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For me winter in terms of makeup starts when Christmas is over – Holiday makeup is a whole category of its own. (Although it has similarities – see here)
So when January came, I sat down and rummaged through my stash to rediscover products I used to love, but that somehow got pushed aside for other stuff. Because, as I said here, I am guilty of abandoning my favorites for things that actually don´t work as good for me, simply because they are newer.
I mean, what is the point of saving a lipstick I love while desperately trying to use up the one that isn´t as flattering, so I can get rid of that one first? I feel stupid even typing this, but it is what I subconsciously did.
This face however is all old products, some that old that I don´t want to know exactly when I purchased them, and I couldn´t be happier with the results.
Here is a step by step tutorial on the look I am wearing, and you will find details on the products underneath. Mind you, quite a few of them are no longer available, but rediscovering similar ones in your own stash is half the fun, don´t you think?
Base
I am going to start with a product I have had for a while, but never actually showed you here: The essence Studio + Primer Mattifying and Pore Minimizing Primer with Black Clay (here). It is one of the few primers that help control my oily t-zone over the course of the day, but as a downside has an awful scent (similar to toilet cleaner) and emphasizes any texture on my face.
That is why I tend to pair it with a hydrating foundation like the essence instaperfect liquid makeup (Review) which is, despite promising a strong matte effect, very dewy on me. The color 30 Funny Ivory is extra pale, so I am doing my best to use it in winter, bronzed up with a good dusting of The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer in 02.
I set the under eyes with the Laura Geller Baked Balance and Brighten Foundation (Review), which is fairly new in my stash and, despite the name, not suitable as a foundation for me. The coverage it offers is almost non-existent and it has a tendency to emphasize my pores, but it works lovely in setting and brightening my under eye concealer.
For the rest of my face I used the Manhattan Soft Mat Loose Powder (Review) which does the trick, but probably won´t be repurchased as dealing with loose powder early in the morning is a recipe for disaster.
Eyes
One thing I was sured had gone off when I pulled it out of the back of my drawer was the MAC Paint Pot in Morning Frost, a former LE product that looks scaringly glittery in the pan, but transfers to a beautiful, almost glossy finish on the lids. Finding shimmer that doesn´t emphasize fine lines is a challenge, so I hope to get some more use out of it before it completely dries out.
To add a bit of dimension I reached for a matte brown shadow, Cross-cultural (MAC, LE), that I rediscovered when filming the “Wearable Makeup Trends” video and that helps to make the eye a bit more interesting and tone down the shimmer for office days.
Liner will come to no surprise to anyone that has been around here for while, it is the L´Oréal Superliner (Review) that I keep repurchasing for years now, while mascara is what was on hand: The pixi Black Lacquer Lash Primer * (amazing!) and the Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara which is nice, but nothing I will repurchase.
Cheeks and lips
Now this is where “old favorites” is used in the original sense of the word. Both products look so battered I can barely make out the names anymore! On my cheeks I loved the Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Candy – so much that I actually hit pan on it! It just gives a lovely flush, blends seamlessly, lasts all day and is the perfect shade of red for my skin – I honestly haven´t worn anything else in the last weeks.
My lip color did change more often, no woman should have to survive on one color only, but the one product that stood out to me the most was the Astor Sumptuous Lip Color Butter in the color Va Va Voum (the exact color is sadly discontinued) – very hydrating, glossy, easy to apply and just so beautiful. Of course the creaminess of the product means that the staying power isn´t the best, I had to touch up every two hours while drinking and surely after every meal, but the hydrating formula and the slight vanilla taste do make up for that.
Have you rediscovered any favorites lately?
