REVIEW: Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Concealer

I have sought my perfect concealer for years. I've found plenty that I've really loved, like the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, but I've yet to find that one pot or tube that made me say, "Ooooh, yes, that's the one." So when something like Tarte Shape Tape (which is what everybody actually calls this concealer) hits the scene and causes a fervor, I take notice.

Then I actually watched people applying it, and I shrank back. As the name suggests, this concealer is targeted at and marketed for a more "full on" look. That means you apply copious amounts of concealer at strategic points on the face to create shading and highlighting. See how Nikkie Tutorials uses it in this tutorial for a clear example:

Oof. I have nothing against Instagram-style, really dramatic makeup, but I've never been able to do it on my face. It just feels like way too much. And that amount of concealer is definitely going to look bizarre on top of my generally sheer foundations.

Of course, you don't have to apply that much product, and that's what kept me vaguely interested. Promise me "hydrating full coverage" spot concealing, guys, and I'm there. But then I realized that this product was (at the time) exclusive to Ulta, and once again, I was turned right off. I just don't shop at Ulta much, well-loved rewards system be damned. I'm especially unlikely to shop there if I'm only buying one product, since they tack on $5 worth of shipping, and no amount of marketing technique awareness can get me past that. Eventually, I noticed the shade I'd need (Fair) going for a reasonable price on a blogsale, so I went for it. (Side note: the seller apparently reads my blog, so hi!)

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom. From left to right: Tarte Shape Tape in Fair, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01, Colourpop No Filter Concealer in Fair 5.

Tarte Shape Tape retails for $27 for 0.33oz of product housed in a clear plastic tube. A third of an ounce is pretty hefty for a concealer, though if you're using it as a shaping product a la Nikkie Tutorials, you might go through it faster. The applicator is a large doe foot--more on that in a moment. There is a fragrance here, though I can't put my finger on what exactly it smells like; you can't smell the product after application.

In terms of shade, Fair is very similar to NARS Chantilly and Kevyn Aucoin Sx01. I'd say the Tarte is the same depth-wise, but has a bit less yellow in it. All three shades work well with my NC10-ish foundations. The shade range runs from uber fair to quite deep, but as with most Tarte products, the shade options really taper off at the darker end of the spectrum. I'm hoping they'll expand the range.

This product has a bit of a learning curve. If you want a more natural look, you'll have to wipe off the doe foot as much as you can, then dot the concealer only where needed. This is pretty full coverage stuff, so a little goes a long way. Apply too much over a natural base (which is what I favor), and you'll end up with a weird mask-like effect. The image above shows how much I normally use: two small dots under each eye (with a bit of a dewy corrector in the deepest part of my undereye hollows) and teeny dabs on any redness or blemishes.

Blending can also be tricky. If you have more oily skin or a really emollient base, you might find it easier to pat this out with your finger. I personally like to put a bit of moisture in to the concealer, and again, to make it look more natural. So I start blending it out with a damp Beauty Blender sponge, tap with my finger once the concealer is moistened, then finish with the Beauty Blender again. It sounds difficult, and it's certainly not as easy to apply as my NARS concealer, but it really only takes a few seconds. I think the end effect is worth it.

The biggest issue I have with Tarte Shape Tape, and the thing that made it difficult for me to use at first, is the absolutely enormous doe foot applicator. Again, this is marketed more toward people who want to shape and sculpt with it in a full-coverage look, so I get it. You're supposed to drag the flattened tip across your face to make actual stripes. But if you're trying to be more sparing with your application, this massive applicator makes it tough. It's legitimately huge in comparison to a more standard applicator, like that of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I've taken to using just the very tip of the doefoot and applying almost no pressure to my skin; even then, I can sometimes apply a little too much.

When it's all said and done, I honestly like the Tarte Shape Tape. I think it does a great job of concealing my blemishes without looking too dry or heavy, provided I use a light hand, and the Fair shade is a great match for me. I just wish they'd reconsider the applicator and add more to their shade range.

