For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my bullet lipsticks collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my contours, cream blushes, mascaras, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which bullet lipstick is my fave in terms of colour, formula, longevity, comfort, and application.

*This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page*

20. Avon Ultra Satin Lipstick

£6

This Avon Ultra Satin Lipstick is quite nice. It glides on easily, imparts a natural flush of colour, and is comfortable. I like the nude pink shade, as it’s soft and subtle. However, I never reach for this formula as it wears off within a couple of hours. IMO, it’s obvious this isn’t a high-quality lipstick.

19. Colourpop Velvet Blur Lipstick

Discontinued

The Colourpop Velvet Blur Lipstick is cute. It delivers a blurred lip and can really change your makeup look. However, this pink lip shade is way more vibrant on the lips than it is in the bullet. The shade doesn’t suit me, and, despite being comfortable and wearing quite well, I just never reach for it. The formula is good, but nothing special.

18. e.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipstick

Discontinued

For a drugstore lipstick, the e.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipstick is nice. It’s smooth, creamy, comfortable, and delivers medium pigmentation. I like this cool-toned brown nude. It’s wearable and works with a good range of neutral- and cool-toned makeup looks. I just don’t reach for this formula often, as there are other ones in my collection that perform better.

17. Milani Color Fetish Shine Lipstick

£12.50

The Milani Color Fetish Shine Lipstick is a lovely drugstore option for a smooth, satin lipstick. This one is surprisingly pigmented for a shiny formula. It’s not particularly balmy, but the shiny nature of this lipstick means it wears off within a few hours. But the formula glides on, feels comfortable, and gives lips a hydrated and smooth finish. The colour is quite intense, so I don’t reach for it regularly.

16. Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle

Discontinued

The Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle is a classic matte lipstick. Very long-wearing, fantastic colour payoff, and a range of rich, impactful shades. These have been discontinued, and I can largely see why. Fenty Beauty’s other lipstick formulas are better. The Mattemoiselle formula is fairly drying and can cling to lip texture, which isn’t flattering. However, the Mattemoiselle range had some great orange-toned shades, which are typically hard to find. They also wear exceptionally well without budging.

15. Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Lipstick

£24

The Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Lipstick offers medium, buildable pigmentation, a pretty range of nude shades, and feels smooth and comfortable on the lips. It delivers a satin matte finish that looks natural and glides on the lips effortlessly. But it fades fairly quickly. While I think this formula is nice, for a mid-to-high-end lipstick, the quality doesn’t blow me away. There are better lipsticks out there that cost less. I’m also not a massive fan of the shade Natasha. It washes me out and looks quite grey, even though the bullet itself doesn’t look cool-toned. It’s one I have to pair with a gloss to make the colour work for my complexion.

14. Maybelline Color Sensational Made For All Lipstick

£8.99

The Maybelline Color Sensational Made For All Lipstick is an underrated drugstore satin, shiny formula. Although the shade Baddest Beige doesn’t appear to be stocked anymore, I love how effortlessly this formula slips on. It’s creamy, hydrating, smoothing, and makes lips instantly look fuller and plumper. Baddest Beige is a gorgeous neutral light beige that pairs well with loads of lip liners and is ideal for when you want a more washed-out lip look. I sometimes pair it with a darker gloss on top for a richer colour, which looks so pretty. Being shiny, it wears off within a few hours, which is the downside.

13. HNB Cosmetics Creamy Soft Satin Lipstick

£14

The HNB Cosmetics Creamy Soft Satin Lipstick is a smooth and moisturising formula. This is a nude lipstick range and is perfect if you want an elevated concealer lip look. It blends easily and can be blurred for a softer finish. However, this lipstick can feel a bit heavy on the lips and wears off quickly. But I love the finished look.

12. Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick

Discontinued

While Anastasia Beverly Hills still makes matte lipsticks, the specific Matte Lipsticks I own from the brand have been discontinued. It’s a shame because while these lipsticks are a bit on the dry side, I love the shade range. I own a soft petal pink, peachy nude, and rosy brown, which are all gorgeous and wearable. As this formula is a bit drier, the lipsticks also have great lasting power and do not budge once applied. There are better matte lipsticks on the market, though.

11. Chanel Rouge Allure

£42

I’ve had this Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in my collection for years and still think fondly of it. This is a classic Chanel red in a vibrant, slightly luminous, and comfortable formula. It glides on seamlessly, stays put for hours, and doesn’t cling to any dry patches on the lips. Despite being a great lipstick, I prefer ones that are smoother, creamier, and more hydrating.

10. Makeup by Mario SuperSatin Lipstick

£29.90

The Makeup by Mario SuperSatin Lipstick is one of the most pigmented satin lipsticks I’ve tried. With a lovely shine, this lipstick delivers an intense, saturated colour. It’s silky, creamy, and wears surprisingly well for a satin finish. It will stay put for a good 6 hours with minimal top-up required. This is really flattering too, as it doesn’t look dull or dry on the lips.

9. Pat McGrath Labs LuxeTrance Lipstick

Discontinued

The Pat McGrath Labs LuxeTrance Lipstick has been discontinued. It’s a shame because the formula is lovely. It’s velvety, richly pigmented, and feels expensive. The lipstick is creamy, offers a slight sheen, and doesn’t budge, flake, or transfer throughout the day. It wears all day and night. Plus, it’s pretty hydrating and feels lightweight on the lips. I don’t reach for this lipstick often, but I still really like it.

8. Chanel Rouge Coco

£43

Chanel Rouge Coco is a gorgeous satin lipstick. This formula offers medium, buildable colour payoff, a gorgeous creamy formula, smooth application, and a flattering sheen. My lips feel hydrated, comfortable, and nourished. It wears well, lasting a good 4 hours before needing any sort of reapplication. This lipstick feels effortlessly chic, timeless, and sophisticated. It’s a stunning rosewood mauve that looks good with every makeup look.

7. Glossier Generation G

£20

Glossier Generation G is the most unique formula in this post. This lipstick provides a distinct, blurred, diffused, and soft-edged lip look that gives your lips a cloud-like finish. It’s completely weightless and provides a smooth flush of colour that looks as though it’s your actual lip colour. I own the shade Zip, which is a stunning poppy red that is wearable, dialled down, and reminiscent of a warm summer’s evening. I love this formula.

6. Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour

£27

The Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour is the most long-wearing lipstick in this post, lasting up to 10 hours without budging, smudging, fading, or flaking. I’ve got the shade Velvet Ribbon, which is the classic pillarbox red. This is a neutral/blue-red that suits everybody. If I want a statement red lip that’s vivid, bold, and makes my lips look smooth and full, this is the one I reach for. The formula is creamy, velvety, moisturising, and non-drying. It never looks dull or flat.

5. Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick

Discontinued

I was surprised to learn that the Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick has been discontinued, as the formula and shade are gorgeous. It’s a neutral-toned soft nude pink in a formula that’s creamy and nourishing. My lips feel silky and smooth when I’ve applied this lippie, while delivering a natural matte finish that doesn’t look flat, dull, or one-dimensional. This is the lipstick I go for when I want a reliable shade that looks good with everything and a formula that wears well without fading patchily.

4. MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick

£25

The MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick is perhaps the most iconic matte lipstick in this post. I still own the older version of this formula, but it has since been upgraded to a newer, silkier, and smoother consistency. My version is perhaps a little bit on the dry side, but this is completely forgiven, as this cult classic does not budge, wears for 8 hours without fading, and has the best shade range on the market. MAC’s matte nudes provide a brilliant array of undertones to ensure you can find a colour that works for your complexion. MAC Chili is my fave red lipstick of all time – a warm brick red that’s wearable, flattering, and versatile.

3. Tom Ford Lip Colour

£49

The Tom Ford Lip Colour is my fave satin lipstick of all time. These lippies are insanely pigmented, offering rich, multi-dimensional colours that look and feel expensive. While £49 is a lot of money for a lipstick, this formula is a standout. The colours are creamy, glide on in just 1 swipe, feel comfortable, and stay vivid on my lips for hours and hours. The shine reflects the light beautifully to ensure your lips look smooth, plump, and full. If I’m after a bold lip look that’s sure to get compliments, this formula is my go-to.

2. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution

£29.50

The Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution is my number 1 matte lipstick. This offers everything I want in a matte formula: long-wearing, creamy, hydrating, matte but not flat, non-drying, comfortable, easy to apply, buildable, and transfer-proof. Pillow Talk is the ultimate nude pink lipstick that I reach for time and time again. There’s a reason why this shade is universally loved and revered! It always looks phenomenal and works with so many different makeup looks. This formula makes lips look soft and kissable. I’m obsessed and will always repurchase it.

1. MAC MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick

£25

The MAC MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick is my favourite bullet lipstick formula. It’s shiny, smoothing, nourishing, flattering, pigmented, buildable, comfortable, has good lasting power, and makes lips look juicy and plump. While this satin formula isn’t as long-lasting as its matte counterpart, I just love the sheen and visible hydration that this formula imparts. It always makes lips look conditioned with a rich, creamy colour that can be dialled up or down, depending on your mood. Of course, MAC’s shade range is to die for, with everything from flesh-toned beiges and mid-toned plums to reddish browns and dusty lavenders. I can’t praise this formula enough and am always looking at new colours from this beautiful range. It’s just the best.

The post Battle of the brands: Bullet lipsticks – Satin and matte formulas ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire contour collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my cream blushes, mascaras, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which contour is my fave in terms of colour, definition, ease of blending, texture, longevity, and application.

*This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page*

8. e.l.f. Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand

£10 for 10ml

The e.l.f. Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand is affordable, easy to apply, and glides smoothly onto the skin. For a drugstore contour, it’s pretty good. However, it’s shimmery, which I don’t think works for a contour, as the areas where you create shadows and definition on your face should not be reflective. I also find the shade to be a bit too warm, so I use this as a liquid bronzer instead of a contour wand. It’s fine, but I just don’t reach for it.

7. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour

£26 for 6g

The Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour is a cult classic and loved by many. This contour stick is easy to apply, blends seamlessly, and never looks patchy. However, I find the shade too warm for a contour. I love that it doesn’t have an orange undertone, but I’d only ever use this as a bronzer for that reason. Also, I find this contour stick almost too creamy, as it blends into nothingness quickly. I prefer my contours to be a bit firmer, so I can get a more precise application.

6. Illamasqua Gel Sculpt

£25 for 8g

The Illamasqua Gel Sculpt is a great natural contour product. In my full review of this product, I noted that the contour stick has a lovely cooling effect when applied, which is really fun. Despite its ease of application and buffing into the skin, this contour stick is a bit too natural for my liking. It easily blends into nothingness, and I find that any definition I’ve created disappears quickly. Although this is largely due to me not being great at applying contour, but other products in this post work better for me.

5. Peripera V Shading

£11.10 for 9.5g + up to 5% off at YesStyle with CONFIDENCE10

I included the Peripera V Shading compact in my powder bronzers ranking post, as this product works as both a bronzer and a contour due to its neutral hue. This is a gorgeous and affordable powder contour product. The consistency is buttery, smooth, and soft. It blends beautifully without any patchiness. And the compact is very versatile, because the neutral tone means it works with any makeup look. It’s not super pigmented, but it’s great for soft definition across the cheekbones, jawline, side of the nose, and forehead.

4. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo

£37 for 15.8g

I also included the Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo in my powder bronzers ranking post, as this duo contains both a powder bronzer and a cream contour. For this post, I’m focusing on the contour section. This is a stunning contour. It’s cool-toned without looking too grey or ashy, blends like an absolute dream, and is impossible to overdo. It never looks like a strip of colour on my face. Instead, the formula buffs into the skin effortlessly. This is more of a natural contour, but it adds noticeable definition to any makeup look.

3. Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick

£22 for 5.7g

The Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick is a true cool-toned contour, without looking ashy or too grey. This is my favourite product for when I want to add sharp definition, as it creates a realistic matte shadow, which is what you want when you’re trying to sculpt and highlight different areas of your face. This formula is quite stiff and firm, which I love, as when you buff it into the skin, the product doesn’t just disappear. But if you apply too much product, you can just keep blending to get your desired intensity. This contour stick is also the longest-wearing in this post, as the formula doesn’t budge throughout the day.

2. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow

£49 for 22.5g

I’ve had the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow for years, and it’s still my favourite powder contour. The powder is so finely milled that it’s buttery soft, blends itself out, and never looks patchy. It doesn’t cling to skin texture and always looks seamless. If I want to contour in a hurry, this is the product I’ll reach for, as the results are excellent every time. This is a fairly neutral contour shade too, so it works with any makeup look. It can be layered for more intense definition or buffed out for soft sculpting of the face. I love it.

1. Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick

£32 for 10.5g

My holy grail contour product is the Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick. This contour stick everything I want: cool-toned without being ashy or dull, easy blending but doesn’t fade away, creamy, doesn’t cling to texture, creates soft or sharp definition, layers seamlessly, never looks patchy, and is super comfortable. I find this contour pretty long-lasting too, despite its soft consistency. It has a gorgeous natural matte finish that never looks or feels dry.

Whether you draw this contour directly onto your face and blend with a brush or beauty sponge, warm the product on the back of your hand and dip a brush or sponge into it, or use a brush and dab it onto the contour then apply the product to your skin, this formula will work. It’s super flexible and forgiving, and you’ll never overdo it. This contour stick is absolutely worth the hype.

The post Battle of the brands: Contour ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire cream blush collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my powder highlighters, mascaras, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which cream blushes are my faves in terms of ease of blending, shade, texture, and application.

* This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page *

10. e.l.f. Putty Blush

£7 for 10g

The e.l.f. Putty Blush is a good, affordable drugstore cream blush. This transforms from a cream into a semi-matte powder finish. It’s pigmented, lightweight, and easy to blend. While I like the formula, I just don’t find it particularly exciting. I prefer a more radiant finish when it comes to blushes. This one performs well and is reliable, lasting for hours, but there’s nothing fancy about it.

