It's been awhile since I shared my makeup favorites with you guys and I just so happen to have a couple of stand-out products I reach for frequently at the moment. One glance at these products and you can tell I've been sticking to really neutral essentials (shocker). Even though it's probably more fun to gawk at the latest eyeshadow palette loaded with bright, bold shades or a new social media celebrity makeup collection, these are the products I'm actually using day to day because they're awesome.
I'm still enamored with the Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation* because it delivers the perfect amount of coverage while still maintaining a natural, skin-like quality. I reach for this foundation more than I have any other liquid foundation because it's so lightweight and easy to blend. I still use my BB cushions and tinted moisturizers but those offer less coverage and tend to be more dewy. The semi-matte finish of this foundation makes it perfect for the hot and humid weather we've been having.
I had my doubts about the Kevyn Aucoin Matte Bronzing Veil in Desert Days which I got in my Beautylish Lucky Bag at the beginning of the year. At the time I thought the orange color would never work on me as a bronzer. So I waited and waited until a couple of weeks ago when I had enough of a tan so I wouldn't look like an oompa loompa. Well, lo and behold, this looks pretty freaking awesome on my summer skin as a bronzer! It still looks orange when swatched on my arm but on my face it looks surprisingly natural. It does a great job at adding depth to the outer portions of my face where I apply it without looking distinctly contoured.
The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors are no stranger to the beauty community and I'm so glad I have two so I can always have one within easy reach. Rosewood Shimmer has a place on my dresser and Rose Shimmer is always tucked into my handbag or makeup pouch. When I don't have a lipbalm handy, these glosses make excellent substitutes. They're really just so easy to swipe on and feel so comfortable.
I believe every makeup-wearing person should have a black eyeliner in their collection. For awhile now I've favored my gel and liquid liners over pencil. But the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil in Jet has renewed my love for a inky eye pencil. I actually got this pencil in a Sephora gift with purchase trio of Bobbi Brown long-wear eye essentials and didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I do. The pencil is very pigmented and the formula glides along the lashline ultra smoothly without any tugging. You have a bit of time to smudge it so I like to run an angled liner brush across my lashline to extend the liner into a wing. This pencil lives up to its long-wear name because even without primer, it stays on the lid for a whole day with minimal smudging. I even tried not setting this with eyeshadow and the liner stayed intact throughout the day. I never hear anyone talk about this eyeliner but if pencil's your liner type of choice, give this one a go.
Last, but certainly not least, is one of my newest beauty acquisitions: the limited edition Wayne Goss' The Air-Brush. I impulse purchased this exquisite brush on Beautylish in the wee hours of the night after a long day of work because I just wanted to treat myself. It's not normal for me to purchase a beauty product on a whim likes this. But in this case, I saw that it was a $35 blue squirrel brush made by Wayne Goss so I knew it had to be good. And boy is it fantastic. This is the softest brush I have in my collection and it is the perfect paddle shaped cheek brush I have been looking for. You can use this brush for many things but I love it for adding blush to the apples of my cheeks. Sadly, it's currently sold out and I'm not sure if they're bringing it back. But if they are, I highly recommend you pick one up!
These products have been my default makeup bits lately and while they may not be the most exciting, they get the job done and done well. Getting back to the basics helps me feel more balanced and less anxious when I only have 10 minutes to get ready in the morning. What have you been loving lately?
* Products marked with an asterisk were provided by PR for consideration. This is not a sponsored post and my opinions are 100% honest and my own.