A Week in Lipstick #1: Keep or Declutter

Wait, how could I possibly have more lip products to declutter? Surely I can't have all that much left after taking stock and envisioning what my ideal lipstick collection would be, as discussed in this post. Except that I do; I still seem to have some lip products in my stash that I've never worn - those mostly join the troops via gifts with purchase - or older products I haven't worn in months and need to reassess.

I find that it's a completely different beast to look through your lip stash and decide what you want to part ways with just by what you remember about the products you're looking at, versus actually pulling out those items and wearing them again for a day or two. If you're anything like me, when I look at my lip products all neatly lined up in the acrylic container, I immediately think 'Nooo, there's no way I can declutter any of my pretties!'. However, once these pretty bullets get applied and reapplied to the lips, I often notice that in fact there is a valid reason why I rarely reach for a given product - be it because of the shade, finish, fragrance/ taste or texture.

So I've decided to go through my lipstick collection with a fine tooth comb again by wearing everything for a full day and then deciding whether it stays or goes - very much like PetitePearStyle in her Keep or Donate series (here). I slowly go through all of my make-up stash anyway by using a monthly make-up basket, but because I switch out my products quite infrequently, it would take me a long time before I got to every lip product I own - and then I'd probably omit these 'special occasion' shades since my basket (in reality, a drawer in a desk organizer - I'll show it to you some other time) consists of casual everyday wear type of products. Anyway, without further ado, here are swatches of what I wore recently and my final thoughts:

I'm attempting to wear brighter colors for spring 🌈 but when I tried on this @essencemakeup Stay With Me #lipgloss in Candy Bar 🍭this morning, I immediately thought NOPE 👎 . It looks more neon on the lips than in this photo and I almost can't believe I used to love this shade. The gloss is about 2 years old now so I think it's time to part ways 👋 I'm also in the process of going through all my lip products and reevaluating what I want to keep. I gravitate towards more neutral shades these days (with the exception of some reds and berries) and I don't want to have a lot of brights 'just in case'. Let me know if you want to see what I end up #decluttering. #bbloggers #lipswatch #brightlips #wakeupandmakeup #essencecosmetics #drugstoremakeup #springmakeup #ultabeauty #corallips #shopmystash #makeupdeclutter

A post shared by Monika (@rocaillewrites) on Mar 30, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

Essence Stay With Me Long Wearing Lip Gloss in Candy Bar (also swatched here): DECLUTTER.
This is the product that spurred this declutter on, which I also shared on Instagram - and had many of you express interest in seeing the rest of the purging process. Like I said in my IG post, I used to really enjoy wearing this very bright coral shade, but now I find that it's just way too much and I feel overly made-up when I wear it. It's also 3 years old at this point, so I've just decided to toss it.

Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment in Rose (deluxe sample; I reviewed the Clear shade here): KEEP.
I still really like this gloss formula from Fresh - it feels almost more like a lip oil than an actual gloss, and like the Sugar lip balms, it's very nourishing. Rose is a sheer warm rosy red on me; it's nothing spectacular but it brings some life and definition to my lips. One thing I dislike about these Lip Shine minis is that the stopper pulls too much of the product of the wand, making me dip in at least 5 times to coat my lips, and who has time for that? And once you take the stopper out, the tube usually becomes too messy to carry the product around. Still, I'm keeping it and intend to try and use it up this year; I've just noticed that Sephora now only carries one shade of this product, so it's probably being discontinued :(

LORAC Alter Ego Lip Gloss in Goddess (deluxe sample from a GWP): DECLUTTER.
Goddess is this super trendy muted cool mauve shade with an almost greyish undertone, and since I really like cool-toned mauves, I was excited to try it. Aaand... big fat NOPE. Unfortunately, this shade makes me look quite ill, and I don't need additional help in that direction with how zombie-like I look nowadays (pale winter skin + lack of sleep). Yes, it could be a statement lip if that's your thing, but for a strange but wonderful purple lip, I'd prefer to wear Pacifica Beach Goth (reviewed here). On the plus side, I found this gloss to have a nice even pigmentation, comfortable texture and pleasant vanilla scent, so I would consider purchasing a different shade. Goddess is going though.

