Spring has sprung, which means warmer weather, blooming flowers, more time outside, and new beauty launches. There have been several since 2022 began, and there will be many more to come as summertime approaches. There are also a few that have already come out for spring.
Any Star Wars lover will want to run to buy the items in this collection. There are also packages you can buy with a certain mix of items in them. Products sold include are:
Three lipsticks
Two lip glosses
Two jelly shadows
Four eyeshadow palettes
A lip rescue kit
Hand mirror
Makeup bag
2 eyeliners
2. Chi Haircare Volcanic Lava Flat Irons
Chi has come out with two new flat irons: the Lava 4D Volcanic Lava Hairstyling Iron and the Vibes On The Edge Hairstyling Iron. Each one has perks that are changing the hairstyling game.
Sally Hansen has put out a lot of fun collaborations throughout the years. However, the newest one to shop is an 8-color collection of gel polish with fun, Friends-themed colors.
Everyone’s favorite childhood bear has done a collab with everyone’s favorite budget-friendly makeup brand. In addition to the recent Star Wars launch, this other collab is sure to be selling out quickly (some products already have!). Included in the collection are:
3 highlighters
Lip care kit
10-shade eyeshadow palette
3 lip gloss (2 only available when purchased in a set)
Steffi Lynn, an artist from Texas, has released a collaboration with Ulta’s brand, Ulta Beauty. The themes of this collection surround bright and pastel colors, in addition to a 1960’s flower power vibe, as well. Here’s what you can find in the collection:
In embracing the 2000s trends coming back, Wet n Wild has released a Care Bears collection. If you’re interested in reliving the Care Bears days, this collection will give you all you’ll need. Included are:
Nail polish company, Morgan Taylor, has done many launches and collaborations throughout their time in business. But, a very recent launch is Clueless-themed (I’m looking at you, Paul Rudd). Colors include:
Oops, My Bad! (silver glitter)
So Check It (green)
Ugh, As If (yellow)
Highly Selective (light pink)
Adorably Clueless (bright pink)
Driving in Platforms (coral)
Powers of Persuasion (dark purple)
Total Betty (bright blue)
She’s a Classic (magenta)
I Totally Paused (red)
Let’s Do a Makeover (orange)
Two Snaps for You (multi-colored glitter)
As you can see, there are many new beauty launches and collections on the market, with more coming every season. Celebrate spring by grabbing some of these products to see which one is your new favorite.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
2021 focused mainly on 80s and 90s makeup, while the spring of 2022 will bring out trends from Y2K. Thankfully, you may be able to recycle some of the products you used and incorporate them in these new looks.
1. Pinks
2021 mainly focused on cool tones such as blues, greys, and purples. For this season, pink is in. This could mean eyeshadow, eyeliner, bright lips, and everything in between. Kylie Cosmetics has introduced a Valentine’s Day collection that will exceed your wildest pink fantasies.
2. Heavy Blush
Last season, draped blush was in. What is draped blush, you may ask? It’s all in the placement. In short, draped blush is applied where contour is usually applied – a little lower than the apple of your cheekbones. This season, take it to the next level, and don’t be scared to apply a little extra! FENTY BEAUTY (shout out to Rihanna) released a new collection of vibrant blushes that will be perfect for this look.
3. Glossy Lips
In line with Y2K fashion, glossy lips will be making a comeback. Not only that, e.l.f. Cosmetics just launched a Dunkin’ Donuts collab that features two new gloss colors. The shades are simply labeled Dunkin’ Orange and Dunkin’ Pink to follow the iconic colors of the coffee and donut shop franchise.
4. Color Coordination
This season, try and purchase some clothes that match the color of your makeup. If you can, try and get an eyeshadow palette that has at least one pan of every color, that way you’ll have each one right at the tip of your fingers. Juvia’s Place just released a new 30-color shadow palette with both matte and shimmer options that are bound to match up with the main color in whatever outfit you’re wearing.