9. Perricone MD No Makeup Blush Balm

£33 for 4.2g + 20% off with the code PMD20

The Perricone MD No Makeup Blush Balm is a lovely, natural-looking stick blush. It’s perfect for achieving a no-makeup makeup look, as it delivers a subtle raspberry tint with no shimmer, providing a light flush of colour to the cheeks. The formula is easy to work with, but I prefer cream blushes that pack a bit more of a punch.

8. Stila Convertible Colour

£18 for 4.25g

The Stila Convertible Colour provides a gorgeous, creamy and radiant pop of colour. It’s so flattering on the skin, as it doesn’t pill or cling to dry patches, and blends and builds effortlessly. The smooth consistency lends itself well to layering. Whether you want a subtle flush of colour or have blush blindness, this versatile blush is perfect. You can also use it on your lips. The only reason I’ve ranked this blush lower is because it’s a bit sticky and doesn’t dry down, which puts me off using it.

7. REFY Cream Blush

£16 for 1.5g

The REFY Cream Blush is great for those lazy makeup days when you want to look sophisticated with minimal effort. This cream blush applies so well with your fingertips. A few taps into the blush and onto your cheeks lead to a soft, dewy flush of colour. The blush provides light, buildable coverage and is very smooth. It also feels hydrating.

6. Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush

£12 for 6g

The Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush is my fave drugstore cream blush. This affordable formula is smooth, creamy, blends effortlessly, and doesn’t feel greasy or heavy on the skin. It melts into the skin and provides buildable coverage for a luminous wash of colour. I’ve got this in the shade 110 Nude Kiss, and it’s the sort of shade that will complement any makeup look. I still prefer other formulas, but this is an excellent drugstore cream blush.

5. MERIT Flush Balm

£26 for 9g

Please ignore how dirty my MERIT Flush Balm looks lol. I need to clean it desperately. Out of all the cream blushes in this post, this one is my fave on-the-go formula. It melts effortlessly into the skin. You can swipe it directly onto your cheeks and then pat it into your skin without it looking patchy, clinging to texture, or disappearing into nothing. It provides sheer, buildable coverage, and you can layer the blush as much as you like without it ever looking too much. The formula is creamy, smooth, and lightweight. It provides a lovely lit-from-within pop of colour. It’s perfect for achieving the clean girl makeup look.

4. rhode Pocket Blush

£24 for 5.3g

The rhode Pocket Blush went viral on social media for a reason! These cute cream blushes leave a stunning, radiant pop of colour while leaving skin soft, hydrated, and smooth. I actually don’t think these blushes are as easy to apply as other cream blushes in this post. I find they apply quite patchily with my fingertips and work way better with a brush. They’re also not the most pigmented cream blush in this post, so it takes a bit of layering to get decent colour payoff.

But I’ve rated these blushes so highly because the shades are second to none. The colours wake up your cheeks and are so flattering. I particularly love Toasted Teddy, which is the best blonzer shade for a toasty, sunkissed vibe. I also love the satin, lightweight finish of these blushes. Once applied, it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing any product at all, so the formula is very comfortable.

3. Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo

£34 for 10.5g

The Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo is by far the most pigmented blush in this post. In fact, I sometimes think these blushes are a bit too pigmented. A tiny bit of product goes a long way for insane, saturated colour. These blush duos consist of a powder and cream blush, so I’m just focusing on the cream blush in this post.

I love the creamy formula and glowy finish. These blushes have a lovely skin-like finish that never pill, blend easily, and layer like a dream. The shade range is divine. While the rhode blushes are perfect for natural makeup looks, the Patrick Ta blushes are for when you want to make an impact. They’re bold, radiant, and vibrant. These blushes add the most gorgeous finish to any makeup look, and you’ll be sure to receive a tonne of compliments when you wear them.

2. Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil 

£30 for 5g

If the rhode and Patrick Ta blushes had a baby, it’d be the Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil. This stunning formula offers the soft, buildable consistency of the rhode blushes and the glow and vividness of the Patrick Ta blushes.

I’m obsessed with the shades and texture of this blush. The consistency is dreamy because it’s creamy, smooth, moisturising, and melts into the cheeks effortlessly. You can end up blending this blush into nothingness if you blend too much, as the formula is so pliable. The shades are stunning, ranging from baby pinks and soft peaches to bold berries and spiced rose. The Makeup by Mario cream blush is the glowiest formula on this list, giving your cheeks a dewy, healthy finish that looks unreal. And I’m a sucker for a radiant blush.

1. Nudestix Nudies Bloom

£31.50 for 7g + 15% off at Sephora with my code SARAHSSPH

The Nudestix Nudies Bloom is my fave cream blush ever. The formula, shade, and finish are just the best. I’ve got the shade Cherry Blossom Babe, which is a beautiful cherry blossom colour that works perfectly with cool- and warm-toned makeup looks. This is my go-to shade for whenever I want a mid-toned neutral pink blush to tie in the rest of my makeup because I know it’ll look amazing.

The creamy formula is a breeze to work with. Whether you apply the stick straight to your cheeks and then blend it out with a brush or your fingertips, tap your fingertips onto the blush and then pat the formula onto your cheeks, or warm some of the blush on the back of your hand and dip a brush into it to then blend onto your cheeks, this cream blush works perfectly. It offers medium, buildable coverage that’s impossible to overdo and blends and layers seamlessly. Every single time.

The Nuestix Nudies Bloom offers a dewy, shimmer-free finish that is a cheat code to healthy, radiant skin. I just love this formula. It’s super reliable and always delivers exactly what I want. Not too pigmented where you can look OTT and not too creamy where you can end up with no colour on your cheeks in the end. It’s perfectly in the middle.

The post Battle of the brands: Cream blush ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire powder highlighter collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my mascaras, powder bronzers, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which powder highlighters are my faves in terms of ease of blending, shade, texture, and glow.

*This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page*

11. Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Highlighting Powder Gelée in Solar Crush

£44 for 9g

The Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Highlighting Powder Gelée has since been repackaged. I’m not sure if it’s been reformulated as well. This sits somewhere in between a bronzer and a highlighter. As a bronzer, it’s too shimmery on my skin, and it emphasises texture. As a highlighter, it’s too warm and deep for my complexion, so it ends up looking like a strip of colour on my skin rather than effortlessly working with my skin tone. It’s a nice formula, but it just doesn’t really work for me.

10. wet n wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals

£6.49 for 5.4g

The wet n wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder is a fantastic and very affordable drugstore makeup product. It has a soft and smooth texture, compared to many other drugstore highlighters that can be powdery and chalky. This offers a nice, natural highlight, as the shimmer particles are soft rather than glittery. As lovely as this is, it just doesn’t have the same wow factor that others do in this list.

9. Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in Gilded Honey

Discontinued

The Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator is a cult classic. It’s since been discontinued, but this highlighter was everyone’s fave when it first launched. This has been in my makeup collection for ages, and it holds a lot of nostalgia. I used to wear this all the time. I still like this highlighter a lot. It’s smooth, blends easily, and offers a blinding highlight. It’s a little on the yellow side for my complexion, but if I only apply a little bit, then I can make it work.

8. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Vanilla Quartz

Discontinued

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter is another iconic highlighter. Everyone was obsessed with the shade Champagne Pop. I own the shade Vanilla Quartz, which is a pretty champagne shade with a light pink shift. The formula is smooth and doesn’t look like a strip of blocky colour on the skin. However, it’s quite glittery, so it doesn’t look natural. This means it’s not as wearable as some of the other formulas on this list. But I still really like it.

7. Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter in Enlighten

£24 for 2.8g

The Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter is another popular highlighter from a well-loved brand. This is a high-quality highlighter, as the powder is very finely milled, which makes for a buttery smooth, non-chunky glow. Once applied, it feels completely weightless. The shade Enlighten is quite fair, though, so if I apply too much, it can end up looking a bit chalky on my skin. It’s also a touch too shimmery for my taste; I prefer something a bit more natural. Despite this, the highlighter is still gorgeous.

6. Half Magic Light Trap Duochrome Glow Powder in Enter the Glow

£19.75 for 3.5g

The Half Magic Light Trap Duochrome Glow Powder is brilliant. This duochrome highlighter has a champagne base that shifts to a lilac pearl. It’s stunning. The formula is smooth, buildable, easy to blend, and provides a soft glow. I actually find this to be quite a subtle highlighter, but when it catches the light in a certain way, it provides a multi-reflective ethereal glow. I love it.

5. Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in How Many Carats?! 

£32 for 8g + 15% off at Sephora UK with SARAHSSPH

The Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil is beautiful. I love a scattered glitter effect that looks wet. And this delivers exactly that. I actually prefer using this as an eyeshadow topper than as a highlighter. It looks gorgeous pressed over a matte brown eyeshadow to add some extra dimension. Under artificial lighting, this diamond highlighter is so reflective and sparkly. It’s truly beautiful.

4. Flower Knows Little Angel Embossed Highlighter in L02 Paradise Lost

£23.75 for 8g

The Flower Knows Little Angel Embossed Highlighter is elegant. From the ethereal packaging to the intricate embossing, this highlighter is stunning throughout. The highlighter isn’t just beautiful packaging either; it performs beautifully too. This is the most lightweight highlighter on the whole list. It’s so smooth and cushiony that as soon as it’s been applied, you can’t feel it at all. The texture is smooth and applies seamlessly. It’s buildable, non-powdery, non-chalky, and offers a lit-from-within-glow. It’s not glittery whatsoever, so it looks natural. The rose gold shade is divine.

3. Illamasqua Beyond Powder in OMG

£34 for 7g + 20% off at LookFantastic with LFTFBLOGSARAH

The Illamasqua Beyond Powder is a beautiful champagne shimmer. Although the texture is a little bit more powdery than some of the others on this list, it’s really lightweight and still smooth. It applies effortlessly, feels weightless, and doesn’t emphasise skin texture. As this doesn’t have a strongly coloured base, it means that it doesn’t look like a block of shimmer on the skin. For this reason, I think this neutral champagne colour would work well with a wide variety of complexions. The shimmer provides a natural glow that looks beautiful with any makeup look.

2. Fenty Beauty Demi’Glow in Pretty Purlz

£32 for 4.5g

To me, the Fenty Beauty Demi’Glow highlighter is the better version of the Rare Beauty one. I’m obsessed with the shade Pretty Purlz. It’s this gorgeous pearlescent shimmer that’s pretty neutral, so it works with all makeup looks. This mimics how your skin would naturally catch the light under artificial lighting but with extra oomph. It gives skin a natural, radiant-looking finish because the shimmer particles are so fine. The highlighter is lightweight and feels buttery soft on the skin. It applies like a dream, as it blends itself out. This is the one I’m reaching for the most at the moment.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter

Discontinued

Another oldie but a goodie is the legendary Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter. This champagne highlighter is still my fave. I’ve had it for years, but it’s still so good. I probably shouldn’t keep using it, as it’s certainly expired, but I just love it. This champagne highlighter strikes the perfect balance of shimmer and colour for me. It’s very glowy, but it’s not chunky or glittery, which can emphasise skin texture. The champagne tone leans on the warm side, but it’s not yellow, so it’s flattering on my complexion. It’s smooth, ultra-luminous, and melts into the skin seamlessly. This is exactly how to add glow to your skin without it looking patchy or powdery.

Although this Amrezy highlighter no longer exists, apparently the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Seeker Highlighter is exactly the same. So if you also loved the Amrezy highlighter or never got around to trying it, give Glow Seeker a go! I’ve heard great things.

The post Battle of the brands: Powder highlighters ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire mascara collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my powder bronzers, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which mascaras are my faves for volume, drama, length, darkness, and being transfer-proof.

* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page *

8. Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara

£17 for 8ml

The Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara is great. I recently used it for a 90s makeup tutorial. It adds length to lashes. This a lovely everyday mascara, as it’s very natural. The curved brush makes separating lashes easy. However, this one does have a bit of transfer and doesn’t add as much volume, curl, definition, or length as others in this list, so it’s not my fave.

7. MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara

£28 for 7g

The MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara is a vegan and cruelty-free tubing mascara. It’s budge-proof and quickly defines and separates lashes with zero clumpiness. This is a very natural-looking mascara, as it adds subtle length and lift to lashes but doesn’t make lashes look thick or dramatic. It’s also completely weightless. However, I typically prefer more length, volume, and drama from my mascaras. So while I enjoy this, it’s not my top formula.

6. UOMA Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara

No longer available in the UK

The UOMA Beauty Drama Bomb Mascara is one of the most volumising options in this post. It’s quite dark and makes lashes look fuller and thicker in an instant. I find this works well with smoky eye looks for a bit of va va voom. There’s a little transfer if you apply too much product, but it’s manageable with a less is more approach. I’d prefer the mascara to add more length and curl, so I don’t reach for it much.

5. e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara

£6 for 9.2g

Now for the cheapest option in this post: the e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara. This is fab. It adds length and curls lashes easily. There’s no smudging or budging, and it’s incredibly lightweight. There’s no clumpiness, which means you can layer mascara without any worry about it feeling thick or looking messy. Again, this is another natural mascara, so it’s great for a daily makeup look. I prefer mascaras to be a bit blacker and more volumising though.

4. Clinique High Impact Mascara 

£25 for 7g + 20% off at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH

The Clinique High Impact Mascara is one I’m reaching for quite frequently right now. I’ve got this in black, and it adds both length and volume, but it’s more on the volumising side. It makes my lashes look darker and thicker, which adds drama to any makeup look. But it’s not clumpy, so you don’t end up with yucky spider eyelashes. Instead, the brush easily separates and defines lashes. I really like it.

3. Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara

£30 for 8g + 20% off with my code PMDM20

The Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara is one of my all-time faves. This one best defines the lashes out of all the mascaras in this post. It adds a lot of length and makes lashes look luscious and healthy. As it doesn’t add a tonne of volume or blackness to lashes, this is perfect for everyday wear. Yet it delivers more impact than the other natural-looking mascaras in this post. It’s budge-proof too. There’s no clumping, and it even feels nourishing. This is my go-to for day-to-day makeup looks.

