This week it’s a great week to be a makeup lover.
There are lots of new arrivals on counters and rather than hyped hit picks, only suitable for a swiftly passing trend, they will likely be useful everyday additions for many people.
With cost of living the way it is, it can be impossible to justify the price of some products. I feel the ones I have mentioned work well and you only need a little. so they will last well if you need to justify the purchase.
I am a huge fan of many lower-priced beauty buys, so I will always endeavor to include some options in this column. To me it’s hard to put a price frame on these because everyone’s perception of ‘budget’ looks different. Sometimes it simply means products that sit at less than 1/2 the price of the majority of products in that category. But when Victoria Beckham’s foundation sits at over $200, well, less than half of that could hardly be called ‘budget’.
Regardless, I will include a range going forward. You can click on the links to find the Aotearoa NZ prices for each. Here are the makeup products I’ve tried recently and loved:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup
Everyone has been talking about this foundation because it is a reformulation of one of the most popular completion products, probably ever.
The original Double Wear was known for its ability to last and last on skin, perfect for long days or special events and nights out. I found it too flat and drying, and it was overtaken by more modern formulations. Hence, the refresh.
I prefer foundations that look slightly dewy on skin so I am pleased to report though this is technically a matte-finish, it has far more life and dimension to it when applied. It makes my mid-forties skin look great, and the coverage really does last.
The only annoying thing is the glass bottle comes without a pump (you have to pay $20+ extra for one, although limiting plastic is probably a good thing) and it is very fluid – I accidentally tipped some out on my bathroom counter.
To use, I pour the tiniest amount on the back of my hand and use a dense-bristle foundation brush to apply.
Maybelline Sculpting Stix Eyeliner
A black or brown eyeliner sketched along the lash line and blended slightly is the never-fail makeup move that suits everyone, regardless of age – I will die on this hill.
I like one that goes on smoothly, without skipping or tugging, especially on eyelids that are less-than taut.
This new one comes has a very fine tip has a little brush on one end that you can use to blend or even ‘drag’ the colour out slightly at the outer corners of your eyes for a subtle flick that ups the glam factor a touch. Plus, they are under $20, rare these days.
MAC, Multi-Sculpt Matte Liquid Colour
Eyeshadow products that don’t crease or wear-off quickly are something of a holy grail.
I’ve used MAC’s Paint Pot colours applied with a fingertip as a base for eyeshadow for years (shout out the shade Groundwork!) so I was intrigued by MAC’s new dab-on, multi-use matte liquid colour. It’s tipped to be liquid and ultra-blendable so you can use it to contour your face as well, but since I don’t do that, I tried two of the mid-brown shades as eyeshadow colour. I liked the way a little goes a long way so I only needed a tiny bit dotted on the centre of my eyelid and it blended out very well with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. It’s not as long-lasting as the brand says (36 hrs) on me, but it does wear well over the day and the colours are gorgeous. With the way it applies so easily I can see it becoming a staple product for me.
MECCA MAX Brow Guru Cutting Edge Pencil
I received this in a parcel with another new MECCA MAX product – the Fangirl Panoramic Tubing Mascara. Given I’m a huge fan of tubing mascara (it’s the only type that doesn’t smudge on me) I thought that would be my new hit pick. It is good, but I’ve actually been reaching for this brow pencil more.
The Brow Guru pencil has a wedge-shaped tip (they say a ‘blade-shaped tip’) you can use on an angle to make a fine line to draw in little hairs, or swipe the entire tip across to fill the whole brow in quickly.
With an attached spoolie I can do my whole brow look in seconds, the dark colour is a natural match for me, and it lasts well during the day which is key, as I have very little natural brow hairs. There are seven shades available.
Aleph Aura Gloss
Aotearoa clean beauty brand Aleph is really coming on in leaps and bounds with its product innovation and it really shows in this product. Modern lip glosses deliver brilliant shine but feel smooth, rather than sticky when you press your lips together. Aleph’s new gloss, that comes in three shades, does just that but has been made without any silicones, microplastics or unnecessary synthetic fillers. I’ve been wearing the dusky-rose shade ‘Ember’ over a lip liner during the working week and on its own at the weekend and I love it. It makes my lip creases less noticeable and is a lovely ‘your lips but better’ colour on me, now that my lips have lost some of their natural pigment with age.