5. Neon Liners
Using neon eyeliner is hands-down one of the easiest ways to make it look like you spent way longer on your makeup than you actually did. Morphe’s Lucky Charms collab has a 6-color set of vibrant liners that will bring a pop of color to your eyes in just a few seconds.
6. Double Winged Liner
If you’re lucky enough to have a steady hand when it comes to applying winged liner, this trend is for you. If not, this would be a great time to learn! Give it a go with the new Benefit Cosmetics precision waterproof liquid eyeliner. For examples of double-winged eyeliner, Pinterest is a great place to look, as well as YouTube for tutorials.
7. Thin/Light Eyebrows
If there’s one thing makeup lovers know, it’s that eyebrow trends come and go in the blink of an eye. Recent trends included fluffy brows, natural brows, thick brows… And now, thin brows are back (think younger Christina Aguilera on the red carpet). If you decide to go with this trend, just know that it does take a fairly long time for brows to grow back to their natural shape. However, if you do want to participate, FLOWER Beauty has introduced a new brow pencil with a thin tip that will give you that precision needed for thin brows.
8. Popping Inner Corner
This may be one of the easiest (and quickest) trends to do. To get that wide-awake, ready-for-the-day look, a light highlighter or light silver eyeshadow will be your best bet. To achieve the look, I would recommend ColourPop’s Super Shock Highlight in shade Monster.
9. Under Eye Placement
This trend is perfect for a night on the town. If you’re looking for a wow factor, this is the way to do it. There’s a look called the reverse cat eye which is exactly what it sounds like – you do your winged eyeliner under your eye instead of on your eyelid. Remember, you don’t have to make it as thick – you only need a thin line. KIKO Milano has a khol liner with a fine tip for those thinner lines you’ll need.
10. Face Gems
If you’re really looking to branch out, this trend is for you. However, this won’t work with any gems you find – make sure you grab ones that are specific for your face or body. Benefit Cosmetics sells face and body gems that will fit any look you’re going for.
Makeup trends come and go quickly – that’s what makes them fun. If you’re ready to jump into the looks, you can also Google “Y2K fashion and makeup” and really see how Y2K affected the beauty world.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
After the chaos of 2020 and 2021, people are ready to see what 2022 will bring. And, of course, a new year brings new makeup and beauty trends. All that to say, there are seven new makeup trends you need to try for 2022.
1. Bold Lips
This has been a trend in the past, but the bold lip is coming back into play in the makeup world. Whether it’s a bold red, shocking pink, or even vibrant purple, finding a bold lip color to use will be the hit of the year.
2. Rhinestones
Bling is in for 2022! Use some rhinestones around your eyes and even on your collarbones for the extra sparkle you’ll love for the year. You can find this bling at specific makeup stores, big box stores, or even costume stores.
3. Red-Based Tones
Specifically orange, red, and coral, these red-based tones will be all the rage. Grab some lip colors in these shades to pull in the bold lip or get some eyeliner in these shades to go with the bold eyeliner trend.
4. Soft/Satin Skin
In the past, there’s been matte skin, dewy skin, bare skin… The list goes on and on. This year, soft/satin skin is in. What does this mean? This trend is right between dewy and matte without using a ton of makeup. For this, focus on BB and CC creams, or lightweight foundations and powders.
5. Bold Eyeliner
This 80s and 90s trend is coming back to life. For this trend, there are a couple of different ways to do it. You can do designs such as intense cat eyes, geometric shapes, and fun patterns. Or, you can use bright colors such as coral, pink, blue, purple… If it’s bright, add it to your collection.
6. Draped Blush
This trend has been around for a while but has become more popular recently. We know about shaping using bronzer and/or contour, but did you know you can create the same effect using blush? Instead of applying it just on the apples of your cheeks, sweep the color from your temple across your cheekbone.