2. By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara

£30 for 8.3g

The By Terry Lash-Expert Twist Brush Mascara is criminally underrated. This is a do-it-all product. It effortlessly adds length, volume, drama, blackness, and definition to lashes. The result? Gorgeous, fluttery lashes for impactful eye makeup. It doesn’t transfer or flake, and it’s easily buildable, so you can keep applying more product until you get your desired effect. I reach for this mascara a lot.

1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Volumising and Lengthening Mascara

£12.99 for 7.2ml + 20% off at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH

My fave ever mascara is the TikTok-viral Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Volumising and Lengthening Mascara. This offers everything I want in a mascara:

• Extreme blackness and drama
• Length
• No clumpiness
• Lots of volume
• No smudging
• Non-drying and not flaky
• Easy to layer for more impact

It makes my lashes look full, thick, dark, and long. I’m obsessed with the formula and think it offers excellent value for money. I can’t fault it and always opt for this mascara when I want my lashes to look their best.

The post Battle of the brands: Mascaras ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the latest post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire powder bronzer collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my entire makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my skin tints and tinted moisturisers, primers, lip glosses, brow products, and more.

Find out which powder bronzers are my faves for ease of blending, shade, longevity, finish, and smoothing benefits.

* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page *

6. Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer

£27 for 6.23g + 15% off at Sephora with SARAHSSPH

The Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer is great. It’s soft, doesn’t emphasise skin texture, and blends easily. It’s not as buttery as some of the other bronzers on this list, but it’s still smooth.

The only reason I’ve not ranked this as highly as some of the others on this list is because of the shade. I own Inda Sun, which is the lightest shade in the range. It’s very fair and takes a bit of layering to show up on my skin. Even then, it’s not much deeper than my complexion, so it doesn’t provide a tonne of warmth. If I owned a deeper shade, I think it’d be more pigmented and complement my skin tone better.

5. benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer

£17 for 2.5g or £32.50 for 8g + 20% off at LookFantastic with LFTFBLOGSARAH

The benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer is a classic. It’s silky, soft, doesn’t look flat despite being matte, blends easily, and isn’t orange. It layers effortlessly, without looking patchy or dry. I think this is a lovely everyday bronzer that is foolproof to use. There are other bronzers in this list that I prefer in terms of pigmentation, finish, and colour, but I really like this.

4. peripera Ink V Shading 

£11.10 for 9.5g + up to 5% off at YesStyle with CONFIDENCE10

The peripera Ink V Shading is brilliant and an affordable dupe for the benefit Hoola bronzer. I’ve got the shade #01 Natural Brown, which is a beautiful light natural bronzer. It’s perfect for daily wear because it’s soft, buttery, silky, and easy to blend. While it’s not as pigmented as some of the other bronzers on this list, it has a weightless texture. My skin feels like it can breathe with this K-beauty bronzer. It’s also a neutral shade, which makes it versatile.

3. Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

£14.29 for 11g

The Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer is iconic. This affordable bronzer is lightweight, buttery, seamless to blend, and easy to build. Whether you want a warm sculpted look or a soft sweep of bronzer, this one is amazing. It’s matte but not flat with a lovely skin-like finish. I’ve got the shade Light Bronzer, which is quite light without being too cool-toned. It’s great for day-to-day wear, and I love how easy it is to apply. Oh, and it smells delicious.

2. Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo

£37 for 15.8g

The Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Crème Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo comes with a cream contour and a powder bronzer compact. To me, the powder bronzer side is an elevated version of the Physicians Formula bronzer. It’s more pigmented, I prefer the slightly deeper bronzey shade of She’s StatuesquE, it lasts longer, and layers even better. It’s a gorgeous foolproof formula that achieves a sunkissed glow in seconds. It provides a soft matte finish that’s flattering.

1. Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick

£56 for 9.6g

The Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Brick in shade 02 is my all-time fave bronzer. It’s buttery and silky with minimal fallout. It layers and blends seamlessly into the skin with a satin matte finish. The bronzer doesn’t cling to dry patches or emphasise texture. This adds so much warmth and depth to the skin with a golden finish, without looking orange. The soft focus finish makes the skin look soft and smooth. It lasts for hours without budging and feels hydrating and comfortable. I just love the bronzer.

The post Battle of the brands: Powder bronzers ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the eighth post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire skin tint and tinted moisturiser collection to tell you which is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my entire makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my pencil eyeliners, primers, setting powders, lip glosses, concealers, single eyeshadows, and brow products.

Find out which skin tints and tinted moisturisers are my faves for formula, longevity, skincare benefits, finish, and ease of blending.

* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page *

9. HNB Cosmetics Soft Focus Luminous Glow Tint

£18 for 30ml

I saw the HNB Cosmetics Soft Focus Luminous Glow Tint all over TikTok when it first launched. I love HNB Cosmetics’ foundation so wanted to give the skin tint a go. But honestly, it’s a bit disappointing. The finish is glowy, but it offers hardly any coverage and applies quite streakily. I prefer skin tints that offer more coverage. I’m also not a huge fan of the texture, as it feels a bit greasy. Overall, I just don’t love this skin tint and never reach for it.

8. Shakeup Cosmetics Let’s Face It BB Tinted Moisturiser

£25 for 50ml

The Shakeup Cosmetics Let’s Face It BB Tinted Moisturiser is actually designed for men, but, of course, anyone can use this! This is one of the first tinted moisturisers I’d tried, and I loved it at the time. It has a skin-like finish, covers blemishes and redness, feels lightweight, and is long-wearing without feeling heavy. While I still really like the formula, I now own other skin tints and tinted moisturisers that I prefer.

7. Kjaer Weis Tinted Moisturizer

£40 for 45ml

I like the Kjaer Weis Tinted Moisturizer. Out of all the skin tints and tinted moisturisers on this list, this Kjer Weis tinted moisturiser is the most natural. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, long-wearing, and offers sheer coverage. It has a second-skin finish and helps to slightly even out the complexion. Imperfections still peek through, though, so it’s one I tend to reach for on a good skin day or when I’m opting for a no-makeup makeup look.

6. Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint

£12.99 for 30ml + 20% off with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic

The Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint is a fantastic drugstore option. This offers medium, buildable coverage and is essentially a lightweight foundation as opposed to a classic skin tint. It delivers a beautiful dewy finish, blends seamlessly with a beauty blender, and feels comfortable on the skin. I found that this skin tint doesn’t apply nicely with a brush, which is my preference, so there are others in this post that I prefer. But I still really like this.

5. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

£40 for 50ml + 20% off with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer was my first foray into tinted moisturisers and will always have a special place in my heart. This is a true makeup-skincare fusion, as it combines the hydrating benefits of a moisturiser with the coverage properties of a foundation. The result is a more even, dewy complexion that feels nourished. This tinted moisturiser makes my skin feel a tad oily if I compare it to others in my collection. However, I love how effortlessly this melts into the skin when applied with my fingertips, and it’s so convenient to use.

4. ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint

£48 for 30ml

The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint is fab. It has a satisfying thick and creamy consistency that blends effortlessly with your fingertips, makes skin look healthy and luminous, feels hydrating and comfortable, and makes the complexion overall more smooth and even. It’s infused with SPF30 for extra sun protection. It doesn’t make my skin feel oily at all. The shade I have washes me out a bit, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed with some bronzer, blusher, and highlighter. This skin tint has a weird, off-putting smell. However, it doesn’t linger on the skin, so it’s manageable.

3. L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum

£14.99 for 30ml + 20% off with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic

Social media raves about the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum and with good reason! This drugstore skin tint is incredible. It’s plumping, radiant, hydrating, makes skin feel firmer and more elastic, and is so comfortable on the skin. It makes skin look poreless, smooth, and healthy. This skin tint offers light-medium coverage and applies beautifully with a brush, fingertips, or sponge. Out of this and the Maybelline skin tint, which both went viral on TikTok, this one is my fave.

2. L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect BB Cream SPF 50

£11.99 for 30ml

The L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect BB Cream SPF 50 is very underrated. This skin tint offers medium coverage, a satin finish, and SPF50. It’s a tinted moisturiser I’d reach for in the summer, as it offers high sun protection, is non-greasy, lasts all day, and allows my skin to breathe. The formula is gorgeous, as it’s smoothing, hydrating, has a silky consistency, and doesn’t sink into fine lines or cling to dry patches. It’s reliable and always makes my skin look great. Obsessed.

1. Yves Saint Laurent NU Bare Look Tint

£28 for 30ml + 20% off with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic

The Yves Saint Laurent NU Bare Look Tint is my absolute holy grail. This skin tint offers everything I want. It’s hydrating, provides light-medium buildable coverage, has a soft satin finish, never sinks into fine lines, doesn’t cling to dry patches, lasts all day without going patchy or becoming oily, and blends seamlessly. It works well with a brush, sponge, or fingertips, and it makes skin look fresh, healthy, and radiant. The formula is flexible and gives a ‘your skin but better’ vibe. My skin feels comfortable when I wear this. Considering it’s from YSL, which is a high-end brand, it’s not as expensive as I thought it’d be and is cheaper than a lot of the other brands on this list. I think the price point is very reasonable given the great results. I find myself constantly wanting to wear this.

The post Battle of the brands: Skin tints and tinted moisturisers ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

Lightweight, sheer foundations and skint tints have become very popular. Rather than full-coverage matte finishes, buildable glowy formulas are all the rage. These trending products are typically lighter, infused with skin-loving ingredients, and deliver a healthy radiant finish.

2 of the most hyped skin tints are the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum and Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint. These affordable skin tints promise to deliver light, buildable coverage with a dewy finish.

But which viral drugstore skin tint is the best: Maybelline or L’Oréal? This in-depth comparison tells you everything you need to know before purchasing.

Get 20% off these skin tints and so many other beauty must-haves at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH. Shop today!

** This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **

Need-to-knows

Before I delve into this comparison, I wanted to give you a run-down of how I tested the skin tints. I’ve got oily skin with mild rosacea. Whenever I swatched or applied either product, I kept everything else the same for a true comparison. This includes skincare prep, makeup products, the brush I used to apply the products, and the time of day. Both products were purchased with my own money. When I tested these products, the weather was really hot, so this could impact the longevity.

The comparison

Price

Both of the skin tints come in 30ml bottles. The L’Oréal skin tint costs £14.99 whereas the Maybelline skin tint costs £12.99, making Maybelline a few pounds cheaper. But both are affordable options.

Packaging

The packaging is almost identical. Both of the skin tints have the same dropper. The L’Oreal bottle is slightly thinner and taller, while the Maybelline one is shorter but fatter. They weigh the same.

Ingredients

Looking at the INCI lists, there are some similarities. Both contain the emollient (softens or soothes skin) dimethicone, skin-softening trimethylsiloxysilicate, the humectant (retains or preserves moisture) butylene glycol, and alcohol denat. which can irritate the skin.

However, the Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint features ascorbyl glucoside, which is a stable form of vitamin C that helps make skin feel smoother and look brighter. This active does feature far down the INCI list, though. Whereas the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum incorporates hydrating glycerin and a derivative of hyaluronic acid: sodium acetylated hyaluronate. Again, L’Oréal’s hyaluronic acid active features low on the INCI list.

Texture

The nature of skin tints means the textures are fairly similar. But there is one difference. The L’Oréal skin tint feels more serum-like and is slightly thicker and runnier, whereas the Maybelline skin tint feels like a lightweight foundation and is thinner.

Get 20% off these skin tints and so many other beauty must-haves at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH. Shop today!

Shade range

Maybelline wins on shade range by a country mile with 18 shades. L’Oréal only offers 10 shades.

I want to point out that both brands need to expand their shade range for medium-dark skin tones. They have more shades for lighter complexions than they do for deeper skin tones. More. Inclusivity. Needed.

But, it’s okay to have fewer shades in a skin tint. As they’re very light and sheer, you can get away with going a shade lighter or darker than your complexion, as it will melt into your skin seamlessly. My L’Oréal shade is deeper than my complexion, but once I’ve applied it, the match is brilliant. So don’t worry if you can’t find an exact match – you can make it work.

Swatches

I did some swatches of both skin tints. These were done on my bare arms, without primer. I took a photo of the swatch applied directly to my skin and then one more blended out, so you can get a better look at the shades and formulas. I got shade 06 in the Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint and 2-3 Light in the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum.

As you can see, although the L’Oréal one is darker, but as soon as I blended it, the shades look more similar.

Application

The skin tints work really well when blended with your fingertips. Their light consistencies mean the product can be worked into the skin seamlessly.

I think Maybelline’s skin tint works best when applied with a beauty blender or sponge. This technique offers a flawless blend, sheer coverage, and a poreless finish. Using a brush with Maybelline’s skin tint can lead to cakeyness.

Whereas I feel L’Oréal’s skin tint works best with a brush. The thicker consistency lends itself well to being buffed into the skin with bristles. Using a brush over a sponge also gives extra coverage due to a brush being denser.

On its own

To give you an indication of what this skin tint looks like by itself, I applied it to my bare skin before finishing the rest of my makeup. I did my usual skincare routine and applied the e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer to help the skin tints stick to my face.

On the right-hand side of my face is L’Oréal and Maybelline is on the left.

I think the skin tints are pretty much identical. Despite the L’Oréal one being slightly too dark for me in the swatches, it matches my complexion really well once buffed in.

They both feel super lightweight, blend easily, don’t emphasise my skin texture or pores, and offer luminosity. While they won’t completely cover spots, they both help even out redness and blemishes.

Get 20% off these skin tints and so many other beauty must-haves at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH. Shop today!

Finished makeup look

I don’t wear skin tints alone. They’re something I’d wear as part of a minimal look, such as the clean girl makeup look. Here’s what the skin tints look like as part of a simple everyday makeup look:

I think these drugstore skin tints look lovely. Despite wearing 2 different products on my face, you can’t tell! They’re super lightweight and very easy to work with. The skin tints didn’t go cakey when I applied translucent setting powder on my T-zone.

