• Makeup,  Skincare

    The Used Up 2024:1

    In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that I managed to empty sometime during the first half of 2024, January through June. Some items wear near empty when the year started and some were were unopened, but they all ran out during that time period. 11 items in total and out of those three were makeup products.

    As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories.

    I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. But I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 42) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive now. I only react badly to products on occasion and I still have not discovered any ingredient related allergies.

    Let’s dive in!

    Cleansers

    My current routine: If I have a cream cleanser or something similar I use it in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use a balm cleanser as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen in the evening. I might go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning or the balm again. But I have been less prone to double cleanse in the evening compared to before. I usually have a couple of cleansers in action at any given moment.

    The Glow Mud Cleanser by Pixi (135 ml, 279 SEK) has been a staple for some time and I mainly used it in the shower in the morning. The big difference this time around is that I will not repurchase it. Simply because I find that my skin prefers even more gentle cleansing nowadays and I will heed to that. So I have grown out of this cleanser, but it was a great product for the younger me.

    I tried the Squalane Cleanser (150 ml, 266 SEK) by the Ordinary in 2020 but in the smaller 50 ml size. I enjoyed it then but felt I ran out too quickly. This time I bought the 150 ml and had no such feelings. I really like this mild cream to oil cleanser. I did not use it as instructed (dispensing it into hands and then rubbing them to melt the product into an oil before applying to the face) but simply just massaged it onto my face directly. It dissolved my makeup just fine but I also enjoyed it as a morning cleanser. I can see myself buying this product again in the near future. A good basic staple at a great price point.

    Then we have the big no surprise to anyone – Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut. I still love using this cleansing balm and repurchase as soon as I run out. As I have previously written – The smooth honey-like texture and warm and comforting scent is a joy to massage onto my face. It does not sting my eyes or leave any residue after removal.

    Then we have a product that is new to me. It is the Skin Enhancing Treatment Cleanser (100 ml, £43) by Lisa Eldridge. It is marketed as a hybrid balm cleanser, face mask and facial massage treatment and that in itself is an intriguing concept. The uphill for product is that I already adore a similar product, the Golden Probiotic Cleansing Balm by M Picaut. So my standards are super high. The big difference between the two is that the Skin Enhancing Treatment doubles as a face mask/treatment and that is how I tried to use it. The texture is smooth and lovely and the scent is subtle. I was not very impressed at first (again, high standards) but the more I used it the more I enjoyed it. I can see myself picking this one up again when I make an future order from the brand, as a treat. This is the first skincare item I have tried from Lisa Eldridge and I am now keen on trying the face mist as well.

    Toner & mists

    My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that very infrequently.

    The Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook (100 ml, 399 SEK) is recurring favourite that would recur more often if I only could get my hands on it. It is currently not stocked at Caeleste and I had to buy another mist to replace this one. I bugs me a lot that it is out of stock so often and that it takes so long for it to return.

    Moisturisers & oils

    My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

    The Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream (50 ml, 749 SEK) by M Picaut is still my go-to cream for night and even day during the colder months. I love that it is in a pump and so easy to dispense. I enjoy the scent and the texture and find that my love for it makes me blind to the fact that the price point is high. I still repurchase this cream every time I run out.

    This was my first bottle of the Energizing Eye Cream (30 ml, 499 SEK) by Acasia. A nice eye cream that lasted a long time with a pump that was easy to use and dispense the right amount. I will consider buying this product again but right now I have another brand in use.

    Base makeup

    A single base makeup item this time. A staple, the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shade Green (CW12). Sadly this product seems to be discontinued and I am looking for a replacement. I have another tube in action right now but when they are gone they are gone.

    Mascara & brows

    Starting with the Expressioniste Brow Pomade (5 g, 350 SEK) in Clear. It keeps my brows in place and looks great whilst dry. This was my second tube of this specific product but I did not repurchase another one immediately when I ran out. Not because I did not want to use it again but rather I wanted to see how necessary a brow tamer really is in my routine. After many months without I can now say that I do miss it. Sometimes I just want to shape my brows a bit and put stray hairs in their place. So I might by a new tube of Expressioniste Brow Pomade soon again.

    Then we have a mascara from MAC, the Extended Play Gigablack Lash (5,7 g, 310 SEK). I purchased this since it is a long lasting formula that can be removed with warm water. Compared to my previous mascara from Surratt, this was similar in effect but not as easy to build. It smudged a tiny bit less than the Surratt one (se my previous posts for info on the Surratt mascara) so they are comparable products to me. Good but not great. However I am searching for something that smudge even less than those two. I am currently trying a similar mascara (long lasting that can be removed with warm water) from Heimish and so far it is a winner.

    And that was all! It seems like a small amount of items for six months. But I have been wearing makeup a lot less lately and that affects how I prep and cleanse my skin as well. Less product use, less empties I guess.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Nail polish

    Nail polish audit – The Twelve:25

    I wore and evaluated these twelve polishes from late February to the beginning of May until late July. Two each by OPI and Zoya and one each by MAC, China Glaze, Mentality, Different Dimension, IsaDora, ILNP, Wet ‘n Wild and Cirque.

    Hell yes!

    Cirque – Panacea
    Zoya – Ireland
    MAC – Neptune
    ILNP – Open Fields (on top of Neptune)
    IsaDora – In the Army
    OPI – Taupe-less Beach
    OPI – A Roll in the Hague
    China Glaze – Man Hunt

    Maybe

    There were no maybes in this round of the audit.

    Hell no!

    Wet ‘n Wild – Blazed
    Zoya – Chyna
    Mentality – Deuce
    Different Dimension – On Wednesday’s we Wear PINK!

