The Hype Machine: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat High Cover Radiant Concealer

The Hype Machine is a series that takes a critical look at well-loved, cult classic, appears-in-every-other-Instagram-photo products and asks: are they worth the hype?

A little under two years ago, this same series ranked the original Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen as an above-average product, versatile and lovely, but probably more expensive than necessary. I've continued to use my Touche Eclat pen primarily as an undereye brightener, mixing it with my concealer du jour to get a bit less coverage and a brighter, slightly dewier finish. So when YSL released a true-blue concealer version of Touche Eclat (because, again, the original is not really a concealer; stop yelling at the poor thing), and when it was reviewed positively by bloggers I trust, I decided to bite the bullet and use up my gift cards.

Natural light on top, ring light on bottom. From left to right: YSL TE High Cover in 0.75 Sugar, YSL TE Brightening Pen in 2 Luminous Ivory, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, Glossier Stretch Concealer in G11.

What got me a little stuck was the shade range. I couldn't decide between the lightest shade, 0.5 Vanilla, and the second-lightest shade, 0.75 Sugar. After receiving several super-helpful comments on Instagram, I decided to go with 0.75 Sugar, since this is clearly meant to be an undereye/brightening concealer, and I knew the peachy tones of 0.75 would work well on my dark circles.

I'm glad I went with that shade. First of all, yes, 0.75 is DEFINITELY peach-toned, and it definitely works well on dark circles--more on that in a moment. Second, it's closer to the original Touche Eclat pen in 2 than you'd think. See, the original Touche Eclat pen darkens up a bit as it dries: it comes out looking almost identical to the very pale NARS Chantilly, but it ends up being about a shade darker. I'd peg the YSL Touche Eclat High Cover at about NC/NW 15 in terms of depth, and the YSL Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen is maybe half a shade lighter.

The only other product on my face in these photos is a thin layer of the Surratt Surreal Skin foundation, which, LOOOOL, look at that beautiful application right over my top lip. I'M AN ARTIST.

The new High Cover version of Touch Eclat features a nearly identical metal tube and brush tip applicator; the only difference is that the High Cover version includes a black label, which is honestly helpful for differentiating between the two tubes quickly. I love the feeling and the weight of this packaging, and unlike many click tubes, it only takes a few clicks to get the product started.

One click will get you about twice as much product as you see in the above-middle photo. I actually find that a full click of this concealer is a bit much for me, so I just leave the rest on the brush for touch-ups or my next application. However, I tend to wear very thin layers of my base products, I only use this on my undereyes, and I have a sort of small face; you may use a whole click if you're covering more surface area or like more coverage.

Now, the name of this product may make you think this is going to completely blank out your dark circles. I don't think that's the purpose of this concealer. Instead, I think the name means this is a "high coverage version" of Touche Eclat (versus a traditional, maximum coverage concealer). I'd say this is a very natural, beautiful, just-barely-medium coverage concealer.

I can hear you scoffing. "Natural?! It looks like you smeared Vaseline on those undereyes!"

Look, I get what you're saying: my undereyes look hella-glossy in that after photo. But remember that it was photographed with a strong ring light shining directly down on me. In every other lighting situation I tested this in, including the all-important natural light, this just looked like a satin-y, natural, skin-like concealer. See the above natural light Instagram shot for proof!

You can also dust this very lightly with some powder to make it a natural matte texture. I found that powder took away any and all shine, and it prevented a bit of the (inevitable) creasing, but it didn't clump or cake.

Finally, let's answer that all-important question: is it worth the price? Again, I have to give you a wishy-washy "yes and no." For me, it's a pretty stellar product that's easy to apply, works well with all of my foundations, and really brightens up my face. I used to put two products on my undereyes; now I'm down to one. If you're like me and you have a hard time finding a single undereye concealer you like, it's aces. But if you already have an undereye concealer you love, I don't know that this luxury product is necessarily going to top it.

