Five Minute Face as Shabbos Face

 In my single years, I was a regular shul goer. Nearly every week, I would spend precious minutes before lechtzin hair styling and makeup applying. 

Now, that makeup routine was serious stuff. It was practically bullet proof. 

With Ben's arrival, however, the previous enjoyment of shul waned. When he was tiny, being up at night with him meant I stayed in bed in the morning. When he got older, and COVID became less worrisome, he would whine and complain while I struggled to get dressed, then he continued to whine and complain while I struggled to get him dressed, and by the time I finally made it out the door we were both sweaty and tired. 

When I would arrive at shul, he would refuse to go to groups, and after having my own davening disturbed too many times by youngsters I would refuse to bring him in, hovering outdoors and feeling rather stupid. If Han insisted on taking him in, I spent the time wincing whenever he emitted a peep. 

Or, if I didn't time it right, I would have spent all that effort getting it together to find shul is over and I got dressed and ready just to walk Han home. 

Blah. 

I decided instead that I would spend Shabbos morning going for a leisurely walk. I can't do that in the afternoon lest Ben dozes off in the stroller and is then unable to sleep at night. So morning it is. 

Well, do I really need a bulletproof Face just for a walk? When I'm wearing sunglasses? Through a pretty deserted route? 

Enter weekday Five Minute Face. 

Surprisingly, the above stays on rather well through Shabbos morning, giving my ego the slight boost it needs to be seen by strangers in public. When it fades (when you have a toddler, it will fade) it does so gradually, not patchily. Which is nice.

Lipstick will need to be of clingier stuff, though. A long wearing one.

Makeup doesn't have to be all or nothing. There's plenty of room in between. 

Shabbos Lashes

Three day yuntif. For a makeup lover like myself, cue the 😱 emoji. I love yuntif! But keeping on mascara for three days is quite daunting.

In my younger, pre-baby days, keeping makeup on for so long was a challenge I was amenable to tackle. But I now cherish sleep to the point that I just want to bury my face into a pillow and pass out after a 2 am feeding.

I still, however, want to go out in public with my dignity intact.

A few years back I heard of magnetized false lashes. The lashes attach with magnets, so they can be applied and removed and reapplied on Shabbos. As I  am armed with Shabbos makeup, mascara is the only chink in my armor.

So this past Shabbos I gave it a trial run. I purchased a set by Lash’d Up on Amazon called "I Woke Up This Way," and after a few tries, managed to somewhat successfully apply them. They aren’t too dramatic - my mascara is usually more over the top - and with Shabbos eyeliner I was able to make it look more blended with the lash line. 

Because they are magnetized, you can’t use metal tweezers to get them on. I think I will look for plastic ones to assist.

So after a bleary night with baby, I was able to take my eyes from bare to smoky on Shabbos, with lashes!

The Messiah cometh!

Shabbos Lips, Circa 2018

Makeup is an ever-evolving process. Technology advances. Options grow. Methods alter. 

F'instance, when I first tackled Shabbos Face, I asked a few stunningly-lipped women their products, and most shared the drugstore longwearing lipcolors, which have a liquid shade on one end and a moisturizing gloss on the other. 

The moisturizing gloss is needed because the longwear, if left alone, is extremely drying. The premise is that as the day goes on, one can slap on some more gloss as it wears off, while the color remains food-proof. 

But on Shabbos, that's not an option. So by morning, my lips were very unhappy indeed. Plus, by afternoon, the color would begin to flake off painfully, taking skin along for the ride while leaving uneven patchiness. 

I'm not keen on gloss, in any case.

I decided to experiment with matte lipsticks instead. I've always preferred mattes—Ma introduced me to them, and I've stayed loyal. I like the rich color, but depending on the brand, it too can get drying. During the week I would dab on some lip balm beforehand, but on Shabbos that would prevent staying power. 

The game changed for me when I discovered Smashbox Be Legendary Matte Lipsticks. These are technically matte, long-wearing, but they have a hint of satin which provides just enough comfort. 

Now the method: 

(1) After brushing teeth, buff the bristles along the lips. 