    So to conclude this round of The Twelve I ended up with eight keepers and four hell noes.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Nail polish

    Nail polish audit – The Twelve:24

    These twelve polishes were worn from late February to mid April. Two each by China Glaze and CrowsToes and one each by Deborah Lippmann, A England, OPI, Darling Diva, H&M Beauty, Pahlish, Wet ‘n Wild and Glam Polish.

    Hell yes!

    China Glaze – Take a Hike
    CrowsToes – Hurt me Once, and I’ll Kill you Twice
    Pahlish – Gilded Greenwich
    H&M Beauty – Olive Grove
    Deborah Lippmann – Happy Birthday (over Gossip Over Gimlets)
    A England – Sleeping Palace
    Darling Diva – The Arcanist

    Maybe

    CrowsToes – Alfheim

    Alfheim is a very pretty polish, but I just do not find it to be the most flattering shade on me. So I am a bit torn. But the polish is in great condition and I would rather find it a new home than discard it.

    China Glaze – Gossip Over Gimlets

    Gossip Over Gimlets is a good silver shade but I think I have other similar shades that I do prefer.

    Hell no!

    Glam Polish – Deceptive Practice

    Oh, how I do want to love Deceptive Practice on me but I just don’t. Someone else would love this, I’m sure. It is beautiful and in great condition.

    Wet ‘n Wild – Buffy the Volet Slayer

    Yes, I bought it for the name. This metallic purple is not really my type of shade and it is time for it to go.

    Peace & Love & OPI is another beautiful polish that I just do not love wearing. So no point in keeping it.

    So to conclude this round of The Twelve I ended up with seven keepers, two maybes and three hell noes.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Makeup,  Skincare

    The Used Up 2023:2

    Yet another year has passed and THEN SOME, and it is time to do the second and last instalment of the Used Up. We are well into 2024 at this point but in this post I will look back a bit and go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the second half of 2023, July through December. In that period I managed to finish a total of 20 items and out of those 9 were makeup products.

    As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories in any way.

    I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my opinions on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. But I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 42 now) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive now. I only react badly to products on occasion and I still have not discovered any ingredient related allergies.

    Let’s dive in!

    Cleansers

    My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning or the balm again. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

    Let’s start with an odd one. This is the battered tube of the Hydrating Milky Cleanser (135 ml, 279 SEK) by Pixi. This is my first tube of this specific cleanser and I’ve had it for several years. The product is not milky as the name suggest, but more a cross between solid and a cream. Very odd. I’ve tried to illustrate it with the below pictures.

    If I add a bit of water is dissolves easily and if I add a bit more it foams a lot so you only need a teeny tiny amount to cleanse the whole face. But it was not what I envisioned when I bought what is described as a cream cleanser. The information on the tube says it should be massaged onto skin, but nowhere does it say to add water in any way. And this “cream” is not possible to massage onto skin without water in my opinion. I tried and failed. So the cleanser worked well but not in the way it is marketed. A bonus is that it lasted for a really long time, but I do not think I will buy it again. I prefer balms and actual creams over foam.

    Then we have the recurring cleanser favourite. I purchased the Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut when it was released and posted my thoughts on it in The Used Up 2022:1. My feelings have not wavered since then and I repurchase whenever I run out. It is just lovely!

    Toner & mists

    My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that infrequently.

    The Glycolic 7% Toning Solution from The Ordinary (240 ml, 174 SEK) was my replacement for the Pixi Glow Tonic as mentioned in The Used Up 2020:1. I had used the Pixi one for so long that I wanted to try something new and I was curious about the one from the Ordinary. The bottle lasted me three years but I was very infrequent in my use, even more than I hade been with the Pixi Glow Tonic. I think I just found it less pleasant to use, a bit too harsh on my skin upon application. I have since finishing this bottle picked up a replacement from Josh Rosebrook instead.

    I tried the The Collagen Tonic by Pixi (100 ml, 179 SEK) for the first time in 2021. A spontaneous purchase that I enjoyed using a lot more than anticipated. When I ran out I swiftly purchased a new bottle. The tonic smells lovely and make my skin feel nicely hydrated. I use it as an essence, applied and patted in with my hands and then I layer serums on top. A nice hydration sandwich! I have another bottle in use currently. The product is available in a 250 ml bottle as well.

    The Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook (100 ml, 399 SEK) is an old favourite that I managed to track down again at Swedish reseller Caeleste. This time I noticed that the bottle size had changed. It used to be available in 60 ml and 120 ml, but now only a 100 ml was available (at the same price point as the previous 120 ml). I still love to use this and would love to repurchase but it is out of stock currently and has been for a while. I hope it returns.

    Essence & serums

    My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

    For hydrating serums we have two new items for me. First we have the Centella Uncented Serum by Purito (60 ml, 250 SEK at the time of purchase). I wanted to try a more inexpensive serum and chose this one on a whim whilst buying some sunscreen at Maques.se last year. I found that it worked nicely as a hydrator but I did not enjoy the thicker texture (thicker than what I was used to) or the smell (unscented). I did not care for the plastic bottle either, but the pump worked just fine. This specific product has since been reformulated and has new packaging. I have liked the sunscreens I have tried from Purito and I can see myself trying the new version of this serum in the future.

    Then we have a more luxurious option from Josh Rosebrook, the Hydrating Boost Concentrate (30 ml, 785 SEK). The serum was on the more watery side of a serum but it was easy to apply nonetheless. A nice hydrator. I found this serum generally pleasant to use but I used it up way to quickly to warrant the price tag. At that price point the product would have to wow me even more than it did. I really like Josh Rosebrook as a brand and think it is a nice treat to try his products from time to time but the only product I return regularly at this point is the Hydrating Accelerator.

