Well, the end of the year certainly snuck up on me! So much so that I barely got this post done on time.
In my defence, I bought… a lot… of makeup this year, and had a lot more products to muse upon. I think this is because I spent most of 2022 and the start of 2023 doing the same makeup over and over again to practise for my wedding, and when that was over and I wasn’t analysing my makeup so much, I was like: TIME TO TRY AS MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AS POSSIBLE. And you know what? Many of them were hits. So here are my makeup favourites for 2023 – there are so many that I decided to do a part two with skin/body/haircare, coming soon.
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation
I’m just going to get the Haus Labs stanning out of the way early. This foundation is getting thoroughly mixed reviews online, and I land on the positive side. It’s not wildly different to the Armani Luminous Silk – medium but buildable coverage, luminous finish, feels weightless on the skin – which is probably why I like it so much. I think this wears slightly differently on me than the Armani, getting more radiant as the day goes on, whereas the Armani stays pretty much the same as when you applied it. I like that, though it might sound like a nightmare for those who don’t want so much glow. I love cutting it with Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter for a lighter daily foundation (yes, FF would make anything look good, but this combo really works for me).
However, I don’t have the same feelings about the corresponding concealer, which is kind of tricky to work with and at least on me, turns into a cakey mess after being set with powder. It looks better unset, so I can use it, but still. Not great. I felt it was important to throw that in, lest you think Lady Gaga is paying me to be her shill.
Haus Labs Power Sculpt Bronzer
…Which you might believe anyway because here I am to say: I also love the Haus Labs bronzer! My shade is Light Level 3, which is described as having a neutral undertone. I’ve never really considered undertones when it comes to bronzer, but it might explain why I’ve been kind of afraid of it over the years – this one is neither too orange nor too muddy, but just right. It also has a reasonable level of pigment, so you’re not going to find yourself inadvertently over-applying. You know it’s good when Ms Light Touch over here is about to hit pan.
Last Haus Labs product, I swear. These blushes! So exciting in the pan and on the face. The insanely pink Dragon Fruit Daze is that viral Dior blush on steroids, while Hibiscus Haze is the muted mauve of dreams. You can totally go crazy with this product if you want – I used it to do this neon pink eyes/neon pink blush thing at Electric Picnic this year – or you can just add a light dusting to enliven your complexion. They’re the only powder blushes I’ve really worn this year as a cream/liquid blush addict.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Rarely did I apply foundation this year without this underneath (if I did, I put on the Glow Recipe Niacinamide Dew Drops, which are grand if not particularly revolutionary). Yep, it’s just a moisturiser, but for my unpredictable skin, it’s made all the difference to my makeup. Generally, if my skincare is freshly applied, I’ll just dab a bit of this around my nose and forehead, which is where my foundation can look the driest. I go all in if it’s been a while since my skin has known moisture. Everything goes on smoother, looks better, and lasts longer paired with this. If I could find a cheaper alternative, I would, but for now I’m clinging on to this pot for dear life.
I’ve been waitinnnnng for a girl like you to come intoooo my liiiiife… Seriously. I feel like I’ve tried and rejected so many skin tints and light foundations at this stage, but Hydratint is exactly what I was looking for. Sheer, sheer coverage, just enough to even out the skin tone, but can be played up or down with the concealer you pair it with. Skincare-like finish, no glitter or pearl, just glow. Wears well throughout the day. I found Sculpted’s Tint and Glow to be way too heavy and glittery for my liking, so I’m glad that they pulled this one out of the bag. An everyday staple.
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder in Cherry Blossom Cake
This year I came to the stunning realisation that powder, the makeup product I once wouldn’t leave the house without, no longer looks particularly great on me, especially under the eyes. Life comes at you fast. I still use it to set here and there, but definitely a lot less of it – and this loose powder is light enough that it doesn’t feel as if the life has been sucked out of my face. The pink hue is brightening on my skin tone, and it blurs without taking away all the glow. If you told me a Huda Beauty powder with “bake” in the name would be as subtle and seamless as this one, I wouldn’t have believed you, but it’s true.
Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer
So the name of this product obscures what it actually is, which is a cream bronzer. A very nice cream bronzer, the kind that is virtually impossible to get wrong. It’s so easy to apply, never looks harsh or orange (on me at least), and blends flawlessly into your base makeup. If you like a very bronzed look, this might not have enough oomph for you, but for someone who just wants to add a touch of warmth to her face, it’s ideal.
