Kevyn Aucoin

I originally bought this in minimal but then returned it for medium. Medium leans more neutral-brown and is literally the only lip product I need now. It gives me the illusion of full lips and is the perfect nude color without making me look dead. I don’t even reach for my other lip products anymore. If you’re looking to create the illusion of pillowy lips this is the perfect product.

I have always been scared of contouring for some reason. All of the over contouring on Instagram scares me but if you’re looking for the most natural fool proof contouring product this is it. I use the Kevyn Aucoin contouring brush and apply the shade medium (I’m nc20) to the hollows of my cheeks, sides and tip of my nose, chin, forehead and temples. The result is chiseled without being too noticeable. I feel more polished and like I have cheekbones! I highly recommend this product to anyone nervous about contouring.

I bought this with high hopes after seeing a few you-tubers declare this a beautiful cool toned palette and thought I’d take a chance. I’m also over my fear of metallics and glitters and thought it to be a great ratio of finishes in one palette.
My first impression with palette in hand is it immediately reminded me of my neglected Tarte matte palette with the plum shades but has some welcome pinks and golds. There are no brown shades in this palette. The palette itself is pleasingly thin and sleek, I hate excess packaging and this in its box isn’t a space hog in my palette drawer.
Right away I felt a bit disappointed as I had to dig into the pans to pick up any color on my brushes. Sculpt and canvas, the pink and peach mattes, are either ideal matches for my skin tone or just lacking in pigmentation because I am just not seeing them on my eyes. So ok, maybe I need to just use them as all-over “setting” shades. Also, hue and sketch, the rose taupe and grey plum mattes, need to be built up to see anything. So I dig, apply, blend and repeat... which blending does easily happen and just the 4 aforementioned shades alone make a great neutral daytime look with a touch of shade creation, a white gold satin. But who would want to stop here? If I want more depth in my outer corners and crease then I need to use shades design or mural, a smoky eggplant matte that is still modest or a raspberry plum satin that takes me outside of my comfort zone of just mattes in the crease.
Shades surreal and portrait, champagne and peach gold satins, are disappointing, I just can’t seem to get anything but a very faint touch of color no matter what brush or finger I use. Do I really need to use these shades wet...?
Which brings me to the 3 metallics... they feel chunky in the pan but smooth out when applied. And they gotta be applied with a finger, none of my brushes are picking them up. So far I favor masterpiece, the pink gold chrome, which again lacks color on my skin but brightens up my look. It has a lot of fallout. Mosaic, the copper gold, I find to be the oddball in the palette and so far neglected except to swatch, mainly because every tutorial I have seen on this palette uses this shade. All I’ve done with graffiti, the smoky rose gold, is lightly dab it in my outer corner, this color intimidates me because it is the only one which has color payoff. It leans more plum than rose.
At this point I am underwhelmed with this palette, I really expected more from it. I am just not feeling the creamy texture nor seeing any color payoff, I feel like I have to really dig into the pans and they are too hard packed for something promising to be creamy. Is it possible I got a palette that has suffered from a little premature hard panning or is dried out or something?

This has got to be the cakiest concealer on the market. So why, as a lover of thin, watery, barely-there concealer, is this my favorite concealer?

1. This concealer is dominating. I am sure you have never heard a concealer described like that. In fact, it's not even a feature I could even dream about in a concealer. So, what does that even mean? Once this concealer is applied, it can beautify any foundation and simply dominate the beauty of the foundation. Usually the base (foundation) creates the strength of the overall look, but this concealer can dominate my most powerful foundations. So, you ask again, but what does that mean? Basically this concealer makes everything else fade into the background and becomes the beauty of the look.

2. This concealer is transformative. I basically call it skin in a jar. Do you want brand new skin? I mean, do you? Well, here you go. But seriously, it strongly enhances the appearance of your skin. Not that I was ever after that effect when I was in search of concealers (since I like natural makeup), but I could never have imagined such a profound effect. Somehow it powerfully beautifies your facial features and still looks like skin.