    Moisturisers & oils

    My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

    The Hyper Real SkinCanvas Balm from MAC (50 ml, 660 SEK at the time of purchase) was a pleasant surprise. I bought the balm and the accompanying serum, with a discount, close to the launch in 2023. I liked both products a lot but the serum was more suited to my skin type. I used the SkinCanvas Balm mainly as night cream in the warmer months and then as a day cream when winter came along. My skin enjoyed it a lot. It has a very pleasant scent and the jar is very beautiful and luxurious. I might purchase this again in the future as a treat if I get a discount.

    I picked up the 24 H Repair Cream by Acasia Skincare (50 ml, 395 SEK) in 2021 and I’ve struggled to use it up ever since. It was difficult to apply and did not want to sink in. When it did my skin felt dry but with a film on it. I think this is a classic case of a product that is not meant for me, but works well for others with different skin types than mine. I’ve read good things about this cream from people with dry skin. So this is a big NO from me. I used it up only by using it on my hands at night and it was not the best experience either.

    The Retinol Eye Cream by Pixi (25 ml, 339 SEK) was a nice eye cream that took me a long while to use up. Only a little bit was needed to hydrate the skin around my eyes. However I was hesitant to use it during the day because of the retinol even though the product information does not advise any caution. Retinol can cause sun sensitivity and my skin is a bit prone to that. So I used it mainly at night. I enjoyed the product but I am currently using an eye cream without retinol for convenience. I cannot be bothered to have two.

    Masks

    My current routine: I do not have one. I use masks very infrequently but usually I like to have a lineup of a hydrating one, an exfoliating one and a deep cleansing one. I like to use an overnight mask when I have one.

    The Glow Mud Mask by Pixi (45 ml, 279 SEK) was a nice mask for days when I wanted a “pick me up” and clear impurities. The product seems to only be available in 40 ml at the moment, so something has changed, but the price point is the same. I got 16 uses out of this tube (full-face) and I would consider buying it again in the future.

    Base makeup

    Hollywood Flawless Filter in 1 (left) and Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Warm (right)

    I received the Hollywood Flawless Filter by Charlotte Tilbury (10 ml, 580 SEK) as a birthday present a few years back and have used it on and off since then. My favourite way to use it is to mix it with a green colour corrector and apply it as a priming base before foundation or concealer. This is the lightest shade (1 Fair) but it is still too dark for me. If CT came out with a lighter and more neutral shade I would consider repurchasing since I love the finish it gives. It gives the skin a little slip as well and I found that other base products applied beautifully over it.

    The Hydrating Camo Concealer by Elf (6 ml, 89 SEK) worked ok for me but the shade (Fair Warm) was too dark and peachy. I did not like it under my eyes since it looked cakey and creased so instead I used it to even out my skin tone in other places. It still had the tendency to settle in my pores and fine lines so I doubt I will buy it again even if they would create a shade that would suit me better. Elf is a bit difficult to get a hold of in Sweden so that also turns me off a bit.

    Then we have the usuals, two tubes of the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shade Green (CW12). I have enjoyed using this formula for a long time now and it is an integral part of my makeup routine. I use it as a mixer with most of my base products to neutralise the redness of my face but also to adjust shades so that they are closer to my skin tone. This specific product seems to be out of stock in a lot of places and I wonder if they are discontinuing it. NYX has released the Pro Fix Correcting Concealer in a bunch of shades including a green so maybe that is a replacement but in a different formula. We shall see..

    Then we have the Skin Hero Blur Powder from BeautyAct by Kicks (8 g, 229 SEK) that I had heard great things about so I picked it up in Translucent. I was looking for a replacement for my Charlotte Tilbury powder but this was not it. It made my foundation look darker and I needed to use quite a lot to get the desired effect and then it just ended up looking cakey. I disliked the packaging and the scent as well. I used it up but reluctantly. Not a powder for my taste and needs obviously.

    Mascara & brows

    Yet again we have the recurring favourite Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) by Surratt Beauty. I have used it since 2020 but in 2024 have I started to dabble with other brands of tubing mascaras. Relevée is lovely to work with but it smudges on me. Not as much as a regular mascara, no way near, but enough to make me start looking at other options.

    Miscellaneous makeup

    I am always pleased when I manage to use up a lip product before it goes off. I bought two shades of the Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (4,5 ml, £18 at the time of purchase) in 2020, Blush and Muse. Both shades are great in theory but they are very subtle on my lips. My lips are not very pigmented in themselves so Muse is a barely there shade and Blush gave a slight depth. I just prefer a bit more oomph on my lips. Not to mention that I am not a gloss person, I prefer balms. I do like this nourishing formula and used the glosses primarily on my lips as a treatment. The pigmented formula and the large applicator also made them a bit messy to apply to my thinner lips. I always have to dab a tiny bit in the centre of my lips and then spread it out in a thin layer with a finger. I love Lisa Eldridge products in general but this one is not perfect for me, I have to fuss a bit too much for my liking. That said I have bought more shades after using up these two. Lisa always creates intriguing shades and her latest drop of the Gloss Embrace shade extension had me wanting more despite the above mentioned issues with the product. I think objectively is is a great product with lovely packaging, a large and stunning shade range, different pigment levels and a reasonable price point. It might just not be a favourite of mine.

    The Eyeshadow Primer by Milani (8 ml, 179 SEK) was another surprise miss. I had heard so many people rave about it online but it was just ok. I have very oily eyelids and at this point I have almost given up on finding eye primers that I like. The longevity was not great with the Milani one. I also prefer the Urban Decay Anti-Aging one since it is so easy to blend eyeshadows on top of.

    2023 empties wrap-up

    I few years back I started looking at the total items in each category and divided them into more accurate sub-categories to track how I consume a specific type of product and comparing the numbers to previous years. This year I will present it slightly differently. Instead of specifying numbers for previous years in this post I will do that tracking privately, since it is mainly for my own benefit. Old stats are available in previous posts for anyone curious. Any interesting patterns I find will be mentioned in this post, of course.

