Hi friends!
I’ve got some (beau)tea to spill and not the James Charles/Tati Westbrook kind (If you don’t get that reference, you have to block off a few hours to watch some drama channel videos on Youtube). I’m a little late to the party but here are my first impressions of my Sephora VIB Haul:
Oil –ya this is great: Josie Maran “Light Argan Oil Mini” $21
I never thought I would become a face oil person especially since my face becomes a puddle of sweat by the end of the day. Every time I saw a video on Instagram with a beauty guru adding drops of oil to their face before foundation, I thought to myself: that would not work for my skin. Lately, though, my skin has become the combo sort (both dry and oily,) so I am actively seeking solutions to soothe the dry aspect. Previous to this purchase, I tried a sample of the Josie Maran Moonstone Drops under my makeup and I loved it! The Moonstone Oil gave me more of a sheen (as it is intended for highlighting as well) so I needed something a little lighter and less dewy.
Luckily, there was the mini, version of Josie Maran’s infamous Argan Oil. I use it alone on my skin with no makeup for a natural glow and when I do pair it with my foundation, it goes on much nicer. It helps my foundation apply smoothly as it won’t cling and emphasize dry patches on my skin. Plus, it moisturizes and hydrates so my skin doesn’t feel itchy when wearing a mattifying foundation. Overall, I would say this is a win, especially if you have combo or dry skin. Until we get real summer here in Canada, this will definitely be a part of my everyday routine.
A reliable found-ayy-tion for WOC: Estée Lauder “Double Wear Stay in Place” Foundation in Sandalwood $50 CAD
This foundation has been around for ages and I might be the last one to try it. Lots of my WOC friends have raved about it because of its shade range. Last year they expanded the range even more!
This foundation is definitely true to its claims – it is full coverage and extremely mattifying. Definitely great for oily skin but not the best for dry skin types. I am really happy about how well the foundation blends and matches my skintone. It holds up well throughout my active work day. I definitely see this as a staple this summer. As much as I don’t really care for EstĂ©e Lauder, I have to admit that this is one of the best long-wearing foundations. The only thing I didn’t like is that the bottle doesn’t have a pump.
Eye see the hype: Anastasia Beverly Hills “Riviera” Palette $59 CAD
When I saw this palette grace my Insta feed, I was in love. The bright, summery colours are reminiscent of a beach vacation.
It’s packaging is gorgeous with a nautical themed textured cloth cover (which I imagine will be hard to clean just like Modern Renaissance).
Most of the colours swatch well with the exception of “palm,” “inheritance,” and “Mediterranean,” – which are chunky in my opinion.
They apply nicely with a good amount of pigmentation. That being said, there is some fallout. All things considered, this is a great palette for bright, bold, summer looks. I can’t wait to use it on my trip to Portugal! You can keep up with my looks @byallmeens on Instagram.
Now that my shameless plug made it in, we’re onto the next sun…
Girls just wanna have sun: Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warm bronzer in Coco Naughty $38 CAD
Let me confess something, I never understood the appeal of bronzer for darker skin tones – I thought of it as tan for lighter skin tones. Then, a few years ago, contour was a huge thing and I used bronzer to carve out dem cheekbones. Now, I use bronzer not just to define and carve my face, but also to create glowy, tan looks. Even though bronzer has gained a following, I still feel like there are limited colour options for WOC. That’s why, I’m glad my girl Rihanna came out with this gorgeous set of bronzers.
I have to say, Fenty rarely disappoints. This bronzer made me feel like a coco hottie! The darkest shade is pigmented but a very subtle “tan” on me. Still, the formula is nice and blends well.
Personally, it’s not great for a defined contour but it makes for a nice all over bronzer.
Overall, I’m really happy with my haul. I didn’t have any disappointments this time around, so I would say all these items are worth it. I especially look forward to creating some fun looks with the Riviera Palette this summer. Hope you guys found this first impressions review helpful. Let me know what are your summer must-haves down in the comments!
Until next time,
Eat, pray and slay
– Meens
by all meens: 