RATING: 4 out of 5

This product is available at Ulta.

1P2L: Powder Blush with Tarte Paaarty

Confession: I haven't really used a powder blush in almost three years. Don't believe me? Just look back on old posts that demonstrate how I organized and downsized my collection. The last time you clearly see several powder blushes is in 2014. As time went on, I owned fewer and fewer products, and much of what left were my powders. After buying and trying mountains of makeup, I eventually reached the conclusion that creams and liquids worked better on my dry skin and were easier for me to apply.

I own a powder blush right now, though, because I got one free from Sephora for my birthday: Tarte Paaarty. I only recently started using it because...well, I hate typing the shade name, to be honest, but mostly because I'm still devoted to my cream blushes. And when I did decide to use it, it was as an eyeshadow--thanks, Pat McGrath! A blush is a blush, though, and I did used to love some of my powders, so why not give this guy the full treatment?

On the left, we've got Paaarty used as a traditional blush. Frankly, I didn't like this shade on my cheeks; despite the fact that I'm quite fair, I had to do quite a bit of building to get the color to show up. It did blend very easily, though, and I think it works well with the red lip.

I definitely prefer using this as an eyeshadow, though. Blended in to my crease, Paaarty adds some warmth and depth to my eyes. I'm pretty lazy about eye makeup these days, but I love the look of this so much, I've kind of gotten more in to eyeshadow. If I weren't so hyper-aware of my spending habits, I'd probably pick up another powder blush in a different shade at the drugstore just to use it on my eyes.

As with the last 1P2L post, there's a lot of unintentional product crossover here: I've been testing the YSL Touche Eclat, Catrice Long Lasting Brow Definer, and Dior DiorShow mascara for the last week, so without thinking about it, I used all three products in both looks. I also used Glossier Boy Brow and the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly in both looks, but that's mostly because I'm in the mood for brushed up brows lately, and because the NARS concealer is a staple for me.

There are two different shades of MAC Face & Body foundation in these photos as well. On the left, I'm wearing N1 and C1 with White, since I was trying to use up the last little bit of N1 I had. On the right, I'm wearing just C1 mixed with White. I thought the latter mixture was reading a bit dark on me, but seeing these photos confirms that the switch was probably a good idea. N1 has always been a hair too pink for me; I've just been able to get away with it because Face & Body is so skin-like.

Oh, and see that Butter London Glazen Eye Gloss? That review is coming soon! Spoiler alert: I think I'm finally out of the disappointing products rut.

Revisiting the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer

The Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer (I hate writing that damn name) was a long-time love of mine when I was in graduate school, slash, immediately outta there. Obviously, it was a huge bonus that it was fair enough for me out of the tube, plus slightly yellow in undertone and easy to apply with fingers. But my main attraction to the product was the lightweight feel and the all-physical SPF30. When I got rid of my half-full tube, it was only because the sunscreen had expired.

And then I forgot to repurchase it. Whoops.

Three years later, a lot of new foundations are due to come out and my skin is dryer than it was several years ago. I figured this would be a great time to re-test an old favorite. I didn't treat this like a formal review when testing or photographing, so I won't be giving this product an official score, but I hope you'll still find this post helpful!

Let's talk about this BB cream at a base level (ahahahaha!) first. For $36, you get a full ounce of product that's available in four shades, ranging from very light to slightly dark. I'd love a darker shade in this line, especially since it's hard to find a decent physical sunscreen if you're ebony skinned, but I'm overall okay with the price and the base shade range.

What does make me tilt my head is the claim that this is some kind of "treatment." Above are the ingredients plugged in to Cosdna; you can see the two sunscreens at the top and everything else below them, all fitting on one screen. On the one hand, it's great that you can see a full ingredients list on one page. It's short, and there's not a massive amount of irritants here, so if you're sensitive skinned (and not allergic to silicones), this might be a great option for you. That said, there isn't anything on this list that actually treats the skin. Tarte claims that people who used this product felt like their skin was smoother and softer, but that's probably due to the massive amounts of silicone that give this primer its slip, not any actual treatment.