BOTTOM LINE: YSL has created a higher-coverage version of their beloved Touche Eclat pen that delivers natural, medium coverage that really works on my undereyes. If you're looking for a great undereye concealer, this could be the one for you; if you've already got a favorite, feel free to give this pricey pen a pass.

The Hype Machine is a series that represents my experiences and opinions. It is not meant to be a personal attack on a specific company, product, or consumer. I always recommend that you try products for yourself and see how they work for you. Everybody is unique, after all!

Spring 2018 Favorites

Technically speaking, summer doesn't begin until the end of June. I'm stubborn, though, and I insist on saying a season starts and ends when certain events or temperature changes occur. It's in the high 70s, low 80s on the regular now, and there are plenty of thunderstorms--that means summer is starting. Hence, it's time for spring favorites!

I'm thrilled to say that two of my three beauty favorites for this past season are sun protection products. The first is the newest SPF in my collection, the Skin Laundry Daily Moisturizer SPF35. As the name suggests, this is a lightweight day cream that provides a little hydration and the perfect amount of sun protection. It does have a slight sunscreen smell, but it fades quickly, and it's much lighter and more hydrating than a standard sunscreen. Oily skinned people will likely find this too heavy or greasy, but if you have very dry skin like me, give this one a shot!

For incidental exposure, I'm loving the Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint SPF20. It provides SPF20 (though no UVA2 protection) and light coverage that looks incredibly natural and smooth on my dry skin. Now that I'm self-tanning my neck and upper chest for these warmer months, this is my go-to base product. Frankly, I'm so shocked by how good this is that I find myself peeking at other Philosophy beauty products, despite the fact that I've paid next to no attention to the brand for the last decade. That's the power of a new favorite, I suppose! I'm still not over the terrible packaging, though, and yes, I'm going to whine about it every time this product comes up.

For my SPF-free beauty item, I was pleasantly surprised by how voluminous and black YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara made my lashes look. This mascara has the natural bristle wand and creamy formula that I prefer. The one bummer about this is that it does flake a bit and smear a little, but only "a bit" and "a little," and that's better performance than what I get from most mascaras. I don't think I'll ever cough up the money for a full size tube, but I'll gladly grab every sample available to me.

Like most Americans, I was blown away by the music video for Childish Gambino's "This is America." It took me a half dozen viewings to pick out most of the references I could find, and even then, there were several that popped up in analyses that I totally missed. It's a richly textured video that provides more commentary in four minutes than some films do in two hours.

Lastly, a book! As I mentioned in my previous favorites post, I've had a lot of ups and downs with my reading choices this year; not much is wowing me, and I've finished a number of "meh" and disappointing books. An exception to this was Leigh Bardugo's "The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic," a collection of updated fairytales and folklore. These stories are apparently linked to Bardugo's Grishaverse books. Since I haven't read those yet and I feared I wouldn't understand these short stories as a result, I almost returned the book to the library unread. I'm glad I didn't, though, because these stories stand on their own. Each tale is a delight, though I'm particularly fond of "The Too-Clever Fox." There are also a ton of absolutely beautiful illustrations by Sarah Kipin.

Product List:

Skin Laundry Daily Moisturizer SPF35, $25

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Skin Tint, $39

YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara, $29

Childish Gambino, "This is America" single, $1.29

Leigh Bardugo, "The Language of Thorns," $12.34

The Hype Machine: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen

 The Hype Machine is a series that takes a critical look at well-loved, cult classic, appears-in-every-other-Instagram-photo products and asks: are they worth the hype?

Few things are as iconic and infamously luxe as this highlighting pen, the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen. Despite being such an enduring and immediately recognizable product, a lot of people seem to have issues figuring out what to do with this pen; it doesn't provide enough coverage to mask dark circles, nor is it as reflective as most modern highlighters. I was a bit stuck when I first tried it, too, mostly because it is considered an untouchable classic and I was afraid of messing it up. Now that I've fiddled with it for a few weeks, I think I'm ready to give you my thoughts.

