HAUS LABS COLOR FUSE BLUSH BALM

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Rating : 5/5

Price : $34

Where to Buy : Hauslabs.com, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

Haus Labs was created in September 2019 by one of the most talented, creative, and unique artists of our generation, Lady Gaga. Although there has been an influx of "celebrity brands" this is one that actually made sense. Since the early days of her career, Gaga has been known not only for her talent but also her eccentric clothes, hair, and makeup. If anyone knows self expression through makeup, it's her. Haus Labs about us page on their website even states, "clean high performance, skincare infused makeup. Built to support freedom of self expression." The brand is also extremely inclusive. Their advertisements feature models who represent a variety of genders, races, and ethnicities. But they do more than just market this way, they actually have products built for everyone. Haus Labs seriously impressed consumers when they released their best selling foundation in a whopping 51 shades. Another thing people love about this brand is that they aren't afraid to launch items that most companies are too afraid to. They have neon green eyeliners, pure white foundation, and beautifully bright blushes. This line is exactly what the beauty community was in need of. Something fun, inclusive, and actually performs. Although I now have many products by this brand, this blush balm was one of the first ones I tried. When ordering this blush, I thought the color was going to be much more neutral than it came out to be. Upon opening and swatching it, I was a bit nervous to try it. But then I reminded myself that it's just makeup and it washes off. I applied a decent amount of product to the back of my hand (this helps to warm up to the skin and ensures the base makeup won't be disrupted). I used a damp sponge to then pick up the product and spread it on my cheeks. I was still a bit concerned the hot pink blush would be too much on my pale skin, but it surprisingly was the perfect pop of color! Unlike some other blush sticks on the market, the Blush Balm delivers a sheer kiss of color with a thin, glass like finish. So although it is hot pink, it seamlessly blends out to look quite natural. But, if you are looking for a bit more punch, it can easily be layered and built up for more intensity. You can also layer on top of the Blush Balm with a powder blush to ensure that stays in place all day long (I do this with any cream/liquid). Haus Labs also recently added four new shades to the collection which are perfect for fall! If you are new to cream blushes, or just need an effortless pop of color, I think this would be a great addition to your kit.

milk makeup hydro grip gel skin tint

Rating : 5/5

Price : $38.00

Size : 1 oz

Where to Buy : milkmakeup.com, Ulta, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

Milk Makeup has been one of the most popular brands on social media the last few years. First, they popped off with their EXTREMELY grippy Hydro Grip primer which created a wave of dupes in the industry (e.l.f., I'm looking at you). Last year, people went wild for their Water Jelly tint (I found several testers with bite marks in them, but that's a different story...). But this year one of their newest launches is one of their most exciting, a skin tint!!! For a brand that kills it with primers and setting sprays, it only made sense for them to add a complexion product to the line up as well. A long time ago, they did have a skin tint, but overall consumers weren't impressed by it, so Milk ended up discontinuing it. I believe this is what that product is replaced with (think of it as the cool, new girl on the block). As you may know, I am a full coverage QUEEN. If i'm going to wear makeup, I may as well go all in. So I had mixed emotions about a skin tint. Usually they end up sinking into my pores and create little to no coverage on my skin, so I never really hoped on the "clean girl makeup" bandwagon. But this is no ordinary skin tint. Unlike most tints which are silicone or oil based, this is gel based. Therefore, the pigments the product actually appear MORE pigmented because they have that beautiful gel base. This base is simply a blend of Triple Powered Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Blue Agave extract. This trio keeps skin feeling hydrated, keeps pores looking minimized and prevents the product from creasing or fading. The Hydro Grip Skin Tint works well on all skin types but is ideal for those with drier skin because of all the hydrating ingredients. Milk Makeup is a clean line so there are ZERO sulfates, parabens, pthalates and is even gluten free. Along with all these amazing factors, what impressed me the most was the coverage. It is the PERFECT amount of coverage for everyday wear. I would say it's more of medium to buildable, but definitely not light coverage. However, the gel formula makes it feel so comfortable on the skin that you forget you're wearing makeup up all. The wear time on this is also incredible. I can go an entire 8 hour shift at work and when i'm off, I have no creases or product movement. My base looks just as flawless as when I applied it! I have found myself reaching for this more and more because of how lightweight it feels on the skin vs. my more full coverage foundations. My only complaint with this skin tint is the packaging. I don't mind the squeeze tube component, but the product is so densely packed in there that when you go to open it, a big glob usually spills out. I thought it could just be mine, but all the testers at Sephora seem to have the same issue. Overall though, I am beyond impressed with this item. This is truly a complexion hidden gem and I don't know why more people aren't raving about it!

KOSAS REVEALER CONCEALER

Rating : 4/5

Price : $32

Size : 0.20 fl oz

Where to Buy : kosas.com, Sephora, Amazon

Cruelty Free : Yes

Kosas is one of the most underrated brands at Sephora in my opinion. They create some of the highest quality, clean makeup that truly performs. But, they just don't get talk ed about enough unfortunately. One thing I've learned is that Kosas does complexion products RIGHT. Every complexion product I've tried from them has totally blown me away and the Revealer Concealer is no different! This medium coverage concealer offers a lightweight, radiant skin like finish that comes in 38 gorgeous shades (and they recently launched 5 color correctors in the same great formula!!!) This concealer is ideal for drier skin types since it's packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, caffeine, peptides. It also has arnica and panthenol which are known to diminish redness and calm irritated skin, making it a great choice for covering blemishes as well. What I love most about this product is how NATURAL it always looks. Some days when I have to be up early and don't have time for a full face, I slap on some sunscreen, swipe on this concealer and I'm off! It doesn't even need setting to ensure it won't crease on me. I have literally only found one other concealer that doesn't require setting. But, I can also wear this bad boy on a full coverage makeup day and it still wears BEAUTIFULLY! My ONLY and I mean ONLY issue with this product is the packaging. I do really like the flat applicator, but the plastic component it comes in isn't the greatest. First off, I noticed that it tends to pull out more product than necessary. Which ultimately ends up getting gooped up at the top of the concealer. Also, the yellow plastic topper easily cracks and can break off. Which I unfortunately had happen and ended up having to toss my nearly full concealer because it was without the topper and would have quickly dried out without it on. But honestly other than that, I have no issues with this product! It truly has become a new staple in my makeup bag! Pro tip: if you're curious to try it but aren't ready to buy the full size yet, they do sell select shades in a mini for just $16!