Current Makeup Menu #3

It's been almost nine months since my last makeup menu post, so I'm long overdue for an update. Ever since I moved to my own place a year ago, I've been more or less sticking with a few select products for months at a time to do my makeup in the morning. The main reason is that I no longer have a mirrored wardrobe, so I don't have immediate access to my entire makeup collection (housed in two 4-drawer storage units on a shelf inside) when I'm doing my face. I have to put aside a few products in a separate, smaller Muji organiser which I keep on my dresser beside the mirror on my bedroom wall. The upside to this is I've finally used up products I never thought I'd finish, like foundations, but the downside is less variety and the old saying, "out of sight, out of mind". Having said that, here are the current products I've been really enjoying and reaching for lately.

For face, I've recently returned to Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (in 52 Vanille) and I'm so glad I picked this up again. The shade match is almost bang on (I've previously used 53 Beige clair on its own, which was always too dark, and then mixed it with 52 Vanille to lighten it), which is crucial given the previous foundation I'd been trying to use up (Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in 33 Rose Beige) was too dark and pinky brown. I appreciate that the foundation is yellow-based and illuminating, without being greasy. It's natural and skin-like, but also gives your complexion a translucent glow that brightens and corrects unevenness and dullness. The lasting power or adherence to the skin could probably be better, but it's an ideal everyday "drugstore" foundation that is top notch in quality.

Speaking of Bourjois CC Cream, I'd previously been mixing it with a bit of Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone in an attempt to lighten the foundation and inject some extra luminosity. I don't know what it is about the formula, but it is truly the best liquid highlighter I've mixed with a base. Other products can appear overly glittery or chunky upon closer inspection, or get oily after a couple of hours and start to break up on the skin or slide off during the day. But the Becca almost has primer-like properties while containing the most refined shimmer, giving the skin an undetectable but effective glowy boost. Previously swatched here.

I asked my friend to buy the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer for me while she was on a recent holiday to the US since it's always sold out at Priceline (plus it's $30, no thanks). I opted for the shade Bronzer rather than Light Bronzer just because I'd read that it was slightly more cool-toned and darker, which I thought would suit my skin tone better. I have been absolutely adoring this bronzer. It's everything I hoped for and more. Incredibly smooth, soft but not powdery, easy to blend, not too pigmented that it's hard to work with, but pigmented enough so that it actually shows up and does something without much effort. I love the colour, I love the scent, it's a breeze to apply and blend with my Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush, I've been reaching for it nonstop since it arrived and I can't imagine wanting to use anything else for a long time.

In the last Priceline 40% off cosmetics sale, I purchased one of these Revlon Colorstay Creme Eye Shadows in 710 Caramel. It's a little lighter than Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and the texture is much smoother, thinner and more emollient. You need to apply quite thin layers on the eyes and build up the colour. I've been enjoying this as a standalone eyeshadow (though I do have to use about 3-4 layers for my desired opacity, and even then, I always use a darker eyeshadow closer to the lashline for added definition), as well as an eyeshadow base (I just apply one layer and blend out with my fingers). The aspect of these that was most surprising but pleasing is that they're loaded with fine shimmer that's really sparkly and eye-catching under bright lights and reminiscent of more high end cream shadows like Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow. The price point is very reasonable too ($14.95 for 5.2g, so I only paid $8.97 during the 40% off sale).

I overlooked this Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Night for a while after a friend gave it away to me ages ago, but recently realised I reach for it almost every day. It is JET black, velvety matte, has astounding lasting power and once set, does not budge. Truly a quality product and worth the money. I use it mainly to fill in my eyeliner once I draw the shape in with a finer felt tip/brush eyeliner (I've been loving Maybelline HyperSharp Wing Liquid Liner), since it is a thicker/chubbier tip so not as precise as a conventional pencil liner. The fact it's so high performing has made me realise when it comes to eye makeup, a reliable, truly black eyeliner is an absolute essential.

