Beauty Pie x Jenna Lyons

I have been SO excited about this launch as it is a really good one: Beauty Pie and Jenna Lyons have teamed up to create an incredible collection of lipsticks, or rather… Unlipsticks. Lightweight and buildable, with a matte blot look – like blush, for your lips… but still creamy and hydrating. I didn’t think it was possible for a brand to create such a hydrating formula that is also very sheer and matte. These are a wonder product!

Beauty Pie Refresher

You know how much I love Beauty Pie. They are a luxury members club for beauty products. You pay one low annual membership fee ($59) and in exchange you will be able to shop for luxury beauty. Think skincare, makeup, haircare, bodycare, candles (obsessed with their candle), fine fragrances, accessories, even nutritional supplements. All at up to 75% off traditional retail prices… Beauty Pie strips out the 10X typical industry markup.

Beauty Pie was founded by Marcia Kilgore (the woman who brought us Bliss, Soap & Glory, and more!) It is the first membership club of its kind. They work directly with the world’s leading beauty labs to get access to the same luxury products we all know and love… for way less! Use code GRACESENTME for $10 off your first Beauty Pie order.

Beauty Pie x Jenna Lyons Unlipstick

Jenna Lyons obviously needs no introduction. She’s a global style and the woman who “dressed America!” She’s also a self-professed lipstick obsessive… I feel like she is kind of famous for that bold red-orange lip we all know and love! (For the record, shade “Jenna” will help you replicate her iconic look.)

The formulas are made in Italy and just… extraordinary. They are moisturizing and sheer… yet matte. The best way to describe it is like putting blush on your lips, but with a little bit of that hydrating lip balm feel we all still want, especially as colder temperatures arrive.

They are natural and buildable. So if you want to go bold, do that! I really like that you can wear just a coat for a hint of color or build up the shade (and use the coordinating liner for something more statement-making. There are eight shades (including a trio of perfect reds, reflecting Jenna’s iconic style), plus five mix-and-match liners.

Says Jenna on the Unlipstick: “It’s so sheer and so conditioning when it first goes on, and it genuinely does build in intensity with more layers, but not in an old-fashioned, loaded-up ‘lippy’ way.”

Sustainability!

I love that the Unlipstick bullets are sold as refills that fit perfectly into Beauty Pie’s Keep This Case (a refillable lipstick case). The case is made of 100% recycled aluminum. It has a magnetic closure and click and feels very high end. You can wait til you are done with a bullet OR, switch things up depending on your mood. The bullets easily snap in and out and each bullet comes with a little cap to keep it fresh.

Unlipstick Shades

I tried out four of the shades: Jenna, Strike While It’s Hot, Crushed Petal, and Nothing On. See below for iPhone photos showing how they look on me!

Strike While It’s Hot is the perfect warm red.

Nothing On is a peachy nude.

Crushed Petal is a really pretty neutral pink.

Jenna is the perfect fiery orange-red.

Don’t forget! Use code GRACESENTME for $10 off your first Beauty Pie order.

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It has been a little while since I’ve shared an updated makeup routine so today I thought I would share one. You can see it live in this reel on Instagram. I like my makeup to be no fuss (no contouring, no fancy eye makeup) and natural. I bow down to those who can do a more dramatic “look” but that is just not me… And I want things simple, easy, and hard to mess up!

fall makeup routine

When I filmed the reel, it took me seven minutes. Simple and FAST. Again, I don’t like a lot of fuss!

I start with Augustinus Bader x Victoria Beckham’s primer.

I feel bougie with this choice (especially because I use The Rich Cream as well and there are a lot of other great primers like the RMS one) but this is my absolute favorite. It has just a little bit of light reflecting pigment in it, which blends away imperfections and gives you a little glow.

After that, a little bit of concealer.

I have been really into the new Charlotte Tilbury concealer. I find it’s great on dry skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines. My shade is medium. I use the Artis oval brush to blend it in. Best concealer blush.

Then, it’s the Jones Road “What the Foundation.”

My shade right now is medium but I use beige when I am less tan. I apply this with the Rose Inc. foundation brush. I wrote more about this foundation in my big Jones Road review but I absolutely love this foundation. It is so creamy but not heavy; feels amazing on the skin!

Then, it’s the Saie bronzer in “light bronze” (I use their brush too!)

I apply bronzer all over my face for a sun kissed glow. I have a longer review of this bronzer but it’s been my favorite bronzer for a long time now. Really natural and pretty.

Then, a little bit of cream blush, high on the cheeks.

Westman Atelier blushes are my favorite. I go between Petal and Minette. And I used Minette for this look. I also use the Rose Inc. brush for this!

