Happy hump day! 🤗
So…this is my new favorite work look. I’m calling it “rosy neutrals,” and it’s been in steady rotation for the past couple weeks.
Cream shadows FTW
I stumbled onto it quite accidentally. See, I didn’t have any clean eye brushes around (story of my life), so I ended up grabbing a few Laura Mercier cream stick shadows and let my fingers do the blending.
Gotta love cream shadows, right? They’re great for those quick and easy eye looks! I’m thinking I need more LM cream stick shadows in my life ASAP. Do you have any favorites? I want to get some matte and shimmer finishes.
A multitasking blush/highlighter brush
OK, back to the brushes… Now that I think about it, I actually only used a total of two brushes for this look — a fan powder brush to dust some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, and a split fiber brush to blend and apply my blush and highlighter (Laura Mercier Ginger Blush and Indiscretion Illuminator).
Have you ever used a split fiber face brush? They’re interesting. One side of the brush has bristles that are better for more intense application, and the other side has another type of bristle better for more diffused application.
MAC makes one I use and love called the 127 Synthetic Split Fiber Face Brush. To apply blush with it, I use the side with the tan bristles (the more intense side), and for highlighter, I go with the black bristles (the diffused side). To blend, I sweep the tip of the brush to buff out any hard edges.
It’s a pricey brush at $37, but it’s a workhorse IMHO! Worth the investment. I use it almost daily.
Speaking of workhorses…
If you’re on the market for a rosy brown neutral, you need to get Laura Mercier’s Nu Prefere Lipstick into your life! If you’re a MAC Velvet Teddy girl, you’re going to LOVE this shade. It’s a lot like MAC Velvet Teddy, but a little pinker (more pink?), so it’s slightly brighter with a little more sheen. I also think Laura Mercier’s Rouge Essential Creme Lipstick formula is a tad more user-friendly and isn’t as drying as the MAC Matte Lipsticks are.
Makeup worn in this look
- Eyes: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colors in Wild Rose and Kiss From a Rose (inner corner), and Rose Thorn (outer corner); Ilia Clean Gel Liner in Dusk (tightline), Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara, Chanel Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Brown
- Cheeks: Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion in Ginger, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion
- Lips: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Lipstick in Nu Prefere
- Base: Laura Mercier Tinted Moiturizer in Wheat, Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance-Perfectiong Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
- Skin care prep: Laura Mercier Refining Creme Polish, Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Creme, Laura Mercier Multi-tasking Moisturizer, Nourishing Rose Oil, Laura Mercier Hydrating Lip Balm, Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer
I’m having the craziest week!
I’m talking deadlines upon deadlines at work, and lots of quick, last-minute turnarounds. I’m trying to get through it with a smile on my face! 😅
It helps when I force myself to take breaks, and I actually schedule them into my day. When a break comes around, I make myself take a walk so I’m not tempted to do anything else productive. Haha.
While I walk, I often listen to music, and here’s what I had on rotation yesterday:
Take me back…
The more I listen to this, the more I hear old-school MJ!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
This is a great everyday look! 🙂 Space Age Love Song is the only FoS song (and one of very few “80’s” songs) on my phone. I’m giving that a thumbs up. 😉
I’m sorry to hear things are hectic. Drop-ins can be especially hard for people who like to be organized. Great idea to walk during your breaks; I think it’s the best way to refresh!
I totally forgot about this song until recently. I heard it on a show and now can’t get it out fo my head!
How have you been? Got any plans for Halloween?
I was saying how I dislike 80s music (to my friend who loves it) and she was like “you don’t hate this one…” and played it. Of course, since we’ve been besties since Kindergarten, she knew she was right. 🙂 I had to download it then. HAHA!
All is well! On Halloween, we always meet at my friend’s house on a very busy trick or treating street, and her youngest is 7, so it’s fun to see the little ones in their costumes.
How about you guys? What will Connor be this year? Will you trick or treat?
This look is gorgeous! The last time you featured the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish powder, I just *loved* the way it looked! I thought about it for at least a week & then I got bought it. The hype is real! It is SO gorgeous on!!!
I also love the Caviar sticks. I was looking for some new colors! 😁
Have you tried the Australian Gold tinted sunscreen? At Ulta, they have the original shade (which is now fair to light) and a deeper shade (medium to deep?). It looks fantastic with the MAC powder!
Thanks for your enabling! 😉
Good luck getting all your projects done! 💗
Hi Kimiko,
It really is the best setting powder out there. Sometimes I just use it on its own and it’s just the right amount of product! I’m so glad you love it.
OK, so if you find any new Caviar sticks, you’ll have to let me know. I’m going to stop by Sephora later on this week.
I tried the Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen over the summer. I liked how it looked on my skin because the color was so great, but I think my face is just too dry to handle the formula. I’m glad it works for you though. It’s a pretty tinted sunscreen!
How’s your week going? Good, I hope!
My week is going really well! My sweet two year old will be dressing up as Minnie Mouse and trick or treating this weekend! So excited!
I am looking for Caviar Sticks in purple or taupe shades. I don’t think I have a specific shade in mind. I’ll probably wait until I see them in store to buy them. I’m definitely trying to be more mindful of my makeup purchases! 😁
Hi Karen – I am sorry to be responding to your blog and request for LM Caviar Stick recommendations so late in the evening. I hope you still get this. I like Amethyst as a nice fall/winter cool colour. And for every day neutrals I absolutely love love love Sunrise which is a gorgeous peach shimmer that really helps make eyes pop! Other good ones are Blossom and Rose Gold as shimmers and Au Naturel and Vanilla kiss which are flat non shimmers.
I always seem to be in a rush, and laughed when you mentioned that your makeup brushes are never clean and at the ready – so me too! – I swear by cream eyeshadows for that reason and Laura Mercier’s are so creamy and easy to blend.
Would you ever try doing a Smokey eye type look with cream shadows for us? As a teaching topic? Even a browns or lighter Smokey rather than dark black or greys. Just an idea … I’d love to do a quick Smokey eye but wouldn’t know how to do that myself.
Hoping your Connor Claire has a fun Halloween celebration at her school and on the weekend. Halloween was always such fun as a child – even though it always seems to snow out here on Halloween – hahahaha.
I am really loving your look in this post. I just finished some caviar sticks and do need to replace them. My favorite matte stick is Au Naturel and I loved the Wild Rose stick. I even used it as a cheek highlighter. Unfortunately, mine fell apart, probably from abuse. I love the way the illuminator looks on you. Since I had to return my Lisa Eldridge lipstick, I am in the market for a new lipstick. I may have to check out Laura Mercier’s products. I hope they are not as drying. It’s so convenient to buy LM products since my local Ulta and Blue Mercury sell both. I like shopping locally.
I hadn’t even heard of these split brushes, but you make it sound like I need one in my life…