This removes dead skin, which: 

• compromises the bond between lip and lipstick;

• mattes tend to highlight flaky skin; and 

• buffing will temporarily plump up the lips, allowing for the fullest possible application.  

Dab lips dry from any moisture.  

(2) Line lips with longwearing pencil. You are not going for the '90s look; this is about getting an accurate, full, and steady stencil for application. The pencil itself will get covered as well. I'm currently using one by Urban Decay. 

via Style Craze

(3) Arm yourself with a lip brush. I recommend stiff, synthetic bristles that will remain within the lines (I like the one by Revlon). Another perk is that the color really gets into the lip skin, making it last longer. 

via Insider

(4) I begin with my Smashbox in Electric Pink Matte (this shade is no longer available in Sephora, but it is on Ulta). I paint on a coat (covering the lip pencil outline too) blot with a thin tissue, apply a second coat, and blot. 

• Note: Blotting is very important. Each blot removes excess product, so it won't peel off in one piece later, and sets in the color more firmly. 

(5) Now on to a more typical matte lipstick, a Mac Matte Lipstick (there is also Retro Matte). I'm currently using a (sadly) discontinued shade, Silly. Two coats, two blots. 

(6) I top off with a Sephora Color Lip Last Lipstick. I find their finish can sometimes be patchy, so I use this last. I flip between a few of their pinks. Sometimes I blot the last coat, sometimes I don't.

If you are truly devoted to the makeup cause:  

• Straws are your friends.

• Be very, very careful with soup or oily foods. Oil will whisk that color right off. I learned from Ma since childhood how to contort my mouth in such a way to get food in without it touching my lips. 

• Become very good at air-kissing. Although it's on so well a few pecks on my nephew's head doesn't do much damage.

The Repurchased! IV

1. To highlight the brow bone, I rely on L'Oreal Infallible Endless Pearl. Of course it's matte. 

2. For the lid, I like to use a lighter shade of gray as opposed to the darker one that goes in the crease. L.A. Minerals Dove Gray is bright and cheerful and opens up my eyes. I also use it alone for all-over cover when not going so evening-y dramatic. 

3. After a long day, the above eye makeup should be thoroughly removed. I have tried so many (so so many) eye makeup removers, and keep running back to Philosophy Just Release Me. I'm so ashamed, every time, for ever questioning our attachment.

Via makeupandbeauty.com. Before . . .

. . . and after. Shazam.

4. For those new to anti-aging creams, I recommend OzNaturals Retinol Moisturizer. It contains a less-potent retinol derivative, but it still does lovely work. For the newbie, this will guide you gently over the threshold. 

5. For the hardened cream fiends, I am getting along swimmingly with SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 (there is one in 1.0, but even I'm not ready for it yet). 

It is so potent that I have to mix it with—

6. —Cetaphil before applying. Yum yum.

 

I firmly recommend this step. Loved ones have accidentally "burned" their skin by applying straight retinol that their skin had yet to adjust to. 

7. I'm surprised at the unhappy reviews, but I like 40 Carrots Eye Gel. I've used many an eye serum and I'm pleased with this one. I feel as though it is doing its firming job. 

"Shabbos Makeup"

As my readership knows, I kinda have The Shabbos Face down pat (although it is always open to improvements). But Yuntif, ah, Yuntif. Two days to keep paint on, especially if finagling with grabby kinfauna? A difficulty indeed. 

This past Pesach, I decided to invest in rabbi-approved Shabbos cosmetics. Since my purchases took place over the internet, I did buy colors that I didn't end up using. So, I wanted to share which items were a winner for me. 

To begin, how the cosmetics are applied is also under rabbinic scrutiny; I had to familiarize myself with the accepted protocol.  