7. Lifted Brows
Eyebrows have probably been one of the most commonly-changed makeup trends. From thin brows to thick brows to brushed brows to defined brows, there are so many trends that have passed. But, for 2022, the trend is lifted brows. To do this, invest in brow gel or brush-on brow color and then brush your brows up and set them like that. For darker brows, you most likely won’t need to add much color. For lighter brows, find a lighter-colored product so they still look natural, but noticeable.
Makeup is ever-changing and sometimes it can be hard to keep up with what’s popular. But, with these new and easy-to-do trends, you can stay on top of the makeup game while still looking super chic.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
With 2021 coming to a quick close, it’s time to evaluate what makeup looks will be hot this winter. We’ve seen some trends coming back into play – specifically looks from the 80s and 90s like bright colors and dark eyeliner. So, with that being said, here are seven makeup trends that will be making a debut or a comeback for the winter that you won’t want to miss.
1. Draped Blush
Draped blush is blush that is applied from your temples down to the apples of your cheeks (the front most part). This technique is applied similarly to contour and makes your face appear slimmer.
2. Metallic Eyes
This trend is exactly what it sounds like. This winter, grab some metallic eye shadows, such as gold and silver, and apply them directly to your top lid. You can also sweep some directly underneath your bottom lashes, as well, for an elevated look.
3. Wine-Stained Lips
With the return of lip stains, the new winter lip trend is wine-stained lips. This essentially means darker red lip colors, which you can purchase at any place you buy your other makeup. The best part is, these colors can come in whatever style you’re looking for – stains, mattes, and glosses, to name a few.
4. Embellished Eyes
Another winter eye trend is embellished eyes. This can mean large glitter, rhinestones, gems, jewels… You can go as crazy or as tame on this as you want. Invest in some eye-friendly stick-on gems or jewels to add a whole other dimension to your makeup look.
5. Icy Shadow
This winter will also focus on cooler colors for eye shadows. This means lighter blues, whites, and silvers. If you want to combine some trends, purchase some light blue shadow, silver metallic shadow, and some gems for an altogether next-level, trendy look.
6. Fluffy Brows
It seems like eyebrow trends change at the drop of a hat. In the 2000s, the trend was extremely thin brows. After that, brows went from sharply angled to round to untrimmed to now fluffy. For this look, try and grow your brows out (minus the unibrow) and brush them up with an eyebrow brush. For extra hold, you can purchase clear eyebrow gel that will keep your brows looking fluffy all day long.
7. Heavy Eyeliner
This look has been back and forth through the years but has made a pretty large comeback as of recently. For this look, invest in some black, brown, and even dark purple eyeliner and line the top and bottom waterline, as well as the top lid.
Winter 2021 into 2022 will be an exciting time to think outside the box when it comes to makeup and beauty. If you’re ready to try some trends you may not normally try, go to your local makeup or drug store and see what inexpensive products you can purchase to experiment with.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
With the winter months coming, I think we all can agree that our skin will need a little TLC. Between the cold temperatures, dry weather, and brutal wind, your skin will most likely take a beating during the season. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t revive it. Let me present to you the IT’S A MIRACLE 8 Minute Mask from Wonderskin (brought to you by an affiliate marketing company, OAK Digital).
Now, I know what you’re thinking… What makes this different than all the other face masks on the market? Let’s start with the company.
Wonderskin is a beauty company that sells makeup and skincare products. Their ingredients stay skin-healthy and all products are designed with the condition of your skin in mind. The company chooses beauty experts and pros to develop products and formulas that are actually good for your skin.
The science behind it definitely doesn’t lie.
Wonderskin has also had its fair share of exposure. The brand has been featured in pretty high-up media sources – the Wall Street Journal, US Weekly, Today, Allure, Byrdie, and People Magazine, to name a few. Users and reviewers have raved about their products, so, naturally, I had to give it a go myself.
I was sent their beauty mask to review, and I was skeptical at first.
For a retail price of $39.50, I had some pretty high expectations. The box I received came with eight individually-wrapped packets that are the perfect size for one use – not to mention, very easy to travel with.