SUQQU Creamy Glow Moist Lipstick in no. 3 Fuyuzakura (reviewed here): KEEP.
I still really enjoy this luxury lipstick, both because of the shade and the onctuous formula that feels nourishing on the lips. I would probably purchase another shade if SUQQU was more easily available to me (and less expensive), but as it is, I'm intending to use Fuyuzakura down to the smallest nub and enjoy it as much as I can in the process.

bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil-Balm in Pink Passion (deluxe sample from a GWP): DECLUTTER.
In fact, the lip swatch you're seeing here is only half Pink Passion and half Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Tulip (reviewed here). You probably were not able to tell right away though because these hot pinks are near exact dupes. However, the textures of these two products are completely different: where the Fresh Sugar is soft and thick, the bareMinerals is thin and waxy. Pink Passion also somehow migrates towards the outside of my lips right after application (which you can somewhat see in the photo). I have no need or want for two hot pink tinted lip balms in my stash, so I'm giving away the formula I like a lot less.

That's it for this round; I've decided to only include five products in this post because truthfully, I usually don't wear make-up every single day of the week, but even if I do, I usually repeat a shade or two at least once. I hope this was interesting to read - I'm getting more and more ruthless in downsizing my make-up collection, you guys. I think once you catch the decluttering bug, it's hard to stop scrutinizing your possessions (unless you did an exceptionally thorough job the first time round and haven't added anything new since). Have you given away or trashed any lip poducts recently?

Face of The Day feat. Products from My Project Pan

I always attempt to pick the products for my Project Pans (newest Intro here) not only according to season, but also so that they'll compliment each other and create a whole make-up look for me without effort. I keep them all in a little tray (really, a box lid) in my vanity drawer, so in a way, they consitute my seasonal 'make-up basket'. I thought I'd show you what most of these items look like paired together in a daytime, spring/ summer Face of The Day.

 For the base, I used the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer SPF 15 (click here for my review) on my T-zone (middle of forehead, nose and sides of the nose, a tiny bit on the chin) and followed with a light layer of Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory (click!) all over, blended in with a damp Beautyblender. I think I like the Beautyblender the best for applying this foundation, followed by fingers - it has a bit more coverage than the Koh Gen Do Aqua, a foundation I was using previously, and the damp sponge helps to sheer it out for a more natural look and better shade match. I concealed under the eyes and on blemishes with a mix of Laneige Cushion Concealer in Light (click!) and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly.

I set my T-zone sparingly with the MAC Blot Powder in Medium, and you can see that the overall effect on the skin is quite matte, and remains so for about 7 hours. I've noticed that depending on the face moisturizer I'm using for the day, I can change the finish a little bit; Nuxe Creme Fraiche de Beaute gives me more glow, but the Paula's Choice Hydralight sunscreen (both discussed in my recent Morning Skincare Routine post here) mattifies my face almost completely. I'm not such a fan of that flat matte look on my face anymore, but it's nice not to worry about make-up sliding off my nose in the middle of the day. I warm up my face using The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in Fair on the backs of the cheeks, temples and around hair line, and on my neck - again, to help with the foundation shade match. My neck is so pale, you guys. The blush I was using that day was Canmake Cream Cheeks in CL03 Clear Orange (click!).

I then lightly fill in my brows with the NYX Micro Brow pencil in Taupe (reviewed here), and prime my eyes with Maybelline Color Tattoo in Just Beige (LE). I actually quite like this Color Tattoo for an eyeshadow primer; the yellow tint conceals my pinky purple veins, and lid shades pop a little more on top. It also has the effect of toning down the shimmer in some eyeshadows, which I happen to like right now; for example, I was using Stand-offish from my theBalm Nude'Tude palette (which is in my Pan That Palette 2016 project), and it's usually a very metallic finish - as you can see, I managed to tone it down a bit. I also used Sexy, a matte plum, in my outer corner, and blended the crease out with a warm medium matte brown, Sultry. I used a combination of two lightest shades in the palette, Sassy and Snobby, to highlight my inner corners and tops of my cheeks.