From Shaindee Cosmetics: 

• Blush in Soft Mauve/Glowing Mauve Matte 19H

• Eye Shadow in Dark Gray 49B

• While officially an Eye Shadow, I used Matte Lilac 48H/48B for eyebrow filler and as contouring powder

• Lip Gloss (Shudder. While I do not approve of gloss in general, my lips can get so dry and cracked beneath long-wearing lipstick that I voted for lip skin health and comfortable eating over lip hue. My policy is that as long as eye makeup is strong, everything else is commentary) 

• Hungarian Water (Of course I would get the HUNGARIAN water as opposed to rose) 

From Shabbos Brushups (at the time of my purchase, the website wasn't functioning in terms of checkout; email allison@shabbosbrushups.com to order): 

• Foundation in Matte Lite (the description sounded closest to my skin-tone and -type) 

• Concealer in Light  

• Eyeliner in Blackout (looks very glittery in the holder, but goes on black black black with only a hint of sparkle)

The foundation is not a perfect match, but close enough. The concealer cannot completely eliminate my MONSTER dark circles, but they have defeated even the bravest of concealers, so I did have a touch of zombie face. But that's what distracting over-laden eyelashes are for.  

My mascara was heftily applied before the holiday, and I worked around it. I feel a burning need to wash my face after a day's action, so this way I can function throughout Shavuos this year—three day yuntif, ladies! 

Appreciation

3PO and R2, two nephews close enough in age to get on each other's nerves, were going at it on a Friday afternoon. The go-to move is "divide and conquer"; I plucked away R2 from temptation, but needed to provide entertainment. 

R2 is familiarly adorable; he takes after Luke in looks and personality, but with some quirks thrown in. Like how he loves to clean (he was delighted with the toy broom and shovel I bought him) and he loves to cream. 

Yup, he got Babi's cream gene. This kid never gives me a hard time about shmearing coconut oil on his chapped cheeks and mouth. 

"C'mon, baby, you can watch me put on my Shabbos Face." I plunked him on a stool in my bathroom and he watched, fascinated, as I brushed and buffed. 

"Layla," he lisped, "what you doing?" 

"I'm painting my Face," I answered simply. 

"But why you paint your face?" 

"To look pretty. Do I look pretty?" 

He smiled sheepishly. "Yesh," he giggled. 

He's Hungarian, all right. 

Shabbos Face, Circa 2015

Whenever I apply makeup, I find myself reciting the steps as though I'm recording a Youtube tutorial. 

Not going to do that anytime soon—I hate public speaking, for one—but as my makeup routine changes along with new information I hear, I should keep this audience updated. I'm going to barf a lot of information at you; even I feel overwhelmed. Try to scroll through it in parts.

I'm sharing the products and tools that have so far worked for me, and that changes as I discover something new or another method that lasts longer. (Got any tips? Tell me!)

Here's my current Shabbos Face. When I'm pressed for time or I know that I won't be leaving the house, I opt out of eyeshadow and eyeliner application, relying on overdone mascara. I'll also skip contouring. 

It may appear that my steps go all over the place. That's because some products need time to set. I rotate over various facial zones, giving creams, primers, and mascaras time to sink in and settle. 

I begin with a completely bare face, Friday's eye makeup removed, the skin cleansed and patted dry post-shower. 

(1) Vitamin C serum all over, including eye area. I don't like a day passing without some anti-aging treatment. It sinks in quickly, and doesn't hold up makeup application. I've used Oz Naturals, Pure Body Naturals, and Amara Organics, and found them all lovely.

(2) I have combination skin, which means I need moisturizer, but I can become oily. I have tried a number of mattifying moisturizers, but always go back to Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15.

(3) Lip balm to prep the lips. Currently using (but not with any particular loyalty) Caudalie Lip Conditioner. (I buff off dead skin cells in the shower while cleansing with a silicone cleansing pad.)

(4) Shadow primer keeps eye shadow in place, but it has to be dry by the time the shadow is applied. Tap it on with the ring finger. I'm currently using Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but regular face primer work well, too (like the Hourglass listed below). It is also dabbed beneath the eye on my dark circles, to hold onto concealer.

(5) Eye pencil on the lower lash lid, but not the waterline, or underneath the upper lashes as I would do in the weekday (to minimize smudging and running). Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in 01 Black Lace is a pain to sharpen, a pain to apply, but does it stay. I use a flat, stiff-bristled smudge brush to buff it in, like this one by Bdellium.

