lip colors of all time: Armani Rouge Sheer in 502. I think I’ve been holding on to it but now is the time to use it. Why do I have a habit of using a lipstick almost all the way and then clinging to it for (not even joking) years. Candidly, this may be past the point of expiration but I’m not throwing it away. It doesn’t have a funk sooooo… yeah.

I learned a lesson during the summer: I like a simple eye. No palettes in sight here. I’m planning on a heavy rotation of MAC’s Soft Ochre Paint Pot, which is great on its own, and Urban Decay’s best eyeshadow color, Easy Baked. You know Half Baked that is in so many of the Naked palettes? This is its less brassy sister shadow. Also carried over MAC Grain because it was a summer necessity.

FALL FALL FALL !

L-R, top to bottom:
RMS Content / NARS Dolomites / Rockateur / Multistick in Cerise / Gen G Jam

My color story for fall is quintessential fall. Berries all the way. Is there another way to be? I’m most excited about my RMS Lip Shine in Content. This was one of those “yesss” moments when I was looking through my beauty drawers. It flexes as a cheek color, too. Reminds me of a glass of wine. I also brought back a combo I loved a few years ago at this time of year: NARS Dolomite Eyeshadow Duo and Benefit Rockateur Blush. Sadly, Dolomite is limited edition so I don’t think you can get it anywhere now. Also, I tossed all of my old Benefit blushes in the great purge of spring 2017 and this was the only one left standing. Here’s to seeing if I still love it as much as I used to.

A LOT OF LUXE

L-R, top to bottom:
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar / Onomie A.C.E. / Chanel Bronzing Base / Tom Ford Eyeliner / Nars Soft Matte Concealer / Onomie Bright Concealing Elixir / Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim Lipstick / Surratt Eyelash Curler / Beautycounter Lengthening Mascara / Glossier Rose Balm dot Com / Dior Dreamskin Cushion / Bite Beauty The Lip Pencil / Luminous Silk Foundation / Juice Illuminating Serum  / Aerin Rose Lip Conditioner

Ahhh, a touch of luxury.  This is about 45% of my beauty wardrobe, so perhaps more than a touch. I’ve got quite a few complexion products in here. Allow me to explain, as it may seem counterintuitive to my less is more mantra. I have been intentionally wearing less face makeup but I like different options depending on my mood. This is entirely reasonable to me – sometimes I’m in the mood for a cushion compact and other times mixing up a liquid concoction. When Emily Ferber (darling beauty editor at Into The Gloss) shared her summer beauty routine, I was struck by how perfect her skin appeared and noted that she was using NARS Soft Matte Concealer (an early fav of mine this year) and Dior’s Dreamskin Cushion. So, I picked up the Dior and have to say it is every bit as perfect with the NARS Soft Matte as she explained.  I’m also testing out, c/o the brand, Onomie’s Bright Concealing Elixir and the A.C.E. Illuminating Treatment which is kind of a highlighter, kind of a concealer. In the short time I’ve been in my fall beauty wardrobe, I’m having so much fun playing with different combinations.

I included the Juice Illuminating Primer. I struggled to use this the summer because it felt like extra weight on the skin. It’s not heavy by any means but I really didn’t do any form of priming in the heat. Now, I use a flat foundation brush to apply before my makeup and I can’t imagine not including in my routine. It really shines under that Dior compact, let me tell you.

I also included two rose scented lip balms because what is more luxurious than rose. Glossier’s Rose Balm Dot Com makes me feel fancy. They pair particularly well with a bit of Bite Beauty’s Lip Pencil in 10, which is just slightly mauvier than my natural lip color.

There’s quite a few newbies making their debut. There’s Chanel Soleil Tan Bronzing Makeup Base, which is as large as a compact disc. It’s the only bronzer I included. I wanted a departure from my Laguna for fall since that felt so summery to me. Also, the reformulated Beautycounter Lengthening Mascara. I picked this up from my friend Lauren who is a Beautycounter rep. I really liked this when it launched the first time so am curious how this version will fare – supposedly less smudging, thought that was never a problem with me the first go around. And, the SEXIEST lipstick ever:  Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick. It has a vintage feel and I couldn’t not try it in my favorite color: a rosey nude, obviously. And, last, for my return to black liquid liner I decided to reenter in the most over the top way: Tom Ford. Here’s hoping it’s as good as everyone says.

I’m so excited to keep experimenting and will share updates along the way. Anything you’d like to see more of?

I’ve been sharing all of my beauty wardrobes on Instagram – I would LOVE if you’d join with me. #FallBeautyWardrobe on Instagram is ours for the taking.  Show me your fall beauty!

Summer Beauty Wardrobe Recap

3 months, 41 products and endless combinations later, here we are.

This beauty wardrobe was so much more than just makeup: it’s like a time capsule and goal-setting expedition all in one. At the start of the season, I shared what my summer had in store: a trip to Sweden and Finland, a wedding/girls trip in Mexico, a momentous birthday, a move (that has been filling my to do list up ever since it happened).

Check. Check. Check and Check.

There was also this momentous hair day I had in Stockholm.

I read 18 books, watched all of Parks and Rec and am fulfilling my last summer goal: volunteering with One Tail at a Time. This one came together at the last possible moment; I start volunteer training in a week! They are doing such amazing work and I cry often out of joy and sadness at what they do for pups (and kitties, too). They just went down to Houston to help with Harvey dogs and I want to do all I can to support their efforts.