In the words of the website, “Picture this: tighter, smoother, more even-toned skin in minutes that stays incredible-looking for hours. It’s not a dream! It’s our IT’S A MIRACLE 8 Minute Mask for face, neck, and hands. Featuring our unique InvisiMatrix complex, this quickie treatment forms an invisible water-repellent layer on skin that lifts, tightens, and blurs so all the little things that bug you (fine lines, crepiness, spots, rough texture) are less visible for hours afterwards. Packed with vitamin C, niacinamide, and other all-star ingredients, it also improves skin’s softness and appearance over time with twice-weekly use. Each single-dose packet ensures you get a fresh, potent formula with every application.”
This mask seemingly has it all, but what does the skin say?
The mask was a white, paste-like consistency with little granules in it for exfoliation. When applying it, it instantly made my skin tingle. I have naturally sensitive skin, so really any mask will tingle for me. As it dried, I started feeling a cool sensation on my skin – and the feeling grew as I took it off. By the time it was all off of my skin, I felt like I had dunked my face in a bucket of ice water – but not in a bad way.
My skin instantly felt rejuvenated.
Here’s the bottom line: although a little pricey, this mask is good for a one-time fix – that’s even what it’s advertised as. With a majority of face masks, you need to use them for a certain amount of time before seeing results. With this 8-minute mask, the results were instant.
My only note would be that if your skin is sensitive, do a patch test beforehand.
Overall, Wonderskin really knocked it out of the park with this. Check out other products made by the company and see how you can start introducing new and improved items into your skincare routine.
Remember: taking care of your skin is not a “one size fits all” (or all of the time). Just as the seasons change, so should your skincare routine based on the conditions around you. For the winter months, consider investing in a moisturizer for drier skin. In the summer, look for a BB or CC cream that has extra SPF. Whatever you do, take good care of your skin – you’ll thank me later.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
The fall season means pumpkin patches, apple cider donuts, fluffy scarves, PSLs, and new makeup launches (at least in my opinion). Fall 2021 is kicking off with themed makeup launches left and right. Which is perfect for those festive beauty lovers looking to expand their makeup collection. So, if you’re ready to branch out into the autumn season, here are 17 must-shop fall makeup launches.
This new Halloween Treehouse of Horror collection by Makeup Revolution is the ultimate spooky range. It features three eyeshadow palettes, two face palettes, two gel eyeliners, six lip colors, two lip masks, gel primer, lashes, brushes, a blending sponge, and a makeup bag. These products are for sale through the Makeup Revolution website and Ulta.
Makeup Revolution is a cosmetics company that thrives to meet the motto, #ProgressNotPerfection. The company was founded in 2013 in Kent, England by Adam Minto and Tom Allsworth. Since then, the company has expanded to Ulta and Target and continues to sell unique and fun products for beauty lovers.
Based on one of my all-time favorite movies, this Corpse Bride-themed collection is perfect for the Halloween season. In this collection, you can find four eyeshadow palettes, three lip colors, a brush set, a hand mirror, and a makeup bag. Shop for products through the Makeup Revolution website.
Makeup Revolution kicked off September with a DC-themed makeup collection. Which highlights the characters and stories from the DC comics including Batman, Harley Quinn, The Joker, and Catwoman. Included in the collection are six eyeshadow palettes, three lip colors, two highlighters, mascara, eyeliner, beauty sponges, brushes, two makeup bags, a hand mirror, and lashes.
This brand launched this collection within the last few days, which means the products are very new to the market. Following along with The Matrix movie, this collection includes four eyeshadow palettes, four lip colors, three loose pigments, mascara, eyeliner, a cosmetics case and bag, brushes, beauty sponges, and face pads.
Urban Decay brings a new launch to highlight the new Marvel movie, The Eternals, which premieres in early November. The collection includes an eye shadow palette, highlighter, lip color, and eye pencil. Products can be found through Urban Decay’s website, Ulta, Sephora, and Macy’s.