{Note: For yontif, I use a different method.}

(6) Now that my various unguents have had time to sink in, I apply primer next. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer holds on to makeup for dear life.  

(7) Eye highlight first. With my ring finger or a flat eyeshadow brush, I pat into my brow bone L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eyeshadow in Endless Pearl. It's completely matte, and a perfect brow highlight. 

(8) For the lid, I'm in middle of some experimentation. A light gray option is L.A. Minerals Matte Mineral Eyeshadow in Dove Gray. 

I have also used L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eyeshadow in Sultry Smoke with my ring finger or brush. It's not matte, but the shimmer/glitter is kept to a minimum, so I grudgingly allow it. It's considerably darker. Some would prefer it for the crease, methinks.

{For warmer shades, consider Continuous Cocoa and/or Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe. Of course, if anyone loves shimmer then totally go for it, so all shades are open. But I do think that keeping the lid and crease eyeshadows in the same color family provides a cohesive look.}

(9) For the crease, I've been using my hoarded stockpile of discontinued Stila Mineral Matte Eyeshadow in Sajama. I buy it on Ebay or Amazon whenever I find it for a cheap enough price. A deep, true gray without purple or blue undertones is hard to find, especially one that stays on quite reliably. 

Because the primer makes buffing difficult, a fluffier eyeshadow brush is a better option. The Bdellium Tools Maestro Series Tapered Blending Brush does lovely work. I make sure to blend out the color into the highlight, to remove any harshness, with a Bdellium Blending Brush.

(10) Two coats of mascara primer. DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum has a combed brush which separates each lash, as well as getting them insanely long and plump. 

(11) While the primer is still damp, I apply a slow, wiggly, precise coat of Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. I've sampled many others, and keep coming back to it. 

This coat should be allowed to fully dry, so now I move on to foundation. 

(12) My skin tone is notoriously difficult to match, so I blend two shades of the Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 44 and Medium 52 with the Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki or bounce it on with a makeup sponge. I avoid applying foundation on my dark circles, since that tends to make the concealer crease. 

(13) Another coat of mascara. My Japanese favorite, Fairy Drops, went through another reformulation. I'm still using my old one, so I don't know how the new one performs yet.  But it's a false-lash formula. I like those.

(14) I have MONSTER dark circles, of Walking Dead caliber. The most top-rated concealer is also the most expensive, but it lasts lasts lasts. Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Ivory gets dabbed (not smudged) on with the ring finger. 

To set it, bareMinerals Broad Spectrum Multi-Tasking Face in Well Rested with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. Make sure to bring the powder up to the eye pencil on the lower lash line; that keeps it from smudging. 

(15) Another coat of mascara. 

(16) For contouring, Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder with the Precision Beauty Bamboo Angled Blush Brush to create angles down my cheeks, and up the sides of my face, into my hairline to minimize my large forehead.

I apply more than I would in the weekday since the cheek area gets ravaged by the nighttime pillow. 

(17) My adored brand, Illamasqua, is now no longer sold in these United States, so I have been keeping my eyes open for a matte pink blush backup. (I have hopes for the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface.) A loose powder option that I like is L.A. Minerals Blush in Cheerleader.

Via makeuploversunite.com

Blush goes above the contour and below the highlight, and further forward in the apples of the cheeks. I like using a brush that's wide and fluffy, such as the EcoTools Tapered Blush Brush.

(18) With an e.l.f. blush brush and Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer in 01 Stardust, I create a "C" shape around my outer eye and long my upper cheekbone. (I also blend a little with an eyeshadow brush into the inner corners of my eyes.) 

(19) Defined brow, with the trusty assistance of Tarte EmphasEYES for Brows High Definition Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe. This provides shape without darkening. (I'm eager to try the Waterproof Brow Mousse next.)

(20) Another coat of mascara. 

(21) Line lips with pencil (mine is Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Shocking Pink). 

 

(21) Long-lasting lipstick comes down to this: Apply. Blot. Apply. Blot. Apply. Blot. Apply. Blot. Apply. 

I begin with two or three coats of Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Electric Pink Matte with a Revlon Lip Brush, blotted in between. Prior to yontif I would apply even more layers. 