You'll also notice the diamond powder listed on this. In a few of the photos where I'm wearing this product, you can see tiny white flecks on my face: this is most likely the diamond powder shining through. Annoyingly, it's often visible in HD photos, but in standard definition and selfies, it's invisible and adds a soft glow to the skin. Just something to note if you plan on being photographed wearing this.

The coverage on this product is quite sheer, but that makes sense, since it's technically meant to be worn under another product. If you have a powder foundation, for instance, and you want to add some slip and SPF to your skin before applying it, this is your product. That said, I have always worn this product on its own without any major issues. I find that this provides enough coverage to make my face almost match my much paler neck.

As mentioned, the Tarte BB primer has a very silicone-heavy texture, and you can tell when you touch it. It has a powdery sort of feel and it smooths over the skin easily. I find the feeling of silicone-y bases very weird when I'm rubbing them in, but to be honest, it makes this product completely weightless. Wearing this makes me feel like I'm wearing nothing at all, so it's a prime summer option in that respect.

Unfortunately, this product clings a bit to my dry patches, making my skin look extra-flaky. It's not as bad as some foundations, and it's only visible if you're within a foot of my face, slash, photographing me in HD. That said, this BB cream will probably look much worse when it's not so warm and humid out. Also, I have certainly found foundations that don't emphasize my dry skin--there's no real need to cling to this one.

I will note that plenty of Cinema Secrets Moisture Spray softens this product up a good bit, though again, I don't think that will be enough when winter rolls around. And if you are not very dry skinned or very oily, I think you might like this product. In fact, I'd recommend it to people with more balanced skin who are looking for a sheer, light SPF product. It's just not a good fit for my skin these days.

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

Before I return this tube to Sephora, here are some comparison swatches! All of these products are roughly the same depth, but have different undertones. NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia has strong yellow undertones, while MAC Full Coverage in NW10 has strong pink undertones. Buxom Show Some Skin in Tickle the Ivory and the Tarte BB in Fair are very similar, but I'd say that the Tarte is a hair more neutral and the Buxom is a little more yellow.

PS: By this time tomorrow, I should  be hanging out with not only my partner, but also my new niece. Again, posts may become sporadic for a while. Thank you for your patience!

Fair-to-Light Concealer Swatch Fest

In the spirit of this blog and my endless desire to try ALL TEH PALE-ISH THINGS!, I have swatched almost every concealer I currently own. The one exception is my Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, because I've swatched it a zillion times already and I didn't have enough room on my hand.

The back of my hand ranges from N10-15, depending on the time of year and what I've been up to. I think I'm closer to N10 at the moment.

Direct sunlight on top, indirect sunlight in middle, flash on bottom. From left to right: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral, By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush in 1 Porcelain, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Light 1 Chantilly, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant, NARS stick concealer in Chantilly, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Fair.

Faking It: Getting a Glow in Winter

There was a time when I wore nothing but full coverage products in the most matte, flat formulations available. When I say matte, I mean mattttttte: not a hint of shine and borderline chalky.

Now that I'm a little older and wiser, I've come to realize that a glow is just much more flattering on my skin. Admittedly, my combination-dry skin generally lacks shine, so it could be a case of wanting what you don't have--the grass is always greener and whatnot. But I honestly do think that a little dewiness makes most people look more youthful and fresh, especially in the cold winter months. And as I prepare to visit frigid North Dakota, where the temperatures regularly drop in to the negatives, for almost a month, I'm whipping out every tool in my arsenal to keep that glow.

Nothing will beat out the importance of good skincare. Your skin is constantly changing due to the weather, hormones, etc., so you'll want to keep up with its needs on a day-to-day basis to give yourself the best possible canvas. But if you need that extra push? Well, a little makeup never hurts.

