I love beating my face. LOVE it. But it takes me at least 20 minutes per brow, because ya girl is a perfectionist. Who's with me??
Since time isn't always on my side, and my toddler, the ~drama queen~, loves to make the morning all about her, I often have to cut corners and stick with a very minimal makeup look for most days.
I've come to have a real love and appreciation for multi-tasking products, esp. products that are meant to be applied with just your fingers. Products made with a get-up-and-go mentality. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites:
Bite Beauty Multistick ($24 for 0.17oz)
The formula of this product is so interesting; it's a cream that settles into a powder. It's made to swipe and blend with your fingers, and the color payoff is incredible. The traditional multistick comes in 19 neutral shades, and can be used on the eyes, lips and cheeks. I use the shade Cerise which is this beautiful deep cherry/brown shade as blush and on my lips. I use Cocoa, which is described as dark chocolate as a contour shade. I just recently picked up Mochi, a classic deep red, which I think is their best-selling shade and I don't know why I didn't buy it sooner 😍. Ya'll already know how I feel about Bite Beauty--I truly feel as though all of their products are catered to me (which is hard to fathom as a dark-skinned black girl) and I can't help but gush. So sorry for sounding hella biased.
Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Multistick ($24 for 0.17 oz)
These multisticks come in 5 universally flattering duo-chrome, metallic shades. AND, like their neutral sisters, can be used on the eyes, lips and cheeks. These look phenomenal layered over the neutral multisticks, or can worn on their own. I use Rose Pearl, a metallic rose with green and violet shimmer on my eyes, and I use Blush Pearl, a metallic white with pink shimmer on both my eyes and on my cheeks for highlight. I think once upon a time these were limited edition, but now it looks like they're staying as a permanent part of Bite's collection which I could not be more thrilled about.
Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ ($19 for 0.33 oz, or $65 for 1 oz)
The first time I tried this product I was at the Sephora in Aventura Mall and they must have been having a Murad-sponsored event because this man came up to me and asked me what primer I use on my face. I thought he was a hopeless boyfriend/husband-type and was asking my opinion for his significant other, so I told him: Peter Thomas Roth, Skin to Die For. Which is one of my favorite primers, FYI. This man proceeded to DRAG ME, talking 'bout how PTR is trash and let him show me the correct way to prime your face for flawless makeup application. I was low-key annoyed (bc how dare he?) but I followed him nonetheless to the wall of Murad products where he proceeded to change my life. The Invisiblur is a colorless, scentless primer with SPF that instantly gives your skin an airbrushed, velvet-like finish. It also has peony flower and black currant extracts to help even skin tone, while also protecting your skin against the sun. I, of course, proceeded to buy the $65 bottle, because they were giving out a free gift bag of all types of Murad goodies with a $50 purchase. I haven't looked back. It's pricey but I guarantee you will love how blurred your skin looks even before makeup application with this product.
Supergoop 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen, SPF 40 ($38 for 1.5 oz)
I won't delve too much into this product because I've gone into it before. I haven't been using this sunscreen as long as Invisiblur, but I have no complaints about this one yet. Like Invisiblur, it also gives me a smooth surface to apply makeup, while also adding the benefits of sunscreen. It's important to note that this is SPF 40 while Invisiblur is SPF 30.
The Organic Skin Co Cheeky Lip Pods ($21, but on sale right now for $10.50)
The Organic Skin Co kindly reached out to me a few months back asking if I would try some of their lip and cheek pods. After I did some research and found out what a bomb company they were, I jumped at the opportunity. They are a vegan, cruelty-free company based in New Zealand. One that promises to plant a tree whenever you buy one of their products. A company with a strong commitment to the planet that intends to bring balance back to the world? I was in. I was not disappointed with their products either. They sent me their two darkest shades, Lush and Madras. There are 7 shades in total and I'm eager to try a few more. They are packaged in the cutest little pods (as expected, see name of product), and they are pig👏🏾men 👏🏾ted hunny. I've used them mostly on my lips, and they create such a beautiful wash of color that lasts a decent amount of time. Check them out and support if you have the opportunity!
Glossier Mint Balm Dot Com ($12 for 0.5 fl oz)
Glossier's Balm Dot Coms are branded as a multipurpose lip balm/skin salve and they are just that. I have every flavor except for rose, and I use them on my lips, my dry hands, my lids for a glossy look (birthday balm dot com looks spectacular on the lids, don't @ me), and wherever else just needs a cute lil pick me up. Mint specifically gives my lips a matte finish while staying hydrated, and it makes my lips tingle. And tingling is really the only way you know if a product is ~truly~ working amirite? Balm Dot Com was the first product I ever purchased from Glossier, and it's the one that I will definitely keep repurchasing (along with Lip Gloss, because duh).