I then top it with Maybelline Superstay 14 Hour Lipstick in Perpetual Peony. The Maybelline tames the Smashbox, and the Smashbox heightens the Maybelline. A beautiful partnership. 

{Note: While there are longwearing formulas available by a number of companies, I opt for lipstick instead. Longwearing formulas go on bulletproof, then gradually and painfully flake off; lipstick, however, gradually fades away without such unsightliness.}

(22) Another coat of mascara. 

(23) Set the face with powder of choice. I'm currently using Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder with an EcoTools Powder Brush.

(24) For a final measure, setting spray. I'm using Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray. It leaves a tacky, tight finish for just a few moments, but then my face frees up.       

 

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to take a nap. Telling this over is more exhausting than applying it all.      

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Primers have been worshipped for some time in the makeup world, but I was leery about applying too many products to my potentially hysterical skin. I've used them on and off over the years, but never found the experience enlightening. 

At one point I gave in and purchased a highly rated product that claimed to work miracles, but I saw no benefits from its use. I returned it, and believed myself content. 

But I suffer from an insatiable curiosity when it comes to cosmetics, so during a coupon promotion I bought another that is highly rated, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

 

Well, the difference is quite clear. The product itself is light and almost powdery, and I feel it bonding with my skin without buildup or heaviness. After I give it a few minutes to set, I bounce on foundation with a dampened makeup sponge. 

Shabbos morning there is distinctly more foundation on my face then when I applied it without primer or with different primer. 

Ma used to be a loyal user of the Smashbox primer, but she's converted to the Hourglass as well. Her skin is drier than mine, but she is equally happy with its performance. She was never content with the lid primer I bought for her, and she uses the Hourglass on her lids as well to hold onto eyeshadow. The performance is comparable, perhaps even better than the "official" lid primer.

Princess Lea Flies Again

I must be a glutton for punishment. 

Nearly two years ago I swore off liquid foundation. I just couldn't handle the disappointment anymore. 

To recap, my skin tone is elusive enough (fair with a soupçon of yellow) that I usually have to blend two shades, as I do with my mineral makeup. For daily use, in terms of easy application and sufficient wear, mineral makeup really is great, especially in the summer months when my combination skin gets shiny real fast. I appear "dewy" instead of "shvitzy." 

A while back, in a moment of weakness, I got a sample of Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 in Sand. I forgot about it until, following an accidentally violent glycolic acid treatment, I had a patch of flaking skin that had to be babied. Donning my usual mineral makeup before Shabbos would aggravate and highlight the boo-boo. 

I scrabbled about in a few drawers until I found the tiny container, whipped out the top-rated yet so far unused Sigma F80 flat kabuki brush, and applied.

Fabulous!

Not only that, the coverage lasted way longer than the mineral makeup. Shabbos morning I carefully blotted away excess oil on my t-zone, and I was good to go. 

Okay, liquid foundation! I have been convinced. I was all set to purchase a full bottle, but the reviews online for the BB were less than ecstatic. Even though I had been receiving compliments, I decided to experiment.

Sephora has a Color IQ thingamajig into which you input the brand and color of your matching foundation, and they provide different options. It's less than infallible; with the different options I put in I got a different skin tone conclusions. To winnow down the options further: specifically long-wear formulations for combination/oily skin types that are also non-comedogenic, SPF would be nice, and they should be somewhat loved by other women (MakeupAlley and Sephora for user ratings). 

After rigorous research, I was able to plunk down my carefully culled selections before a less-than-cheerful Sephora associate, and I bore home numerous, precious containers of samples to experiment with.

For all of these, I first applied Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA+++ to moisturize my skin, moved on to my eye makeup to allow it time to sink in, then the liquid foundation. (I have also dabbled with a makeup primer on top of the Mattifier and beneath the foundation, but quite frankly my results with the Mattifier has rendered the primer moot.)

All makeups were set with loose powder.