I fill in my brows with the Jones Road brow pencil in Ash.

Then, brush in a bit of Rose Inc’s brow gel. I use the tinted one in shade 2, warm blonde.

On my eyes I use three products.

First, the Ilia gel liner in Dusk, a pretty dark brown. Then, Bobbi Brown’s shadow stick in shell. This is a nice base that cancels out any discoloration on the eyelid. Then, Chantecaille eye shadow in Lion, shimmery bronze.

For mascara, right now I am testing the new Vapour mascara.

It’s decent. Not the best mascara I’ve tried but gives great length and volume.

On my lips, I do Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillowtalk.

Always a favorite – it’s universally flattering – I like that it is a lot like my own natural lip color but just a bit better.

PS – My robe is from Kassatex! Love their monograms. I wear the S/M.

The post Updated Fall Makeup Routine. appeared first on The Stripe.

Of all the review requests for different beauty brands I get from you, Jones Road has probably been the most highly requested. This post has taken me a longer time to finish as there are so many products, some have been backordered and out of stock (cough cough What the Foundation which was soooo worth the wait!). And then I would try something and want to try more which led to placing several different orders.

Jones Road Beauty is makeup artist Bobbi Brown’s most recent venture. Obviously, Bobbi Brown doesn’t need any introduction – she is an extraordinarily talented makeup artist. I’ve been a die hard fan of her namesake line of products for years now, watched her Masterclass, and was ultra excited to try out her newest brand. She left Bobbi Brown cosmetics in 2016 and is no longer affiliated with the company or its products. I had been watching and waiting to see what she would do next and here it is: Jones Road is her newest venture.

Jones Road Beauty Review

Overall I really like most of the products I tried. There are a few exceptions, where noted. One product I tried (the lip tint) came a little bit damaged, and the brand’s shipping is pretty slow. But overall, I am a fan! I bought all of these products with my own money, placing three different orders over several months.

My favorite thing about this brand is that it seems to be really amazing for dry and/or mature skin! I turn 41 this fall and also have very, very dry skin. The formulas melt into your skin and feel really, really good. What the Foundation made me rethink how makeup should feel. I have never had a foundation (maybe a tinted moisturizer) that actually felt really (really!) good to put on my face. The products are also easy to apply. I am never going to be the girl who contours her face or spends more than twenty minutes (twenty minutes would be for a fancy occasion) putting on makeup. I like a five minute face. And I always want to feel like myself. My favorite products are the kind that make you look like yourself but justttt a little bit better. That’s Jones Road.

I get into each product I tried below, but know that some of us want a quick summary. So here’s the net takeaway! Of the products that I tried, What the Foundation, Just a Sec, Mascara, and the Shimmer Face Oil are incredible – new favorites. I also really like the sparkle wash and the brow pencil. They have each earned spots in my rotation. The rest are fine but not extraordinary. I did not care for the Miracle Balm (I’m told this is a sacrilege) and was let down by the Lip Tint.

Jones Road Beauty Products

WTF What the Foundation

I became very interested in this product after all the TikTok drama. (Bobbi’s response was SO GOOD). It was actually Bobbi’s response that sold me on the product: a lower coverage, highly moisturizing foundation that was meant to give that no-makeup makeup sort of look. At the time, it was sold out in so many shades. So I ordered it in medium (thinking it could be too dark but maybe with a tan, and if not, I could at least get a feel for the product?). The medium is perfect. This is such a fantastic product. It’s perfect for dry skinned people and mature skin as it is incredibly hydrating. I like it so much that when it came back in stock I also picked up the beige for when my summer tan fades. (I really worry that it’s going to sell out again?)

This has more coverage than a skin tint, but for a foundation is lower coverage. I really like that it is buildable so you can just layer on a bit more in areas you want more coverage. A little goes a long way. I have a tutorial on my instagram highlight but I like to dip my brush in (I am obsessed with the Rose Inc foundation brush) and slowly build. You do not need a lot and the jar will last a pretty long time.

The Face Pencil

I bought this in 10 Light Med- Neutral Undertones. I liked it (especially for undereye) but didn’t love it. But I do think it does a great job with undereyes as it covers dark circles and doesn’t settle into the fine lines there. It’s very creamy and feels good on your skin. (Jones Road’s products are all this way, making the line a dream for dry skin.) A reader also pointed out that it is great for travel as it does not count as a liquid. So now it is my travel concealer. Smart, smart.

Cool Gloss

I like this! It’s just a pretty, shiny basic gloss. I don’t think it’s anything special but sometimes you just want clear gloss. This is that. And a nice, non-sticky one at that. And it smells really good. Minty! I have a lot of lip glosses and lip balms and reach for this often.