Founded in 1996, Urban Decay was born in London and is now headquartered in Newport Beach, CA. This brand was created by Sandy Lerner and Patricia Holmes when they found a new color when raspberry was mixed with black. After that, Urban Decay was born, and is now one of the most popular prestigious cosmetics brands due to its unique collections and excellent product quality.
This collection by Morphe was released in September and brings with it a vibrant, colorful pop to any makeup look. The launch includes an eyeshadow palette, lip color, setting spray, lip scrub, and beauty sponge set. Shop for these products at Ulta and through the Morphe website.
Morphe was created in 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. It was started by siblings Chris and Linda Tawil and has grown tremendously. Not only is the brand sold in many stores, but it has become famous for parenting with iconic makeup artists like James Charles, Jeffree Star, Jaclyn Hill, Bretman Rock, and more. Considering its partnerships with famous beauty influencers, the product prices are very inexpensive but still hold excellent quality.
Beauty influencer Ashley Strong did a collaboration with Morphe that was recently released. Within the collection are an eyeshadow palette, liner palette, and two lip duos. You can find these products at Ulta and on the Morphe website.
This MAC launch is a collaboration between the company and Spanish singer/songwriter, Rosalía. Products include an eye shadow palette, face palette, five lip colors, and five nail polishes. You can find these products at Mac and Macy’s.
Make-Up Art Cosmetics, also known as MAC, was founded in Toronto, Canada in 1984. Makeup artist and photographer Frank Toskan and salon owner Frank Angelo realized that it was challenging to find makeup that photographed well, so they started making their own products in their kitchens. As popularity grew, their products made it to makeup counters in department stores, where you can still find them. The brand has branched out since then and can also be found at Ulta and Sephora.
Colourpop has been coming out with new collections just in time for the fall. This collection, the Orchid collection, includes an eyeshadow palette, body powder, six lip colors, and two blushes. These products can be found on the Colourpop website.
Colourpop was created in 2014 by siblings Laura and John Nelson in Los Angeles, CA. The brand has grown in popularity and has even been reviewed by news sources like Glamour, OK!, and Allure. Products are very inexpensive and the brand has created many themed and color-based launches, which makes looking for popular makeup affordable and easy.
Two of the fall’s biggest makeup collections are the Hocus Pocus-themed launches. It was highly anticipated since the launches were announced and makeup lovers were ready to shop as soon as it dropped. Included in the Hocus Pocus Coven Crew collection are an eyeshadow palette, three cream shadows, three lip colors, an eye stamp, a candle, and a hand mirror. Within the Hocus Pocus Gather ‘Round Sisters collection, there are two glitter gels, three sets of fake lashes, three eyeshadow palettes, three gel liners, and two lip sets. You can find these products at Ulta and on the Colourpop website.
This collection is the first collab that Doja Cat has done, which makes it all the more exciting. In this new collection are four eyeshadow palettes, three liquid eyeliners, three lip balms, six lip glosses, three blush trio palettes, three powder highlighters, mascara, brush set, and a hand mirror. The collection is limited edition, so shop now before the products sell out. You can find these products through the BH Cosmetics website and at Ulta.
BH Cosmetics was founded in 2009 by Fred Sadovskiy, Kirill Trachtenberg, and Robert Sefaradi in Los Angeles, CA. This brand focuses on colorful creations and has launched collections with people like singer Iggy Azalea and cosmetic influencer Daisy Marquez.
In this collection with Sigma Beauty, the essence of Cinderella is perfectly captured. Included are an eyeshadow palette, blush and highlighter palette, a lip duo, brush set, and makeup bag. Shop these products on the Sigma Beauty website.
This brand, created by couple Dr. Simone Xavier and Rene Xavier Filho, was founded in 2009 – starting with just one brush set. After that, the company branched out into other products such as lip colors, eye shadow palettes, and more.
Jeffree Star has made himself widely known within the makeup community. He has put forth many launches including this new one – the Pricked Artistry collection. In this collection, you can find an eye shadow palette, three mascaras, 12 lip colors, three lip scrubs, two highlighters, and three hand mirrors. These products are sold on the Jeffree Star Cosmetics website.