First, let's clarify what this isn't: it's not a concealer. It's too sheer to cover up the darkness under your eyes, and it's too shiny to hide a blemish. It's also not a glittery, sparkly, or even dewy product; it's got more of a natural, healthy-skin like satin glow. That said, I've used the blog's "concealer" and "highlighter" labels because they best represent where you use this product and the effect it gives. Quote the Sephora summary, it "brightens, smooths, and perfects your complexion...highlight(s) your best features without any shimmer or glitter." For $42 a pen, it had better be damn good at perfecting stuff.

I've been using the shade #2 on the tops of my cheekbones, in the hollows of my eye, and under my brows. As you can see here, it blends out seamlessly and gives a lovely bit of glow and dimension. Because it's very sheer, it won't make your blush look muddy or look too stark around your eyes. The actual texture of the Touche Eclat pen is very thin and smooth, so it's comfortable on the skin and even blends well over fine lines. It works well with other products; obviously, it mixes with my undereye concealer, but I've also been tapping my Glossier Haloscope on top of it on my cheeks, and the combination is dewy and lovely.

That sounds majestic and perfect and glorious, but let's be honest here: is this a look that's so hard to get with other products? Nah. I can get a similar seamless glow from MAC Strobe Cream and equally effective color correction from the Maybelline Dream Lumi Pen; if I want something that adds a little glow and some color under my brows, I can mix a dash of concealer with my Strobe Cream. This is also a typical YSL product insofar as it reeks of perfume.

It's a lovely brightener that I've really enjoyed and will likely finish. I'd also have no qualms recommending it to other people who want this sort of effect. Am I going to repurchase it, though? Eh, I dunno. I don't think it's entirely necessarily, especially at that $42 price point. Still, I can see why it's been so beloved for decades.

BOTTOM LINE: This is an overhyped, but relatively versatile highlighting pen that's invisible on the skin, so it's no wonder it became a cult classic. That said, if you've got an undereye brightener and a natural highlighter you already like, you don't have to rush out and buy this $42 pen.

The Hype Machine is a series that represents my experiences and opinions. It is not meant to be a personal attack on a specific company, product, or consumer. I always recommend that you try products for yourself and see how they work for you. Everybody is unique, after all!

5 Luxury Products I'd Repurchase Without Hesitation

Consider the Byronic hero. He was cynical, critical, and often sulky, the kind of guy you reluctantly cheered for because--while he was certainly a hero of sorts--he was still a major douchebag. But if there's one thing we can't fault a Byronic hero for, its his patience: those guys gave new meaning to the word "brood." They thought long and hard about damn near everything, so much so that their thoughts became 95% of every poem or play they were in.

I think this is why I've always kind of liked Byronic heroes. I am the very definition of a brooder, especially when it comes to my money: I fret and fuss over nearly every penny I spend. It's very rare for me to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on a single piece of makeup, because when I do, I'm often disappointed. (For example, I have yet to try a single $100+ foundation that could top MAC Face & Body, the large bottles of which cost less than $10 per ounce.) There's plenty of great stuff at drugstore and mid-end prices that kicks luxury's ass. But I have found some luxury items that are so wonderful, unique, and perfect-for-me that I would actually pay double for them, should the need arise. Here's a list of them.

Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Powder Foundation, $61 -- Still one of my most popular reviews to date, this is the only powder foundation that has ever worked on my dry skin. The packaging is super luxurious: while it does get scratched up very easily, it's heavy and safe, and you can drop this powder numerous times without it breaking. The product itself is finely milled and can be layered heavily without making your skin look cakey. I'm especially happy about D&G's shade range; they're one of the few brands that creates shades for the very pale all the way up to the moderately dark. I prefer to use this as a matte setting and touch-up powder, but it works just fine as a foundation as well.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil, $23 -- It's true that the Shu pencil isn't much more expensive than most mid-end options. But because it's quite hard to get in the states these days (which can add a high shipping cost), I consider this a luxury product. You may pay $23 for this pencil, but you're getting something that may very well outlive you. I've sharpened mine 5 or 6 times, and it still looks practically brand new because you get so much product and need so little to fill in your brows. As you can see by the damaged cap, this pencil is a well-loved part of my collection.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, $41 -- Yet another product that is seemingly bottomless! $41 is a hefty price for a liquid highlighter, but you get an entire ounce of product in easy-to-use, hygienic plastic packaging with a pump. And an ounce of this stuff really does last: I think I've had my bottle for 3 years now, and even after creating several sample pots for friends and using it regularly, I've hardly made a dent in it. You can use a thin layer of the SSP for a natural glow, pack it on for tons of shine, or even add a dash to your foundation for extra dewiness. It's simply amazing.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light, $45 -- The second powder on my list is this beauty from Hourglass. I purchased my compact second-hand, never expecting the stuff to work out for me. Well...I love it. This is an off-white satin finish powder that makes a fantastic finishing powder for pale skin. It doesn't add shine or make you look matte, it just gives your skin a soft-focus finish. It's especially good for photography.

YSL Creme de Blush in Babydoll, discontinued -- I don't think I'll ever get over this product being discontinued, because it's the most perfect clean pink I've ever owned. The formula is a light, airy mousse that's easy to blend and does not disturb your foundation. The color brightens up my complexion without looking garish or overdone. YSL supposedly discontinued this formula in favor of the Kiss and Blush product, but I don't think it's at all comparable--the Creme de Blush is a thousand times better. I will probably cry when my pot runs out.

REVIEW: Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss and Blush

YSL knows how to push my buttons. First, they come out with a beautiful cream blush that is my absolute Holy Grail, then they threaten to discontinue it (although Babydoll is still available, so maybe they're just trying to scare us in to purchasing more). Then, they release a foundation that is stupidly gorgeous, but of course, too dark for my skintone. Now they're competing in a "World's Cutesiest Name" competition, or something of that ilk. "Baby Doll Kiss and Blush?" Really?

I'm going to refer to these as "KnB" or "Kiss and Blush stains" for the remainder of this review, because I am that old and cranky. In the meantime: stop, YSL. Just stop.

The Kiss and Blush stains are dual lip-and-cheek products that retail at $40 apiece for 0.33oz of product, housed in a pretty glass tube. I'm funny about glass because I'm clumsy and prone to breaking things, but I've dropped these multiple times and they haven't shattered yet. (This is not me telling you to rush out and drop your glass bottles. Avoid! Avoid!)

The applicator is a spongy, spade-shaped oddity, bent at an angle. There's a tiny hole in the center of the spade; when you use the applicator to apply product, the pressure will push the excess through the hole. This makes it hard to overdo your application.

The applicator is kind of a necessity with this product. While I prefer to dab product on the back of a clean hand, then apply it to my face from there, I don't seem to get much pigmentation that way. I think it's because this formula clings to your skin immediately, so once I've got it on my hand, it doesn't want to move. I get much better results if I use the applicator to apply directly to my lips and cheeks. This squicks me out a little, but unless you're a makeup artist who uses their products on tons of different people, it probably won't be an issue for most people.

Wearing 02 Rose Frivole on the left and 09 Rose Epicurien on the right.

Everybody has been raving that the KnBs are some of the only dual use products out there that actually work on both the lips and cheeks. And I have to say that that's true. I get smooth, soft coverage and 3 hours of wear on my lips, less if I eat a lot, and they last for a good 6+ hours on my cheeks. The formula is very silicone heavy, and all of that "slip" definitely helps the products feel weightless and glide over most texture and fine lines.

On both the lips and cheeks, this product has a satin finish. This gives the Kiss and Blush stains a very natural, effortless look. However, it also makes them rather drying. I'll wear these on my lips for an easy match, but it's my personal preference; after a few hours, it feels like I've dusted powder over my mouth. I'm willing to tolerate a drying formula if the color is phenomenal or the wear-time is long, but for 3 hours? Eeeeh.