Lasting power

These skin tints have surprising lasting power and even wore for the same length of time. After 12 hours on a very hot day (27 degrees and above for most of the day), they stayed in place surprisingly well. The products faded a bit, particularly around the jaw area.

In my culprit T-zone area, which always gets oily, the skin tints actually hadn’t broken down much at all. My cheeks, chin, and nose had become a bit greasy, but it wasn’t a slippery mess. My forehead and upper lip didn’t really break down at all. It’s nothing a quick top-up of setting powder couldn’t fix, as most of the product stayed on my face. I was thoroughly impressed!

Neither side looked greasier or more faded than the other. Both offer excellent lasting power, even on a really warm day.

Which drugstore skin tint is the best?

Honestly, the Maybelline Super Stay 24H Skin Tint and the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum are gorgeous. They’re so easy to work with, feel super lightweight, give a beautiful healthy glow, and are buildable.

If I had to say which drugstore skin tint is the best, I’d go with L’Oréal. Slightly. It feels a bit more hydrating, makes the skin look plumper, and works well with a makeup brush. I prefer using a foundation brush to a sponge, so L’Oréal speaks to me more. But the Maybelline one is exquisite.

I’d highly recommend either skin tint for an even and radiant complexion.

Get 20% off these skin tints and so many other beauty must-haves at LookFantastic with my code LFTFBLOGSARAH. Shop today!

Have you tried either of these drugstore skin tints yet?

The post Maybelline vs L’Oréal: Which viral drugstore skin tint is best? appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the seventh post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire pencil eyeliner collection to tell you which formula is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my entire makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my makeup collection. I’ve previously ranked my primers, setting powders, lip glosses, concealers, single eyeshadows, and brow products.

Find out which pencil eyeliners are my faves for pigmentation, lasting power, no smudging or budging, and comfort. Nobody wants a stiff formula that drags on the lids!

** This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **

13. Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil in Pure White

£2.99

The Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil is a decent and very affordable pencil liner. I use this white pencil to line my waterline when I want a brighter eye look. There’s nothing wrong with this pencil, but it’s just not super pigmented or creamy. The formula is quite stiff, so it would tug on eyelids. Thankfully, I only use this in my waterline. For £2.99, it does the job.

12. Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Precious Gold

Discontinued

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Precious Gold doesn’t exist anymore. Although, this has been in my makeup collection for years (don’t judge), so it’s hardly surprising. This eye pencil is cute, but I don’t reach for it because the copper shade isn’t super wearable or particularly pigmented. But it’s not a bad product by any means; it just doesn’t stand out.

11, Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n Kohl in Bedroom Black

£22

Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n Kohl in Bedroom Black is good but not great. It’s pigmented, but this pencil eyeliner is not smudge- or budge-proof. If I’m opting for a smoky eyeliner look, this is perfect. The formula is very creamy and easy to blend for that sultry smoke. However, if I just want a standard wing, this formula will smudge and travel throughout the day. I’ve used drugstore pencil eyeliners that are more pigmented, still creamy, and won’t smudge. Plus, it doesn’t sharpen particularly well, as it seems quite prone to breaking. I wouldn’t repurchase this, especially not at £22.

10. Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Professional Eyeliner Pencil in Sable Brown

£2.99

If you’ve been following my project pan 2023 and my most recent progress update, you may recognise the Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Professional Eyeliner Pencil in Sable Brown. It’s why this pencil eyeliner is now so tiny, as I’ve been trying to use it up. While this pencil eyeliner formula isn’t my fave, I still like it. The price point is fantastic. But what I like most about this specific pencil is the colour. This brown is rich and neutral. I see so many brown eyeliners that are too warm, but this deep neutral brown is perfect for adding some soft definition to my eyes. It blends easily enough too.

9. LA Girl Glide Gel Eyeliner in Metallic Copper

£4

This LA Girl Glide Gel Eyeliner in Metallic Copper is actually really nice. Writing this blog post has made me realise I should use this way more. The formula is very creamy and comfortable, it glides across my lids without tugging, and has a good colour payoff. While this copper shimmer isn’t crazy pigmented, the colour definitely shows up. I need to incorporate this into more makeup looks.

8. Nyx Professional Makeup Wonder Pencil

£6

Okay, so the NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Pencil has clearly been redesigned and potentially reformulated(?). This is another pencil eyeliner that’s been in my collection for years. It’s described as a multi-use pencil that can cover blemishes, highlight areas of the face, and be used as an eyeliner. I use it in my waterline to brighten my eyes without it looking as harsh as a white line. It’s good, but it doesn’t last in my waterline for as long as other pencil eyeliners in this post. However, I love the skin-like shade, as it’s natural but subtly brightens my waterline.

7. NYX Slide On Pencil in Glitzy Gold

Discontinued

Another discontinued pencil eyeliner in this ranking post is the NYX Slide On Pencil in Glitzy Gold. It’s also been in my collection for way beyond its expiry date. When I swatched this recently, it reminded me of how gorgeous this warm gold pencil eyeliner is. It’s very pigmented, creamy, comfortable, and glides effortlessly. While it’s not the most wearable eyeliner ever – you can’t just whack out a metallic gold every day! – it’s very pretty. I need to wear this more.

6. NYX Professional Makeup Faux Whites Eye Brightener in White Smoke

Discontinued

I’m sure you’re noticing a theme here: discontinued pencil eyeliners that have clearly been in my makeup drawer for an unacceptable amount of time. Yep. NYX Professional Makeup Faux Whites Eye Brightener in White Smoke is another one to add to that list. I actually really like this eye brightener. The purple undertones of this pencil eyeliner make it very vivid when applied to the waterline. If I want a bright and fresh eye makeup look, this in the waterline is *chef’s kiss*. The formula is fab, as it’s creamy, long-lasting, and visible even on my waterline. It just doesn’t work with every look and can clash with certain warm-toned eye makeup.

5. Maybelline Master Drama Khol Liner in Ultra Black

Discontinued

The discontinued Maybelline Master Drama Khol EyeLiner Ultra Black is one of the most pigmented – if not the most pigmented – pencil eyeliners in this post. It’s intensely black and adds a lot of drama. It’s creamy and hydrating. Although it’s not completely smudge-proof, for a pencil this creamy and black, there isn’t too much transfer. It’s workable. This pencil is so pigmented that it’s very difficult to remove. Maybe a bit too difficult… But it’s a brilliant eyeliner for lots of smoke and glam.

4. L’Oreal Contour Khôl Pencil Eyeliner in 153 Pure White

Discontinued

The lettering on this pencil eyeliner is indecipherable and has completely worn off. I’m pretty sure it’s the L’Oreal Contour Khôl Pencil Eyeliner in 153 Pure White. Not that it matters #discontinued. Out of the pencil eyeliners I use in my waterline, this is my fave. It’s creamy, hydrating, smooth, and lasts for hours. It’s never irritated my eyes, which are quite sensitive, either.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eyeliner

£22

Even though Charlotte Tilbury doesn’t have my fave pencil eyeliner formula, I had to include Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eyeliner in my top 3, because I’m obsessed with this shade. The berry-brown tone is very unique and adds a sultry pop of colour to eye looks. It’s a little bit of a stiffer formula, so while it’s great at staying put and won’t transfer, it’s not the easiest to blend for a smoky look. This pencil eyeliner does have great lasting power, though. I wish it was creamier, but I ultimately reach for this a lot as the shade is super flattering and different. I love pairing this with a champagne eyeshadow! Stunning.