1. Don't sparkle, shine! It's been my experience that glittery highlighters look especially heavy on dry, winter-beaten skin, probably because the cold weather alters skin texture for the worst, making every little speck stick out. That's why I stick to glowy highlighters with super-fine shimmer particles, things that are more "sheeny" than "sparkly." The most natural of these is MAC Strobe Cream ($10, MACCosmetics.com), which is technically a moisturizer. I prefer to dab it over my makeup like a normal highlighter, but some people actually mix it with their foundation or apply it all over their face for extra moisture and glow. If you want a truly dewy look, consider the Makeup Forever Uplights ($29, Sephora.com) in shades #11 or #12. It's a light gel formulation that looks slightly wet, not at all glittery, on the skin. My all-time favorite highlighter is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector ($41, Sephora.com), which contains the most subtle, layerable shimmer particles I've ever seen.

2. Moisturizers can double as makeup. I've already mentioned MAC Strobe Cream, but don't forget about old classics like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream ($19.50, ElizabethArden.com). Yes, I can use it to moisturize my lips and lashes, but it also gives my face a dewy look. It's great as a highlighter as well--see my previous article for tips! I love this product so much, I keep 3 tubes: one in my makeup collection, one in the bathroom, and one in my purse.

3. Switch to lighter formulations for your base products. I'm not one for full coverage on most days, regardless of the weather, but I especially avoid it during the winter. Why?  Because most full-coverage foundations and concealers are matte and drying, so unless you have oily skin, they're going to cake up and look decidedly fake on dry, dehydrated skin. I stick to super-sheer tinted moisturizers, like the Tarte Tinted BB Treatment ($34, Sephora.com) or light, layerable, dewy foundations, like the infamous MAC Face & Body ($27, MACCosmetics.com). Then I spot concealer where needed. Even people with discoloration or acne are often better off using a light foundation and spot concealing as needed to prevent that dry, heavy look. For my undereyes, I've been using NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28, Sephora.com) to soften up my dark circles and keep that delicate patch of skin from shriveling up.

4. Need your full coverage? Prepare to shellac it! Truth time: I'm wearing a full-coverage foundation (Dolce & Gabbana's cream formulation) in that top image. And sure enough, as soon as I brushed it on to my skin, that normally luxurious product looked fake and slightly patchy on my dry, dry face. The fix? Generous spritzings of Skindinavia Setting Spray ($29, Skindinavia.com). This is the bridal version, which is slightly shinier, but you can use just about any formulation and get the same sort of effect. It not only holds your makeup in place, but also softens it up and adds some glow without feeling heavy or sticky.

5. Learn to love cream blushes. My cheeks are the Sahara, so I wear cream blushes almost exclusively year-round. But they're especially necessary in the winter, when my cheeks start to get flaky and take on a rougher texture. The emollient, slightly tacky feel of Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow blushes ($26, Nordstrom.com) means that they look dewy and smooth on my cheeks, but also last throughout the day. If you have a more oily skin type, or just prefer a less moisture-ful blush, try Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush ($38, Sephora.com), a more powder-like formulation that is still blendable and comfortable on dry skin.

Underrated Effortless Beauty Must-Haves

The idea of "effortless beauty" used to be something of a joke to me. It always felt like an effort (albeit an enjoyable one) to blend out my foundation and concealer, comb through my lashes, fill in my brows, perfect my lipstick, and wing my eyeliner. But as I've gotten older, tried a wider variety of looks, and experienced a whole new generation of makeup textures and finishes, I've come to realize that some products really ARE effortless. The modern beauty world is inundated with natural-looking, easy-to-apply makeup, the kind of stuff you can throw on your face in five minutes without brushes or fusses. And while some of these products, like Becca Beach Tints and Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, are cult classics, others don't seem to get the attention they deserve.