Lanolips Banana Balm

Finally, we have a bit of a novelty item in Lanolips Banana Balm Lip Sheen 3-in-1. I swatched this in David Jones and was captivated by the old school banana lolly scent and the pink sparkles against a pale yellow gloss that reminded me of Glossier Birthday Balm Dotcom. The downside is that the colour is on the light side and does give a whitish cast, but if you apply a small amount and/or lay down a colour first, that can easily be overcome. In any event, the scent and the glitter has me sold.

l-r: Lanolips Banana Balm, Revlon Caramel, Physicians Formula Bronzer, Nudestix Night

l-r: Revlon Caramel, Physicians Formula Bronzer, Nudestix Night

Split Devotion

Long time, no blog. SORRY. There's no excuse, except I had a major life change so a lot of time and energy in the past few months was spent attending to that. Now things have settled down a bit, so I can finally update this ol' thing. I thought I'd ease back into it with a review of my newest makeup acquisition, Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Splits Shimmering Skin Perfector Mineral Blush Duo in Prosecco Pop/Amaretto. When the Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette came out, I instantly wished they would release Prosecco Pop separately. I already had Champagne Pop, and of the three blushes, only Amaretto appealed to me as a potential purchase, so I passed on the palette. When I saw these split plans with the two shades I wanted in the palette, I didn't hesitate. In general, I've been very restrained with the skin care and makeup additions, but I still think there's merit in being excited about a product and buying nice things for the sake of it.

I bought my split pan in the city Sephora store. I believe it was $65. The Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed portion (3.69g) is slightly less product than the Mineral Blush (4.25g) section. Doesn't really bother me, as I can't imagine using up either. I prefer having smaller pans but more variety, than a huge amount of a single product. The standalone Champagne Pop highlighter is 8g, I've had it since September last year and I've only made a shallow dent about the surface area of my index finger.

I've been using Prosecco Pop/Amaretto religiously since I bought it six weeks ago. Especially Prosecco Pop, which I'm enjoying quite the love affair with. I prefer it to Champagne Pop, though they are super similar. I sometimes find the reflection of Champagne Pop to be too white/pearly, but Prosecco Pop is a warm yellow gold through and through. It's bronzier, a little darker, and screams of J-Lo glow and summer.

I find the texture and quality of Prosecco Pop to be basically identical to Champagne Pop. I haven't noticed any discrepancies simply because of the split pan format. I can't comment on the Mineral Blush since Amaretto is my first experience with the formula. It is a drier texture reminiscent of NARS blushes. My preferred brush to apply Amaretto has been Wayne Goss Brush 14 or Morphe E4, while I've almost been exclusively using the Morphe M501 for Prosecco Pop.

Becca Prosecco Pop

l-r: Becca Prosecco Pop, Becca Champagne Pop, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

As the swatch shows, Champagne Pop is more orange than Prosecco Pop, which is more yellow. Champagne Pop also has a more white gold finish than Prosecco Pop which is more uniform in colour composition. theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is a lot lighter and more of a pale white gold.

Becca Amaretto

l-r: Becca Amaretto Pop, Too Faced Baby Love, NARS Madly, Clinique Nude Pop

Amaretto appears quite brown in the pan, but applies more of a terracotta peach. Next to Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Baby Love, it's considerably more orange. Baby Love is distinctly more of a cool-toned pink. NARS Madly is closer, but more tan/brown and not as warm. Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop has a similar undertone but is lighter, not as intense, and with a more satin finish than the matte Amaretto.

Overall, highly recommended. The idea of combining a coveted blush and highlighter in one compact is brilliant and when well executed like this one is, great bang for your buck. If I didn't have a full size Champagne Pop already, I probably would've snapped up Champagne Pop/Flowerchild as well.

Bright Base

Lately I've been all about illuminating primers. They've now become an unmissable step in my makeup routine. Not only do they add that extra glow, they also help my makeup apply better and last longer. Combined with a powder highlight over the cheekbones, brow bone, and down the bridge of the nose, plus a generous dousing of MAC Fix+, the final result is an almost otherworldly luminosity. Here are the four primers/liquid highlighters I've been rotating.

l-r: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone, Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, MAC Strobe Cream, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance

Excuse the dust...