    A note on this type of summary: All of these specific items were not purchased in one year and some were gifts from friends/family and many were bought with a discount. Obviously I have loads of items, mainly makeup, that I will never use up and that will never end up in a post like this. I’m not doing these round-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought.

    To summarise 2023 I managed to use up: 5 cleansers, 2 toners, 2 face mists, 6 essences/serums, 1 eye cream, 3 face creams, 4 masks, 1 spot treatment, 2 concealers, 4 colour correctors, 1 face primer, 1 powder, 1 mascara, 1 eye primer and 2 lip glosses. That is a total of 36 skincare and makeup products worth around 12 000 SEK if purchased at full price.

    The trend this year was my tendency to use up fewer product overall but the average cost per item is higher. So my choice of more expensive items is shining through, the same theme as in 2022. I’m still good at using up the skincare items that I buy before they go bad and rarely throw skincare bits out due to old age. A trend I hope to keep up in the coming years. My prediction of last year of many empty masks was fulfilled, a task years in the making. Nothing else really stands out except the fact that I obviously need to change my mascara a bit more often.

    Thanks for reading!

  • Nail polish

    Nail polish audit – The Twelve:23

    These twelve polishes were worn from the beginning of November until late February. Two each by China Glaze, Pahlish, Zoya, A England, OPI and one each by Isadora and Delush Polish.

    Hell yes!

    OPI – I Saw…You Saw…We Saw…Warsaw
    Zoya – Envy
    Pahlish – An Caisteal Ruadh
    Zoya – Edyta
    A England – Saint George
    A England – Holy Grail
    OPI – My Signature Is “DC”

    Maybe

    Pahlish – Reinette

    I’m just unsure on how much wear I will get out of this dark brown polish. A pretty shade but not the best shade on me.

    Hell no!

    Isadora – Chameleon Crush
    Delush Polish – ‘Tis The Season (over a dark base)

    I do not wear glitter polish enough to keep this one. I do not gravitate towards the pink and green colour scheme either.

    China Glaze – Sleeping Under The Star

    Not a shade of purple that excites me. Will probably never actively choose to wear it.

    China Glaze – Bat My Eyes

    I really enjoyed wearing Bat My Eyes but I just know I will never reach for it. And it smelled awful, I must have thinned it out at some point and now it reeks.

    So to conclude this round of The Twelve I ended up with seven keepers, one maybe, and four hell noes.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Nail polish

    Nail polish audit – The Twelve:22

    These twelve polishes were worn from the end of August until the beginning of November. Two each by OPI, Indigo Bananas, Zoya, China Glaze and one each by Powder Perfect, Phalish, Shimmer and Mentality, Polish Revolution, YSL, A England, ILNP, H&M Beauty and Nail Pattern Boldness.

    Hell yes!

    Zoya – Skylar
    Powder Perfect – The Crossroads
    Indigo Bananas – Reign
    OPI – Thanks a Windmillion
    Phalish – The Oldest Question
    OPI – Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around

    Maybe

    Indigo Bananas – Molten Universe

    I love this polish in theory. A stunning jelly shade with flakes and an epic name. But sadly I did not love the shade on me when I wore it this time. It did not feel like me. BUT – I have a hard time letting this one go due to nostalgia. I remember loving this flakie collection by Indigo Bananas and the polish is in great condition still.

    Zoya – Rocha

    The same goes for this bright shade from Zoya. It just did not feel like me when I wore it. But I love Zoya and the polish performs very well. So into the Maybe pile it goes.

    Hell no!

    China Glaze – Creative Fantasy

    This one is so patchy and the shade dries semi matte. Almost like rubber. I have no need for this one.

    Shimmer – Nicole

    I actually like wearing this glitter polish but I do not see myself reaching for this in the future. Glitter polish is really hard to remove, especially these ones that are worn as full cover glitter. So I do not feel like it is worth the hassle in this case. Besides that the polish was getting very goopy so that made the decision easier.

    Mentality – Wangari

    This is simply not a shade I enjoy anymore. It looks very bland and nothing on me. So it is an easy bye bye.

    China Glaze – Running In Circles

    Another one that does not feel like me. I love a green polish but this shade simply did nothing for me.

    So to conclude this round of The Twelve I ended up with six keepers, two maybes, and four hell noes.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Skincare

    The Used Up 2023:1

    Time flies and it is already late November. I took the pictures for this post way back in July but never found the time to sit down and write the thing. But better late than never! In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the first half of 2023, January through June. In those six months I managed to finish a total of 16 items and out of those only three were makeup products.

    Categories not included in this post are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it. I still prefer not to track those categories in any way.

    As per usual I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts and opinions on these products. I have combination skin with a tendency towards dehydration. I’m 42 (soon anyway) and naturally I’m noticing my skin changing a lot due to ageing. So I’m slowly adjusting my routine to its ever evolving needs. The occasional breakout happens but it is more and more infrequent these days. But I still get quite shiny during the day and my makeup “melts”. My skin rarely reacts badly to products and I have no allergies.

    Let’s begin!

    Cleansers

    My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

    Only recurring favourites this time around. The Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut solidly made its way into my heart and I repurchase it again and again. I have nothing bad to say about it and it still feels very luxurious too use. The smooth honey-like texture and warm and comforting scent is a joy to massage onto my face. It does not sting my eyes or leave any residue after removal. I have a tube in rotation at this moment.

    The Glow Mud Cleanser by Pixi (135 ml, 279 SEK) was new to me in 2022 but I have continued to buy it regularly since then. I still mainly use it in the shower in the morning and massage it on damp skin and wait 30 seconds, as instructed, and then use a damp cloth to wipe it away. Only a small amount is needed and the tube lasted a nice while. I do not find it drying but I also never use it more than once a day. So I do not have any experience with using it twice a day, even though it does say on the packaging that you can use it morning and evening.