The Best Pencil

This pencil is fine. I bought the navy blue and the silver (for something fun). I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. It didn’t feel anymore special than a drugstore eyeliner. Maybe I’m just salty because of the name. It’s not bad but pretty ordinary.

Miracle Balm

Gotta be honest, this one did not do it for me! I do not understand the hype – from what I can tell, this is the brand’s most loved product and feels like something I should love (it’s packed with hydrating oils like jojoba seed oil) I ordered it in “Au Naturel” and maybe I got a bad one or should have tried a color but this is not a product I enjoy. It left my face greasy (not dewy) and the product itself felt a little bit grainy? If you want that no-makeup dewy shiny glow, this is a much better product. It’s worth noting: I might be alone in my feelings about this product – in my DMs, a lot of you told me that you love it! Proceed with caution. I’m considering ordering a few more colors (maybe the Dusty Rose) to better understand why this is so beloved.

The Brow Pencil

I bought this brow pencil in Ash. It’s a really nice brow pencil. It blended in seamlessly and didn’t look like I had anything on (yet the before and after would be very noticeable, my brows get really washed out). I like this.

The Best Eye Shadow

I am not sure if this is actually, the best eye shadow. Even within the brand’s portfolio of products, I prefer “Just a Sec,” their cream to powder shadow. I bought the champagne and was underwhelmed. It’s nice (sheer, blends well, pretty colors) but nothing to write sonnets about. Maybe I would have liked it more if they didn’t describe it as “the best.” Same with the eyeliner.

Shimmer Face Oil

I really like this product, which I bought in Midas. It’s just shimmery enough. I used it under What the Foundation for a suuuuuper dewy, radiant, glowy look. You can also use this as a highlighter, or dab a bit on your collarbone, shoulders, and down the shin bones for a little extra glow. A little goes (and glows) a long way.

Just a Sec

This, after the foundation, was my second favorite product I tried. I ordered this in Topaz (a shimmery medium brown) and LOVE – I liked it so much that I bought it in golden peach and bronze. It’s a cream to powder eye shadow and really, really pretty. I love low maintenance products and this is nice because you can just use your fingers and tap it on, building as you go.

Sparkle Wash

I love a little sparkle and bought this one in Gilded, a shimmery gold. This is extremely pretty on. This is a liquid eye shadow that could probably be used a lot of different ways (you could get a molten look if you used more). I like to dot maybe three dots on with the applicator, and then blend with a brush. The result is really ethereal and pretty

The Lip Tint

These are a big skip for me. I ordered them in Valencia Orange and Pink Rose. But I was put off because the Valencia Rose arrived damaged. I didn’t bother reaching out to customer service as it still worked just fine but it was a little disheartening to open up a new lipstick and have the end be all smushed. The tints themselves are just kind of messy and slide around on your lips. They don’t stay on very well. I found the best way to use them (I’m not going to toss them but wouldn’t repurchase) is to just apply a tiny amount with a lip brush and then blot. If you’re looking for a good lip tint, my favorite is this one from Saie. (I’ll have a review coming soon on these!).

The Mascara

I was really wowed by the mascara. It gets your lashes longer and thicker… and probably the best part: no feathering, flaking, or fading. It is a great mascara (maybe my favorite one right now). Big fan.

The post Jones Road Beauty Review. appeared first on The Stripe.

One of the things I love about working with Sephora is their dedication to showcasing products that are not only effective, but also good for your skin and the planet. Back in 2021 they launched the Clean + Planet Positive platform, aiming to evolve Clean at Sephora to incorporate sustainability. Brands like Farmacy, Biossance, Saie, and Tata Harper.. All of these brands go above their clean efforts to support sustainability, too!

Today I wanted to showcase three favorite products from Sephora’s Clean and Planet Positive platform.

3 Holy Grail Clean + Sustainable Beauty Favs

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

What it is: I feel like such a broken record as I talk about this cleansing balm SO much but it truly is pretty epic. It’s won multiple awards and what I love about it is that it melts off all of your makeup (and SPF, dirt, and oil) without stripping the skin (or leaving behind any residue). I tried this four or five years ago and have been an evangelist for the product ever since! It’s definitely holy grail status.

How to use it: I like to take a quarter size dollop and massage it into dry skin. I like to do my face first and then focus on my eyes (it literally melts off makeup!) last so that I’m not accidentally rubbing my eye makeup all over my face. I then add just a little bit of warm water, transforming the balm into a milky lather.