To finish off my look, I tightlined with the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir (click!) and applied a generous coat of Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes in Deep Black to my lashes (recently reviewed here). On my lips, I'm wearing Buxom Full-on Lip Cream in Cherry Flip (click!); it's a perfect warm coral red to perk up the whole face. It also pairs nicely with OPI Red Lights Ahead... Where? on my nails.

There you go - I really enjoy this combination of shades. I used to be a 'cool-toned eyeshadows only' type of girl, but I've grown to love the warm mattes from the Nude'Tude palette, and I think they go very well with lightly bronzed skin and a juicy lip. What's your go-to look at the moment? Do you keep a weekly/ monthly make-up basket, or reach for something different every day?

March Beauty Favorites

I haven't posted a Favorites post in a very long time, and even though I don't have that many products to share for this month, I still thought they deserved a mention. Sometimes even those fantastic items get somewhat forgotten between all the reviews that I do, so I wanted to show you what I've been really enjoying reaching for time and time again.

Let's start with a Holy Grail lip balm I've recently repurchased: the Nuxe Rêve de Miel ($15 for 0.52 oz on Nuxe US website). I did a review/ comparison post of this beauty and the Osmia Honey Myrrh Lip Repair a couple years back (here), and while the Osmia is good, Nuxe is better - in fact, it is the best overnight nourishing lip balm I have ever tried. My lips tend to get very dry and dehydrated, and daily lipstick wearing tends to exacerbate the problem. But a generous layer of Nuxe's deliciously citrus-scented Rêve de Miel before bed solves all my parched lips problems, and I love that this balm is thick enough to stay on the lips all through the night. If you haven't tried it yet, I would encourage you to give it a go - the price tag may be a bit high for 'just a lip balm', but one pot lasts me nearly a year.

Continuing with 'targeted area skincare', I've been recently sent a new eye cream to test out - Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum* ($95 for 15ml/ 0.5 fl oz, also available in the travel size for $33), which is part of their Luminous range. It's a lightweight gel/ cream enriched with Okinawa Red Algae, Honeysuckle Leaf and caffeine to depuff, firm and plump up fine lines. I don't have very serious concerns when it comes to my under eye area, but a lot of lightweight eye cream textures just aren't moisturizing enough. I'm pleased to report that Tatcha (yet again) got the formulation just right: the serum feels light and absorbs quickly into the skin, but feels very hydrating and soothing on the skin. I also love, love, love the cooling ceramic applicator - the shape fits perfectly in the inner corners and under the eyes, and the serum layers beautifully under concealer. While this product does contain some 23-karat gold dust, the shimmer is so fine that I can't see any particles once on the skin. Big thumbs up.

I don't often feature haircare on the blog as I tend to be rather low-maintenance when it comes to hair products, but this past month I had a chance to try out some of Pacifica's haircare range via their Jet Set Trio Kale Collection* ($19 for 2 x 2fl oz shampoo & conditioner and 0.5 fl oz leave-in detangler, available at Ulta). I haven't formed an opinion on the Super Kale Juiced-up Shampoo & Conditioner yet, but I've been really enjoying the hot pink tube of Hairvana Leave-on Detangling Conditioner*. I tend to be a bit biased against brands that try to do it all - skincare, haircare, bodycare, make-up - but I've been very pleasantly surprised by this Pacifica's product. First off, it smells divine (like coconut vanilla cookies), but more importantly, it detangles my fine hair easily without weighting it down. In fact, I almost feel like it gives my annoyingly soft and fluffy hair a little bit of texture, so that it's easier to manage. I would definitely purchase a full size of the Hairvana ($14 for 5 fl oz/ 147 ml) once I run out of my other detanglers.

Onto two meager make-up items, both of which I reviewed in detail in the past couple of weeks. I wanted to mention them again because they're the type of product that you just can't put away. I've been using the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara* ($26 for 0.32 oz, reviewed here) since early January, and I'm dreading having to toss it rather soon. I haven't been using a lash growing serum but even on my shorter and less dense lashes, the Velvet Noir still gives lots of volume and definition. It is starting to flake off slightly now that my tube is drying out, but I still can't bring myself to swap it out for a fresh mascara from a different brand.