 I also dislike the scent of most YSL products. The Kiss and Blush stains feature their "mango" scent, which I normally find completely intolerable. However, it's not as strong in the KnBs as it is in other products from the line, and I can't smell it after I've applied the stain to my skin. Still, disgusting. Why should such a luxe-looking product smell like peach rings?!

In the end, these are very impressive lip and cheek stains, and I can see why people are loving them. But I'm not entirely convinced I want to buy more shades, especially at $40 a bottle. I'll probably keep them in my makeup bag to conserve space, and use them more in the summer when the heat makes me extra-lazy.

RATING: 4 out of 5

REVIEW: Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

The Sephora VIB sale signaled my last beauty purchase for the foreseeable future, partially because I won't be teaching this summer, partially because I don't need any more makeup in my currently-well-pruned collection. But I wanted to try one last much-lauded foundation, a product that some say is light enough for the super-pale and is often recommended for its great glow: Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat. As the name suggests, this foundation is meant to give you the same radiant effect as the Touche Eclat pen, a cult favorite for decades.

Now, I know that the smart thing would've been to get a sample instead of spending the last of my pocket cash on a $57 + taxes foundation. But I'd already asked for a sample of the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel foundation. The YSL seemed like the safer bet: medium coverage, dewy finish, wide shade range, and again, plenty of positive reviews. What was there to lose?

image from Sephora.com

Let's go over the technicalities. The YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation costs $57 for 1oz at Sephora. There are 16 shades, ranging from very light to very dark, with three undertones: neutral (the B shades), yellow (the BD shades), and pink (the BR shades). This is actually a relatively impressive range for a luxury foundation, considering most brands just stick to 7 or 8 medium shades, though you may have to mix to get your perfect match.

The packaging is absolutely stunning and reeks of opulence...or at least it does for me, because I like things that are simple and elegant. It's a glass bottle with a pump and some gold trim, just my style. I knew that if this product worked out for me, it'd look great next to my Dolce & Gabbana powder

For the photos included in this review, I used 1 1/2 pumps of foundation on my face and upper neck. I blended the product using my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (and I kinda missed a spot on the end of my nose there--I fixed it later!). I worked in sections because I heard that this foundation dries down quickly, but I didn't find that to be the case, not even on my very dry cheeks.  I wouldn't take my good sweet time smoothing the foundation out, but you have some leeway and you shouldn't panic when applying.

The formulation is a smooth, creamy liquid with a slight floral fragrance that fades after a few moments. It feels absolutely weightless on my skin. Although this foundation is touted as being super-glowy, it looked more satin on my skin; I'm combination-dry, however, so I've yet to meet a "dewy finish foundation" that actually looked like that on my skin. Regardless, it's an absolute stunning finish. LTTE has SPF19, which can cause flashback in photos, but wasn't too much of a problem for me.

Applied with a brush or with my fingers, I get medium, slightly buildable coverage. A damp BeautyBlender gave me sheerer coverage, but I wasn't as fond of the finish and felt like it took more work to blend out with that method (see here).

Flash on the left; some sunlight on the right. I live in Pennsylvania, so trying to get BRIGHT sunlight for a photograph is kind of a moot point.

Suffice to say that this product photographs beautifully. I was absolutely blown away by how fantastic my skin looked in pictures, both with and without flash; it was like it was airbrushed, but so carefully that it still looked like skin. Just looking at these photos makes me fall madly, desperately in love with LTTE's phenomenal finish and coverage.

But in the harsh light of day, it was a different story. Because, you see, this product looks like makeup on my skin. That's not to say that it looks bad, because it doesn't. But it doesn't look as "real" or as natural as what I'm accustomed to. I'm without a doubt visibly made-up when I wear this product.