Farmacy’s sustainability mission: Farmacy is on track to have 100% waste-free packaging this year. They’ve made the switch to PCR plastic, glass, and recyclable materials. All of their cartons are made of FSC-certified paper and all packaging ink will utilize soy or vegetable ink. When they switched the cap of our Green Clean to make it 100% recyclable, they reduced our landfill volume by 10.4 tons! Lastly, Farmacy is proud partner of Feeding America—the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. The brand is committing to donating 1.5 million meals in 2021, 3 million meals in 2022, and 6 million meals in 2023.

Tata Harper Restorative Plumping & Brightening Eye Cream

What it is: This is a newer favorite! I love this eye cream because it is ultra creamy and hydrating (my under eye area gets even dryer than the rest of my face). It’s a natural peptide-powered eye cream designed to target wrinkles, hydration, and puffiness! It’s now available in a refillable container to minimize waste.

How to use it: Morning and night, use your ring finger to dot this cream on under your eyes and around the orbital bone. Remember to gently pat, not rub! I like to apply my eye cream after cleansing/toning (before other creams and serums).

Tata Harper’s sustainability mission: Tata Harper Skincare is partnering with Trees for the Future for two years to plant 100,000 trees, revitalize 100 acres, sequester 3,616 tons of carbon, and plant 1,000 people out of poverty.

Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer

What it is: This is the best bronzer ever. I’ve featured it multiple times here and it’s my absolute favorite. It glides on so easily (I highly recommend the brush too!) with a natural, easy sun-kissed glow. It’s buildable and gives the most natural bronze. It’s also got good for skin ingredients. Colloidal oatmeal soothes, smooths, and hydrates. Grapeseed oil contains antioxidants and vitamin E to hydrate and nurture the skin. Elderberry extract balances the skin’s microbiome and is high in vitamin A.

How to use it: Using the brush, apply all over your face for an easy sun-kissed glow.

Saie’s sustainability mission: Saie uses ethically sourced ingredients, recyclable components, and their cartons are made from 100% FSC recycled paper in a carbon-neutral facility. They are also a certified ‘Climate Neutral’ brand, offsetting Carbon footprint by investing in climate change initiatives. Their goal is to become carbon-neutral by 2023

Shop Clean + Planet Positive at Sephora, right this way!

Created in partnership with Sephora.

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Ilia’s brand new C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40 has been one of my most requested products to review. I have been playing around with it for the past couple months, and am still not sure what to think. I want to like it (Ilia is my favorite!) but overall, I think it’s a no for me. My issues are mostly because of the applicator, which I hate. But the formula… it’s only medium… plus a little high maintenance! Ilia made such a big deal about it but I think their Super Serum tint is a much better product. I will get into all of the product benefits, pros & cons, etc. below.

Ilia C C Beyond Triple Serum Mineral Sunscreen Review

I was intrigued by this product for a few reasons. First of all, I am an Ilia super fan. I use their products daily and think they are one of the better brands in the clean and natural space. I love their super serum tint, their mascara, their gel eye liner, their multi-stick blush (“in the mood” is a favorite), their eye shadow palette (the warm one NOT the cool one)… their true skin serum foundation… their lip oil… there isn’t really a product they’ve made (until really now lol) that I haven’t liked! Ilia is definitely one of my top 3 favorite/most used cosmetics brands. I was also intrigued by the product because I’ve gotten a lot of requests from YOU to review it. That always pushes a product up on my to-review list.

Lastly, I liked the idea of combining two steps: Vitamin C and SPF. It sounded like an efficient product which can help save time and effort. I feel kind of bad being hard on it, but I also want to be honest. The truth is that not every product from every brand is going to be a ten.

I think that it is really important to understand what you are getting before you buy it.

The biggest thing to know is that this is NOT a tinted moisturizer. While technically it is a tinted SPF, it’s just a facial sunscreen with Vitamin C. It’s confusing (or at least it was slightly confusing to me) as it comes in shades, but all the shades really do is cancel out the white tint of the SPF so that there isn’t any white cast. So you are not going to get much/any coverage from it. I don’t like much coverage but truly: this has zero coverage, so just keep that in mind.

Key Ingredients:

While there really aren’t any makeup benefits to this product, there are some great skincare benefits. The formula is packed with good for skin active ingredients like vitamin c and niacinamide, and of course… SPF 40. One product that brightens, smooths, and protects.

L-Ascorbic Acid 10%:

Encapsulated Vitamin C which visibly brightens, firms, and evens skin. It can also help to fade the look of dark spots. In my skin care routine I use a Vitamin C serum every morning before moisturizer and SPF so I liked the idea of combining two steps into one.

Niacinamide 2%:

This is one of my favorite active ingredients for skincare as it really helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier. It also visibly smooths texture, minimizes pores, and refines uneven tone.

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide:

SPF 40. This will protect skin from UV rays, blue light, and pollution. Sun protection is so important, I apply SPF every day.

