Feb Favorites
*Note this is a repost from my old website
Salutations! 2021 is in full swing (where did January go??) and we are already in February! If you aren't familiar, February is the month where beauty brands come out with all sorts of cute heart embellished products to try and tempt me (and my sobbing wallet) and I'm not going to lie, it works. But before all of those cute concoctions come out, I thought I'd share some of my tried and true Feb favorites. From a cute pink liner to a universally flattering pinky nude, it's all here peeps just keep reading!
For those new to my blog, my beauty philosophy has always been to enhance your natural features, not to change them. That does not mean I don't enjoy a funky bright blue graphic liner from time to time (from time to time I mean like every other week, gahh baby blue liner is SO addictive), it simply means that I prefer to enhance my features with makeup instead of changing them. Embrace your face folks, embrace the face!
I try my best to find universally flattering shades, but alas I can only really test these on myself during COVID. BUT, all of these products have been tested by people of all colors and I wholeheartedly agree that they look STUNNING on everyone. Makeup is tricky, though, because what I might think looks absolutely, jaw drop-ingly, words-can-not-express-ingly, stupendous might not be your cup of tea. So please take what I saw with a grain of sugar (salt is nice but sugar is nicer).
I have rounded up my favorite pink/red products, ranging from drugstore lip balm that smells like cherry and childhood, to a YSL lipstick with the cutest heart imprint. The prices and retailers are always listed at the very end! Here we go!
NAILS
Starting off with nails. I don't know about you, but when my polish is chipped and my nails are unruly I always feel like a mess. There's nothing like freshly trimmed, well groomed nails to make a someone feel put together. It's one of my secrets for feeling like I know what I'm doing when I clearly don't, IT'S ALL IN THE NAILS.
My pick for this category goes to the fabulous Olive and June nail polish in the color GH. Named after Geri Hirsch, the creative director at Saie Beauty, this pretty light pink polish is flattering on every skin tone. It leans towards the cooler, milky pink side, but do not be deceived, this polish is OPAQUE. I would rate it as a 6/10 on the difficulty-to-paint scale, but with a little practice it looks better than salon nails. The key is thin coats (I do around 2 coats per nail).
It is $8.00 USD and can be bought directly off oliveandjune.com or at Target! Fun!
LIPS
There is something about lipstick that just makes you feel powerful. It's almost like confidence in a tube (almost). And not to be outdone, lipsticks lil sister lipgloss has made a comeback (and I am so glad for that). Whether it’s used to finish a glamorous, full faced look, or just a dab to brighten the face, there is no better way to spice up a look than to swipe on some lipstick/gloss.
NOTE: Lipstick is another tricky thing to recommend. The same color can look completely different on another person which is why I try to refrain from saying that certain colors are must haves. There are some products that are "universally flattering" but it really all comes down to preference and individual taste. For reference I have a medium tan complexion with neutral undertones (comment if you want a more in-depth explanation on how to determine undertones). I have swatched these colors and captured them in natural light, but of course the camera does not do it justice. I recommend looking up the product that interests you and seeing if you can find someone with a similar tone and going from there.
From Kosas:
Here I have the Wet Lip Oil Gloss in the colors Dip and Jaws. I bought these two in a mini set (it's still on Sephora go snatch one) that was on sale for $18.00 USD for three mini glosses. It came with Dip, Jaws, and Jellyfish which is a clear gloss. Individually, these glosses sell for $27.00 USD which is very pricey for a lip gloss which is why I HIGHLY recommend getting them in that trio on Sephora (again, THEY ARE ON SALE I REPEAT ON SALE RIGHT NOW). I also have the Weightless Lip Color in Undone and these sell for $28.00 USD (more on the price below).
Dip has to be my favorite lip color period. It is almost identical to the Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow, but is slightly less pink which I love. I also prefer this formula to the Fenty, as it is not as sticky or thick but has just as much shine. Such a beautiful universally flattering nude shade. It is described as a neutral pearly nude and it sums it up pretty well. The formula for these glosses are also hydrating, which means they are very comfortable and sit nicely.
Jaws is the same formula as Dip, but is a warm red shade. Again, Kosas really nailed this gloss. It is a beautiful universal red that can be toned up or down depending on how much you apply. Sometimes I like to swipe a tiny bit of this color just to brighten my face. Again, it's comfortable, very shiny, hydrating, and not at all sticky or thick. Both of these glosses also have staying power, meaning they won't disappear 5 seconds after application like some other lip glosses do (rude, I know).