Makeup artist and YouTuber Jeffree Star launched Jeffree Star Cosmetics in 2014 with just three liquid lip colors. Star was previously a singer but quit that to become a full-time makeup creator and guru. He has many collections out including Blood Sugar, Pink Religion, Blue Blood, Jawbreaker, Androgyny, and more.
Earlier in September, HipDot released a unique-themed mini collection. Included are three eyeshadow palettes centered around monopoly, a ouija board, and play-doh. You can find some of these products at Ulta and all on the Hipdot website.
HipDot was created by Jeff Sellinger and Mo Winter as an e-commerce site for cruelty fashion and beauty brands. It was then relaunched as HipDot Studios with Samantha Lin as a co-founder and is used as a platform for influencers to create their own brands using the HipDot namesake.
The Addams Family is one of the most recognizable spooky season things. Between the oldies TV show and movies, the new remakes, and iconic music, the Addams family shows the quirkiness that is everything creepy. Included in this new collection are three lip colors, an eye shadow palette, and a pin. Shop this collection on the HipDot website.
17. Nightmare on Elm Street – Kylie Cosmetics
Kylie Jenner is releasing a Freddy Kreuger-based makeup launch that will be released in just a few days, which closely follows the launch of Kylie Swim and Kylie Baby. This collection includes an eye shadow palette, lip colors, and more. These products will be available on the Kylie Cosmetics website.
Kylie Jenner launched Kylie Cosmetics in 2014 and started selling Kylie Lip Kits in 2015. Jenner has collaborated with those close to her and has created themed collections along the way. Some of these include the 24K Birthday collection that came out for her 24th birthday, the Wilds Things Leopard Collection, the Summer 2020 Sailor Collection, and more.
Makeup lovers, fall lovers, holiday lovers, really anyone at all: check out these themed fall launches that will bring the festivities into the season.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
What if I told you that there’s just one makeup product out there that will elevate your makeup look significantly? And it can cost as little as $1.50 at Ulta? You’re welcome in advance.
Two words: White Eyeliner
You may be thinking, “What can simple eyeliner do?” Allow me to explain. Eyeliner is one of the most popular go-to products for eye makeup. I, personally, rarely leave the house without it. Now imagine a majority of eye shadow creations you can make: most of them omit bright white (unless it’s in the inner corners as an accent). Typically, you find eye shadow in a lot of shades minus stark white.
All of that combined shows that white liner is unique enough to elevate your makeup – with or without anything else.
Every single time I have worn white liner, I get complimented on it – which is more times than if I did a full-face complete with eyeshadow and lips. To think that such a tiny product for such little money can make such a difference is incredible.
Not to mention, white goes with everything.
Black, brown, navy, purple, dark green… The list goes on and on. Even if you don’t have on any makeup, the touch of white eyeliner will add just enough pop to make it seem like you did way more with your makeup than you actually did.
White eyeliner also makes you look more awake.
For those who work long hours, don’t get enough sleep, or are just always tired, white eyeliner is a life-changing hack. This trick works on the bottom waterline especially, but can really be applied anywhere on or around the eye.
This comes in very handy for those who don’t really know how to do makeup.
A lot of people don’t really know the ins and outs of makeup unless they’ve been doing it for a while or went to school for it like I did. I’m pretty sure that I would be in the same boat if I didn’t get my certification. Makeup is a challenge – especially nowadays with such intricate, incredible looks. My point is, it’s hard to learn about makeup, which is why one swipe of white eyeliner will make you look like you mastered the art of the pencil in 10 seconds flat.
Your wallet will thank you.
Shopping at Ulta and Sephora, I have seen some very pricey makeup products. We’re talking in the hundreds – maybe more, depending on where you shop. For someone like me who’s on a budget (hello, student loans), makeup can get pretty pricey. But, let’s be real. You have at least $1.50 in your console left over from your last Starbucks run.
