September has been a really fun month in terms of makeup. I definitely tried out a lot of new products, but I also rediscovered some old products that I loved even more the second time around. Only choosing four favorites this month was difficult, but that means that these that made the final cut are the true "top of the top!"
Four Favorites: September 2016
1. Makeup Geek Eyeshadows
(L-R, Top Row): Vanilla Bean, Shimma Shimma, Barcelona Beach, Hipster, Mocha
(L-R, Bottom Row): Prom Night, Twilight, Mesmerized (Foil), Frappe, Creme Brûlée, Grandstand (Foil), Homecoming
Makeup Geek is one of those brands that Beauty Bloggers and Youtubers rave about. To be perfectly honest, I assumed for a long time that it was more due to the fact that the company was started by a fellow blogger/Youtuber than due to the outstanding products. I had heard so much hype about their eyeshadows, but had never been that tempted to try them. Well, this month, I found myself thinking, "I really wish I could just find an eyeshadow formula that I loved that allowed me to create my own perfect palette." MAC embraces a concept like this, but most in the beauty world agree that their eyeshadows are overpriced and underwhelming in terms of quality. While doing some research, I found that almost everyone considers Makeup Geek to be the better version of the MAC concept, so I decided to give it a try.
OMG. Why did I wait so long?! What have I been doing with my life?! Those are my feelings after using these constantly this month. First of all, the process of making your palette is so fun. You can purchase the magnetized Z Palettes (in several sizes) on their website as well, and then you just choose as many or as few of the eyeshadows as you'd like to fill it with. I went with some basic skin tone shades and matte browns, and then a trio of purple/taupes, a trio of warm browns, and a mid-tone bronzy shade that looked just right. They are so, so good. My go-to look with these has been Vanilla Bean all over, Barcelona Beach in the crease, and Homecoming as my lid shade, but I have loved every shade so far. The price tag on each individual shadow is low, but it can add up quickly if you're not careful, so be warned. I truly believe they are worth it, though!
Z Palette (medium - black) - $17.00
Eyeshadow Pan - $6.00 each
Foiled Eyeshadow Pan - $10.00 each
2. NYX Cosmetics HD High Definition Eye Shadow Base
I am a firm believer in the power of eyeshadow primer. I haven't always been, but the day I committed to never going without eyeshadow primer was a revolutionary day in my makeup journey. Eyeshadow looks 100 times better and lasts 100 times longer with a good primer, and it's such an easy step! For a long time, I was using the famous Urban Decay Primer Potion, but I began looking for a cheaper alternative recently. I have been loving this one by NYX! I actually enjoy the application better than the Urban Decay one; it has a handy doe-foot applicator that makes it easy to just swipe on the lids. The key to a good primer is that it doesn't take too long to blend into the eyelid (I'll get annoyed and stop using it otherwise) and this one blends even faster than my original favorite. After you set it with a skin-tone eyeshadow, your other shadows on top look amazing. A+ to NYX!
3. Marc Jacobs Beauty - New Nudes Sheer Gel Lipstick - "Role Play 110"
I don't own much Marc Jacobs makeup, mostly because it is NOT cheap. I usually glance at their products in Sephora and keep walking, thinking there is no way it's worth the money. However, some time earlier this year, I wanted to treat myself, so I decided to give their lipsticks a try. I went for a neutral color so I would be able to get a lot of use out of it if it was good, and I liked the sound of a "sheer gel formula," so I chose this one from a branch of their lipstick line. I wore it a few times and liked it, and then it kind of got forgotten in my collection. However, I recently picked it back up, rediscovered it, and fell in love. I don't know why this didn't happen the first time, but now I can't stop wearing it! Not only is the packaging beautiful (with a really satisfying magnetic closure), the color payoff perfect, and the feel of it comfortable, but this color is my ideal nude. It's described as a "dusty rose," and I think that's accurate. It's a dusty nude color with a pink undertone, and it's very creamy and full-color on the lips. It's a great "My Lips But Better" color, and it's a no-brainer to throw in my purse and re-apply throughout the day. It's still expensive, but at least I am getting my money's worth in terms of use!
4. Pixi by Petra Mattelustre Lipstick - "Rose Naturelle"
From the extremely expensive lipsticks to the much more affordable! How precious is this tiny little thing? I got this sample size lipstick in my September Ipsy Bag, and at first glance I thought it would be too dark for me to wear on an everyday basis. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it goes on much lighter than it appears in the tube, and it's actually the most beautiful, natural shade for autumn ever! If you compare it to the previous lipstick by Marc Jacobs, this one is definitely a bit deeper and has less of a pinky undertone. The best part? It is so lightweight and feels like a thin balm on your lips. I will most definitely be picking up the full size of this one once I run out of my mini, and thankfully, this brand is sold at Target!