    Toner & mists

    My current routine: I always have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing but before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I also like to use a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step.

    Nothing new under the sun when it comes to mists either. The Hydrating Water by M Picaut (100 ml, 349 SEK) was what I chose to pick up when I realised I could not get my favourite hydrating mist by Josh Rosebrook anymore since the Swedish reseller at the time never did restock it. I did repurchase the Hydrating Water once more after that, and that is the empty bottle in this post, but then I found the Hydrating Accelerator again at the Swedish webshop Caeleste. I like the M Picaut mist well enough but it is just not my fave. Right now I’m buying from Josh Rosebrook again.

    Essence & serums

    My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

    Let’s start with the new item in this lineup, the Hyper Real Serumizer by MAC Cosmetics (30 ml, 760 SEK). I picked this up quite close to the launch since I was intrigued and I managed to get a nice discount (I also bought the accompanying cream) to ease the pain of this hefty price. MAC is not a skincare brand in my eyes so for me this was a bit too steep a cost. However the product was lovely and the packaging gorgeous. The scent was a bit more than I was used to but I quickly got used to it, I even enjoyed it. I have nothing bad to say about this serum except the big disclaimer – it is too damn expensive for 30 ml. Those 30 ml did not last me as long as I hoped for even though the serum left my skin feeling nicely hydrated it was nothing revolutionary. I would consider buying this again if it was around 450-500 SEK. But not for 760 SEK.

    The next product is a recurring favourite. Two bottles of the Hyaluronic Super Serum (30 ml, 279-495 SEK) by Acasia. I used it twice a day and I have only nice things to say about this serum. I am currently using something else, something new that intrigued me, but I’m sure I will buy the Acasia serum again in the future. It’s a nice staple for me to revert back to.

    The final serum is a recurring product as well but one that I use more and more infrequently these days. Last time I had an empty bottle of Niacimide 10% + Zinc 1% by the Ordinary (30 ml, 69 SEK) was in the first half of 2021. I still use it whenever my skin is prone to breakouts and I usually apply it over the affected area in the evenings. But since my skin is becoming less prone to breakouts with age, and even though I have another bottle in use right now (because bought two by mistake once), I do not see myself buying another one when the one I’m currently using runs out. I do have another specific spot treatment product that is sufficient for my breakout needs.

    Moisturisers & oils

    My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

    The Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream by M Picaut (50 ml, 749 SEK) is a firm favourite at this point. I use it as mainly as a night cream but I also use it in the daytime during the autumn/winter months. I repurchase as soon as I run out or run low if I can catch it in time. My skin really loves it!

    Masks

    My current routine: I do not have one. I use masks very infrequently but usually I like to have a lineup of a hydrating one, an exfoliating one and a deep cleansing one. I like to use an overnight mask when I have one.

    The Hydra Lagoon Overnight Mask by M Picaut (50 ml, 729 SEK) was a product I thought I would adore. I had heard so many good things about it (from people I trust but who have different skin types from me) and it was even designed as an overnight mask which I love as a concept. But it never really worked well for me. I found it to be sitting on top of my skin and not really sinking in, leaving my skin feeling less than hydrated. Because of that it did not work well as an overnight mask for me – it would be a bit messy, almost sticky and dry at the same time. To add insult to injury I did not use it up within its proper shelf-life so it started to smell off. I persisted and used it up anyway but it was not a nice experience. That last bit was totally my fault, but simply put this mask is not for me. It is for someone else with other skincare needs. I’m glad I tried it but I will not be buying this again.

    Moving on to the Botanical Collagen Mask by Pixi (45 ml, 299 SEK) or Collagen Plumping Mask as it is also marketed as. This little treat has a nice scent and is designed as a leave-on mask so I gladly wore it overnight. It worked very well as a little hydrating treat and my skin loved it. I can see myself purchasing this again in the future.

    The Exfoliating Peel Mask by M Picaut (50 ml, 399 SEK) and I did not have the best relationship. The blame is mine though. I was very infrequent in my use and never really paid attention after using it until the end of its life. Then my opinion was that I liked it, but I am sure that if I had paid more attention earlier I would have enjoyed it a lot more. It was mild yet effective. So the product made no big impression on me but I will consider it in the future when I need to purchase an exfoliator. It deserves a second chance.

    Zero Zit by Pixi (10 ml, 339 SEK) was a long-lasting little trooper. That tube lasted me around 2 years. I patted this on top of blemishes and it dried them out nicely or made them develop faster. The gel was transparent and did not leave a film that was noticeable to the eye or pilled when touched. When I ran out I wanted to repurchase but it was nowhere to be found. So I currently have a similar product from another brand but I do not like it as much (it pills). The product has since then become available again and I would absolutely consider buying it in the future.

    Base makeup

    Lets round this post off with some more recurring items. You can find my thoughts on these two concealers in this The Used Up post, including swatches. It’s the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shades Alabaster (CW 00) and Green (CW12). I have enjoyed using this formula for a while they were part of my everyday makeup routine. Alabaster was used under the eye as a corrector for my not-very-dark under eyes. Green was and is used as a targeted colour corrector or as a mixer for other base products to make them a shade closer to my skin tone. Both of these have been repurchased many times but nowadays I only buy Green. Alabaster was a tad too dark and peach for me so I’ve stopped buying it. I am currently enjoying trying new concealers and looking for a good replacement to use as a under-eye brightener and/or corrector. The green one is not perfect but it is a proper key item for me. It is a bit difficult to blend if I use it on its own, so I tend to mix it with other base products. I would love to try green correctors from other brands in the future but so far I’m still using the NYX one.