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator
The most affordable option and relatively generous in size ($22.95 for 50ml), the Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator has a thicker, slightly moussey consistency than the others. (Admittedly, that could be in part due to the fact my tube is 3 years old and I probably should have thrown it out by now.) As a result, I have to use a bit more product to cover over my whole face before going in with foundation. It's a peachy gold that blends out so that it becomes nearly imperceptible, but still leaves the skin with an unmistakable golden pearl (especially noticeable around the nose). I'm not a fan of the smell which I find too strong, though the length of time I've had it could be a factor in the unpleasant scent. One thing I do really like about the Soft Focus Illuminator is after I apply a layer of it all over my bare, moisturised face, it makes foundation go on smoother and more easily, and prolongs the wear time of my makeup.

Ingredients: Aqua, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, GlycerylMonostearate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, C.I.77019 (Mica), C.I. 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), C.I.77491 (Red Iron Oxide).

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone
For whatever reason I've always considered the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors as dedicated liquid highlighters, though the blurb on the back of the tube does say it can be used as a makeup base or mixed with foundation. Moonstone is a beautiful pale gold that doesn't leave any glittery or distinctively shimmery particles on the skin. It blends out to a pure reflective gleam that bounces light off the face. This is one of the more pronounced highlighters I have when used as a makeup base. I find it almost too intense, which is why I don't reach for it as much as the others. It's more manageable used sparingly and in targeted areas under foundation where you'd normally highlight, rather than applied to the entire face. It goes without saying it's also super effective as a regular liquid highlight over foundation. It has a floral scent but isn't anything too overbearing.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Witch (Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile minerale, Glucose, Fructose, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Alcohol Denat, Dextrin, Sucrose, Urea, Propylparaben, BHT, Hexyl Nicotinate, Glutamic Acide, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract), Butylparaben, Fragrance. May contain [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Tin Oxide, Mica.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance
One of my all time favourite primers. The texture is superb — not too thick and oily, not too thin and runny. It blends into the skin effortlessly, absorbing quickly and leaving the skin softly moisturised and prepped for foundation. It also helps to prolong the longevity of makeup and wards off disintegration and fading. Like my experience with all Laura Mercier base products I've tried, it feels like a high quality product that's been carefully formulated and tested to actually do what it says and make a real difference.

This is what I reach for on special occasions like weddings or when I want to give my skin a perfecting, luminous boost. The glow it gives is refined but unmistakably there. A colleague once asked me whether I'd done anything different to my skin on a day when I was wearing this with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. Need I say more.

The only thing I will say about the Foundation Primer Radiance is that it cooperates better with hydrating, oiler/thicker moisturisers. Occasionally if I don't moisturise my skin adequately, or if it's drier than normal, or if I pair this with the wrong foundation, I will experience some issues with the products reacting together poorly (i.e. the primer balling up in places, catching on dry patches, being a bit harder to blend out around the edges of the nose).

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, PVP, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Mica (CI 77019), Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Glyceryl Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-25, Ceteth-25, Tocopherol Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Tropolone, Butylene Glycol, Plankton Extract. May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).

MAC Strobe Cream
Featured in my last favourites post, there's been no change in my position since. I love this stuff. It's the most comfortable feeling on the skin — closest to the feel of skin care that really plumps the skin, soothes and moisturises. The texture isn't thick, gloopy or heavy on the skin at all. It's lightweight and you only need a small amount for the whole face. It is heavily scented which is a bit off-putting, but I can live with it. Strobe Cream is unique in that it isn't yellow/gold/peachy, but rather gives a pearly, pinky-white, ethereal glow. When this is applied to a bare face, it makes an immediate but subtle difference. The skin just looks better. More radiant, more evened out, halo-lit. Dullness is dialled down, brightness cranked up. As an added bonus, of the four primers here, Strobe Cream boasts the most skin care ingredients.

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Distearate, Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Steareth-10 Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Fruite Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyalauronate, Panthenol, Ceramide 2, Xanthan Gum, Sucrose, Glycerin, Cyanocobalmin, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Linoleic Acid, Isohexadecane, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Red 4.

