It’s been a little while since I did my first Bite Size Reviews post. So I figured it was high time for a part 2! For those that didn’t see the first one, this is a series where I chat about the products that I have used throughout my Shop My Stash series. Just to follow up on my thoughts about said products. Unlike in part one, I generally liked everything that I’m talking about today. So there will be no ranking. Otherwise, let’s get into it!
DESIGNER BRANDS SKIN QUENCHER PRIMER + MOISTURISER – $19.99
If I remember correctly, this was supposed to be a dupe for the Smashbox Primerizer. And while the consistency of the Designer Brands one is different (this is runnier for sure). I do think they perform similarly in that they both leave my skin feeling very supple and bouncy when I use it. I do, however, give this one the edge because this one has a very slight tackiness on the skin. And I do reckon it helps the overall wear of my makeup. Also, it’s less than $20. Which is pretty great if you ask me. I do have a soft spot for this primer and it’s one that I’ll continue to use
LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURISER BLUSH in MEDITERRANEE – $48.00
I remember picking this one to try out because I saw it in a ton of ‘worst of 2023’ videos. And I have to say, I disagree. I do actually like this. Now, it might just be the shade I chose (I do have another one that I’ll pull for a future Shop My Stash). But I did find this incredibly easy to use and easy to wear. My favourite way of applying was to dot some on the back of my hand. And then use a stipple brush to apply it to my cheeks. It gave such a lovely flush of colour to the skin. Now, I will concede that the wear on these isn’t as good as some of my favourite cream/liquid blushes. But I found that if I set it down with a powder, it did help with the overall longevity. I am interested in trying our some of the other shades.
RARE BEAUTY LIQUID TOUCH BRIGHTENING CONCEALER – $39.00
I went into this one with some apprehension. As I am not the biggest fan of foundation (it wears ok in the summer. but terribly in the winter). Fortunately, I freaking love this concealer! I wear the shade 150C and it’s a pretty spot on match as an under eye concealer. The formula itself is very lightweight and blends with both a brush or a sponge with ease. And despite the fact that every concealer creases on me (30’s life), the creasing on this one I found to be quite minimal. I definitely want to use it a bit more. But this might be slipping into my favourite’s pile.
RARE BEAUTY ALWAYS AN OPTIMIST 4 in 1 MIST – $27.00
And another surprise banger from Rare Beauty! I mean, you can tell how much I enjoyed it from how much I’ve used in such a short amount of time. But this is legitimately great. The mist is fine, but it projects quite a bit. The scent is more herbal, but still very pleasant and it doesn’t linger for too long. But in terms of improving the overall wear of my makeup, I can definitely say that it does. It just allows all of my powders to melt into my skin so beautifully. I won’t say that this one is my favourite. The Charlotte Tilbury and the Urban Decay loom pretty large in my collection. But I will be repurchasing when I do run out.
TOO FACED ITALIAN SPRITZ EYESHADOW PALETTE – $87.00
I don’t usually feature eyeshadow palettes in my Shop My Stash because I’m always using something different depending on my mood. But I mentioned on Instagram that I picked this up back in May. And a bunch of y’all wanted to hear my thoughts. So, full disclosure, this is actually my first Too Faced palette in almost four years! I was boycotting them for a while. But decided to give them another shot when their former owner and CEO left. And what a welcome back! Because this palette is stunning. The inspiration behind this palette is clearly Euro Summer vibes. And I get that straight away. This palette, like many Too Faced palettes in the tin packaging, does have a scent (think sweet fruity). And the packaging itself is very fun and summery.
As for the shadows, there are 8 shimmers, and 10 mattes. They are predominately warm, peachy shades. With a few pops of colour amongst the shimmers. The mattes perform pretty well across the board. When Too Faced is on, they do have one of the better matte formulas, in my opinion. They are buttery, easy to blend, and not too pigmented. The shimmers are a bit more of a mixed bag. Most of them apply to the eye pretty easily (Lake Como is a standout shade). But I had some difficulty with the shades Ciao, Bellini and Grappa Don’t Preach. They are two of the more glitter based shades in the palette. And I did have to build them up a lot to get pigment out of them. Also, this is nitpicking, but I do wish there was a lighter shimmer shade in this palette. But that’s a me thing. This palette, I will admit, is pricey. But if you’ve had your eye on it, I say pick it up.
And I am now chock full from my bite sized reviews. Let me know in the comments which products from my Shop My Stash series you want to hear about next.
Cheers and love
Emily xo