The NARS foundation swatched here is Sheer Glow; the Flower Beauty foundation is the About Face liquid. The Sheer Glow is actually old and rancid (thanks, unsavory swappers), but the color should still be accurate.

It's also a bit too dark for me. My face is about N15 with pink undertones, but my neck is N5 with cool yellow undertones. I prefer to match to my neck. I'm okay with foundations in the N10 range (between my face and neck) because the difference is generally imperceptible, but I've come to the conclusion that B10 is much closer to N15 than what I'm comfortable with. (NOTE: It looks like a perfect match in the full-face pictures posted above, but I've found that my camera can be very generous, probably because I am so blindingly white. IRL, this is definitely too dark for me.)

B10 is relatively neutral, though, especially compared to NARS Siberia and Flower LF1 (which have hints of cool yellow) and MAC Face & Body N1 (which is very pink). I was told that the BR10 shade is lighter and would therefore work better for me, but it's apparently not available in America, and I'm not a huge fan of weaseling expensive products through customs unless it's absolutely necessary. (EDIT: While the BR10 shade was not available when I purchased this product and wrote this review, it is reportedly now available at Neiman Marcus.)

I was pleasantly surprised by how well this foundation wore throughout the day. It looked stunning on my normal and dry areas throughout the entire day, with no fading, patchiness, or flakes showing. And while I wouldn't recommend this product to an oily-skinned person, it's not terrible on oily skin by any means, either. My nose did get a bit shiny and the foundation did fade, but it faded evenly after 5-6 hours and wasn't settling in my pores or sliding off.

In the end, the Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation is absolutely stunning, one of the few $50+ foundations I've tried that's definitely worth the money. But because it's too dark and because it looks a bit fake in daylight, it's just not the right product for me.

RATING: 5 out of 5

Available at Sephora.com.

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.

No, I'm not dead.

Once again, I did a month-long disappearing act. BUT! I come bearing gifts!

So shortly before my boyfriend arrived for an extended visit (aka before I dropped off the face of the Earth), I hauled 3 little things from Sephora and managed to use my points, coupon codes, my recent birthday, and the usual pick-3-samples deal to pull in a surprisingly full box. I actually panicked a little when I first opened the box and sifted through it because I couldn't find the Shiseido cottons; here they were wedged between some of the packing paper. Phew!

Here's all that I hauled, minus the monstrous pack of Shi cottons (a staple for me). I already know that Becca Radiant Skin foundation runs too dark and not-neutral enough for me, but I thought I could get the free sample for swatching purposes. My other free samples were the Soap & Glory body butter and the Hourglass primer, both of which are products I've heard loads about, but have also yet to use. Oops.

I also cashed in 100 of my points for a 1/2 oz sample of the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer. I've been liking this product, but only when I mix a dot of it in with my foundation; unfortunately, it's tinted, so if I just spread it around my face willy-nilly, I look like an Oompa-Loomp. The deluxe Clinique Black Honey lipstick sample was procured with a coupon code, and because I placed this order at the start of May (a few weeks after my birthday), I was able to get the free Benefit gift. Watt's Up is too dark/golden for my super-pale skin, unfortunately, but I'm not entirely hating the They're Real Mascara.

As for stuff I purchased: again, there were the Shi cottons, and I got the NARS pencil sharpener because it would take me over $50 for free shipping and work for my NARS Matte Lip Pencils. The real star, though, has been the Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Creme de Blush in #9 Babydoll.

I was suckered in to buying this blush by Ruth Crilly, the model behind AModelRecommends.com. I'm not normally so easily swayed, but it looked so bright and beautiful and clean on her skin. Ruth also talked up the texture, saying that it was soft and light, and so easy to apply without disturbing the makeup underneath. I gave it a test...and it was instant love. The formula really is creamy, dreamy, and lighter than air.

