If you haven’t already, this is the time of year to begin switching out your makeup for the new season. Every September, I start to veer away from bright pink & coral tones and incorporate more nude, brown & burgundy hues. Products that I typically don’t change this time of year are my eyeliner, brow pencil & mascara (I alternate between this one & this one). But, everything else is swapped out for the remainder of the year.
I’ve been on a mission to revamp my own beauty cabinet, so I thought I’d share with you a few of my old stand-bys that I’m constantly repurchasing, along with some new favorites. Now is a great time to stock up because Target has 15% off almost their entire beauty department this week (when you use Circle) & I found that all the Essie & OPI polishes at Kohl’s are on sale too!
NAILS
Essie Bed Rock & Roll
A deep red-toned brown creme (see on nails here)
Sally Hansen Buff And Tumble
A universally flattering true nude (see on nails here)
Nails Inc. Keep It Tonal Polish Set
I love all these neutral colors – wear them separately or create an ombre mani by painting a different shade on each nail (see on nails here)
Essie Bordeaux
A deep red wine creme (see on nails here)
OPI Italian A Little Rusty
A rich chestnut brown-meets-orange (see on nails here)
LIPS
L’Oreal Paris Rouge Signature Lip Stain (I Empower)
I have such a hard time finding nude lip colors that don’t wash me out or make me look like a corpse & this one is the perfect warm pinkish nude.
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (Caramel Collector)
This is my fourth color of this lipstick & it’s currently my favorite formula to wear because it stays put all day long – I literally have to scrub it off at night! This shade is a warm terracotta, but my other favorites are Amazonian, Lover & Self Starter.
L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick (Cinnamon Toast)
While this doesn’t have the staying power of a matte stain formula, I love how moisturizing it is on my lips. This color is a deep reddish brown. I also own this lipstick in Fairest Nude & Toasted Almond (both great everyday neutrals).
EYES
e.l.f. Pumpkin Pie // e.l.f. Need It Nude // e.l.f. Cream & Sugar
If you’re someone who doesn’t do an elaborate eye look every day, I honestly don’t think you need to spend a fortune on an expensive palette, when you’ll most likely only use a few of the shadows. I recently bought one of these for my daughter and decided to test it out myself because I wanted to see how it performed compared to my more expensive brands. I was honestly shocked! The pigmentation & blendability is just as good + I had zero fallout onto my cheekbones while applying – such a great deal for the price!
MORE FAVORITES
NYX Contouring Wonder Stick (Universal)
I don’t do contouring every day, but even when I do, I want it to be as quick & simple as possible. This stick makes it a cinch because the creamy formula glides on in one stroke and blends seamlessly. I apply this after my foundation & setting powder & I use my finger rather than a brush to blend, because I feel like it gives me more control.
Sonia Kashuk Makeup Bag
The zipper broke on the small makeup pouch I usually keep in my purse, so I bought this one as a replacement. Not only do I love the color & the texture of it, but it’s the perfect size for storing my cosmetics for on-the-go touch-ups.
Beauty Kate Oval Makeup Brush Set
After seeing so many beauty tutorials using this type of brush, I decided to buy my own to try. I settled on this affordable version so I can see if I like this style before buying a more expensive brand. What I like is that the fibers are really densely packed into the brush, so it picks up more products & blends better than a traditional brush. The small ones are a total game-changer for applying concealer because they get right into the corners around your eyes! Not sure how these will hold up over time, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality so far (I’ve only washed them once).
Wet ‘N Wild Mega Glow Blushlighter (Flash Me)
This is another great budget buy & if you use Circle, you can get an extra 15% off! I just think this is the prettiest color combo for cheeks & I love that it combines the highlighter & blush together. I prefer to use a more mauvey blush & golden highlighter this time of year (versus the pink blush & icy highlight I use in the summer). This formula gives you a sheer wash of color with a slight shimmer that’s not glittery at all.
Summer Beauty Favorites
What I’m Loving Now
nails for the summer
Updated Skincare Routine