Lockdown / Mask Makeup Musings

During the lockdown I learned to love my face more. I've gotten far more comfortable with my naked , makeup less face the past months. I wore almost no makeup while home  ( I rarely did on days I wasn't going anywhere pre -lockdown really ) and when I did venture out it was minimal and above the mask. That's the area now- abm.

Do I still love makeup, do you have to ask ? Yes. And yes I think I look better with makeup on than not but I also  think I don't look as bad without it as I used to think.   I don't wear and never have worn it so much to impress others as I do for me. I want to look good to people who see me, but I want to look good for ME first.  I feel better when I think look better and I'm pretty sure that's all of us. And I also just love playing with makeup.  It's nothing but fun when i start digging into those pans and pots . I wouldn't have been doing this blog for 12 years if not. But the makeup less or minimal makeup me doesn't look so bad at all.

I went back to work  to a busy office almost 3 weeks ago and boy was that a tough transition . I was perfectly fine at home and  not bored for one minute. Now makeup is back on but in a different way . What is my routine now ?

I focus on the eyes more than ever because that's what's most visible . Before even though I would do a full eye look,  the focus would have been lips because my eye makeup tends to melt off fast.  Now I pay more attention there with fun colored liners ( I've been reminded how much fun they are and why I have a gazillion colors that  want to be used instead of the usual brown or taupe) ,  and of course concealer. I'm wearing green and purple eyeshadow more.

Bronzer plays a big role . Shimmery or matte.  Highlight and/or blush too but sometimes just bronzing gets it done.  A cream bronzer like Chanel's Baume Essential or a NARS Multiple is perfect for quick swipe  on the cheek area above the mask.

Lime Crime's Sunkissed palette adds so much glowy color, has all the shades you could want . Chanel's Bronze et Lumiere duo in medium is another I reach for often and Guerlain's Terracotta Touch.  I'm loving a sunkissed look right now. It's easy , fast but looks nice. Grab a big fluffy brush ( I love IT Cosmetics Heavenly Wand Ball Powder), swirl it on the usual places- bridge of nose, upper cheek , browbone and forehead and you're done in seconds flat.  Sometimes, I even skip the eyes . I know, I know. Maybe just a bit of mascara . But really,  go back to my first line- I've learned to love my face more. And really that's not  bad thing at all .

So what's your new routine , or is it the same ?  Pop in or leave me an Insta comment. We all need to do us, be ourselves with what makes us feel good day in and out. More makeup, less, it doesn't matter .

Naturopathica Oat & Calendula Soothing Jelly Mist

Face mists have become one of my favorite products. I rarely used them up until about a year or so ago, now I spritz away.   In Winter they add moisture and help make makeup look a little dewy and "set" , in Summer they refresh, cool and set. 

Naturopathica's Oat & Calendula Soothing Jelly Mist is my newest. 
Despite jelly in the name this is a mist and not thick but they do say it shake it before using as there is a probiotic component.  

In addition to the oat and calendula , which are both known to soothe inflammation in skin , making this especially nice right now after a day in the sun,  there are lavender and rose flower waters,  hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf powder.

It's refreshing  and soothing with a light herbal fragrance and adds just a little extra moisture.  I really want to pop this in the fridge as I bet it will be even better when chilled  . The bottle is plastic so it's lightweight making it easy to toss in a purse or bag to have at hand all day. I'll just be over here having a mist sesh, thanks. 

I also tried their Oat Cleansing Facial Polish . This is the face scrub for drier skins. Yes there are jojoba beads in there but not a lot so the scrub action is light and the cleanser itself is so creamy that it cleans , removes makeup but never feels tight or dry. Aloe Leaf Juice is the first ingredient, followed by Sunflower Seed Oil . Skin is soft after use.  In fact, while I am really liking this , right now in the heat my skin gets oilier and this is almost too creamy. Come Fall it'll be perfect. 

Naturopathica Oat & Calendula Soothing Jelly Mist is $ 34 at Naturopathica

Oat Cleansing Facial Polish is $31- 62 

L'Oreal Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation

L'Oreal makes  great foundations, I use Infallible Fresh Wear almost every day . They compete pretty close with my high end ones. I'm also finding that my skin is changing some over the past 6 months , it's still oily in T Zone but drier everywhere else, not very dry but enough that the mattes and even semi mattes I always used are looking  dry and cakey right now especially in cooler weather. But if I go too moisturizing I'll break out.

When I heard L'Oreal had a whole new line dedicated to more mature skin , I was right there. Yay for a huge selection of makeup for those of us fabulous and over a certain age. 

Their new Age Perfect Radiant Serum foundation is fabulous , I love it  as does The Mom.  It's got lightweight, comfy feeling medium coverage that doesn't settle into lines, looks a little dewy and brightening but isn't greasy or heavy .  It does add a welcome boosting radiance to skin but there is no shimmer, pearl or actual added "glow" in it.  Wear time is great , it looks good all day  with usually no or minimal touch ups needed. ( I am still using Fresh Wear on my nose and chin). Also it has SPF 50 with a mix of chemical and physical sunscreens .

Coverage is as I mentioned above,  medium to semi full and more natural. I would love it to be full coverage , I like my that in my foundations but a base , CC or some concealer fixes that and L'Oreal has you covered as there is also a new Age Perfect Radiant Concealer for extra spot coverage. It too is lightweight  , creamy, blends well and doesn't settle into lines etc. It's been great under my eyes . Plus there's nothing wrong with a little  "you" showing through. 

The foundation is a total win in my book, I look so much better lately since I've switched to this , it's upped my makeup game. 


L'Oreal Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation is approx. $ 11.99 - 15.99 depending on the outlet. 

IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips Lipstick

New lippie alert - It Cosmetics  recently launched Pillow Lips lipsticks. 

These are what I am calling old school lipstick. They've got full  coverage and  rich saturation in one swipe.  Each shade is available in Matte and Cream formula. I am not a matte fan for the most part, so I went with all Cream colors. 

Vision, marvelous, wish list ,fanciful, humble

The bullet here is firm but not hard as the formula is lightly moisturizing and creamy with a not quite satin , more semi matte finish with one,   Marvelous, being a pearl.  It does drag a bit on application and you think it'll be patchy but it's not. They blend and smoothes out easily and fast with a smush of your lips.

With lanolin ,sesame seed, jojoba and peppermint oils and shea butter they feel very comfy on and have is a light scent but no taste of peppermint. I've been wearing one the past couple days and not only do I love the full quick color but they last really well. I went from 7:30 to 10:30AM including drinking and eating a snack bar with very little wear. By lunchtime I still had a stain left.  

It  has done a fabulous job with the cases here too. Weighty and ceramic like with an embossed quilted pattern , and a solid silver tube with the brand name etched across the bottom.  A little modern and very chic . 

It Cosmetics Pillow Lips are $ 24