3. This concealer is a workhorse. It isn't going anywhere. It is the only concealer I have encountered that does not need setting powder to stay on all day and yet still looks even better than it started.

4. This concealer looks even better with time and makes any foundation look better with time. Whatever it does, the foundation follows.

5. This concealer is emollient. While the consistency is thick and hyper-full coverage, it is smooth, creamy, dewy, radiant and hydrating, etc, which are often at great odds. If a thick concealer has all these great qualities, it is normally super matte in order to make it long-lasting. They have somehow managed to create all of these lovely qualities in a creamy concealer that stays creamy, comfortable and loving to the skin. What makes it marvelous is the consistency/texture allows it to work beautifully with all skin types.

6. This concealer is hyper-pigmented and you literally need a dot to do the entire face. This concealer can last as long as you want it to because so little goes a long way.

7. This concealer is easy to apply. It blends like a dream and melts into the skin when using your fingers.

8. This concealer wipes away all imperfections. The color correction in it eliminates all darkness/discoloration in your skin better than any concealer I have ever seen.

9. This concealer is radiant. No product currently on the market (foundation or concealer) is as radiant as this product. It brightens your face exponentially.

10. This concealer has high foundation compatibility. It works/pairs with most foundations easily, especially because it is usually the major effect in the look ultimately.This means that you can buy this concealer blindly and likely it will work with whichever foundation you already have.

Where this concealer is lacking is in versatility. It is too thick as an eyeshadow base, eyebrow sculpt and spot treatment. It isn't as impressive worn as a foundation. As under-eye concealer (with or without foundation) though it is foolproof and it's the best I have seen. I especially love this concealer paired with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation. This concealer creates a glamorous look for everyday and any day.

It may be a thick concealer but the blendability, consistency, ease-of-application, color correction, skin-enhancing effects, skincare properties, brightening effects, pigmentation, lasting performance, foundation compatibility, overpowering beautifying effects, long-lasting product, etc.....clearly, the list goes on and on. You pay for much and get much more. It is called a sensual skin-enhancer and it makes your skin look simply irresistible.

I've used TF Better Than Sex, Taste Lights Camera Flashes, a variety of Lancome mascaras and the list goes on, and unfortunately even with waterproof formulas would end up transferring onto my upper eyelid. Having oily hooded eyelids, as well as sensitive eyes. It has been a huge obstacle for me to appreciate many mascaras that get great reviews. A popping eye look is a must for me, when using a mascara, so I look for a bold mascara that doesn't clump, run, or look like spider legs on me...but no matter what I tried, my eyes looked awful after a couple hours at most. I can't wear false lashes because they highly irritate my eyes, so I try to do what I can to emphasize my natural average lashes. I am very impressed with this. I curl my lashes and add 2 to 3 coats depending on how bold I want my lashes to be. My lashes don't get all hard and clump together. I think it adds more length than volume, but it will define and make each lash look fuller and longer. The formula is excellent and does not irritate my eyes whatsoever. I don't even have to use a lash primer to get gorgeous lashes. After 8 to 10 hours of wear I don't have any flaking or transfer onto my eyelid like with alot of mascaras that I have tried. Also, it is very easily removed with warm water and just regular soap. The little tubes come right off. I tried it on my mom because she has very thin sparse lashes, and was convinced she could never wear mascara again... she hesitantly let me convince her to give it a shot. It grabbed on to her barely there lashes and gave them a nice full look. I also would like to add that she has super sensitive eyes and she hasn't been able to wear mascara for years without her eyes getting irritated or weepy. She also purchased a tube and is thrilled to be able to wear mascara again. The next time she visits, I will add photos to show how amazing and what a difference it's made for us both. This is my HG mascara and the only mascara I will use from here on out. I hope Kevyn never changes the formula or discontinues this.