April Favorites

Quite a few favorites this month...

 I know that I'm a little early with my monthly favorites list, but I always feel like I should do it when I think of it since I've been having a little problem with forgetfulness lately. 

And April's practically over  - I'm pretty sad to see it go because it's been a pretty good month.  Well, the Mets have played better than expected anyway and makeup wise, there were quite a few products that rocked my world.

It doesn't take much to make me happy.

I wrote a post about the Smasbox Camera Ready BB Cream last week, so I won't go on too much about it but it was definitely a favorite this month.  I love the coverage that it offers considering how lightweight it feels on the skin.  And the finish is lovely as well - dewy and natural. It's perfect for days when you don't want to wear much makeup but want a nice even complexion. Plus, unlike some other BB creams I've tried, it actually comes in a few shades so you've got a better shot at finding one that works with your skin tone. 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Fair swatch

I've mentioned before that it can be difficult to find a setting or finishing powder that works well when my skin is dry.  No matter how lightly I apply them, they just always seem to look cakey and uneven.  The Josie Maran Fresh Finish Hydrating Liquid Powder is a notable exception because it actually contains coconut water and Josie's trademark ingredient, argan oil, so it doesn't dry out your skin or accentuate flaky spots.  I got it in a TSV kit from QVC, but as far as I can tell, it's only available in one shade - which is essentially translucent. (However, I think it could look ashy on darker skin tones, so you might want to try a sample first.) It is incredibly lightweight and has an almost cooling sensation when you apply it to the skin.  I used it a lot this month with the Smashbox BB cream, and it helped keep it in place nicely.  I'm actually a fan of several of Josie Maran's products, which I'll talk about in a future post.

Josie Maran Fresh Finish Hydrating Liquid Powder

I'd been wanting to try Inglot eye shadows for quite some time, so when I went to Vegas last fall, I decided to treat myself to a Freedom System quad.  When I got home, I wondered for a little while if the free drinks on the casino floors had messed with my judgment a little too much when I'd picked out the colors - Pearl 393 (pale yellow), Pearl 407 (light coral peach), Pearl 399 (lilac) and Pearl 423 (deep plum) - because they didn't seem to go together at all.  However, once I started playing with the colors, I realized they're actually a gorgeous combination that's reminiscent of a sunset. It seems very spring-y and summer-y to me, so I guess it's no surprise that I wore it a ton in April.  I use Pearl 407 on the lid, Pearl 399 in the crease and Pearl 423 in the outer corner.  Pearl 393 is sheer enough that it works beautifully as a highlight.

Inglot Freedom System Quad - top: Pearl 393 (l.) & Pearl 407 (r.), bottom: Pearl 399 (l.) & Pearl 424 (r.)

Inglot Quad swatches: top: Pearl 393 (l.) & Pearl 407 (r.), bottom: Pearl 399 (l.) & Pearl 424 (r.)

 

 

 

 

When I was in a hurry and wanted a quick eye look, I reached by the Bare Escentuals Ready Duo in The Nick of Time. It includes Chance, a pale pink shade with a just a touch of silver glitter (which looks really sheer in the swatch, I know, but that's because it blends with my skin tone almost perfectly), and Kismet, a matte mauve-y brown.  I'll swipe Chance from lashes to brow and use Kismet in the crease for a really simple but pretty look.  I've mentioned before how much I love these shadows - they are creamy, smooth and apply like a dream.  I like this duo in particular as a twist on the usual cream and brown look that I wear when I want something understated.

BE Ready Duo in The Nick of Time - Chance (l.) & Kismet (r.)

BE Duo The Nick of Time swatches - Chance (l.) & Kismet (r.)

I really like the Buxom Stay-There Cream Shadows, and in April, I found myself drawn to Pug over and over again.  Pug is a shimmery gray-lilac shade that is unlike any other cream shadow shades that I have.  I find that the Stay-There formula is fairly sheer, though, so I usually use Pug as a base under other shades. In particular, it pairs really well with BE's Pacific Heights loose eye shadow and Nars' Lhasa - though I bet there are a bunch of shades out there that it would work well with. 

Buxom Stay-There Shadow in Pug

Buxom Pug swatch

I've gotten quite a few new blushes lately - and am pretty obsessed with a few of them - but in April, I actually found myself using a product that I've had for quite a while - MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose.  This thing has pretty much attained cult status as a limited edition item - and there's good reason.  It's a beautiful coral shade that is perfect for spring and summer.

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Stereo Rose swatch

I just posted the other day about my obsession with Hourglass' Femme Rouge Lipstick in Whisper - and I did wear it quite a bit in April.  It's just a really wearable, pretty golden pink color that works with so many different looks.

Hourglass Whisper swatch

But I also wore Tarte's LipSurgences in frisky and glitzy a lot too. I've talked about frisky before but glitzy is a lovely shimmery bronze-y rose shade that is an perfect for everyday.

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Lusters - glitzy (l.) & frisky (r.)

Tarte frisky LipSurgence swatch

Tarte glitzy LipSurgence swatch

 

 

 And finally, when I was wearing warmer looks, I found myself reaching for one of my favorite peachy lipsticks, Urban Decay Lipstick in Indecent.  Because it's so shimmery, it really brightens up the face and is a great option for spring and summer.

Urban Decay Lipstick in Indecent

UD Idecent Lipstick swatch

What were your favorite products in April?