Power Glow

When mega Youtuber Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca, releasing a limited edition shade of their Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed called Champagne Pop, the frenzy was real. As a makeup junkie, there was no way I was missing out. I briefly contemplated using Shop and Box, but was holding out for a better option. Thankfully, Becca decided to release a limited quota of Champagne Pop to Australian customers through their local online stockists. (I'm not sure if they have any plans for it to be sold at Sephora stores in Sydney.) I pre-ordered mine on 13 July, paying $60.01 with $6.95 shipping and using a $5 off first order code. Delivery time was estimated to be mid-August, but the shipment was delayed and arrived 9 September. That was kind of disappointing, since I was already planning on going to the States from 29 August to 12 September, and knew I'd most likely to be able to buy Champagne Pop there. But in any event, I was just glad when it finally arrived safe and sound.

Becca Champagne Pop

l-r: Dior Amber Diamond, Charlotte Tilbury Highlight, Becca Champagne Pop, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Stila Kitten

I'd never owned any of Becca's powder highlighters before, though I've been tempted by the lightest shade Moonstone. The popular Opal seemed a bit too dark and orangey for my tastes, and the other colours like Rose Gold and Topaz looked more like shimmery blushes than highlighters. Jaclyn Hill describes Champagne Pop as her "dream shade", and from early reviews and swatch comparisons, it was apparently a cross between Moonstone and Opal. Makes sense to me, since I'd always thought it strange there was such a huge jump from the pale Moonstone to the noticeably darker, warmer Opal.

The texture of these highlighters is very soft, smooth and almost creamy, similar to theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer. It's incredibly pigmented that you only need a light touch for BAM! HIGHLIGHT. It's one of those products where the brush you use becomes very important in not overdoing it. I've been reaching for the long, small and fluffy Burberry Eye Brush - Socket Line No.09 to apply Champagne Pop to my cheekbones and brow bone. It probably doesn't give as much precision as I'd like, but it limits the placement of the product and diffuses the edges so the highlighter isn't so stark and prominent on the face.

I do find because it packs such a punch and is so reflective, if the brush has too much product, it can feel and apply in a slightly gritty and chunky way. To avoid that, I'd be mindful to use a small amount each time, not overloading the brush, applying the highlighter precisely and lightly to the skin, and going over the edges of where it's placed with a clean brush to softly blend it out into the surrounding skin. I sometimes even pat the highlighter with my finger to take off excess product and gently work it into the skin more.

Colour-wise, it's a peachy gold. Compared with other high end powder highlighters I have, Dior Amber Diamond (all shades blended together) is more pinky orange, Charlotte Tilbury Highlight (in the Filmstar Bronze & Glow) is more beige/champagne, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is the most similar in terms of texture and pigmentation but champagne in colour, while Stila Kitten is a silvery rose gold. On my skin, Champagne Pop leans more yellow than peach, but overall translates as a relatively pale neutral gold.

It has this strong metallic smell reminiscent of cheaper eyeshadows made in China, which I wasn't expecting. Of course, it doesn't affect performance, but is one thing I noticed that I haven't heard anyone mention. I also don't think this is the most finely milled highlighter I've tried. If anything, Champagne Pop does lean more shimmery than sheeny, but I guess that's the tradeoff for mega effect. I find the Highlight shade in Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow to be superior and better quality, but Champagne Pop is still a product I'm happy to have. I'm not sure if anything can outdo it for pronounced glow, and sometimes, you just want to shine — loudly, obnoxiously and unapologetically.

Sephora Haul

So ... I didn't intend to not post for a month, but if you've been following me on Instagram, you may have known I was on holidays in the US for a couple of weeks. Things were a little hectic the week before and after the trip, so I've only now had a spare moment to get things in order with the blog. To make up for my mini absence, I've returned with some makeup p0rn: a Sephora haul!

My last trip to the States was 3 years ago, and because I was clueless back then, I didn't create a Beauty Insider account. This time, I made sure to remedy that. Even with the abysmal state of the Australian dollar (long gone are the glory days of parity), I didn't exactly exercise restraint. (Though I did manage to avoid buying any lip products, so I'll give myself that.) It's surprisingly stressful when your travelling companion, like an AA sponsor, limits your visits to Sephora to the number of fingers on one hand. I had to make sure I wasn't skipping over anything I would regret not buying, but also not go completely overboard (because as we all know, that's easy to do).