Want to try all of this for yourself? Run out to Ulta, Target, Walmart, a drug store… Really anywhere you can buy makeup and grab a white eyeliner pencil. Swipe on your lid and wait for the compliments to come rolling in. I mean, you did just elevate your makeup in a few seconds. You’re killing it.
About The Author
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
I get it… Skincare is both time-consuming and expensive – not to mention the weird standard that skincare is only for women. We do all have skin, y’all. But, what if I told you that some things you’re doing (or not doing) are seriously damaging your skin? A lot of these things have cheap and easy fixes that will not only help your skin now, but down the road as you age.
1. Not moisturizing
One of the biggest misconceptions about oily skin is that moisturizers will only make it more oily. That’s false. Most likely, your skin is oily because your glands have to go into overdrive to make up for your lack of moisturizing. Imagine if you could help all of that! Let me introduce you to moisturizer. There are so many out there that will cater to whatever skin type you have – even oily. Products range anywhere from $3 to $300 – all you have to do is know your skin and take your pick.
2. Not using sunscreen
I have great news for you: most moisturizers already have sunscreen in them. So, depending on what you choose, you could be killing two birds with one stone. But, if not, you’ll need to find some product with SPF in it. It doesn’t need to be a high number, but it needs to be something. Even if it’s cloudy and rainy, sun is still hitting your face. In fact, you can’t do anything without at least a little bit of sun. This simple fix will also help protect you from sun-induced skin cancer.
3. Not removing makeup
Ladies, if you take nothing else from this, hear this: take. your. makeup. off. Yes, every night. Think about it… Most makeup has chemicals and/or unnatural elements in it. Wouldn’t you want that off your face so it doesn’t soak into your skin? Not to mention the unmatched feeling of being able to rub your face at night. Leaving makeup on for extended periods of time will clog your pores which will cause breakouts which will cause scarring… The list goes on and on. Do yourself a favor and pick up a makeup wipe before your head hits the pillow.
4. Not washing your face
Honestly, this shouldn’t even need an explanation. Imagine all the dirt and grime caking onto your skin causing plugged-up glands, crazy blemishes, long-lasting scars… Have I made my point yet? Just like you wash every other part of your body (or at least you should), you need to be washing your face. Take the extra two minutes in the morning and night to just refresh. Your face will thank you.
5. Using expired makeup
I will admit, even as a makeup artist, I am so guilty of this. We spend good money on makeup so we can use it, right? And most times we don’t use it all in time, right? That’s the price we must pay for the health of our skin. To check if your makeup has expired, look at the product packaging. There will almost always be a little picture of a makeup jar with a number in the middle somewhere on the label. That number shows how many months you can use your makeup. After that amount of time, trash the products for new ones.
6. Not washing makeup brushes and sponges
Another one I’m guilty of. It’s time-consuming to clean your makeup brushes and sponges, especially if you use a separate brush for each product (which you should). But, do you know how many germs live in overly-used makeup brushes and sponges? Trust me, the number would totally gross you out, much like it did me. Luckily, there are things you can buy that make the whole cleaning process a little easier.
Your skin is the largest organ, so you should treat it with the utmost care. Even if you just start with washing your face in the morning, that’s a step in the right direction. Solve these 6 problems and your skin will feel and look much better.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Colourpop has quickly become one of my favorite cosmetics brands. Their low prices combined with high-quality products show that you can get good makeup without breaking the bank (I’m looking at you, Dior and Estēe Lauder). You can get an eye shadow palette, lip color, highlight, and lashes from Colourpop AND STILL spend less than if you went to a salon to get your nails done. Ladies, I know you know the struggle.
So, when I saw a new collection launch, I was stoked.
The cherry collection includes everything from blush to eye shadow to liners, with a range of red and pink colors spread throughout the collection. I tried one of the serum blushes and cream liners in hopes of falling in love with both of them.
Liquid blush is something that takes some practice to master, and, even then, it can still be tricky.