To the lab!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in Bone 1W1 and Sand 1W2: This foundation is, like, the most loved, ever. I had considered it beforehand and thought all options too dark without trying it on, but now with samples I could experiment calmly. "15-hour staying power," they say. Not only that, the color selection defies belief: THIRTY (30) options. THIRTY. 

Conclusions: Oh, the divine yellow-ness! Is it so hard, cosmetic companies, to provide a range of shades? Finally, my face seems to match my neck!  Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer! Without a trace of doubt in my mind! I'm in love, I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried . . . Sing with me! (Read through the full lyrics; it is definitely the "I found the best makeup" song.)

Back up, PL. No need to announce the engagement yet. Let's see.

The design of the bottle is a real drag. No applicator, no pump, which makes overspillage, waste, and contamination a concern. Yet, if it is truly divine, I can overlook that. 

It keeps shine amazingly at bay; I didn't even know it mattifies. I had initially donned it at 7:45 on a sunny June morning; by 4:30, my t-zone was still matte, no blotting required. By 7, my face had that "dewy/shvitzy" finish, but really, it held out amazingly well. Nor was there any dreaded oxidation; the color remained the same throughout the day. It had settled into my pores somewhat, but I'm just impressed at its day-long performance. Good show, fellas, walk it off. Or do I mean wash it off? 

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 45: This is full coverage, and supposedly lasts through Yimei Moshiach. Not quite, but "24-hour wear." I don't really require such serious coverage, but for Shabbos Face . . .

It also claims to absorb oil and hydrate the skin at the same time. 

Via beautyzine.com

Conclusions: It is nicely yellow, but I think slightly too pale for my skin. I fetched from Sephora a sample of M52 to blend with the L45. I need just a touch of it to have it match my neck.

In terms of performance, it did a great job, even better, than the EL in keeping shine away. The color stayed true as well. 

At 9 p.m., I inspected my face carefully. The coverage seemed to have faded slightly on my noise, but that is preferable to having it settling into my pores and highlighting them. As for the rest of my face . . .  well, it looked an awful lot as though I had just applied the foundation. 

Stay calm, stay calm, deep breaths . . .

WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO! 

Ahem.

One lack: it doesn't have SPF. What this means (besides applying a stronger SPF beneath) is that it is flash-photography friendly. See, from what I've read, it is those SPF ingredients in foundation (like titanium dioxide) that can cause serious white-face when taking photos. Maybe now I can get a normal shot by weddings.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 in Fair Sand and Light Sand: The consistency is more like a mousse, not really liquid, supposedly "weightless."

Conclusions: It's certainly heavier than the previous two; BB and EL are both quite liquidy in texture, KVD a trifle stiffer than that. For that thickness I thought the Tarte coverage would be better. Yet it's merely . . . eh, aright. 

The finish is actually a lot like mineral makeup, rather powdery and dry. It's also matte, which I like, but the color match is . . . eh, okay, as opposed to divine. Additionally, it performed just like my mineral makeup (such as highlighting dry areas), and I'm not in the market for another mineral makeup.

It did not make it to the next round. 

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation in Sand: How does it stand against the competition?

Conclusions: One Sunday I was pretty busy, with two simchas back to back. I applied my face at 4:30 for Party #1, changing only my clothing for Party #2. In the car to Party #2, at 7:15, my face was already "dewy/shvitzy," and could have used blotting. The makeup wasn't melting off, but with EL and KVD my face stayed matte for a lot longer.

We have two finalists: EL and KVD! Ding-ding-ding, let's get ready to ruuuuuuumble! 

Shabbos Face!  

That's right, the 25-hour Face-Off (pun intended)!

This took some time to figure out. One week EL, the next KVD, back and forth. They both seemed to perform pretty well. I was really dithering until Ma called it: 

"It's definitely this one," she insisted. 

KVD!  

The champion! It really looks as though I just applied it on Shabbos morning, which is totally ridonkulous. For those who need serious coverage, by the way, this will fit the bill.

As opposed to the EL, however, there are only 18 shades. Additionally, despite the fact I contacted Sephora to complain that when they added new shades, there is no description of those shades. "Light 49." That's it. Yellow? Golden? Neutral? Peach? Pink? Help a girl out! I had to go to the store, pump a dab of each onto my hand and peer at it in varying lights (natural sunlight is best). 