This is a late entry since it only came into my life in October, but I’ve taken to this product with such fervour that it had to go in. I got the little holiday set of three minis (very generously sized, the actual product must be HUGE) in Rosy, a warm rosy pink, Baby, a cool-toned pink, and Chilly, a cool-toned mauve. As the name suggests, these are dewy liquid blushes that give the blush-highlight look without any glitter, just skincare-like glow. Chilly instantly became my new favourite blush shade – I would happily wear this every day if I didn’t feel bad about the rest of my blushes.
Vieve Eye Wands in Hazelnut and Espresso
I’m in my Boring Brown Eyeshadow Era and I don’t care. These are such a quick, easy way to get something on your eyes – I wear both on their own, or Hazelnut all over with Espresso along the lash line for some extra definition, OR with the next product I’m about to mention. Sure, there are lots of brown eyeshadow sticks on the market, but these are the ones that finally made me a believer.
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy
The TikTok girlies were right! This is a stunning, sparkly little eyeshadow that I have used to death this year. It has a light bronze-toned base to it with silver glitter, making it quite versatile – it works on its own, over one of the Vieve Eye Wands (how I wear it most of the time), or paired with the more gold Bobbi Brown Luxe Eyeshadow in Moonstone if you feel like being extra, which I often do. A very easy and cute way to wear glitter.
I’ve exclusively tried eye products from Vieve, and across the board, they’ve been great. I had a hankering for cool-toned grey and taupe eyeshadow and this answered the brief perfectly - the shadows are beautiful quality, the shades are unique and versatile, and I’ve created a lot of different looks with this since I got it. There really aren’t many cool-toned palettes out there, so if you’re looking for a change from the typical warm neutrals, this would be my pick.
Shu Uemura eyelash curler
Never has something become so integral to my makeup routine so quickly. I went from never curling my eyelashes to needing to curl my eyelashes. I don’t understand how I thought mascara worked without it. I don’t know if you particularly need this eyelash curler – which I picked up on a whim on our honeymoon – but if I can persuade any of you to find a lash curler that works for you, then this newsletter has achieved something.
Lip gloss
A while ago, I proudly declared myself a gloss girl because I enjoyed wearing one (1) lip gloss – judging by my 2023 favourites, I have grown into a gloss woman. To be fair, I will always be a lipstick woman too, but this year, I just couldn’t get enough of the shiny stuff.
Clinique Creamy Lip Gloss in Black Honey Pop: I’ve never used the OG Black Honey lipstick, but I think this would be my preferred way to wear the shade, anyway. This deep berry red makes my everyday look of a skin tint, brown shadow, and blush appear considered and chic instead of “how fast can I bring some life to my face.”
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat in Hot Chocolit Heat: This looks like nothing on its own, but with a liner (more on that in a moment), it becomes this 90s cool-girl shade I absolutely love. I can’t really say if the plumping effects make a huge difference, but the colour and formula are great either way.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment: I did a more thorough review of this one but it’s got a glass-like shine that looks as good if not better than most glosses, with all the comfort of a lip balm. Gorge.
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip Gloss in Missed Call: Hate the name, love the product. Very shiny, sweet pink-y hue, non-sticky… why buy an expensive lip oil, when you could have this one?
Lip liner
Naturally, since this was my year of gloss, it was also my year of lip liner. I’ve always used it, but it took a back seat to the lipstick I was applying on top of it. Now I truly understand its capabilities – how it can transform other lip products and elevate them. Here are a few faves:
NYX Lip Liner: I have a few of these affordable beauties – my favourite shades are Nude Truffle and Soft Spoken, which are both in the brown family. I never thought I’d be a brown lip liner person but when you find the right one, it’s magic.
PS Beauty Lip Liner in Velvet Touch: Thanks Penneys, indeed. This liner is so creamy and soft, the shade is a “my lips but better” vibe, and I have bought backups because I know they like to switch things up on us.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lip Liners: Another budget-friendly option that’s been around for a long time. Like, I remember people recommending Cappuccino on Beaut.ie. They’ve stuck it out for a reason.
Thanks for reading Vanity Project! The second part is coming soon, so sit tight for my skin/hair/body/misc faves.
Penneys and Aldi have dupes of the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - the Penneys one isn't bad - maybe not as rich.
I picked up a duo pack of the Bobbi Brown on Look Fantastic for 59e around black Friday so was happy out with that!