How to use it:

There are a lot of instructions with this product. It’s a little high maintenance and easy to mess up.

If you have dry skin, apply a moisturizer or oil before applying this. I find the product a little confusing because in my own skin care routine I’ve always applied Vitamin C before moisturizer and SPF afterward. In this case, you apply this (both steps) after moisturizing. The brand recommends using one of the oils that is in the formula (jojoba, squalene, or meadowfoam seed oil) as your moisturizer as they will mix well with the product. That is a hell no for me (I need my Bader/prefer a more active facial moisturizer), but if you do that it will prevent any pilling (I had a little bit of pilling when I used this and Bader together).

It’s really important to shake extremely well before dispensing the product. The brand says to shake for at least ten seconds. This is because the formula contains a high concentration of powders (suspended in oil). The powders = active ingredients, so you want to make sure they’re properly mixed!

Pat the formula lightly onto the skin – do not rub, or it will cause pilling. Once you’ve applied the product, allow it to absorb into skin on its own and penetrate the skin. Wait 60 seconds before applying makeup. See? High maintenance!!!!

Shades:

There are three shades of this product. Again, keep in mind that all the shades do is prevent a white cast. This has no makeup benefits whatsoever.

Tone 1

Tone 1 is the lightest shade. It’s for extra light to light-medium skin tones

Tone 2

Tone 2 is what I have been using. It’s described as being for medium to medium-deep skin tones but I am pretty fair, just a little bit tan right now).

Tone 3

Tone 3 is for deep to extra deep skin tones

Pros and Cons:

Ease of Use:

This product does not get any stars for ease of use. The applicator is painstakingly annoying. I do not understand the pump; I hate it. I wasn’t sure if maybe I am supposed to put it directly onto my face vs. pumping the formula directly into my hand and using my fingers to apply. I’ve tried both ways and hate it either way. Add to that the “complicated” formula (see above: no rubbing! no patting! no touching for sixty seconds). I get that they need an air tight pump to keep the Vitamin C stable but I hate it.

Texture:

I don’t love the texture. It claims to be lightweight (and it is) but I can absolutely feel it on my face. I also experienced pilling when I used it with my favorite moisturizer. My moisturizer is going to dictate the other products I use, not the other way around.

White Cast:

One of the redeeming qualities of this product is that there is no white cast. That’s because of the tint… as I mentioned above, there isn’t really any coverage, but the tint ensures that there won’t be a white cast.

Price:

This retails for $64. Expensive, considering that the skin tints retail for $48.

My final take:

Honestly? I liked the idea of this product (mostly the idea of combining SPF and Vitamin C into one simple step but all things considered I think this product is pretty skippable. I love Ilia but think that the Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is a much better product than this one. The only benefit I see to this is that it contains Vitamin C whereas the skin tints don’t have very many skincare benefits but I don’t think that really matters – just use a Vitamin C serum!

I would recommend using a different, separate Vitamin C serum, followed by the Super Serum Skin Tint. While it’s nice that it combines steps, the product is high maintenance and all of those instructions above cancel out the efficiency of combining SPF with Vitamin C.

I am also, if being honest, not a huge mineral sunscreen person. That is an entirely separate conversation/post though: the texture bothers me…. Ilia’s super serum is one of the few that doesn’t bother me but for SPF I am 100% team Supergoop.. the Unseen Sunscreen is my favorite SPF and I’d rather just use that + a Vitamin C serum (the Biossance and Sunday Riley are my two favs) since this one doesn’t actually have much coverage.

The post Ilia C Beyond Triple Serum Mineral Sunscreen Review. appeared first on The Stripe.

I was always a powder blush girl until probably the past couple years. There was a time where I just did not understand the appeal of a cream blush! I am not sure what happened. If I had to guess it would probably be some sort of combination of moving to the South (cream blushes seem to stay on better in the humidity?), dewy wet looking skin being so in vogue, and discovering Westman Atelier and the fact that every single product (but ESPECIALLY their cream blush sticks!) they make is magic. Powder blushes still have their place in my routine (you can pry my NARS Orgasm from my cold dead hands) but I have been reaching for creamy formulas more often than not.

Why I love them: Cream blushes are easy to apply. Their creamy texture can seamlessly blend with your skin. They’re buildable: the right shade can give you a natural looking flush. I have tried SO many good ones so today I wanted to dedicate a post to the ones I love much.