    There we have it! Six months worth of empty products. It is very apparent to me that I tend to stick to things (and brands) that I enjoy and play it a bit more safe with my skincare these days. I like what I like and I stray from gambling with new stuff. But here and there I manage to sneak in something new at least.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Nail polish

    Nail polish audit – The Twelve:21

    These twelve polishes were worn from the end of May until the end of August. Three by OPI and one each by China Glaze, Essie, Darling Diva Polish, Polish Revolution, YSL, A England, ILNP, H&M Beauty and Nail Pattern Boldness.

    Hell yes!

    OPI – In My Back Pocket
    YSL – Jade Impérial (34)
    Darling Diva Polish – Dreamy (over Jade Impérial)
    ILNP – Brilliance
    OPI – Red Hot Rio
    A England – Virgin Queen
    Essie – Mojito Madness
    OPI – My Vampire’s Buff
    H&M Beauty – Sunny Side Up
    China Glaze – Budding Romance
    Nail Pattern Boldness – Bigger On The Inside

    Maybe

    No maybes this time around

    Hell no!

    Polish Revolution – Vegan Zombie

    I adore this polish in so many ways but I simply do not like wearing it.

    So to conclude this round of The Twelve I ended up with eleven keepers and one hell no.

    Thank you for reading!

  • Makeup

    Thoughts on my makeup audit project: 2019-2023

    I started my makeup audit project in October 2019 and by the end of February 2022 I completed using my last monthly arsenal. I was very glad to reach that milestone in the project and ever since then I’ve slowly completed the last phase of the project (except for nail polish) in a very unstructured way. In this post I want to summarise and conclude the project as a whole.

    The premise for the project was to whittle down my vast collection a bit and to aid that quest I wanted to wear each item once, potentially one last time. You can find the proper run down of the project in my initial post from October 2019 here.

    The audit was divided in categories and each category was handled a bit differently as you will see in my rundown of each below. In the beginning of the project I also did a little inventory of the major categories and just for fun I wanted to compare it to what I’m left with today. So I’m including some numbers and pictures so we can get a feeling of the massiveness of my undertaking. And for fun.

    Powder eye products

    Eyeshadows were the main part to audit in my monthly arsenals and lasted the full time period. A huge amount of palettes and singles were put away, but an even larger amount were saved. Below you can see the rejected powder eye products from Round 1.

    After my first round of the audit was done in February 2022 I took another hard look at what I had kept. In Round 2 I compared similar items to each other and tried to be realistic on which items I would like to use moving forward and minimizing duplicates. A lot of old stuff was discarded, like all of my gorgeous Extra Dimension Eye Shadows by MAC, and I also decided not to depot my Anastasia Beverly Hills palettes and just let them go.

    Work in progress

    After Round 2 I sorted all of the remaining items, during the last half of 2022, and arranged all of my single pan shadows by colour and gave each palette a matching name. You can see them all below including the unnamed palette with highlighting shades.

    I found them very visually pleasing and thought I would keep them like that for a longer time than I ended up doing. However, after using them a while I noticed I still felt overwhelmed by choice. I was always torn between using my oldest shades and my newer ones and all of those in between. So in January of 2023 I did a Round 3 (thinking it was my last) and I took a hard look at the age of the shadows (and blushes) that I had kept previously and put away anything older than 2016 with the exception of my Meow shadows from 2013. Nostalgia made me keep those Meow shades. Below you can see the shades from Round 3 including most of my MAC, Inglot and MakeupGeek shadows and MAC pigments.

    Discards from Round 3

    The new plan was to keep those remaining shades for the duration of 2023 and then let go of more old shades. But I still had this nagging feeling that I had too much to choose from. And I was not using my newer items nearly as much as they deserved. So in May of 2023 I went through everything again and decided that 2019 (when I moved to a new city) would be a breaking point for eyeshadows at least. Anything older than that would only be kept if I had a very good reason to spend some more time with it. So I do still use a smaller amount of shadows that are older than 2019 and they can stay for the rest of 2023. Then they are out as well.

    My beloved Meow shadows have now been put in bags and I will not use them on the eye any more (I will however see if I can repurpose loose shadows and pigments as art supplies). Most of my Nabla and Urban Decay shadows are gone. I also let go of a few newish bits like the Swear By It palette by Nyx. I bought that palette in 2019 and have used it a lot since then. But the sheer size of it overwhelms me and I recently started feeling like the shadows were not performing as well as they did when I bought it.

    I must admit that putting away most of the items bought before my move from Gothenburg was hard emotionally. I felt like I lost a part of myself when I moved and that was I part I was not keen on letting go of. Putting away these items just solidified this shift in my life. I know they are just things, but I attach memory to things and this was a tough one.

    I started the project with 748 single eye shadows/pigments and 64 palettes of various sizes (three were highlighters in palettes that I mainly used on the eye). Right now, in August 2023, I own four fixed palettes and 133 singles for eyes. That includes all of my new additions since the audit started and to be honest those make out the majority of my arsenal now. So what I am left with is not all of my favourite or most worn shades, something one might think would be the case after a big declutter. What I have left is what was last bought when I already had all of those other older shades. So in some shade categories I feel like I’m lacking a bit. But I am in no hurry to replace anything just yet. I have plenty of options to play with until I feel like the time is right to invest in something new.

    Lip products

    These were audited in two big declutter sessions in 2020. During 2021-mid 2023 I did cull even more items that were older and the final post chronicling that can be found here. None of my current lip products were in my arsenal when the project started. Everything has been replaced. A natural replacement period since all the stuff I started with was older.

    Cheek products

    I started the audit with 67 shades of blush, 9 contour shades and 22 highlighters. After Round 1 of cheek items was completed in March 2021 I did a blog post displaying and swatching my then current cheek arsenal, which you can find here. I had by then not discarded that many cheek products and you can see the rejects below.