It's also the perfect everyday blush for my super-fair face, as it doesn't contain a hint of brown and blends so smoothly in to my skin. I've worn this blush almost non-stop for a month, I kid you not; I had to force myself to try out NARS Cactus Flower instead of grabbing for the YSL. It's a definite staple in my collection.

Also, some updates on the red lipstick front! My most recent tips and tutorials for wearing red lipstick like a pro have been posted to Curvysta Haven, and my MAC Lady Danger lipstick giveaway is going on for a few more days!

Beauty Sightings: Sex and the City, season 1

I have a love-hate relationship with Sex and the City. On the one hand, I can see how it brought third-wave feminism to the forefront of pop culture and promoted the idea that strong, powerful women are still mere mortals. On the other hand, I found many of the storylines unrealistic, close-minded with regards to sexuality and gender stereotypes, and yes, even a little anti-feminist by promoting phrases like "I can't be in a committed relationship/marriage because I'm selfish." But truth be told, I've rewatched every episode a dozen times. The show is generally light-hearted, makes me laugh, and contains numerous beauty sightings, though they can be tricky to spot.

Season 1 beauty sightings are especially difficult to capture. The video quality didn't really go up until about season 3 or 4, so any screenshot that can capture the rough textures and colors of the items is bound to be grainy and blurry. Still, I managed to spot a few products I definitely recognized; about half of the rest look very similar. Those who are going to help me with brand names and products, please do! This show ran from the late 90s to the early 2000s.

Carrie's purse gets smacked out of her hand in the first episode. Several gold-cased lipsticks and gold-capped lipglosses pop out--they appear to be Estee Lauder--and a mascara-looking object in a thin white tube with a blue stripe. Anybody recognize the mascara-looking thing? Also, on the right, there's a tube of concealer with a satiny silver cap...I think it might be Clinique?

I can't recognize the silver compact, but a makeup artist friend of mine said that the round lipstick shape and silver-and-black tube are signature 90s Dior. Can anybody back this up for me?

A makeup artist with a bag of tools, and she's holding a sponge, a brush that appears to be from Estee Lauder, and something in a red compact. My immediate reaction was "Kevyn Aucoin!", but I'm pretty sure KA's beauty line launched closer to the time of his death in 2002--this season was filmed in 1988.

Carrie seems to keep a lot of her makeup in this wicker basket. There's also a vanity behind her--it looks like there are some serums and an eyeshadow and blush/gloss in black compacts, but they're hard to see.

Early-episodes Miranda has relatively light, natural brows. Here we see her running a spooly through her brows before she runs off to work.

Anybody recognize this lipstick packaging?

The ladies testing makeup. I'm dying to know what brand these products are! They remind me a lot of Estee Lauder, but of course, I can't be sure. The window in back seems to say "Desse," which isn't a boutique or store I recognize. (Then again, I'm not a New Yorker.)

Carrie in the same boutique holding a compact, most likely an eyeshadow.

Samantha's vanity, which cotton rounds, a powder compact, nail polishes, and lipsticks. Anybody recognize any of this stuff.

Carrie's plummy-pink lipliner. The writing is actually embossed silver. Liners are some of the hardest things to recognize because they're so tiny and their packaging is rarely distinctive.

Carrie's bathroom table. There's a Laura Mercier compact, a lash curler, and a bottle of Benetint. Makeup 411 notes that they used Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage on Sarah Jessica Parker, but I think that's a powder compact. I have a really hard time recognizing the foundation or the hair products. I'm 95% sure the pot of cream on the far right, which keeps popping up, is Ponds. (UPDATE: Emmeleine has pointed out that the cream might actually be Olay. Thanks!)

I don't recognize the liner, but those pots in the center are almost definitely La Femme cake glosses and blushes. EDIT: According to Amanda, the liner is very similar to old-school Stila. Thanks, Amanda! I think the small bottle with the white cap might be another Benefit product...High Beam or Posietint, perhaps?

Carrie applying mascara. I'm pretty sure that this is YSL--confirmation?

 Sam applying a really beautiful plum-nude lipstick.