Author: Nikki

As I started to put together my 2022 favorites list, it started to look like the If I could Keep Only One Tag Post that I posted back in May. Since I often reference my favorite products and formulas throughout my reviews and sales suggestions, I thought it’d be more helpful to shine a light on some different products. So, instead of favorites, I want to talk about 4 products that surprised me (in a good way) this year. These products just don’t quite hit the mark to be my favorite, but they are still great products that are worth checking out.

Despite blogging for 9 years (I published my first blog post in October 2013 😲), I’m one of those people who still get excited to try new formulas. I can appreciate that, for instance, all blushes give you a flush of color, and I am still curious to know how the formula and color differ from one another. I go into most reviews expecting products to work just fine. There aren’t many products that are truly bad these days. So when something impresses me and moves beyond that “just fine” feeling, it can be especially exciting for me since I have tried so much makeup over the years.

Oh, and I realize that many new WordPress and email subscribers may not be familiar with my preferences as well as some of you, so I’ve created a page that lists my favorite products along with any corresponding blog posts. You can check out that page by clicking here.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, $46

Despite hearing rave reviews about this powder, I couldn’t find much information on how it works for individuals with both dry and dark skin. Based on the claims, the powder is supposed to work for all skin tones and have a natural finish. So, in theory, there should have been no issue, but I was still skeptical, so I went to Sephora to check it out in person. As you can see, it impressed me enough in the store to go ahead and purchase it. I don’t typically like loose powders unless they come in mesh screen packaging, which most people dislike, but I thought this sifter-style packaging looked like it wouldn’t be too messy. I still prefer the mesh style, but this isn’t too bad. Since I only need a little bit of powder, it dispenses way more product than I need for one use, so I haven’t had any issues. If you pack on powder or have oilier skin, I can see how this style of sifter may not give you enough product.

There is no white cast on my Estee Lauder 4W4/NARS Tahoe skin tone, and there is no flashback in photos. My skin doesn’t feel dry or tight when I use this, and it works well for both my face and my under-eye area. I like it better on the face because I feel like my NARS Light Reflecting Powder does a better job of setting my under-eye area. I am, however, impressed that this is one of only two powders I’ve ever tried that minimizes the movement of foundation and concealer under the nose pads of my glasses. The other powder is the Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Powder.

If you’re not new here, you have probably already seen my review of the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks from April 2021. Although I didn’t review them until last year, this formula has been one of my favorites since about 2012, and I continue to sing its praises. In that post, I swatched the shades Rum Raisin, Raisin Rage, and Desert Escape (click here to see that post). I have now posted 202 blog posts on this website, and to this day, the Revlon Lipstick review remains my most viewed blog post. Since there is still clearly interest in these lipsticks and I couldn’t find anyone else with this shade (Make Me Blush), I figured it was a great occasion to share it with you.

If you aren’t familiar with the Revlon Super Lustrous line, it is a traditional cream lipstick. They are comfortable, provide decent pigmentation, don’t accentuate lip lines, and are fragrance-free. This formula does have a lanolin ingredient (C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters), so keep that in mind if you are allergic to lanolin.

Organizing your makeup doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I thought I’d share a few of the ways I’ve stored makeup over the last several years to give you some ideas. Most of what I use is under $20 per item (or was at the time of purchase), and these items (or similar) can be found at Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, and Amazon. Of course, I have to give you the standard blogger disclaimer that I have a lot of makeup because I review products, and you don’t need this much stuff unless you want that much. Also, keep in mind that these photos are just sections of products throughout different periods in time, so it is not necessarily everything I own at present. As a military spouse, I move a lot, so these examples are from different houses, and I’ve had to declutter and rearrange out of necessity over time.