I also can't get enough of my ILIA Multi-Stick in Fine Romance* ($34 for 5g, review with swatches). I don't have a blush in my current Project Pan, so in the past three months, I'd been swapping my blush options out every couple of weeks. But since trying out Fine Romance for the first time, that's all I want to wear on my cheeks. I think it's a great spring-time color for my pale complexion; towards the end of winter, I can look a bit tired and ghostly, but this beautiful berry rose shade brings vitality to my skin again. Seriously, a great cream blush formula.

That's it - a short and sweet list of products this month. I'm getting a little bored using the same items every day due to my Project Pan and I'm looking forward to a new selection in a month's time, when my Project draws to a close. What have you been loving this month? Are you already in a full-on spring mode?

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. I purchased everything else myself. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. All links are non-affiliate. Thank you for reading!

A Week in Faces of the Day

Things haven't been particularly interesting in these parts when it comes to new make-up acquisitions, so I figured I could just show you a couple (well, five) make-up looks I've been sporting recently. These are my usual 'a tweak here, a tweak there' everyday looks, so it's not anything you haven't seen before, but still, maybe you'll find an element or two inspiring or fun to incorporate into your routine. Enjoy!

This is one of my go-to looks, featuring a brighter lip color (Inglot Gel Lipstick no. 58 from my Project Make A Dent) and a slightly winged out eyeliner - I believe this was possibly the last of my Urban Decay Rockstar eyeliner, also from the Project. I wanted to multitask my denting products, so I layered a Michael Todd lipgloss in Natural under the berry lipstick, and I did not like that effect at all - you can see a little bit in the photo, but basically it caused most of the pigment from the bright lipstick to migrate towards the outside of my mouth, almost giving the look of a darker lipliner. Don't try this at home, kids! I was unsatisfied with this look enough to have another go at it later in the week, which you'll see below.

This was my attempt at a lazy but glowy weekend look. I say lazy, because I skipped a product here that I very rarely omit from my make-up routine: a spot concealer. In fact, a spot concealer is the one product I always said I couldn't do without. But my skin has been looking pretty clear recently, and I haven't had the need to do as much pinpoint concealing as I used to. For my base, I applied Dermalogica's Sheer Tint SPF20 in Light (which turned out to have no coverage whatsoever), and layered Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder in Tender Rose over the top, which gave my skin a lightweight, dewy look with most of my freckles peeking through. On the eyes, I played with Urban Decay Electric on the waterline, and made sure to add plenty of black mascara. Cheeks are Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, lips are Revlon Superlustrous gloss in Coral Reef.

Now, I've recently been lemming a lavender blush to add to my collection. I think it's the result of craving something new to play with, and browsing Korean make-up products on eBay; it seems that pastel purple blush is a big trend in Korea. But, I've exhausted my make-up low buy allowance for this month, and I also expected said blush wouldn't get to me in time to be seasonally appropriate (not with the hot and humid weather we've been having in NYC recently), so I shopped my stash instead, and came out with La Femme Powder Blush in Flamingo Pink and NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Dolly. I thought they complemented each other nicely, and I did a very basic eye with the Dior quint in Earth Reflections coupled with a more interesting dark teal liner by way of Sephora Contour pencil in Surfer Babe.

Here's another rendition of that first failed berry lip look. This time, I decided against a cat eye, opting for a very fine line right against the lashline instead for some extra definition; the eyeshadow look was also rather subtle thanks to the lighter shades in the Dior Earth Reflection. I've used quite a bit of Stila Convertible Color in Lillium (also from Project Make A Dent) on the cheeks to offset the darker lip, and patted my Inglot no. 58 over a layer of Milani Anti-Feathering Transparent Lip Liner to achieve a more matte look. I thought it turned out much prettier than the first attempt!

