Gen x Taste is a lifestyle blog and newsletter for those who still don’t know what they want to be when they grow up (even if they’re over the age of 40).
During the pandemic I really got used to not wearing any makeup, so every time I got my makeup done professionally for an acting job, I felt a bit like a clown. Even for auditions where I was in control at home, I would only use concealer, cream blush, some shadow eyeliner/brows and a lip gloss. Never mascara/foundation or anything else that felt too heavy.
But for that recent wedding we attended, I had to step it up.
Not too many steps, though. I probably would’ve gone a little more crazy if I wasn’t traveling, but I basically just packed the essentials. I didn’t even use anything on my eyebrows (which is weird, now that I think of it — I’m very much a brow girl) nor any setting powder (I’m lucky that my makeup stays put without it).
Products used:
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation in “3W”: This is my ride-or-die foundation. I cannot believe how well it blends and light it feels. My makeup artist/headshot photographer Violeta Meyners put it on me for our photo shoot and I immediately took a picture of the bottle and bought it the next day.
Glossier Stretch Concealer: I’ve had these for a while now. I like how creamy they are. I had ordered one in G8 but found it wasn't exactly right so they sent me a G7 too. I’ve been mixing both colors to find my perfect shade.
Yensa Silk Bronzing Base in “Sunlit Glow”: My friend Jen Yen owns this cosmetics line (along with Purlisse skincare) and sent me some freebies. This indeed feels like silk, but I did find the color to be almost TOO subtle. I had to really pile it on to get some bronzing.
Yensa Silk Cream Blush in "Ginger Blaze": Also free, also very smooth; this one was much more pigmented and I liked it a lot.
Inner Beauty Light + Love Eye Shadow in “Smoky Quartz”: I was sent this as a PR gift a long time before I had this blog. Oh, if I only knew then how obsessed I would be creating beauty content one day. I find this liquid shadow to be really blendable and beautiful if you use a shadow brush, and not your fingers.
Colourpop Super Shock Eyeshadow: These are super cheap and super pigmented. I’m kinda too scared to go with the brighter/darker colors (I use “La Mesa” which is a glittery gold).
e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick in “Rose Gold”: This is a drugstore alternative for my favorite liner, the Laura Mercies Caviar Stick. I wish it came in darker shades but it really is a very good (and much cheaper) dupe.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in “Black Market”: A sample from Sephora that has proven to be a reliable, no-budge eyeliner staple.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler: I have only owned these type of curlers since I began curling my lashes (I currently have two — one for before mascara and one for after) but I do wonder if there’s a world beyond them…
Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara: My neighbor gifted me this for my birthday with a note: “This is the best mascara ever.” She was right, even though she’s blonde and our lashes could not be more different.
Yensa Beauty Super 8 Lip Oil in “Modern Nude”: The last of my Yensa gifts. I was really blown away by the feel of it, as you can see in this video.
Beautyblender Makeup Sponge: I have tried other brands, and I always come back to this one. They do get gross, despite washing every time before I use it. Whenever I replace one, I am always shocked at how much they are because I expect a little sponge to only cost $5 (they’re about 3x that). Do not be fooled by cheaper versions.
Igk Beach Club Volumizing Texture Spray: I don’t really use spray in my hair ever (except for this French dry shampoo), but this was a free Sephora sample and I figured why not? Here’s what it looked like several hours later in the very pink bathroom at The Madonna Inn. Less curly but still bouncy!
Stay tuned for a post about how I took all that makeup OFF.
P.S. The Depeche Mode song in the makeup tutorial video (“But Not Tonight”) was the theme song to the 1986 film Modern Girls which I never saw but OMG I want to!
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