Dare I say having a beauty wardrobe helped me focus more on life? I didn’t completely achieve my goal of buying no beauty products but I did way better than I thought I would. I like the structure and being able to really experiment with what’s in my makeup bag. After all, I got it for a reason, yes? Enough looking at pretty things, I want to dirty them up and incorporate them into how I live. I’m in the process of transitioning to my fall beauty wardrobe and am planning on applying the lessons I learned about my beauty habits into the upcoming season.

I think I try to convince myself I like things that I know deep down aren’t for me. For reasons that I’m sure you can relate to: the packaging is pretty, I love the brand, the color is stunning, it works well for other people. Insert ____ reason here. Why do we try to convince ourselves we have needs just because of wants?

LESSONS LEARNED

I prefer black liquid eyeliner. In fact, I really missed mine this season. Don’t get me wrong: my Kat Von D Tattoo liner in that espresso-ish brown got plenty of use but I really love black.  And pencil eyeliner? Nope. Not something I reached for.

Palettes are overwhelming. It’s like option overload and I shut down. I also don’t think a palette that mixes in cream and powder options is for me. The powder gets in the cream and also expire sooner. Guess what? I built this palette. As in, went to a MAC event and got to design this palette at no cost to me. I’m pretty sure deep down I knew I didn’t like mixing these products, yet I did anyway. But why??

I really like complexion products. Complexion options don’t overwhelm me, in fact, it’s comforting. In July, I added in Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD Foundation when I started working with the brand. It rounded out my options in a way I think I needed all along. Also, I had a late in the season attachment to Too Faced Born This Way concealer.

Trying new mascara is fun. It was time for a new tube in June so instead of replacing my Maybelline Lash Sensational that I started off with, I tried the L’Oreal Lash Paradise and treated myself to the Dior Pump n Volume because self-control is hard, guys. I loved both. Wore them both regularly all summer.

WHAT I USED MOST

My most used are definitely my most loved.

RMS Lip Shine in Honest 4-eva. I will let a out a YAY for nearly finishing it. I’m going to keep it in my purse until it’s gone, it won’t last through fall but for a few more weeks I bet. I think I used this almost every day. I’d say I’d replace it but for now, I’m going to work through some other products I have.

I wore Cloud Paint almost exclusively. Sorry, other blushes. Dusk and Beam were on my face almost every day I wore makeup. I wore them together, separate, mixed in with MAC Strobe Cream, with bronzer and without. I put them on four bridesmaids when I did makeup for my friend’s wedding in Mexico. Somehow, I still have not finished these tubes which goes to show you how necessary owning a tube of Cloud Paint is. (you know I can help you out… glossier.com/reps/laurie if you haven’t gotten the memo!)

It Cosmetics CC Cream is synonymous with summer. I am almost finished with my tube and stand by the assertion that this is the best of any BB or CC cream on the market. I wore Medium, but can also get away with Light.

Rust colored eyeshadow looks good on me. All of the colors I included were in the peachy bronze family and I only wish I had more eyes to wear them all every day. All last week, I wore NARS St Paul de Vence. It started out in the week as a wistful reminder that it was one of my favorites and quickly turned into a challenge. I tried new combos, layering and it cemented its status as one of the best NARS duos I’ve worn.

Having a flesh toned neutral eyeshadow is clutch. One of my most used products wasn’t even in my initial plan: the single MAC eyeshadow in Grain.

Haloscope. That is all. This was one of the products I replaced with a new tube about halfway through the summer. I’m considering just putting this into the ‘staple’ category with my eyelash curler and Boy Brow because there’s no way I’ll ever not include this in future seasons.

WHAT I OVERLOOKED

There’s a theme I’m noticing: I don’t really prime my face with makeup products. Skincare, yes. I mist, tone, serum, moisturize and SPF and by the time that’s all done, I really don’t want to wear any more “base” layers. I did use my Juice Beauty Illuminating Serum on the weekends but on my most days I skipped this step. I think it may be more of a summer phenom. I’m definitely going to try and work in the Juice into my next wardrobe.

I also only wore Glossier Gen G in Leo a handful of times. Every time I wore it, I loved how it looked but I kept forgetting. The lesson here is that less is more when it comes to lips.

WHAT I CHANGED MY MIND ON

Do you ever get it in your head that you really love something and then you have to come with terms that isn’t true once you really try it out. That is me and this Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation. Here’s the thing: the formula is awesome, it makes my skin feel and look flawless but only for a short window of time. It’s so frustrating! I leave the house and I feel great. A few hours later, I look in the mirror and look really blah. This is a tough realization but necessary.

Another item I thought I’d wear nonstop was this Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Peach. It’s too orange and the dewy factor fades quickly. I barely had enough eyes to wear my favorite shades much less one I’m just kinda ‘meh’ on.

WHAT NOW?

Some of these products will officially retire. Like my Born This Way concealer, which is leaking from the top so I can’t travel with it. Some will carry over, like Haloscope. Others will go into my my simplified beauty storage, like St Paul de Vence.

My goal is not to start from scratch every season but rotate in things I have and also what’s inspiring me for the season.

I know the idea of capsule living is something a lot of people are experimenting with. I see this sort of in that vein but am inviting frequent change and limiting the rules. I’d be really interested to know how you choose the makeup you wear and if you change it up. Does anyone want to beauty wardrobe with me for fall? I’m going to reveal my plan for fall soon. Can’t wait!