Topping my list is the Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Gloss ($14, ElizabethArden.com). I'm not a gloss girl in the slightest, but this one is truly special. It's sticky enough to last for hours without making your lips feel gummy, and it has an unusual "blurring" effect that seems to reduce the visibility of lip lines. It looks beautiful on its own or over any lipstick. I'm also not one to bother with fancy eyeshadow looks on most days, but even if I'm in a hurry, I can find time for the Wet n' Wild Fergie eyeshadow primer ($5, drugstores) and a slick of Lancome Pink Zinc eyeshadow ($19, Nordstrom). The Fergie primer has actually replaced my Too Faced Shadow Insurance; I might cry if they discontinue it. And yes, Pink Zinc + MAC Satin Taupe is my favorite smokey eye...but Pink Zinc is gorgeous on its own. I feel like Lancome eyeshadows get zippo love.

If there's something I do love, unequivocally, it's a bright lipstick and loads of mascara. But it's difficult to smear on a red lipstick when you're sitting on a bus at 7:30 in the morning. So I go for Lipstick Queen Jean Queen ($18, Nordstrom) instead: it's a beautiful watermelon color that's bright enough to make an impact, but also sheer and creamy enough that it can be applied without a mirror. If I need a no-mess mascara that's layerable, I turn to Estee Lauder Sumptuous ($24, EsteeLauder.com). One coat looks quite natural, three coats is lush and full, and the brush makes it a bit easier to apply than, say, CoverGirl Clump Crusher if you're prone to poking yourself in the eye. (Guilty.)

For glowy-but-natural looking skin that takes me all of 2 minutes, I turn to three specific products: the Tarte Tinted BB Treatment in Fair ($34, Sephora), Charlotte Ronson Liquid eyeshadow in Sky (sadly discontinued), and Makeup Forever Uplight #11 ($29, Sephora). The Tarte BB is supposed to be a primer, but because it has a tint and some SPF, I just use it as an on-to-go sunscreen and tinted moisturizer, sometimes topped with a smidge of powder. The Uplight and liquid eyeshadow both have incredibly unique formulas that leave my eyes and cheeks looking soft and dewy. After I slap on these three products, I can slap on some brow pencil, mascara, and multipurpose cheek/lip products for a 5 minute makeup look. All while sitting in the back of the bus!

My Makeup Bag

I'm one of those women who really should get out of the habit of carrying a makeup bag. It was a necessity when I was in graduate school because I almost always rolled out of bed after 2 hours of sleep and slapped on a full face of makeup whilst riding the bus to the office. Now that I'm seeking employment and rarely spend my nights at other people's houses? Not quite as necessary. I could get away with my lip color and a powder compact. But I stubbornly cling to the carry-a-makeup-bag tradition in the hopes that I'll have more adventures, find exhausting but gainful employment, and never be without an essential touch-up item.

One thing I definitely need to put in this bag, though, is a travel packet of makeup remover wipes. I'd never rely on a makeup wipe to clean my face on a regular day, but if I get stuck somewhere and can't access my complete skincare routine? Girl.

First, the non-makeup stuff I carry! I always worry about running out the door with messy, smelly hair, so I carry my spin pins, a bobby pin, a ponytail holder, and a solid perfume. The solid perfumes from One Hand Washes the Other are a godsend because they won't leak or melt and make a mess out of my bag! My emergency skincare treatment of choice is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face, which is creamy enough to moisturize my face, but light enough to mix with other products. I've only seen that product in kits, but keep your eyes peeled at TJ Maxx and Marshall's! Last, but not least, a mirror my friend Jessica gave me. I'm paranoid about food getting stuck in my giant horse teeth, so I check that mirror more than I'd like to admit...

And the makeup! A few of these items rotate in and out: the sample Chantecaille gloss is there in case I want a bit of shine, I'm due to replace the Estee Lauder Sumptuous mascara with a new mini, and I switch the Becca Beach Tints every month or so--they're sheer enough to work with most lip colors. The Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows in Soft Blonde isn't the Holy Grail that Shu Uemura Hard Formula in Seal Brown is, but it's still quite pretty and very travel-friendly. I do think I need to find an alternative to the Palladio Rice Paper Sheets...they aren't terrible, but they kick up a good bit of powder when I pull them out, which defeats the purpose of carrying a pseudo-mess free powder.

