Nikki From HR

I haven’t ventured very far into the Fude brush world, but last year I decided to branch out from Sonia G and try a cheek brush from the Koyudo brand. If you are unfamiliar, Fude brushes are handmade by Japanese artisans. The Kakishibuzome KK-2 Brush (previously KSZ-03) is a Saikoho goat hair brush that retails for $58. The Kakishibuzome series features bristles that have been dyed with persimmon, giving it an ombre effect as well as antibacterial properties. I purchased mine from Beautylish (not affiliated), but it is also available on the CDJapan (not affiliated) and Fude Beauty (not affiliated) websites. Spoiler alert: this brush has a beautiful design, and the quality is excellent, but I prefer the brushes I have from Sonia G. This really comes down to personal preference, as I had little issue with the finish left by the Kakishibuzome KK-2 Cheek Brush. Let’s look at some pictures and comparisons, and then I’ll get into why I don’t like it and the best use I found for it.

Jumping right in, the first thing I want to discuss in this review is the eye safety warning on the packaging, because eye warnings on eye makeup products annoy me. The Revlon Glimmer Liquid Eyeshadows ($8.97 – $10.49) have a warning (avoid getting into eyes) that can only be seen if you open the packaging to view the ingredients. These shadows come with a shrink wrap that must be removed, followed by a white label with product information that opens to reveal the ingredients (where the warning is located). That white label also has to be removed to open the eye shadow. While I appreciate the secure package from the standpoint that it is less likely to be opened and swatched, I think it should be easier to see this eye warning. I wanted to mention it especially since it is listed as being safe for sensitive eyes and suitable for contact lens wearers. I know that many everyday care products also carry this type of warning, but I wanted to highlight it because I didn’t see it in the online product information. I have not experienced these getting into my eyes. Even when I remove them, they come off easily and haven’t migrated into my eyes. I haven’t noticed any eye irritation either.

Update July 27, 2025: National Lipstick Day is coming up on July 29, 2025, and with it, brands will be offering sales on lip products. You absolutely don’t need to buy any lip product or participate in this marketing event, but for those who want to, this post would be a good starting point for some recommendations. I keep a list of sales linked in the menu at the top of this website (Beauty Sales). You can check that out if you are looking for sales, but this week, in particular, I will be adding lip product sales that I come across. I also have a lip product index, if you’d like to see more than I have featured below.

If you are trying to avoid National Lipstick Day sales but need some encouragement, I have a post called ‘Beauty Sales: Let’s talk about where you can save money and why there is no rush.’ Some of the stores listed in that post have since closed, but the message remains accurate and relevant.

I know I’m not the only one to notice the overabundance of lip balms and lip oils lately. I am happy for those who enjoy that style of lip product and now have plenty to choose from. On the other hand, there are also many stains and longer-wearing matte formulas being released. I understand the need for this type of lip product, and some people certainly need low-maintenance products. As for me, a traditional cream bullet lipstick remains my favorite lip product. I’ll take comfort over long wear and touch-ups over maintenance-free any day. I draw the line at cream formulas that feather into the fine lines around my lips and sink into my lip lines.

My favorite lipsticks have changed a little over the years as brands have discontinued some formulas. So, I figured I’d talk you through my updated lipstick favorites. There are some formulas that you may have heard me rave about, which are not among my top picks. In those situations, I enjoy the formula, but either I can’t find a shade that I love, or something about the formula annoys me. I’ll list those at the end for anyone curious.

So, here are four lipsticks (and an honorable mention) that I have come to rely on for good wear time, easy reapplication and touch-ups, at least medium pigmentation, and flattering shades for my skin tone (NARS Tahoe, Estee Lauder 4W4). I have an olive undertone, and my lips have a purple undertone; these both play a significant role in how lipsticks look on me.

Whether you love them or hate them, Tarte Cosmetics offers an excellent range of everyday staples. You will have to wade through a lot of new releases to find them, but they are there. Tarte recently discontinued their 12-pan palettes and has just rereleased them in slimmer packaging, adding this one into the mix. The Tarte #trippinwithtarte Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette ($49) is a neutral palette featuring 7 matte shades and 5 shimmer shades. If you prefer warm eyeshadows, I also have a review of Tarte’s Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette. These shadows have good pigment, but some are better than others. However, they are all buildable, so they can be intensified. After I open the palette, I can immediately smell the vanilla scent. Well, my husband smells chocolate, but I know that the formula has both vanilla planifolia fruit extract and vanillin, so I associate the smell with vanilla. Luckily for me and my sensitive nose, the scent does fade quickly after application. The palette features a fantastic mirror that spans almost the entire size of the palette. The only downside to using the mirror is that the scent of the eyeshadows is in your face. That could be an upside for some, though.

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Click “Continue Reading” for the full review, which includes a shade-by-shade breakdown and swatches.

While the Morphe Solo Artist Priming Cream Eyeshadow ($10) in Mixtape isn’t quite as warm as I had hoped, I think it performs well considering the challenges that my eye shape throws its way.

Caramel brown is the color description for the Morphe Cream Eyeshadow in Mixtape (on the Ulta website), but it appears cool-toned and pink-leaning when applied. I compare the shade to MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Contemplative State and the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sepia below to put it into perspective. For shade reference, my best matches are NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Tahoe and Estee Lauder Double Wear 4W4 Hazel, and have a warm olive undertone.

I’m jumping right in today with a Colourpop review. The Colourpop New Moon Eyeshadow Palette is part of a limited edition collection that just restocked on the Colourpop website. I’m not a Twilight fan, so I can’t speak on how well Colourpop did at capturing the theme. However, since this was released a while ago, hopefully, there’s a review out there that goes into those details.

I bought mine during the initial release (January 2025) after watching Kolorful Kalmele’s video featuring the palette on YouTube. I want to give her a shout-out because at the time, she was the only person I could find featuring the palette who was close to my skin tone. My best foundation matches are NARS Tahoe and Estee Lauder 4W4.