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!

INNBEAUTY PROJECT EXTREME CREAM

Rating : 5/5

Price : $48

Size : 1.7 oz

Where to Buy : innbeautyproject.com, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

INNBEAUTY PROJECT (yes, they spell it in all caps because they're a big deal) is my current skincare obsession. They have the most luxe, beautiful packaging. But, the really good stuff is inside. All their products are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, cruelty free, vegan, and dermatologist tested. As if that wasn't enough, they invest $100k in clinical testing for every product that they sell (according to https://www.innbeautyproject.com/pages/about-us). INNBEAUTY takes this extra step to ensure that their products actually perform how they market them. They understand that doing this takes a longer amount of time vs. simply launching the product. But, they are willing to take that risk to prove that they are one of a kind when it comes to skincare. In an oversaturated (and sometimes overwhelming) market, it can seem like a rat race for brands to release the "new, hot thing." But in the end that means nothing, and the company will eventually lose money if the product doesn't meet a consumers expectations. One of my favorite influencers, Tati Westbrook said that the Extreme Cream feels almost EXACTLY the same as her beloved $300 Augustinus Bader. She claimed they both have that rich, thick butter like texture. Both creams are targeted to help combat dryness, fine lines, and loss of elasticity. However, the $300 cream uses more oil based ingredients (kernel oil, primrose oil, sunflower oil, and avocado oil). Whereas the Extreme Cream uses more clinical ingredients to help with anti aging such as squalane, ceramides, and peptides. Using these ingredients vs. the oils also ensures it's an ideal moisturizer for all skin types and won't clog the pores with excess oils. After consistently using this product (morning and night), I have seen a dramatic difference in my skins appearance. It looks more plump, glowy, and my fine lines (specifically smile lines) have significantly diminished. It also wears beautifully underneath makeup making it the perfect primer! I just finished my bottle and I will definitely be buying more as well as trying EVERYTHING from this brand. I promise, you need this cream in your life.