The other items are major loves of mine and definite makeup bag staples! Benefit High Beam has been one of my all-time favorite highlighters and all-around wonder products for years, and it really breaks my heart that they no longer sell this $10 travel size. :( On the bright side, many of the kits contain mini-High Beams! I also keep a travel-sized Anastasia Clear Brow Gel to hold my crazy brows in shape and, if the need be, to add some shine to my lashes. That's one of the few products I own a full-sized AND travel-sized version of, because I never ever want to be without it. Lipstick Queen Jean Queen is a Holy Grail that stays in the makeup bag because it's suitable for any and all makeup looks. And of course, my base products: the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment in Fair and the Clinique Airbrush concealer in Fair. Both of these products are sheer, lightweight, and absolutely bulletproof.

More Pale Swatches and a Becca Luminous Skin Colour Mini-Review

More pale swatches! Seriously, I received a lot of super-kind samples; it could take a while to go through these puppies.

From left to right: Becca Luminous Skin Colour in Porcelain, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01 and Sx02, Illamasqua Skin Base in 02, Burberry Luminous Sheer Foundation in Trench 1, Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer in Fair, and Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Airbrush in Lq02.

Although the Becca is quite sheer, it's also decidedly darker and more peachy-pink than the rest of these. The two lightest are KA SSE Sx01, which has yellow undertones, and Illamasqua Skin Base, with has pink undertones, followed closely by KA SSE Sx02 and the Tarte BB cream. The Burberry foundation and Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Airbrush would probably suit people closer to MAC NW15, though an NW10 could probably get away with them.

It's a shame the Becca is too dark and pink for me, because I think the finish is just lovely. It provides the barest hint of coverage, ever-so-slightly evening out my skintone while still letting my freckles shine through, and makes my skin look luminous and healthy. It also doesn't breakdown horribly on my super-oily nose, though it does get quite shiny and I find it necessary to add powder. The actual texture of the foundation is a surprise as well; I expected it to be quite thin and runny, as it has such a light coverage, but it actually has the feel of a moisturizing lotion, and it feels quite luxurious to massage it in to my skin.

I can get away with the Porcelain shade in the summer when my skin gets slightly darker, but overall, Porcelain is best suited to NW15-20 skin. I hope Becca makes a paler, more neutral shade of this soon, because I truly adore it! RATING: 5 out of 5.

Kill n' Keep: Mini-Reviews on the L'oreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner and Tarte BB Tinted Treatment

First up in my series of mini-reviews are these two little guys: the L'oreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner in Carbon Black and the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment in Fair. Hilariously enough, the product I had high hopes for ended up being a total fail, and the product I was initially doubtful of ended up being quite nice.

First up, the product that didn't wow me: the L'oreal liner. I've heard great things about how pigmented and smooth this product was, and it definitely is a beautiful, rich, black color. But unfortunately, it's not even mildly water-resistant.

Being one of those incredibly pale people with uber-light eyes, I have a mild sun allergy, and bright light--especially bright daylight--tends to make my eyes tear up. The L'oreal liner completely disappeared or flaked up at the first sign of liquid, as you can see above.

The packaging is also mildly irritating. The tube is completely nondescript; the only indication of what product it is is found on the little label on the bottom. And while it's nice to find a drugstore liner with a brush tip, the tip on this liner is a bit thick and rather boxy; I've been doing winged eyeliner for years now, but it was a bit of a struggle to get a precise, pointed wing with this brush.

Of course, when I went back and touched up where it had melted off, I fell back in love a little. It's just so rich and black and affordable--only $8 for a liquid liner with a brush! But alas, I know that it will melt at the first sign of rain, sweat, or tears, and that's a no-go for me. I'll use this product every once in a while, maybe when I'm going out or when I'm just darkening up the liner along my lashline, but beyond that, it's a total bust. RATING: 2 out of 5.