2. By Terry Crayon Blackstar Eyeliner in Black Print

£22 – Get 20% off with code LFTFBLOGSARAH at LookFantastic

The By Terry Crayon Blackstar Eyeliner in Black Print is fab. While this pencil eyeliner isn’t as black and pigmented as the Maybelline one, it’s still rich in colour. And I prefer the formula. It’s the perfect balance of being stiff enough that the eyeliner stays put once applied but creamy enough that it’s comfortable and doesn’t tug on my eyelids when applying. The texture means I can get a precise, budge-proof wing or blend it easily for a smoky effect without product smudging everywhere. I really like this.

1. Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa

£26

Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa is easily my number 1 pencil eyeliner of all time. The others don’t even come close. Pigmented? Check. Hydrating? Check. Richly pigmented? Check. Gorgeous rich cocoa colour? Check. Lasts all day? Check. Easy to smoke out? Check. Precision? Check. Smudge-proof? Check. Easy to blend? Check. The formula, design, and colour of this pencil eyeliner are perfect.

This is the first and only pencil eyeliner I own from Victoria Beckham Beauty. But it certainly won’t be the last. There are so many other gorgeous shades that I need to try.

See the Satin Kajal Liner on my lids in my Victoria Beckham Beauty review.

The post Battle of the brands: Pencil eyeliner ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.

For the sixth post in my battle of the brands series, I’m ranking my entire brow products collection to tell you which formula is my all-time fave.

My battle of the brands series is where I rank my entire makeup collection by a specific product type. From foundations and bronzers to lip liners and brow products, battle of the brands is my ultimate makeup collection rating, so you can see my holy grail products.

Starting from my least favourite product and working my way up to my number 1 product in any given category, this is the fastest way to see my thoughts on my entire makeup collection.

I’ve previously ranked my primers, setting powders, lip glosses, concealers, and single eyeshadows. I had so much fun ranking these products that I couldn’t wait to rank my brow collection.

Keep reading to see which brow products are the best for natural, fluffy, full, lasting brows that don’t smudge and are effortless to apply. Plus, there are even some tasty discounts for any brow products that you like the look of (spoiler alert, they’re all fantastic!).

** This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **

8. P.Louise Eyebrow Pencil

£12

I actually got the P.Louise Eyebrow Pencil on a deal through TikTok for a few pounds. The offer seemed too good to refuse, so I thought I’d give it a go. Unfortunately, this brow pencil is average. I’m not a huge fan of the formula or shade. The colour leans too orange for my brows. And the formula is stiff, so you have to press quite hard for colour payoff, which can easily lead to a drawn-on unnatural brow. It’s not bad and is definitely workable, but my least fave brow product.

7. Beauty Pie Superbrow Angled Shaping Pencil

£12 for members, £25 for non-members

I purchased the Beauty Pie Superbrow Angled Shaping Pencil when I was a Beauty Pie member. It had great reviews, and I needed a new brow pencil at the time. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a disappointment. While it’s better than the P.Louise one, I’m not a fan of the shape of the pencil. It claims to be angled, but the tip is deceptively thick, so it means doing any precise line work is off the cards. It can do the middle of my brows quickly, and I like the soft formula. However, the thick pencil makes filling in the tail of my brow challenging, and it often leads to blocky brows. I’d be annoyed if I’d paid the non-member price.

6. Eyeko Brow Gel Clear

£18

From this point forward, all of the brow products are fab. Eyeko Brow Gel Clear is wonderful for styling, defining, and setting brows in place all day. The gel dries down completely clear, isn’t flaky or waxy, and ensures my styled brows stay put for hours. It works equally well over brow pencils and pomades. It doesn’t provide as much lasting power as some of the other brow gels in this post, but it’s still fantastic.

5. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow

£24.50 (20% off at LookFantastic with code LFTFBLOGSARAH)

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow is such a classic. This tinted gel makes brows make fuller, fluffier, and more defined in an instant. The tint never looks heavy and is very natural, adding subtle volume effortlessly. The formula never flakes or smudges, and it helps brows stay styled and in place for longer. This pairs perfectly with brow pencils for a lasting, shaped brow. I’ve repurchased it several times.

4. Pink Honey Original Superhold Glue

£10

One major TikTok sensation is the Pink Honey Original Superhold Glue. I’d never tried a brow glue prior to this and had to get it on the hype. This brow glue comes with a spoolie and smells incredible. Think addictive sweet bubblegum. After wetting the spoolie slightly, dipping it into the glue, and forming a sort of paste, I apply the glue to my brows. It’s ideal for a laminated brow that seriously will not budge. This has the best lasting power of any of the products in the post and helps add texture, fluffiness, and fullness to brows. My only criticism is that it’s not a swipe-and-go product, as it takes a bit longer to style the brow hairs and give them time to set. But it’s 100% worth trying if you love the laminated brow look.

3. Refy Brow Sculpt

£16

Refy Brow Sculpt is my fave brow gel/glue in this post. Why? Because it makes styling and setting brows effortless. Unlike the Pink Honey glue, which has more lasting power, this is a much easier product to use. You simply comb the gel through your brows, set them instantly, and have fluffy brows on tap. It has slightly more lasting power than the Eyeko brow gel, and I love that it comes with a double-ended brush for your desired brow shape. You just have to watch out for not overapplying the product, otherwise, it won’t set properly. But this is a great brow gel that I reach for frequently.

2. Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil

£23.50 (20% off at LookFantastic with code LFTFBLOGSARAH)

Now for my fave brow pencil of all time: Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil. This brow pencil is perfect. It’s not too stiff, where you have to press really hard to apply, resulting in Sharpie brows. But it’s not too soft, where it smudges easily and is hard to get precision. The formula is spot on, which makes defining, filling, and shaping brows seamless. The pencil is thin enough for very precise application. I can easily create realistic hair strokes with this pencil, which I love. Plus, it’s easy to blend out if you make a mistake and lasts all day. What a winner.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade

£19 (20% off at LookFantastic with code LFTFBLOGSARAH)

I know what you’re thinking. Why is the dreaded Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade from 2016 that created so many slug brows making an appearance in this list? Hear me out. We were doing it all wrong back then. With a fresh approach, this brow pomade is unrivalled. I go on with a very light dip into the pomade and an even lighter hand when applying this to my brows. And the result is a fuller, fluffier, and soft brow that can be styled to whatever shape you like. I can create natural brow hairs, lengthen my tail, and fill in sparse areas effortlessly with this product. And even without brow gel, this pomade lasts all day. It resists heat, water, and smudges, so they’re truly budge-proof. I’m obsessed.

The post Battle of the brands: Brow products ranking appeared first on A Woman's Confidence.