    The rejects from Round 1 (a few are not pictured since they were re-homed)

    After that I wore all of those remaining shades for a while and then did a Round 2 in increments during the last half of 2022. A larger number of items, pictured below, were given the boot during that time period. A lot of lovely items that were simply past their prime or otherwise deemed unnecessary.

    Discards from Round 2

    In January 2023 I had 14 cheek items left. One duo with a highlight and a sculpt shade. 11 powder blushes and a pale lipstick that had been demoted/promoted (?) to cheek shade. I then completed my last round, Round 3, in the end of January and was left with 6 items (7 shades).

    Round 3 – the final blush declutter

    Those seven shades consists of 4 powder blushes, one cream blush (the aforementioned lipstick), 2 shade/contour colours that doubles as neutral blushes and one highlighter. From 22 to one highlighter! Mad.

    To complement those older bits I have some newer bits as well. Several of the shades in my Hindash palettes (Beautopsy and Monochromance) can be used as blush and my other Lisa Eldridge velvet lipsticks are being applied to my cheeks regularly. In addition to that I’ve also acquired three pots of lip/cheek colours by Trinny London and Manasi7. So my options are not limited yet not as abundant as before. I have got my eye on some shades that I feel like I’m lacking but I’m hesitant pull the trigger as of right now.

    Nail polish

    My nail polish arsenal have been and are being audited twelve items at the time in my still ongoing series The Twelve. I will continue to do that series until I have worn all of my shades. I rarely buy nail polish anymore and I highly enjoy the ones that I have.

    Miscellaneous items

    These were cream and liquid products like foundation, concealer, primers, brow products, mascara, cream eye shadows and liners. These items have been audited continuously and documented on my Instagram stories (saved as highlights).

    The timeline

    I purchased quite a lot of new makeup items during the audit period (since the project lasted three and a half years) but not anywhere close to what I was buying in previous years. I’ve bought replacements of foundation, concealer, powder, makeup sponges, colour corrector, eye primer, mascara, eyeliner and brow gel. I have also bought some extra foundations, concealers and powders to try out. I am on a bit of a journey with trying to find base products that really matches my colouring and skin type. I’ve also picked up or been gifted (by family) eyeshadows from Lethal Cosmetics, Terra Moons, Glossgods, H&M Beauty, Glam Shop and Hindash. And I have experimented a bit with cream colours for lips and cheeks (Trinny London and Manasi7). As mentioned these new items make up the majority of my current collection.

    The project was fun most of the time and and I did enjoy choosing a new arsenal each month. My makeup creations also became more creative thanks to the monthly arsenals. They helped me become very aware of how much makeup I owned and how long it would take me to do that first round of wearing everything. But I stuck to my original plan, to use all the items before (potentially) discarding them. This approach made the audit a very very long project, but I always felt and still feel that it was the right thing to do for the reasons below;

    1. I find it difficult to let items go in general. Using each product gave me the opportunity to form a proper opinion based in reality rather than a sentimental memory.
    2. My monthly posts including swatches was a great way to chronicle what I I used and what I let go of. The pictures and swatches remains.

    Addition in hindsight: All of these rounds really helped me in making my final decisions on letting all of the older stuff go. I could never had made that decision from the get-go. The longevity of the project also solidified my feelings of overwhelm with that much abundance. The products were just sitting unused there and going to waste. The long auditing process created this result and I am now grateful for the lessons learned.

    What I have learned

    It’s been an ongoing conversation with myself about my habits and how I use makeup and what part of the process that makes me happy. A few truths have been revealed;

    • I do like variety but there is a limit. Owning too many items is overwhelming for me. At the same time I am no makeup minimalist nor do I aspire to be one.
    • Due to excess, many of my items had expired or become ancient without being worn much at all. It just feels so wasteful.
    • I’m not a makeup artist anymore and do not need every colour or product category under the sun.
    • I hate not being able to repurchase a favourite item. Of course products can be discontinued or brands can go out of business but limited edition releases are exactly that, limited. I also want to be able to recommend product I like to others without a time-limit.

    These truths inform something about my purchasing behaviour moving forward;

    • I was never a full-on makeup collector to begin with but I did have a bit of a collectors mentality when it came to certain brands. However, I do no longer desire to acquire makeup like that. I do not want to own things for the sake of owning them, I want to have products that I use or can see myself using regularly. I do not need the same shade from five different brands and I do not need shades for other people other than myself. So no more collecting!
    • Products have a limited shelf-life. Of course I knew that before but the audit really highlighted the fact in a blunt way. I’ve always seen my powder items as long lasting and that is in a sense true since they last vastly longer compared to their cream or liquid counterparts. But now when I went through eyeshadow after eyeshadow I noticed how old they actually were. Many were more than 10 years old! And I’ve barely used some of them since I had too much stuff to choose from. I have also discarded many shadows during the audit due to smelling off and performing differently than when I first got them. A category where I really have to consider this aspect is lipsticks. I love a variety of shades and finishes but I only have one mouth and seven days a week (and I do not wear makeup every day anyway).
    • I miss the days when I had an intense relationship with a specific product or shade, like I did back in the day when I owned fewer items and also had less money that could be used for buying makeup. I do not long for a sparse arsenal but I do long for a used arsenal. I want to get back to the feeling of knowing the names of shadows by heart. Less can be more in that sense.
    • I care more about the quality of the packaging than I used to. Aesthetics and function are key points of value along with having favourable feelings about a brand and how it acts in the world. I do not have any set parameters for how I judge that but go on gut instinct.
    • I currently prefer owning eyeshadows as single pans in compacts/palettes that I can modify myself. I would like to avoid buying fixed palettes except when there is a specific brand/creator I want to support or if a palette is so damn unique and/or exciting that I just cannot help myself. But I will definitely be mindful of why I want it and have a look at what I own before buying new shades, that is goes for palettes and singles alike.
    • I want to avoid limited edition items. I used to chase every limited edition release. Nowadays I am a bit turned off when something is limited. I want to find firm favourites that I can replace when I run out. I want my swatches and opinions on a product to be of use for others and not be irrelevant in six months time.
    • Some types of products are simply not for me. I do not need any bronzers or false lashes. A very limited arsenal of liquid liners, eye pencils and highlighters is enough. I do not need to cater to anyone else’s taste and face but my own.