My loot (hauled in one and a half weeks, over 4 Sephora stores):

• Smashbox Primer Water ($32 USD, about $50 AUD)
• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance ($20 USD, about $30 AUD)
• Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude Pop ($22 USD, about $34 AUD)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette ($30 USD, about $46 AUD)
• Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Brown/Black ($10.50 USD, about $16 AUD)
• Maison Martin Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning Rollerball ($25 USD, about $39 AUD)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Rollerball ($22 USD, about $34 AUD)
• Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone ($19 USD, about $29 AUD)
• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($15 USD, about $23 AUD)
• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set ($25 USD, about $39 AUD)
• Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo ($11 USD, about $17 AUD) 
• philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser ($11 USD, about $17 AUD) 
• Benefit Rockateur Box o’ Powder Blush ($28 USD, about $43 AUD)
• Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush in Baby Love ($26 USD, about $40 AUD)

So basically, I spent a lot of money.

Mind you, that's not all the cosmetics/skin care stuff I bought in the US. Ugh. 

I did also buy the Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil-Gel but I ended up returning it the next day after one use because it left my skin feeling taut and dried out.

Some of the stuff was literally more expensive than if I'd bought it in Australia (Smashbox Primer Water, Too Faced blush), some was only slightly cheaper but basically the same price (philosophy cleanser, Benefit Rockateur). The extensive rollerball display at Sephora was like Christmas and I was pretty ecstatic when two perfumes I'd been eyeing were available in rollerball form (Maison Martin Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning and Fresh Sugar Lychee, both unavailable in Australia). I also couldn't resist any of the good ol' minis (Fresh cleanser, Elizabeth and James rollerball set, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, Laura Mercier primer, even that darn 60ml bottle of Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo which I classify as the most ludicrous purchase ever, because as if I do hair, as if this shampoo is especially better than other shampoos, and as if I couldn't buy 2 litres of Pantene for the same price).

It didn't feel right to come away from Sephora without an eyeshadow palette, so I limited myself to just one: Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette. The price was right, the reviews were mostly positive, I hadn't seen the palette available at the Sydney Sephora store, there are a multitude of shades and finishes, and I was curious to try my first product from the brand. I had listed the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Volume 1 – Nudes as a potential purchase, but the shades/packaging seemed underwhelming to me in person. Maybe neutral shadow fatigue. I wasn't interested in the new Naked Smoky palette from Urban Decay at all. I had a look at Buxom, and while the shadows swatched beautifully, nothing was really calling out to me as a must. Other options (Smashbox, Laura Mercier, Tarte, Stila) were too expensive with the currency conversion. I kind of wanted the Bobbi Brown Telluride Eye Palette but it was $52 USD, which would've worked out to have been $81 AUD. Like, no.

l-r: Too Faced Baby Love, Clinique Nude Pop, Benefit Rockateur

Bottom to top: Too Faced Baby Love, Clinique Nude Pop, Benefit Rockateur

Bottom to top: Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

l-r: Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

For some reason, I was super into the idea of dewy, highlighted skin, so I purchased the Laura Mercier primer and the Becca, with the idea of potentially mixing them into my foundation, or applying it to my face before foundation for added natural luminosity. I also bought a small tube of MAC Strobe Cream and a Benefit set that included a 'That Gal' Brightening Face Primer sample, so I'm good with liquid highlighters for now. After trial and error, I've learned to avoid placing luminiser over my nose, and that a 40/60 ratio of highlighter and foundation is a bit excessive.

While I'm sure I have similar blushes to three I bought, I'm really happy with all of them. Too Faced Baby Love almost reminds me of a pinker/plummier NARS Douceur, Clinique Nude Pop is like a muted version of NARS Madly, and Benefit Rockateur is a foolproof pick that goes with anything.

One product I'm on the fence about is the Smashbox Primer Water. As a primer, it did absolutely zilch, and as a setting/refresher spray, I'm not convinced it's any better than much cheaper options such as rosewater or even MAC Fix+. I do like the packaging and the spray mechanism, but I'm not sure if that's $50/116ml like. Probably not, but now that I've bought it, I'll try to forget about the inflated price tag and enjoy it.