The Tarte BB cream, however, ended up being an unexpected like. Not only did it look quite dark when I first squirted it out of the tube, but the texture is so silicone-y that when I first began rubbing it in to my skin, I actually yanked my hands away from my face in shock. Granted, this product is marketed primarily as a primer, something you'd use under a foundation to give it more staying power and a bit more coverage. But because this product is tinted AND marketed as a BB cream, I was fully prepared to treat it like a light-coverage foundation. To its credit, the Tarte BB blended in to my skin very smoothly, provided light coverage, softened up on my dry-combination skin after about 15 minutes, and looked like a decent color-match. But I still didn't trust it, so I set it with some translucent powder.

Folks, I had no reason to worry: this baby stayed put through a walk, blotting with tissues, and a good 5-7 hours of wear. While it looks nice in daylight, it looks especially lovely in flash photography, as seen above. My skin almost appears slightly blurred and soft-focus, though of course, topping it with a slightly mattifying setting powder helped. And I did feel the need to dust a little more powder on my nose (where I actually get oily) after about 5 hours. Regardless, it looks nice and is in a doable shade for my N5-10 skin--a rare treat. I still get squicked by the texture, and I wish it was a bit more "ooh! aah!" in daylight, but overall, I quite like this product. RATING: 4 out of 5.

Vanity: Kayleigh

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Kayleigh, Student

 I've always had some interest in makeup and beauty. As a little girl, I obsessively collected Bonne Bell Lip Smackers and would sneak into my mom's makeup bag and put on her lipstick. My first "real makeup" was a Bobbi Brown gift set bought for me by my wonderful grandmother. When I was in college, I stumbled upon MakeupAlley.com, and my interest in makeup (and my collection) grew rapidly.

My favorite products change all the time, and I tend to fall in love with a brand, buy a ton of it, then discover a new brand to go wild over. But I also have a rule for myself when it comes to how much makeup I have: I only keep things that I truly love and will use. The rest I blog sale or give away. When I have too much, I just neglect it, and the clutter bothers me. I am constantly buying and editing my collection.

One philosophy I live by is "less is more". I find that a well-applied, simple face of makeup is always ten times more flattering than haphazardly piling it on. In general, I love products that create natural, "my face but better" looks. Some of my current favorites are from Becca: the Luminous Skin Color, Shimmering Skin Perfector, Beach Tints, and palettes. Becca products seem to create the most beautiful yet subtle looks. I've also been loving Dior lipsticks, Laura Mercier shadows, and Tarte blushes. I wear a "full face" of makeup maybe three times a month.

Lipsticks are probably my biggest addiction. I tend to prefer sheer to medium coverage lipsticks with a satin or slightly glossy finish. The majority of my lipstick collection is variations of natural colors, but with hints of rose, berry, and red. I also love neutral shadows. I gravitate towards bronzes, taupes, and nude shades. When I want to get a bit crazy, I'll use plum, navy, or forest green--that's colorful enough for me! Becca, Guerlain, and Laura Mercier are my favorites for shadows at the moment. All three of those brands have beautiful, complex neutrals.

Although I'm lazy when it comes to makeup, I am vigilant about my skin care routine. At night, I start by removing my makeup with Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil. It removes everything and helps to balance my skin. Sometimes I follow up with my Clarisonic and Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash--it just depends on my skin that day. I will then apply Alpha Hydrox 10% Enhanced Cream. This takes care of any flaky patches and keeps my pores really clean. As far as my morning skincare, I usually use a damp washcloth and apply my sunscreen (unless my skin is particularly oily, in which case I will cleanse). I also use Kate Somerville Exfolikate and Makeup Artist's Choice peels as needed.

I buy almost all mid-end and high-end products. I used to impulse buy drugstore products, end up hating them, and feel I wasted money, so I cut myself off. The exception is Maybelline Full n' Soft waterproof mascara, which I love to pieces and have gone through countless tubes of.

This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.