Selfie Does Melt-Proof Makeup

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I wish I had a solid excuse for the two-month break I took but beyond switching jobs and leaving my phone in the Lyft on my way to Tanzania, I kind of…don’t. So, we’ll just skip that. Moving right along.

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As you may or may not know, Ol’ Selfs is currently living on the surface of the FREAKING sun known as Texas in August.* I’m also planning a trip to metropolitan Orlando** and was like…what in the mother hen am I supposed to wear on my face when I am out-of-doors but want to look like a human? (Besides sunscreen…re-learned that the hard way. Thank You, Chicago.***) In different but very related news, I also had a $100 coupon code for Sephora that was burning a whole in my pocket and realized I could solve two very unimportant and not-super-real problems with one turn – cream make-up designed to outlast the scorching double suns of Tatooine.^  So, that’s right – Selfie got herself a new summer look that is….wildly similar to her normal look but with different products. “Why do I care, Selfs?” Great question, Kim!  You care because the Sephora summer sale is on and this is mostly an excuse to tell you what I bought and also to pretend the multiple hours I spent on YouTube tutorials and product reviews really meant something to everyone.

One really great thing about this look is that all the products fit really conveniently into my purse which means they will travel well. In addition, if you’re not deeply into brushes, you don’t really need that here. Also, this look works with or without foundation which is really important for giving your skin a break when we’re covering it in sweat and sunscreen anyways so here are the product suggestions.

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1)      Supergoop Superscreen Moisturizer: I normally use the Goop Setting Spray because I really hate the way sunscreen pills under foundation but also recognize that it is criminally insane at this point to not wear sunscreen so…here we are. While I like being able to spray my sunscreen on top of my make-up, I don’t love how clogged up the dispenser gets. I was worried about this moisturizer but it doesn’t clog the pours, it had sunscreen and works great!

2)      Nudestix Beach Festival: I can’t tell you how much I both don’t want to go to a beach festival (sounds sandy) and really like this kit but they are equal amounts. These eyeshadows have STAYING POWER. Like wow, I hope you don’t swipe it on and decide you hate the color cuz girl^^…those shadows are staying on yo’ face. If you want to use your finger, great. If you want to blend it out with a brush, you can do that too. Either way though, you have to work fast because once they dry down it’s over. I really, really love the bronzer that comes with this kit – to me it’s the star. It stays on super well, it’s easy to blend and build and makes you glowy and sculpts your face with or without foundation on. Done. Sold. I know not everyone loves the color of the lip but I do and the only thing that doesn’t really stay well is the lighter gloss shade which isn’t surprise.  One downside though is the lip colors seem…melty? As in I had them in my purse and not in their little metal tin and the caps popped off and they got on my stuff and it messed up the shape. That being said, for $75 I would buy this kit with or without the lip products tbh.

3)      Milk Cosmetics Highlighter and Blush: If I had any items that didn’t knock my socks off during this purchase, it would be this highlighter. If I put on highlighter, I want you to be able to see the gleam from my imaginary cheekbone from space, k? And that’s really not Milk’s whole vibe. Both Nudestix and Milk are in the Glossier class of cosmetics where we’re going for that whole no-makeup makeup look which has never been my vibe but I gotta say…I like it in a situation where my “look at my makeup” makeup would be running down my face. The blush is really beautiful and blends like a dream so definitely re-purchasable.

4)      Lancome Teint Idole Ulta Wear Foundation: Ah, yes. Another foundation, another ridiculous name. There have been so, so many foundations that have come out recently and I really not a department store brand person but man, I tried this because I just had a tester of it in the train box and it is freakin’ beautiful. Then I went back and looked up if I had used it before – I totally have and really loved the looks so I was sold. It’s not on the Sephora website but they definitely have it in stores and aren’t discontinuing it so I really don’t know what that’s about.

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The look: The look is literally put on foundation (or not) with a brush or a beautyblender and add concealer to the undereye. Then dot the bronzer at the outside of the hairline of cheek and perimeter of the face and then blend inwards. I did this by simply using a kabuki brush to press the product into the skin.  I really took the suggestion of letting my foundation all the way set and dry before adding cream products. In addition, you can blend these products out to basically nothing which wasn’t was I was going for so it was really pressing the product into the skin instead of buffing it. Then, I dotted the blush on the apples of my cheek going back into my hairline and repeated. Same with adding the highlighter to the top of my cheekbones – no “rubbing”, just pressing the product into my face and make sure it blended together. I added a dark color (Rustic Grotto or Maroond) to the crease and then quickly blended it up and out. I added Pink Seychelles all over the eye and then put Praia in the inner corner and added eyeliner. Then I powdered^^^ the bejesus out of my face to make sure everything set and went about my day. It really stayed put throughout the day and I’m very hopeful it will work out well in FL.

How about you? Any summer beauty tips for those of us who won’t be headed into Fall until December?

*We’re originally from Chicago so every February you are just in the bleak, dark place where it’s been winter since Halloween but Spring is not nigh. August is my February now. And fall, my friends, is NOT NIGH. And it’s like EXTRA humid this year, am I right? Anyhoo…

**Where Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration buys pine-scented perfumes for his lady…it’s a reference to The Office. The Office was a popular television show…you’re too young. I can’t.

***I recently attended a bachelorette party that included boating. I did not appLy adequate sunscreen so I got very burnt. That’s the whole story. It’s not my best.

^I actually don’t recall there being two suns on Tatooine but now I refuse to look it up and so don’t @ me, fans.

^^Or Guy. You do you, I don’t judge.  

^^^I don’t have a powder recommendation yet because I just use whatever samples I have from Sephora and I rarely use it so, I’m working on that.