The best cream blushes

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in “Petal”

I could go on and on and on about my beloved Petal. She is my number one cream blush and an overall holy grail product. She is the prettiest natural looking rose color; managing to look good on absolutely everyone. Gucci Westman is an incredible makeup artist; she does all of the stars. And she does not play around, and I love that her products are formulated for every skin tone. I have seen so many makeup artists launch their own product lines with meh results… not this one! As mentioned above, the cream blush stick is my favorite but the whole line is gorgeous. And petal… petal is just the prettiest natural rosy flush I have encountered. It looks amazing on all skin tones, from the palest pale to dark skin.

I also want to add that I really love the texture of the baby cheeks sticks. It glides on really well; oftentimes I feel like cream blushes can drag a little bit but this glides on perfectly which is nice for us dry skinned gals. Out of all of the blushes I’ve featured, this one has the best texture.

RMS lip2cheek Cream Blush in “Smile”

Similar to Westman Atelier, I love everything that RMS makes. I have been a big fan of their cheek and lip tints for a long time now. The brand refers to Smile as “a modern sheer coral pink” and that’s exactly what this one is. It’s fresh and luminous. The best way to apply this is with your fingertips. Make sure your fingers are a little bit warm (rub your hands / fingers together) and then use your index and middle finger to just tap the product onto the tops of your cheeks. SO pretty. I filmed a reel with this one here!

Ilia Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Lip Tint in “In the Mood”

This one will a) remind you a lot of NARS Orgasm (an old fav!) and b) could almost be used as a highlighter. The “new” way to wear blush is higher up on your cheeks, making this the perfect combination of blush and highlighter. It is a golden peach pearl.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in “Minette”

This has that same amazing creamy formula (I felt a little badly highlighting two shades of the same product but truly: this blush stick is just so lovely!) but in a peachy pink. This one looks especially nice with a tan. It has a nice, fresh, hydrating finish.

Honest Co Creme Cheek + Lip Color in “Coral Peach”

This is a great affordable option, priced at just $15.99. The cheek and lip fits nicely into your purse, this is a fav on the go product as it has a mirror. The Coral Peach is a happy pop of coral (but not TOO bright, it’s really wearable!). Just a really pretty, easy product!

And a few honorable mentions…

Tower 28 Beach Please Lip + Cheek Cream Blush

I like Tower 28’s products a lot. (I like these blushes, but I LOVE their lip glosses) A while back, they sent me all of their products and the two blushes I liked most were happy hour (a bright pink) and magic hour, a really pretty rosy nude.

Glossier Cloud Paint

I really, really love Glossier Cloud Paint except it just doesn’t stay on as long as some of these. I also prefer stick form when possible, this one is a little bit messy. Friends with oily skin seem to swear by this one though, so it could be just because I am party lizard – I have such dry skin! I wrote a Glossier Cloud Paint review years back where I highlighted the full shade range. Dusk was my personal favorite.

Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush

This blush has such a lovely cream to powder finish. My favorite shade is the nearly rose, a really pretty pink! I love how the cream formula melts into the skin and then turns to a powder finish. If you do NOT want a dewy finish, this will be for you, it winds up being very matte!

Saie Beauty Dew Blush Liquid Cheek Blush in “Rosy.”

This blush from Saie is really highly pigmented, and the formula is clean, making it great for sensitive skin. I will literally only dab on a dot or two of this as it’s so concentrated – the color payoff is insane. I like all of the colors but “rosy” is my personal favorite. Dab on 1-2 dots, blend in, and you’ll get such a pretty natural flush.

If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post The Best Cream Blushes. appeared first on The Stripe.

We have not talked about lipstick in a little bit. For a while, I was pretty much always masked up so I pretty much just stuck to clear lip balm or gloss. But lately, I’ve been really into lipstick again. These four lipsticks are all very pretty, easy everyday, universally flattering colors. My everyday rotation at the moment.

My Current Lipstick Favorites

Honest Co Tinted Lip Balm

This is an equally pretty, shiny lip! I have two shades of this (I worked with Honest last month and they gifted me both). Summer melon is just a tiny hint of color, whereas fruit punch is… punchier! I really love these and you cannot beat the $9 price tag. I am not sure when they are going to disable it but my code from our previous partnership seems to still be working: 25GRACEA gets you 25% off your first order!

Hermes Shiny Lipstick in Rose Nymphéa

I know, I know… you are paying for mostly packaging here (these lipsticks are a big splurge) and I feel ridiculous but this is the prettiest shiny lip and I smile every time I open up the tube. It is the little luxuries. I do not regret this purchase in the smallest. This is the perfect rosey lip and that color block packaging is to die for.

Charlotte Tilbury in Pillowtalk

This is an oldie but a goodie! I wrote about it in more detail in a blog post I wrote about my favorite Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks but this is the perfect universally flattering everyday rosey nude. It looks good on everyone, and anytime I wear it I get questions about where it’s from. I’ve worn this for years and absolutely love. It is a cult favorite for a reason!