Lastly, here's my version of a daytime smokey eye. I decided to wear my Rouge Bunny Rouge Chronos Eyeshadow Palette on the eyes, using the navy charcoal shade in the outer corner. I also bronzed up my face a little with Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil, dabbed some of that Stila Lillium on the cheeks, and swept a small amount of Laura Mercier Baked Highlight on top of the cheekbones - that's where that subtle glow is coming from. On the lips, I used only the nude Michael Todd lipgloss. Overall, it wasn't my favorite look either - I think I'm looking a bit tired and sallow here, and maybe a slightly darker My Lips But Better shade would have counteracted that. Well, you live, you learn, right?

Which one of these looks is your personal favorite? I hope this wasn't terribly boring, you guys - I always enjoy seeing what people actually wear on their faces from day to day, so I thought it was worth sharing. Let me know what make-up look you've been sporting most recently!

Spring Interlude: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

It's been a long, long winter in New York City; and while I eagerly await first signs of warmer weather every spring, I feel that this year especially I'm craving the sight of delicate blooms and verdant branches. So when the weather turned much more pleasant this week, I decided to go see whether Japanese cherry trees were already blossoming in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and I took my DSLR with me.

I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed when it turned out that the beautiful Cherry Walk was not yet in bloom. I brought my current book with me and imagined lounging in the shade of the trees with pink petals showering down in the gentle breeze, but that was sadly not to be the case; also because the Garden was rather crowded on the free admission Tuesday, and finding a peaceful spot would have been quite challenging.

I soon however forgot all about my disappointment, because in fact many cherry trees were in bloom in other parts of the Garden, as well as magnificent magnolias, fragile violets, fragrant narcissi and hyacinths, bright tulips and many more spring-time flowers I can't name.

Blooming cherry and apple trees hold a lot of precious memories for me. Every year in the springtime, when my family drove from Warsaw to Łódź to visit my grandparents, we passed Łowicz on the way, which is the heart of the main fruit bearing region in Poland. We would leisurely drive by the orchards bathed in white and pastel pink, and point out the most beautiful trees to each other, looking forward to warm sunny days and summer holidays.

My parents now have their own garden at the back of the house, and every year they cross their fingers and hope that the overnight ground frost doesn't destroy the delicate buds on the magnolia tree. And you know what? Fortunately, this year it didn't, and their magnolia has more blooms than ever; they showed me the pink tree when we talked on Skype last week. Usually, spring comes to New York City a lot earlier than to Warsaw, but this year it seems that we're on about the same schedule, as magnolias are also in full bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

My mom loves taking close-up photos of various flowers and plants, and when I saw the amazing variety of tulips at the Graden, I just couldn't help myself. How striking is this dark purple tulip with the hints of indigo blue at the very center?

I hope you enjoyed taking a stroll through the Garden with me, especially if you're currently stuck behind a desk as you're reading this, or the weather in your part of the world is cold and dreary - maybe this little glimpse of sunshine and greenery cheered you up a little bit. We'll be back to regularly scheduled beauty programming shortly :)

Petal Pink: Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Tulip

The formula of the Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments SPF 15 ($22.50 for 4.3g/ 0.15 oz) is among my absolute favorite lip products. So when I completely scraped clean my last mini tube of Sugar Passion (reviewed here), I knew I had to repurchase one; but this time, I've chosen a new-ish color in the range, Tulip, described as a sheer hot pink.

I realize that the thick, slippery, untuous, butttery texture of these tinted balms is not everyone's cup of tea, but personally, I love it, and have no qualms over spending the $20 for 'just a lip balm'. To be honest, I actually think these have enough pigment to be called a sheer lipstick, except they're way kinder to my wrinkly, parched lips than most of the lipsticks I've tried. I like the matte metal packaging reflecting the shade inside, I like the lemon chiffon scent, I like the color range. I LIKE these, okay?

Now, I wouldn't exactly call Tulip a 'hot' pink; it's more petal pink to me, a medium, slightly cooler brightening shade. If my memory serves me right, in comparison, the popular Rosé shade had more red to it and appeared slightly more muted/ neutral on the lips. Tulip is a bit more punchy; but still extremely wearable for everyday, and a beautiful spring tone.