Undone is a warm neutral pinkish brown lipstick in Kosas Weightless Lip Color formula. A pretty pinkish brown that can be smudged on to enhance the lip color, or swiped on for more color pay off. On the swatch I have provided below, it looks quite red, but on my lips it looks a lot pinker. These lipsticks are on the pricey side, so I recommend buying them on the Kosas website when there are sales. Kosas does periodic sales and they even throw in free lipsticks sometimes, which I'm obviously never opposed to.
From Miscellaneous Brands:
I still have vivid memories of buying my first Baby Lips in the color Cherry Me which is the color I have been loyal to all these years later. I must have been 7, it was the first "real makeup" product in my possession. I had convinced my grandmother to take me to CVS where I claimed that bright orange and red lip balm. The cashier must have been very confused when they saw a tiny 7 year old girl who, might I add, came into the store alone (I knew I would be stopped if my grandma saw the one I wanted so I went in alone), place that lipstick on the conveyer alongside a crumpled 10 dollar bill, looking up at them with huge chocolate eyes and the face of someone who felt like a winner (I felt quite scandalous knowing I wasn't allowed to wear colored cosmetics but then finding myself with bright red lipstick hiding in my drawer).
Baby Lips is a drugstore staple, and the color Cherry Me is my favorite. The red is not nearly as intense as it seems in the bullet, and instead goes on as a soft wash of red. It has an iconic cherry scent and is a dependable formula. Sells for $4.99 USD and can be found at any drugstore and online. 7 year old me and current me recommend this product.
This is my only YSL lipstick that was given to my by my aunt (thanks Ann Emo) and it is another example of how easily I fall for Valentines themed products (with that adorable heart in the center, can you really blame me?). It's a similar color to the Baby Lips, but has a somewhat thicker formula. The Baby Lips is definitely more of a tinted balm whereas the YSL is a glossy lipstick. It sells for $39.00 USD and can be found at Sephora and other beauty retailers, as well as the YSL website.
EYES:
These beauties are from Glossier and Glossier play. Both are shimmery, warm toned pinks.
Lidstar is Glossiers take on shimmery liquid eyeshadow. It has an almost slick, oil like consistency that blends well with fingers. It has a doe foot applicator and comes in a cute, test tube like container. Here I have the color Cub.
Color-slide is apart of the Glossier Play collection, a fun take on their regular makeup products. It's a creamy, smooth eyeliner in a color very similar to the Lidstar Cub. It glides on easily, definitely good for someone new in the eyeliner department. I smudge this on my bottom lash line to add some color, as well as to the top lid like a normal eyeliner. Calling all my fellow chocolate eyed peeps! This is such a beautiful color and compliments brown eyes so beautifully. I have it in the color Candyland.
Both of these are available for purchase exclusively on glossier.com
Lidstar $18.00 USD, Color-slide $15.00 USD
BLUSH:
Last but certainly not least, blush. Blush might be one of my top 2 beauty products. Something about adding a little pink or red to the cheeks can really change your entire face and add life back into it. I sneak a little blush on my eyelids as well as a little on the bridge of my nose. It gives a genuine "I've been outside sunbathing instead of on the couch reading Zoe Foster Blakes Amazinger Face book for the 10th time this week" kind of sunkissed look. Deception by makeup, agh marvelous.
This is MY FAVORITE BLUSH EVER. I can not recommend this blush enough. It is the Ilia blush in the color All of Me. I am very into the sunburnt, genuinely blushing, red blush look, and this color is very red. If you aren't into that, never fear they sell this formula in a plethora of other colors. I'm sure you can find one to your liking. The formula is creamy, but stays all day. A problem many people have with cream blush is that they fade quite easily, but this formula is a swipe on in the morning you're good for the rest of the day kinda blush. Easily one of my top 5 favorite beauty products. The color pay off is incredible and the products lasts for a long time. I just bought a new one after my last one lasted me over 2 years. Now I understand at $34.00 USD it is a hard product to justify, but I'm telling you it lasts forever and is so worth it. I bought mine on Sephora, but you can also find it on the Ilia website.
That's it! Those are my Feb Favorites! If you read this far, thank you it truly means a lot to me. Please feel free to contact me through the contact tab on the Blog and send me topics or products you would like me to try! I've had a lot of fun, thanks for reading! :)
This post is NOT sponsored, I just enjoy sharing my favorite products with everyone!