Kosas Rosewater

This is another really pretty rosy pink, and another old favorite – I’ve talked about it a lot here! It is completely weightless and just so pretty – like your lips but just a little bit better. More color than the Hermes or the Honest Co, less pigmented/intense than the Charlotte Tilbury. It’s a good one!!!!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

photography by Laura Saur.

The post My 4 Current Lipstick Favorites. appeared first on The Stripe.

My New Fav Fall Lipstick

Just a little post today… I wanted to share a new lipstick that I’ve been wearing a LOT. I don’t know about you but I have really missed wearing lipstick and this one is so, so pretty. It’s also not even remotely drying… hydrating, even? A matte lipstick that hydrates is a bit of a unicorn in my opinion. Anyway, it’s Bite’s hydrating soft matte lipstick in “Sugar Buns.” (Who names these things!?) The perfect rosy nude… but just a hair darker than I would usually go, making it absolutely perfect for Fall. (I love a slightly darker lip for Fall.)

It’I also just love the texture (of all of Bite’s lipsticks). It’s velvety and matte but still hydrating (that’s because it’s packed with cocoa butter). I am tempted to try a few more shades. “Cayenne” looks like the perfect warm red, and “Pomelo” is your perfect peachy pink.

PS – my sweater! Wearing the size 2.

PPS – 6 clean color cosmetics I LOVE, and a few more lipsticks I love.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post My New Fav Fall Lipstick. appeared first on The Stripe.

I love bronzer. I wear it all year round to give my skin a natural looking sun-kissed glow. In my opinion, a great bronzer is the easiest and least expensive way to give yourself the sun-kissed radiance you are looking for without laying in the sun for hours. The best healthy glow.

There are tons of different kinds of bronzers out there: creams, sticks, powders, even gels or bronzing drops. They are all great in their own ways and I love them all (with the exception of loose powder bronzers… way too messy for me!).  I was never into cream bronzers until I tried this one (my shade is light bronze) from Saie Beauty. I’m not saying this lightly – it is THE best bronzer I have ever tried, and maybe my favorite beauty launch of the entire summer… it’s just so pretty on! It gives you the most perfect even healthy glow. I like that it is natural and created with only clean ingredients… good for the body and the environment too. I do still love a powder bronzer (Benefit Hoola will always have a special place in my heart) but this cream bronzer is just the greatest.

While I have you, these are my favorite cream blushes!

The Best Natural Cream Bronzer

First of all, you already know how much I love Saie Beauty. I talk about this brand all the time but their products are just incredible. They are (in my opinion) one of the best clean color cosmetic brands out there… every time I try something new from them I’m impressed and this bronzer is my newest favorite.

Besides making high quality products, they are really focused on doing the right thing. They are completely cruelty free and free of toxic ingredients. They don’t test finished products or ingredients on animals. And neither do their suppliers or any third-parties. They also don’t sell their products where animal testing is required by law. They are not completely organic or 100% natural but use many certified organic ingredients. If you look at their ingredient labels, you’ll see that they call out organic ingredients.

This will be wonderful on all skin types. I have dry skin, and find that my skin really likes the texture of this bronzer. I would recommend applying it after a primer (love this one!) to make it last a little bit longer! A pro tip I learned is that if you have dry skin, a good primer can really help prevent your skin from drinking up cream formulas like bronzers and blushers… they’ll last much longer!

Saie Beauty Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer

This is my absolute hands down favorite bronzer right now. Again, my shade is light bronze which gives me a really gorgeous natural glow. I think it would work well on medium skin tones, or you can go up one shade. It delivers the most beautiful natural bronze and it it is so easy to apply. And the cream formula feels amazing on your skin… and it lasts forever. It has a matte finish (no sparkle or shimmer) and just looks really, really natural!

Again, I wear the “light bronze” shade which I believe is their lightest shade. I love that they have a bronzer for every skin tone. Light, medium skin tones, dark skin tones, there is a shade for everyone.

Saie Beauty The Big Buffing Bronzer Brush

I am never the person that will tell you to buy the brush. I never buy specific brushes to go with specific products. But in this case, buy the brush. It will be the best $25 you spend, especially if you use other cream bronzers, blushers, etc. I find it really helps the product to blend seamlessly into the skin.

Runner Up

I did want to include a runner up that I also like.

Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer

I really like this one too. Using the Saie one gave me the confidence to try this one (again, was just never a big cream person. It’s also great with the buffing brush). The big difference between the two of these is that the Saie gives you a matte finish whereas this one contains illuminating particles (mica!) so it also has some shimmer! It will give you a natural sun kissed glow but with a little added glow. Milk makeup has a good one too!

