I’m hoping to spend a decent amount of time in Sag Harbor this summer, and I dislike having to trek back and forth from Brooklyn with all my beauty products, so I recently purchased dupes of all my favorite products, like for instance this lip and cheek color that’s nicely light and sheer—ideal for warmer weather.
The fact that that I owned this Shiseido eyeliner had completely slipped my mind, but I found it when I was going through an old cosmetics bag the other day. It’s a nice rich brown (though it comes in several other hues too) and really stays put. I had pretty much given up on eyeliner—which fades quickly on my oily skin—but now that I’ve re-found this one, I’m back on board.
This Vitamin C serum appeals because it’s much cheaper than the stuff I was using before, and appears to do just as good a job. It’s nicely lightweight and absorbs quickly too.
So many of you have raved about Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen that I decided I needed to give it a try, and I have to say that so far I like it: it absorbs fast and nicely matte-ifies my shiny skin.
True, I just wrote about this mascara the other day, so I’ll keep it brief and just say that I put it on before a party Saturday night and my boyfriend thought—so great are this product’s lengthening powers—that I had false lashes on.
I don’t apply bronzer like you’re supposed to: strategically to the cheeks, nose, temples, and chin—in short, all the spots the sun naturally shines. I know I’d screw that up badly. So instead, I apply this Milk bronzer all over my face, which I can get away with because the color here is nicely subtle.
This hyaluronic acid formulation by The Ordinary made it into my rotation because it costs half as much less than this product from Drunk Elephant I used to use that does essentially the same thing. As with the above Vitamin C serum, I’m pretty certain my skin can’t tell the difference.
This Marula face oil has been part of my morning skincare regimen for ages now, and—like all my favorite skincare products—it sinks in quickly and makes my skin feel really hydrated.
I’m still a fan of the Charlotte Tilbury makeup setting spray I wrote about not long ago, but I’ve heard great things about this Urban Decay product, and decided to give it a shot for out on Long Island. I’ll report back on its effectiveness.
In addition to having oily skin, my eyes have started to water a lot (is that an aging thing?) so my eyeliner ends up looking like I was in a sauna shortly after applying it. The other day I had a shopping spree at Ulta and bought some primer as well as a setting spray so I hopefully it will offer pleasing results.
Or it could be a reaction to your sunscreen, moisturizer or other make up worn near the eye. It took me 2 years to figure this out. But when I changed to a mineral sunscreen the watery eye cleared up.
Yes, it can be an aging thing. Paradoxically, watery eyes can be a symptom of dry eyes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863
I put up with that condition for a weirdly long time ( carried full eye makeup kit around all the time for repair work) but finally went to a dr & got drops which solved it. Go!
I have chronic dry eye plus terrible allergies, so my eyes water year round. I use drops, but I haven’t found a solution to the makeup question. I stooped wearing eye makeup of all kinds, including mascara, years ago. It’s just not worth the suffering for me.
I use The Ordinary hyaluronic acid and mix in their Vitamin C powder. I read somewhere that powdered Vitamin C is a lot more effective than when it is suspended in a liquid. Plus all things The Ordinary are super-affordable! I purchased the it mascara when you initially posted about it and… WOW. It is amazing.
@Kim France — on a whole other topic… I’m a short, not-thin, busty almost-50-something considering getting an oversized black very soft, buttery leather motorcycle jacket that is classic but in an oversized style (not the hitting at waist, snug style but a longer at-hip relaxed style). I can’t decide right now, but wondering what your thoughts are on GOACA wearing oversized styles (in the Dutch or Japanese minimalist/avantgarde way or else the Billie Eilish Gen Z popstar way). I’m concerned I might look too old for this relaxed style and need a more cropped/tailored look that doesn’t always go well with my figure.
Agree with Karen and Mamavelveeta, if you like the jacket and feel good in it, go for it!!
And maybe also sends us a link, it sounds great!
Jax, I relate to what you wrote. I also love “oversized styles,” and can’t quite pull them off like a taller lady. But I’m older than you, and will wear them anyway!
Not Kim, but if it makes you happy, and you feel good in it, go for it!
Agreed, Karen! Life is too short to spend it worrying about what’s “appropriate” (who gets to decide?) – wear the jacket!
Thank y’all (I, like Kim, also need to start using this address instead of relying on the gendered and long-used “you guys”) for your support and encouragement!
For sensitive souls: I love a brand of lip and cheek color called 100 Percent Pure. I used to buy it at the Integral Yoga store in the West Village but now get it online. It is light, looks great and is apparently non-toxic.
Has anyone tried the super goop glowscreen? Am wondering how much sheen it has. I don’t want anything too sparkly. I like the texture of the regular unseen sunscreen and hope the glowscreen is similar.
