May 2021 – Page 2 – Nikki From HR

NARS Satin Lipstick (Banned Red and Tolede)

Published on May 12, 2021November 29, 2023 by NikkiLeave a comment

NARS Satin Lipstick Banned Red swatch medium dark skin — NARS Banned Red

NARS promises that its iconic lipstick will be lightweight, long lasting, and resistant to bleeding/feathering. I do think that Banned Red (pictured above) does have a decent wear time for a satin lipstick. I can get a good 4 hours of wear through drinking and a light snack before it needs to be touched up. Unfortunately for me, I do not agree that it is resistant to feathering. I have some very fine lines along my top lip that this formula creeps into. On the upside, I don’t think anyone else would notice the feathering, but it does bother me. They also say that it will leave your lips feeling hydrated, which I also don’t experience. I do think that this formula is comfortable to wear, but I don’t feel that it offers my lips any nourishment.

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Makeup Geek Highlighters (Sunlight, Firework)

Published on May 8, 2021November 29, 2023 by Nikki2 Comments

UPDATE (March 4, 2022): Unfortunately, the Makeup Geek brand is going out of business and will close in April 2022. The website is currently 40% off.

Makeup Geek Highlighters Sunlight and Firework Swatches medium dark skin — Makeup Geek Highlighters, L to R: Sunlight, Firework

If you’ve never tried a Makeup Geek highlighter, the formula is somewhat dry feeling to the touch, but still manages to have good pigment. They are hard pressed in the pan so they have no kick up, but they are not hard to pick up on a brush. I think that by today’s standards this is on the more subtle side of formulas, but I do think they can be built up for more impact.

The shade sunlight is described as a soft copper, ideal for medium skin tones. On me this shade accentuates more texture than I prefer to see after applying highlight. I do think that it is just the nature of this shade being a little light for me. It doesn’t come off ashy and I can get away with it, it just isn’t my ideal shade. I do go over it with my beauty blender and that helps it blend into the skin more.

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MAC Love Me Liquid Lip Colour (Swatches of Bated Breath, E for Effortless, and Coffee and Cigs)

Published on May 5, 2021November 29, 2023 by NikkiLeave a comment

Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to be sent a package to try out 3 of the new MAC Love Me Liquid Lip Colours. This was not a PR package, it was sent out to customers and I happened to receive one. The opinions I offer in this post are my own and I did not agree to feature or speak positively about these products.

MAC Love Me Liquid Lip Colour Swatches on medium dark skin (Bated Breath, E for Effortless, and Coffee and Cigs) — Top to bottom: Bated Breath, E for Effortless, and Coffee and Cigs

Bated Breath, E for Effortless, and Coffee and Cigs, $25.00

The Love Me Liquid Lip Colour is basically a liquified version of their regular Love Me Lipstick range. They have a satin finish and do not dry down to the matte longwear finish that you may traditionally think of when you hear liquid lipstick. If you have ever tried the Milani Amore Shine Liquid Lip Color, then you will have an idea of what this formula is like.

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The Monday Edit, May 3, 2021

Published on May 3, 2021November 29, 2023 by NikkiLeave a comment

In today’s edit, I’m talking about natural vs synthetic brushes, routines, and showcasing some makeup videos for products that I’ve been interested in lately.

Articles to Read

Natural vs Synthetich Makeup Brushes by Frends Beauty – Lately I’ve been doing some makeup brush research as I try to decide if I want to buy more natural hair brushes or stick to synthetic from now on. I personally see a difference in application. I’m not saying that synthetic brushes don’t apply product well, but I do feel that natural hair applies it better. My issue is upkeep and care. It is just easier to care for synthetic brushes and I’m not as concerned about messing them up. This article from Frends beauty helped me understand why I might be getting better results from natural hair brushes, especially for powder products. If you are not familiar with them, Frends Beauty is a beauty supply store for professional hair and makeup artistry supplies. While they are open to the public, their expertise has been gained by mostly serving professionals since 1940.

The Benefit of Routines – As someone who often thinks I’m boring for doing mostly the same things every day, it was nice to read about how helpful routines can be for both productivity and mental wellness.

Videos to Watch

There have been a lot of new releases lately that I found myself looking into, but ultimately not buying. So I figured I’d share some videos that helped me make that decision in case anyone else had their eye on the same products.

Hermes Silky Blushes from Mo Makeup Mo Beauty

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Smashbox Cali Contour Medium-Dark Palette

Published on May 1, 2021September 17, 2024 by Nikki3 Comments

Smashbox quietly released this medium-dark version of their popular Cali Contour palette sometime back in 2020 (?). I say quietly because I don’t think there was any sort of marketing letting people know they had created this new shade variation. I was searching for a review of this palette for the longest time with no luck. I was surprised they didn’t try to hype this up more, considering all of the valid complaints companies have received about shade ranges lacking inclusive options. Anyway, I broke down and got it because I continued to hear lighter skin tones rave about the original light medium shade and finally had to see for myself if it was good.

Top row, left to right: warm contour, shimmer gold, cinnamon matte
Bottom row, left to right: banana matte, apricot shimmer, coco rojo