In my line-up of glossy, light/medium pinks with a cool undertone, Tulip is the most similar to the Revlon Superlustrous Shine Lipstick in Kissable Pink, except the latter has a pearl finish and isn't as pigmented or glossy as Fresh Tulip. Shu Uemura Supreme Shine in PK331 is also quite similar, but a touch warmer and again, with a very subtle shimmery finish. Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie is more mauve and muted, and Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry... now, THAT's a hot pink.

L-R: fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip, Revlon Kissable Pink, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie, Shu Uemura PK331, Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry (same order as the product shot above)

So, I don't have much more to say about Tulip; unsurprisingly, I love it, and will also use it up down to the tiniest nub. Well, not even that - in case you're a fan of these Sugar Lip Treatments like me and bemoan the expense, there's actually a whole lot of lip balm left once you wear the bullet down to the hard plastic base. Yes, you do need a lip brush to dig it out and it's a bit of pain, but... a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Do you love these Fresh Sugar balms like I do or do you think they're just terribly overpriced chapsticks? What are your favorite shades in these Tinted Treatments?

My Spring Make-up Palette

Happy second day of spring, beautiful readers! Can you already feel it coming? Last year, after experiencing the season on the East Coast for the first time, I bitched and moaned that New York didn't get any spring at all - it was just bitterly cold, then grey and rainy, then straight onto summer. But you know what, this year, even though it's still rather chilly and nothing at all is blooming yet except for my house orchids, I feel the change in the air, in the angle of sunlight, in my energy levels. I'm ready for warmer weather!

Taking a page from Gummy's book, I decided to shop my own stash for some spring-themed make-up. I'm all about the de riguer springtime shades like pastels and peachy pinks, because they suit my fair complexion very well. Nearly all of the products featured here have been previously discussed and reviewed in detail, so... Let's just feast our eyes on some cheery product shots, shall we?

For the eyes, I obviously had to whip out my Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BL215 Static - I don't own another eyeshadow palette that's more perfect for the season than this one, and as a bonus, it can be layered over different eye bases for a variety of looks. To be completely honest, I rarely do that though; I prefer to use these shades as accents in the inner corners of my eyes or along the lower lashline. I basically plan to use bareMinerals Eye Color in Celery, Fyrinnae Electric Stardust and When I Grow Up, as well as MAC Satin Eyeshadow in Heroine, a beautiful periwinkle blue, in the same way, or to add interest to a pencil eyeliner, like the NYX Slide On in Pretty Violet, on the upper lashline. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost can add some dimension via its angelic champagne sparkle to any eye look I decide to create.

L-R: Laura Mercier Sugar Frost, NYX Slide On in Pretty Violet, Fyrinnae When I Grow Up, MAC Heroine, Fyrinnae Electric Stardust, bareMinerals Celery

Nothing groundbreaking on the lips, but I was happy to be reminded of the gorgeous texture of Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine in PK331 and the Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers in Coral, both sheer, lightweight, comfortable, glossy formulas. To balance out the high-end stuff, I also threw the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist into my current make-up basket. Since all of these products give off intense shine on the lips, I didn't really need a gloss, but I always enjoy wearing the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer.

L-R: Covergirl Watermelon Twist, Clarins Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer, Shu Uemura Supreme Shine PK331, Giorgio Armani Sheers in Coral 301

For blush, I was really feeling The Face Shop Pastel Cushion Blusher in Coral Cushion and the NYX Powder Blush in Pinky. The first is a bit too sheer, the other a bit too pigmented, but the effect of both once applied is that of a youthful, glowy cheek. No arm swatches, because... lazy.

The consequence of taking these extreme face close-ups is not only realizing you have stray brow hairs that need plucking and freckles even on your browbone, but also feeling the odd detachment of your own face looking alien to yourself.

