Just because you have to do your makeup under the clock and stick to a strict schedule doesn’t mean it has to be a slapdash situation with, like, BAM! — a little eyeshadow here, some eyeshadow there. You can still do looks that are elegant, refined and pretty. You just have to find ways to move the whole process along.
If you’re always looking to save a little time like I am, using multitasking products can help.
But aha! — not all multitasking products are equal, right? Dusty rose NUDESTIX Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in Purity ($24) works as both a matte blush and a matte lipstick, but in the vast sea of multitasking makeup, its smooth formula makes it exceptional.
What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
I’ve noticed that the smoother and creamier a multitasking pencil is, especially a matte like this one, the easier it is to push across the skin and manipulate, so when something is creamy like this is and doesn’t skip or tug when you apply it, then it also means that it won’t fight you when you feather it. In the end, you won’t have to spend more time blending than you need to.
This is one of those products where the hardest part of using it is drawing a few stripes on your cheeks. Let’s just do it right now…
BAM! Now take a finger… And look at that. A few strokes, and it seamlessly becomes part of my cheeks.
You can also use this to easily fill in your lips, like I’m doing here, although it’s quite difficult to talk and type while you do this…but hey, we’re gonna try anyway!
I like to pat down the edges after I’m done to purposefully blur the line a bit and make it look more “lived in.” That way I don’t have to be too precise about it.
And that’s all you do.
I love this dusty rose, by the way, because I think it’s both elegant and polished, but it’s also still casual-ish and goes with pretty much any nude/neutral eye palette you can throw at it. If I’m traveling, I like to take this and whichever nude eyeshadow palette I’m currently into (right now I’m all about the MAC Jade Jagger Burning Nights Quad), and a couple of pencil liners (normally basics like black and bronze, along with a fun color like purple), and that’s enough for my color products.
For me it lasts about six hours as a blush or as a lipstick (it doesn’t taste or smell funny, either), so, if I apply my makeup right after breakfast, I’ll touch up after lunch.
The soft matte finish is also easy on vertical lip lines, so your lips won’t look like a cat butt after a few hours.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Very pretty!
Thanks, Amy! This is a little late but since I haven’t said it to you yet, happy New Year. I hope that 2018 brings you great things!
Thank you Karen, you too!!
This year will be a great one for all of us, hopefully. I want it to be the year that I GET STUFF DONE. That’s one of my themes for the year. 🙂
Whoa! This makes me want to try nudestix so much! I’ve never really been interested in this brand but your cheeks look so nice!
Also, I’ve been reading forever and I’ve never commented! But you are doing great thing with this blog. You bring me so much joy with every post. It’s the first site I check in the morning and it’s such a great escape when things get a little too heavy. I appreciate you and the work you do here SO much. You’re just so genuine and lovely.
Hi Desirea,
Aww, thank you for saying hi today. 🙂 I’m glad you decided to pop in because I love chatting in the comments. Everyone here is sweet and friendly. What part of the world is your end of the keyboard? I’m in Northern California, about 45 minutes north of San Francisco.
Soooo, makeup. NUDESTIX has some great products, especially if you’re into speedy makeup (which is my reason for living these days, apparently, LOL!). I use their Lip + Cheek products and their cream pencil eyeshadows a lot when I’m doing 10- and 15-minute looks.
I’m here in Albuquerque, new Mexico!
Definitely gonna check out some eyeshadow sticks and the cheeks ones looks awesome too!
Oh cool! I have yet to make it out to your city and state. Someday, someday! I love to travel and want to go everywhere.
I have quite a few shadow sticks that are my go-to’s. The mattes are especially good; I use Night (the black) and Army (the khaki) all the time as shadows and liners. 🙂
I’m always laughing at like 6 different things in your posts and then forget to comment on them all. I was very glad to hear that this won’t give me cat butt lips. The struggle is real! Also, fingers crossed that it’s as close as you get to real cat whiskers. It won’t be too long before we enter granny face whisker territory, if the chin hair is any indication. HAHA!
This color is actually very nice and, again, I confused it with NARS in the product picture. Apparently I’m not very good at reading the headlines. 🙂
The struggle is SO real with cat butt lips and matte lipsticks, LOL! Don’t ever tell Tabs I said that, for every inch of his body is “a miracle” (his words).
Cat whiskers is a cute name for those rouge hairs, haha! So much better than “lunch lady hairs” or “witchy hairs” which are my usual go-to phrases.