Me! I love it and I would say it’s shimmery but not sparkly. It’s a creamier consistency than Unseen which was too thick and drying for me. I’m very fair and it blends nicely and evens out my skin tone so I generally use it in place of foundation in cooler months. I do find it a little heavy for high temps and humidity. A hack I recently discovered on TikTok (lol) that produces similar results without the shimmery glow of Glowscreen is to add a tiny drop of Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi to any face sunscreen you like. It eliminates the white cast and gives you a nice glow that isn’t shiny.
Interesting about the bronzer idea, thanks. I am so pale that bronzer typically just makes me orange, but perhaps I’ll give it a try.
I’ve not been able to use bronzer either and I was skeptical but I picked up the DE bronzing drops at the last Sephora sale thinking if they weren’t for me I could give them to my sister or niece. The product is dark in the tube but formulated to add to creams or sunscreen so once you mix it in it is barely noticeable but for me cutting the sunscreen white cast is life changing. I’m fair with a yellow undertone.
I LOVE it! I find it looks great under my tinted moisturizer and it gives me a slight glow that gets my 61-yr old skin compliments every time.
Susanna, I haven’t tried the Super Goop Glowscreen, but I will echo Allison about using the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi with my usual daytime moisturizer/sunscreen lotion for a a subtle glow that isn’t shimmery. You can also add more or less of the D-Bronzi to suit how much glow you want. : ) I’ve been using that combo in place of foundation and I love it!
The Ordinary also has a marula oil if you want to avoid those Drunk Elephant prices.
Trader Joe’s too.
I have tried so so SO many cream blushes…keep reading better than powder for “mature” skin. Tried alone and with setting spray (CT one you mentioned above) and within an hour…my skin soaks up the blush and it looks like I never applied any. Think I am doomed to powder blush forever????
Have you tried Danessa Myricks Colorfix Eye, Cheek & Lip Cream Pigment? When I’ve eyed her products, I get the hunch that they’d stick around https://danessamyricksbeauty.com/collections/colorfix. Meanwhile, I think I’m the opposite of you in having dry, dehydrated skin (blush doesn’t budge on me) so I’m wondering if the type of blush that I can’t use might be an option for you: Max Factor Creme Puff Blush. It’s in that class of blush that is technically powder, but has a “fatted” finish, making it more fluid and satin-y in feel. I think Hourglass, Physician’s Formula, and maybe Milani have similar “fatted” powder blushes. The best one I’ve ever seen was Rouge Bunny Rouge in the shade Gracilis, but I’m not sure what Rouge Bunny Rouge’s status is now. Of course, it could be that you already use the blushes I just mentioned, sorry if I’m repeating what you already know.
I love cream blushes but agree that so many of them wear off quickly. The best product I’ve found is the Patrick Ta blush duos. One is powder and one is cream, and the color range is divine. He recommends applying the cream blush over the powder blush, which initially seemed counter-intuitive to me. However, it somehow magically works and it stays put at least twice as long as anything else I’ve tried. Truly amazing stuff.
I like the Merit Beauty Flush Balm cream blush in Cool Pink. It really lasts and is so pretty! At $28, I think it’s a good price too.
Also, I recommend the Rose, Inc. cream blushes for staying power. Lots of gorgeous colors, too.
OK, so I use four things on the list and I agree with you 100%. The Ordinary is excellent, I use the Vitamin C as well, works great…Urban Decay setting sprays work, they really work. The lip and cheek give a really nice glow and I love the mascara which I got after you posted about it! I love your beauty posts, I need to try Marula Oil next. Have a great summer!
Those Milk blush sticks are like 1/4 of the size they used to be! When I saw them in the store I thought they were samples. Pretty much the same price though!
I have an issue with my eyes burning horribly if I get sunscreen in them. I’m using a sunscreen which applies like a stick deodorant (no need to touch with fingers) but invariably I will touch my face and then my eyes. How does everyone else happily wear sunscreen? Help!!
Try avoiding the specific sunscreen octocrylene (it has cry in the name), as that’s the one that a lot of people suspect causes their eye stinging. Other ingredients can sting too, though. You just gotta try a bunch to see what works for you. Try fragrance-free ones. Try baby ones.
I find mineral sunscreens are better and don’t bother my (very sensitive) eyes as much
I also wear a hat and sunglasses and long sleeves and try to stay in the shade.
This happens to me, too. Cerave light moisturizer with SPF 15 absorbs so quickly that it doesn’t get a chance to get in my eyes, but I don’t have a solution for when you need proper, day-at-the-beach sunscreen.
this is not helpful, but I can only use European SPF for this very reason (not even most of the highly lauded Japanese ones). LRP Anthelios is a godsend for people like us, it’s the only line I’ve ever found that doesn’t irritate my eyes.