For this Face of the Day, I kind of took the 'all the things, all at the same time' approach to feature as many products as I could combine in action, but on a normal day (who am I kidding, what is a normal day?!), I'd only reach for a couple of products from my spring palette and pair them with some boring neutrals. For the eyes, I used Laura Mercier Sugar Frost on the lid with some lighter brown to add definition to the crease, and lined my upper lashline with a dark eggplant eyeliner (Urban Decay Rockstar from my Project Make A Dent), layering NYX Pretty Violet over the top on the inner half of my eyes. I love how that turned out!

On the lower lashline, I combined MAC Heroine and Fyrinnae When I Grow Up, with Electric Stardust in the very inner corner. The rest of my face is a standard base of Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in Procelain set with MUFE HD Powder (Project MAD again), some light bronzing courtesy of The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder, NYX Pinky on the cheeks and Shu Uemura PK331 on the lips. Clearly, I don't match my make-up to my outfits, because all of these cool tones look rather clashy against my red sweater. ANYWAY.

Which products out of your make-up stash do you always bring out for spring? Have you bought any pieces from spring collections this year? Or do you abhorr pastels and impatiently look forward to the warm summer shades?

Universally... Peachy? So Susan Universal Blush

Just when you thought the 'self-adjusting' make-up trend was well on its way out, another company comes out with a Universal Blush* ($27.95 for 4g/ 0.14 oz) this time around. You know, I've never much bought into these claims nor have that Unique Selling Point seemed very attractive to me personally, but I could see the appeal if you were just starting your make-up adventure and wanted some products to take the shade guesswork out of the equation. However, being a make-up veteran, I don't need or want that, and generally don't think these products actually have any magical self-adjusting properties at all.

So there's that. But let's forget about the whole universal thing for now and review this So Susan blush like any other powder blush, wild claims or no wild claims. I actually wasn't even aware or the So Susan brand before receiving this blush as part of November GlossyBox. From their website, it turns out that it's a company dedicated to manufacturing make-up products with skincare benefits: they offer serum-based foundations (in two shades?!), pore-minimizing blushes, plumping lip tints and more.

I don't see any particular skincare ingredients in the Universal Blush ingredients list apart from maybe kaolin (clay) and Brazilian buriti oil, but many powder products are formulated with some sort of moisturizing/ binding ingredient, most commonly glycerin. I guess it's nice to have a natural oil in the formula instead, but it doesn't make a huge difference to me personally.

In the pan, the shade looks like a rather shimmery muted warm rose, but as you can see in the arm swatches, it appears a lot more pinky peach on the skin than my usual browny rose selection. It is also very shimmery, almost pearlescent in the heavy swatch, but some of the shimmer can be softened when buffing onto the cheeks. Still not a great choice if you prefer matte and satin finishes, but not a discoball territory.

Clockwise: NARS Blush in Douceur, So Susan Universal Blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dazzled, Stila Convertible Color in Lillium

The texture of the So Susan Universal Blush is soft, smooth and a bit powdery, and the pigmentation is very good, so I'd recommend caution when applying. I feel that on my cool-toned skin, it leans quite a bit more pink than what I expected just from looking at the pan. It wears well all day, although I have to admit I'm quite scared to wear it more often because I feel that the profusion of shimmer accentuates all the usual lumps, bumps and texture imperfections on my cheeks.

L-R: So Susan Universal Blush, Tarte Dazzled, Stila Lillium, NARS Douceur

Would I buy the So Susan Universal Blush if it wasn't included in a Glossybox? Highly unlikely. It's very average, decent but average, to begin with, and the nearly $30 price tag for a blush from brand I'd never heard about before probably wouldn't make me more inclined to try it out. I also feel that the packaging, while functional, isn't exactly in line with the price - looking at the compact I was expecting this product to be more along the 10-15 dollars price range.

Well, I'm sorry for this rather unethusiastic review. Maybe it's silly to be feeling so blah about this perfectly nice blush, like I always need to feel a thrill from using my make-up products, lol. But I do! I kinda have a feeling this Universal Blush will end up in the giveaway pile - I'll give it a couple more tries, but if I still can't get myself more interested in using this product, it will have to go away. Do you also sometimes feel so wishy-washy over certain make-up products?

*Disclaimer: The So Susan Universal Blush was part of a complimentary Glossybox I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!