PS – I also really love Saie’s products for glow – check out this review!

Photo by Clay Austin.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post The Best Natural Cream Bronzer. appeared first on The Stripe.

One of the things that I’ve been really working on doing is integrating more clean makeup into my routine. In all honestly, skincare is pretty easy but makeup has been harder! The biggest gripe I have is that a lot of clean brands and clean products just lack the staying power that their “dirtier” counterparts have… the pigments slide off my face within a couple hours (and I have dry skin so that’s usually a non-issue for me!!!) If I had to choose between skincare and makeup I would absolutely always time and time again choose skincare but that doesn’t mean I can’t love playing with makeup too!

Clean Makeup Routine

Today I am sharing a routine of products that I really love – and they are all clean! (the exception is blush and brow pencil… I’m still using NARS Orgasm and the Tom Ford pencil. If you have any suggestions for something similar to that but clean, let me know in the comments! Funny that those two things are my only hold outs – it really feels like there should be something out there that I’d like just as much). I will note that I do still cheat on this routine as I test new things; but this lineup is my core makeup routine for everyday right now. I really, really love everything featured!

Also: Last night, I posted an Instagram TV video with how to use these products to create my everyday makeup look. I hope it’s helpful!

My {Mostly} Clean Makeup Routine:

Face //

My friend Sarah turned me onto the Kosas tinted face oil (I have both 03 and 04 depending on if I have a little tan) and I am obsessed. She is more into makeup and calls it her “vacation foundation” but for me it’s my everyday go-to. Like tinted moisturizer but WAY BETTER. I feel like this product is over every single beauty and lifestyle blog and for good reason… it’s a fantastic product. It’s amazing for everyday when you just want a little coverage and glow and they have one for every skin tone. It leaves my skin tinted just enough (blending out any imperfections) with a radiant, dewy glow.

For more coverage (mostly if I have a shoot or an event, I generally try to avoid foundation for everyday!) I love Ilia’s True Skin Serum Foundation in “Tavarua.” For concealer, I ADORE Ilia’s True Skin Serum Concealer in “Chicory.” (it’s really creamy like the NARS creamy concealer which is my old holy grail). And then as bronzer, I love W3LL People’s bronzer (this one is really good and I am convinced that the compact actually lasts forever). Last but not least is setting powder! I really like this Supergoop setting powder; it helps my makeup to last longer while also providing an extra layer of protection.

Glow // 

I have two favorite highlighters! I like to use both a cream and a powder. The Ilia Liquid Light highlighter in “Nova” is really really pretty. I blend it in with a BeautyBlender. And then there is the Lawless highlighting powder which I could not be more obsessed with. It’s super pigmented and actually better than pretty much any other highlighter I’ve tried. I prefer the lightest shade, even when I have a tan. RMS beauty also has a really good cream highlighter… I love this one, it’s actually the first “clean” beauty prodcut I ever treid.!

Eyes //

I’m 100% Ilia here (fyi, Ilia is not a sponsor hahaha – they just have amazing products that work really really well and don’t slide off). I can’t say enough good things about the Ilia eyeliner. When I met with Tara Foley from Follain a while back, she introduced me to it (I told her I’d never find anything I liked better than the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner) and I never looked back. I’ve since tossed all my other liners… I have this in both the smokey grey and the brown. They make a liquid liner too which is not for me but I just can’t do liquid liner! I also love Ilia’s eyeshadow palette. (I prefer the warm one). This one is so so pretty – I apply with a wet brush for more pigment!

And lastly is the Ilia mascara. I love this mascara so much. Prior to trying this mascara I had found it SO hard to find a good clean mascara and this is the one! It has a comb applicator so you get every single lash… and it leaves them longer and thicker and a little bit glossy (kind of like Glossier Lash Slick but more dramatic!)

Brows //

I am still on the hunt for a good clean brow pencil (let me know if you have a fav – I like a fine tip pencil like the Tom Ford one), but I keep my brows tamed with this Ilia brow gel!

Lipstick //

When it comes to lip color, Kosas Lipsticks are my new favorite. They only have a few colors, but I really like them all! Really creamy, pretty (natural looking) colors… just great. For something more fancy I love Bite’s lip stain in “Orange Fizz” – it’s the perfect red-orange!

Lip gloss // 

I’m such a big lip gloss person. I know it isn’t necessarily on trend but I don’t care. This “forget the filler” lip gloss from Lawless is SO good. Leaves your lips super plumped up (like noticeably so) but not at all sticky or tacky. I cannot stand a tacky gloss!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through my links, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

photography by Carter Fish.

The post A {Mostly} Clean Makeup Routine! appeared first on The Stripe.