Hope you’re having a nice day so far. The baby’s recovering from a cold and now I’ve caught it… Good times, good times.
Oh, that made me laugh. 🙂 In Tabs’ case, the cat butt is 100% acceptable. Since it’s on a cat. And actually a butt. He wears it all so well. HAHA!
Oh, gosh, the poor lunch ladies – but it’s true, isn’t it?
I hope you’ll be feeling better soon. You’re doing all the right things with the hot tea and the rest (and I’ve never even heard of the British baking show, so I’m totally checking that out!).
Audibly laughing at cat butt lips. Glad to hear we’re safe with this one.
Hi Shin,
YES! No need to worry about that look with this pencil. 🙂
Hope you’re having a nice Wednesday so far!
This product sounds great! I love the color and the fact that you can use it on cheeks and lips. My lips are a mess with this cold, dry weather so I’m glad it has a soft finish.
Hi Ruchita,
You know what’s really helped me? Putting a jar of lip balm on my nightstand. I slather a ton of it on before I go to sleep and it has totally helped with the dryness. With this pencil, if it’s very dry, you might want to pop a little bit of balm on top since it’s matte and all.
That’s a great idea! I’m going to try that. I’ve heard good things about Laneige. It’s a little pricey, but I might try it.
I used to use my Nuxe one every night until it got really hard to find here in the U.S. (I don’t think they’re sold here anymore, boo). Haven’t tried Laneige although someone mentioned the lip sleeping mask the other day and raved about it! Urban Decay makes a good one and it’s currently on sale for 50% off at Sephora right now ($7.50). I would’ve bought it if I hadn’t recently picked up Bite Beauty’s Agave Mask.
Pretty!! I like this color better than the Belle I have. I did have cat butt (omg im dying laughing, you’re too funny) before I slathered on nuxe lip balm night&day, but they don’t ship to the U.S. now ?
OH GOSH! So I was chatting with Tatiana here in the comments and she mentioned that she too was having trouble finding that Nuxe balm. I think they may have pulled out of the U.S., which really bums me out. I have less than half a jar left. What am I gonna do when I finish it? ARRRGHHH!
Yay! I found a few on Ebay!!! Just ordered, hope the real thing (went with good seller rating, let you know how good) but oh was I excited. Check them out there! So bummed, down to my last bit. Best balm ?
Connor singing to herself sounds like a chip off the old mommy block,lol. Kitty whiskers so cute! Love a multi stick thats smooth and long lasting. Looks pretty on you.
Hi Denise,
I have to admit that she might have picked up that habit from me, haha! I hope you get the chance to try this as it’s wonderful for quick looks.
It’s been a while since we’ve chatted and I hope everything is well with you, your fam and your kitty cat! Did you get to see your kids over the holidays?
I have yet to find a multistick that I like equally on lips and cheeks. My latest attempt was the Bite Multistick in Cashmere which I honestly didn´t like on either.
Try this one if you get the chance! It works equally great on both lips and cheeks.
Hi Karen,
I’ve been following your blog for ages and have *finally* started commenting. Thank you for all that you do and I love how positive you are. I’m a bit darker than you, closer to NC44 in MAC-speak so your reviews are especially useful for me (and also in the Bay Area!). Question: have you tried this Nudestix in any slightly darker colours? I love the way Purity looks on you but I have pigmented lips and worry this colour may wash me out. I’m still on the hunt for a non cat-butt-inducing matte lippie. Thank you!!!
Hi Sheena,
It’s always nice to meet another Bay Area girl. 🙂 Totally understand what you mean about having pigmented lips and worrying about shades washing you out (I have the same issue, especially with nude shades). In this formula, Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil, I have one other shade, Stiletto, which is a warm red, and it’s GORGEOUS. It might seem like too much to wear red on cheeks, but it’s surprisingly wearable as a red blush. Hmmm… Maybe while Connor is taking a nap this afternoon I’ll try to do a quickie FOTD so you can see it in action. *crosses fingers*
I think you mentioned you have a four-month old! Congrats on the new addition to your family. Is she or he your first?
Oooh a FOTD would be lovely. And thank you! Yes, she’s my 1st! I’m also learning how to play the ‘do ALL the things while she naps’ game. I suck at it.
Aww, congrats! Enjoy every second because when she starts crawling and walking, it’s whole ‘nother story. And then when they figure out they *don’t* have to do everything you tell them to, it gets CRAY. LOL! What I would give to go back to Connor at four months just for a day.