    Purchasing behaviour moving forward

    I never had the intention to stop buying makeup or have a minimal arsenal. That was not the purpose with the project and I feel the same now that it is over. But I want to be mindful of what newness I bring into my life. I only have one face. Knowing that I still own an abundance of items, even after this audit, I will consider the following points before purchasing something new;

    • Do I already own this from another brand? Back in the day, I often bought duplicates of shades from different brands just because I was in a collector mindset. Nothing wrong with that, but I want to avoid it moving forward.
    • What is the shelf-life? Will I get much use out of it before it expires?
    • Is it a permanent item?
    • Can it be substituted with something else that I already own? Two different products do not have to be colour-dupes to be able to perform a similar function.
    • And the one one that can trump all of the above – Does the thought of trying and using this product make me really really excited? If the answer is yes, that is something to take note of since it is unusual these days. It might be a launch from Lisa Eldridge or a collab with a creator I want to support. Or maybe it is an intriguing new brand that I want to check out and form an opinion on. I used to get excited for specific brands, collections and makeup looks more often back in the day, but now I rarely get excited for new things. But when this does happen I do not see a problem to act on the urge as long as I choose somewhat wisely when I do.

    Makeup for me is a bringer of joy. I love feeling enamoured with an item or a colour but that love only comes into fruition when I actually use the items regularly. I do not want the beautiful shadows to collect dust and go bad. I want to wear them! I want them to be tools to create beauty on my face. I want to be inspired by shapes, shades and the emotion they create together with a great outfit. I want to yet again create inspired by films, art, nature, people I admire and fashion (present and past).

    This project was vast but meaningful. I am glad the projects is concluded and the result is a reward that will last for a very long time.

    If you made it this far, I applaud you!

    Thank you for reading!

  • Makeup

    Lip liners – a shade comparison of MAC and Lisa Eldridge

    When decluttering my old MAC liners I did a swatch comparison between them and the similar shades from my more recently purchased liners by Lisa Eldridge (LE). I started purchasing LE liners to replace my old MAC ones but discovered that most of them were not colour dupes as I had initially anticipated. But some are functional dupes i.e close enough in colour to provide the same function. In this post I want to share swatch comparisons of the similar shades from the two brands but also share swatches of all of my Lisa Eldridge liners. All with the hope of providing some picture guidance if anyone else is considering purchasing any of these liners and could be helped by seeing them swatched side by side on my skin tone.

    Liner comparison – MAC and Lisa Eldridge (LE)

    Morning did not replace Redd as anticipated. Morning is brighter and more vividly warm. Redd is more subtle overall and I could see myself purchasing it again in the future if I notice a need for it. I’m a sporadic liner wearer but usually use liners specifically with reds and darker shades when I want a more precise or impactful look. They are therefore useful but not a necessary part of my everyday makeup usage. The purpose filled by Cherry and Beet is now occupied by Ribbon, Duchess and even Myth. Burgundy is a shade that nothing really compares to but I included swatches of Decade and Midnight for reference. I do like Burgundy a lot and will consider picking it up again in the near future. It is stunning on its own but it also plays well with many of my more muted lip shades. Brick is also in a league of its own but I’m not sure I currently need a shade like it. I was sure that Midnight would replace Nightmoth but the are more cousins, Nightmoth being more muted and grungy. I have recently repurchased Nightmoth though. It is great for deep and dramatic looks and I wanted it in my life again.

    The formula differ between the two as well. The MAC liner in its classic wooden pencil format is drier and harder formula. But not hard to use mind you. It does not glide on the way the LE liners do but I have never found them difficult to apply. Both liners have great longevity on me and if I had to choose I do prefer the sturdier MAC liners. I feel like I have even more control and find it easier to be precise with them on my thinner lips. But since I do not have to choose and gladly enjoy both brands and the shades they offer.

    Swatches of the Enhance and Define Lip Pencils by Lisa Eldridge
    Lisa Eldridge Enhance and Define Lip Pencils

    My most used liner by Lisa Eldridge is Muse and it is because it is my oldest. You can even see that the packaging is shinier than the rest of the pencils. I purchased it as part of a Muse-set and thought it would be a great neutral lip liner for me. In truth it is just ok. Muse as a shade of liner is a tad too light and peachy for my taste. When I compare swatches of the Velvet Muse lipstick side by side with the liner, the liner is visibly warmer in tone and the lipstick is more rosy. I prefer to wear Velvet Muse without a liner anyway so I will not repurchase the Muse liner when it goes off. I hope Lisa creates a neutral to cool mid brown liner in the future that I can use as my base line for ‘my lips but better’ looks but until then I manage just fine without. Affair and Sorcery are also too warm for me. The Velvet Affair lipstick was a poor purchase on my part but I love the Velvet Sorcery lipstick, but the Sorcery liner is not a winner. The same is true for Sorcery as with Muse, the liner is warmer than the lipstick. And for me that is not great. All of the other liner shades works great for me with their respective lipstick and I use them in conjunction with those shades mainly. Blush is a shade that I also enjoy using to push shades that feel too warm in a cooler direction. But alas, I am a sparse liner wearer and I am sure these liners are capable of more than I currently use them for. But they are fairly new and I look forward to flexing their abilities in the coming years.

    I hope this post was helpful and that it aided someone in their decision to buy or not to buy any of these liners.

    Thanks for reading!