Those with problem skin tend to swoon over the KVD coverage, that just a little does an amazing job.       

 

The above video recommends applying with the fingers, but I tried it last week and didn't like the results. It went on too thick, and my face was so bleakly one shade that I lunged at my bronzer to apply contouring (I'm doing a refresher post on just that soon). 

My brush spreads the foundation in a delightfully sheer manner that doesn't obliterate my own skin tone. Therein, since not all skin types are the same, follow thy heart.

There is a reason I compare myself to the toughest Princess in the canon: Makeup quests are not for the faint of heart. I need a nap.  

L'Oreal Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow

Nothing like a 30% off CVS coupon to have one eagerly trolling the drugstore makeup aisles. 

Peering at the L'Oreal Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow, I noted that Sultry Smoke did not have the excessive amount of sparkle that the others did. Nor did Endless Pearl. Checking it up later online, neither does Continuous Cocoa. 

Via xoxovalentinekissesxoxo.blogspot.com

It's not exactly matte-matte, but matte enough. I'm not exactly used to using cream(ish) shadows, but this spreads quite delightfully with a few taps of the ring finger. They aren't primarily cream shadows; apparently they are labeled a cross between powder and cream, so they are brush-friendly. 

Others use long-wearing formulas like this as a primer itself. 

I have used Sultry Smoke over my entire eyelid, then applied my usual darker shade into the crease (if L'Oreal had one without shimmer, I would have given it a try). But Sultry Smoke is certainly crease-worthy, as is Continuous Cocoa (with a gold shade or lighter brown on the lid). Endless Pearl would be a good option for highlighting the brow. 

Eyeliner Quest

Sephora stopped carrying the Illamasqua Eye Liner Cake. Not a cosmic problem, I know, but for the last few years I have known no other liner. 

Bloomingdales is still currently selling it, so I swiftly purchased another from there, and I received a rather yellowed-looking box. Mislead's time in the US of A may be running out. 

I don't like to have all my cosmetic eggs in one basket; I began to browse for more options.

I covered eyelining in this blog's first few months, and my opinions haven't changed much since then. I am not a liquid eyeliner fan, preferring the safe-smudginess of pressed powder, such as Ilamasqua's. All previous pencils that I tried tended to leave black rivulets coursing downward. 

Like Floki's.

But I am always willing to experiment yet again. I filtered the results on Sephora by most favorable reviews, and up comes the cult-favorite Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, which I bought in the darkest black, Perversion. 

Maybe because it has been a long time since I used an eye pencil, perhaps I didn't smudge it right, but boy, did it make a run for it. When I returned it the gal behind the counter thought I was slow in the head. "You're returning this?" she asked in shock. "Are you sure?"

I then received a VIB promotion of 15% off, which I decided to use to bankrupt myself. Amongst my haul that are loved: 

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in (obviously) Black: Yes, it is liquid eyeliner, albeit in the form of a marker. Why did I buy it? The reviews were so ecstatic I figured that I could manage with it somehow. Since it is a fine-tipped marker it doesn't give me that smoky-smudginess I like, but one thing is for sure: it STAYS. 

As in Shabbos Face STAYS. The neat painted line stays a neat painted line until os. If you like liquid eyeliner, this one is a keeper.  

Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in (indubitably) 01 Black: For weekday wear, I think I have found my new daily go-to. No sharpening (although it does come with a mini-sharpener if the tip is not to sufficient pointedness) and a built-in smudger. Application is pretty effortless, since the results are a blended smoky eye. 

My eyes have a tendency to tear up on the slightest pretense, like the springtime breeze kicking up a notch, and even after blinking away moisture, nothing strayed. 

By end of day, if there the migration, it is minor.

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in (undoubtedly) 01 Black Lace: While giddy with the above option for weekday, I wondered if this would be remotely up to the challenge of the 25 hour Shabbos.

It was! After applying and smudging with a cheap drugstore smudger, it gave me the look I've been going for, and stayed on very well. 

Like Siggy's.