I’ve tried several different types of blushes throughout the years – powder, gel, liquid, stick… None of which I’ve loved except powder, just because it’s easiest and quickest to use. But, I was willing to give this liquid blush a go.
Overall, I wasn’t wowed.
It was streaky no matter how I applied it, which was with my fingers, a brush, and a makeup sponge. The directions weren’t necessarily that clear, either. It kind of left the makeup lovers in the dark – especially those who aren’t the best with liquid blush. The pigment was good and lasted throughout the day, but if only some parts of my cheek had it and others didn’t, I still count that as a miss.
The liner, however, was a huge hit.
Again, I’ve tried many liners from liquid to pencil to gel to cream to everything in between. And, different occasions go with different liners (example: liquid liner on your wedding day is not the best idea). Cream liners are the ones that bring pigment in a jiffy and can be somewhat easy to remove if you mess up, due to their consistency.
In short, every makeup lover needs at least one cream liner, no matter what color it is.
In this case, I tried a red cream liner. One sweep across my lids and I felt like you could see it from space (in a good way). It shows brilliantly on camera and is a gorgeous shade of red. For someone who doesn’t have much time to do a full eye look in the mornings, using a colorful liner is the perfect way to jazz up your look in literally 10 seconds.
Both products are $7 which is incredibly affordable for what the products are.
If you’re gifted with the talent of mastering liquid blush, give the serum blush a try! And, for those who have no time in the morning to feel put together, try the red liner. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
As a makeup artist, collection launches are like Christmas – especially if it’s a brand you know and love. e.l.f. quickly became a favorite when I used their products in makeup school and I always have at least one piece of makeup from that brand in my daily collection. What makes the brand so great? Amazing quality products, fantastic prices, and an insane range of items. Their products are vegan and cruelty free. And they are all free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol, ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone as well as sulfate free.
Jelly shoes, jelly bracelets, glossy lips… Just a few of the things that made the 90s era so iconic. What e.l.f. did was take that jelly vibe and turn it into a makeup collection. Sure, you can find a gloss from just about any wide-ranged makeup brand, but e.l.f. brings the true jelly pop vibe with more than just one standout product. Not to mention everything is watermelon inspired.
What exactly is in the collection?
e.l.f. does a fantastic job of keeping this fairly small collection stocked with a wide range of products. For example, the collection includes a cleanser, moisturizer, face mask, lip gloss, lip mask, highlighter, blush, and eye gloss. Considering the collection isn’t large, to begin with, it’s impressive that the brand was still able to offer just about all the basics.
The big reveal – which products are MUA approved?
As someone who struggles with sensitive and acne-prone skin, I didn’t want to dive into their skincare products because I didn’t want them to cause breakouts. For someone who doesn’t struggle with that, I recommend getting some of those products and giving them a whirl. However, I did grab the lip mask and one of the lip glosses.
Let me tell you… I was in watermelon heaven.
The lip mask is thick like petroleum jelly, but it’s lightly tinted red and smells like a watermelon jolly rancher – I even picked some up for comparison. It’s not supposed to be used as often as chapstick since it is thicker but applied every few hours to keep lips nourished. When it comes to the gloss… I went from being a matte girl to now feeding a growing gloss obsession.
Now, back to what makes e.l.f. so great.
e.l.f. has had its fair share of amazing makeup collection launches – the Chipotle collab, Jen Atkin collab, and Mint Melt collection to name a few. And each time one is released, it is met with the same enthusiasm as every other launch. Why? Because users love the quality and price of e.l.f.’s products.
The bottom line: if you have an Urban Decay heart but a drug store bank account, e.l.f. is the perfect brand to shop.
If you’re interested and/or want to try the collection out for yourself, look on the e.l.f. website, in Ulta, or search online to see what other stores may be carrying the collection. Amazon has a cute trial size to test out. You can check in out here
Emmie Pombo is a latte and tattoo-loving Tennessean who specializes in mental health and beauty writing. She holds a degree in Journalism and a certification in Makeup Artistry and Airbrushing. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.