Pale Products and More

I think I saw Thatylaa review this and was intrigued, but I initially ordered Medium Brown. Unfortunately that shade was too warm toned on me so I returned it and reordered in Deep Brown, hoping it wouldn't be too dark.

This products retails for $12.99 for .43; comparing to other brow gels, Essence Make me Brow is $2.99 for .13 oz, and Nyx Tinted Brow Mascara is $6.99 for .22 oz. This product is supposed to be transfer proof, smudge proof, create fuller brows, and stay on for up to 2 days. I don't really care about that last claim because I oil cleanse every night, therefore removing all makeup completely, but its gimmicky and neat I guess.

swatched on top compared to my usual Etude House Drawing Brow in Gray

The color Deep Brown looks cool toned when I swatch it, but like with all brow products, it looks pretty warm when applied. I found that the applicator was completely useless and I had to use an eyebrow brush to apply it, which I don't mind that much. It applies like any gel brow product.

After initially trying this I did like how it held up, but I didn't reach for it again due to the color, that is until I had a beach day. I'm always extremely insecure going out without my brows on and knew my normal product would not hold up to the beach, so I decided to test it out. I forgot to take before pics that day so here's a selfie from the day I first tested it out.


Here's a picture after being in the ocean for like 20 minutes and not dunking my head under at all, but defintely sweating a lot because it was fucking hot. I hate Florida.


Aaaaand here's picture after an hour of being there right before we left. At this point I had been splashed in the face by waves and my face was thoroughly wet. I had also rubbed my eyes a shit ton which usually messes up my brows if I'm not careful. I don't swim underwater though because it always messes with my ears, so keep that in mind.



Honestly I'm impressed. They don't look flawless or anything, there's some blurring around the edges and underneath but I mean, they're still on! I was really expecting to look in the mirror and see like half of a tail missing or something.

Overall I wish this came in cooler colors because it actually worked! I mean I don't know if I would recommend it for like underwater swimming, but it worked for my purposes. I'll definitely keep it around for the rare and usually one day out of the year beach day, lmao.

Awhile ago I was looking for good drugstore blushes and was eyeing the Maybelline Fit Me ones, so I got one to try from Ulta. Then I was in Walgreens and they were doing buy two get the third free so obviously I had to get some more.

The retail for $5.99 for .16 oz, to compare; the Wet N Wild Ombre blushes are $4.99 for .3 oz, and the Milani Baked Blushes are $7.99 for .12 oz. The Maybelline Fit Me Blushes are said to be creamy and smooth and true to color.

I have the shades Buff, Nude, Mauve, and Plum. There are no descriptions anywhere of what the shades are and although the names are pretty self explanatory, I still like to see the brand description of shades. All of them have a satin finish except for Plum which is matte. Let's ignore the fact that I have long hair in 3/4 of these pics, and short in one, lmao.


Buff is a warm toned neutral shade that pulls slighlty peachy on my skin tone, especially if I pair it with a warmer eye.



Nude is a warm rose colored neutral that pulls peachy on me as well. I really don't prefer these first two, as they don't function as true neutrals like I was hoping.



Mauve is a slightly mauvey pink that, again, pulls warm on my skin.



Plum is a warm plummy shade that actually flatters me more than the other three.


Overall the formulation of these is lovely but unfortunately I just don't really like the shades I picked up! They all have intense pigmentation, but not to the point where its hard to use them, and blend out like a dream, so if any of these shades are your jam, I do recommend them! I find its really hard for me to find flattering blush, so I'm not counting that against these at all.

A few months ago I had applied for the Ulta credit card and was approved for the store version, but I wanted to Mastercard version, and when I asked the company who handles the cards how to get it, they basically just said to reapply. So I closed that account, waited until I was placing an Ulta order, applied for the card again (to get the 20%), and I got the fucking store card again! I think it has something to do with my annual income or something, but whatever I'll still use it for sure. Anyways that brings me to the haul I got with the 20% I got for (re)applying.

as usual my flat lay pics leave something to be desired, this I know

In my last Ulta order, I got a sample of the Lorac Light Source 3-in-1 Illuminating Primer in Dawn. I used it once and fell in love with it, it gives the most beautiful glowy base, doesn't emphasize pores or texture, and actually shows through whatever foundation you put on top. I haven't been this impressed by a liquid primer..ever...so naturally I had to get the full size. Potential review to come.

When Stila announced they were expanding the Heaven Hue Highlighters I was.....overjoyed to say the least. I have reviews on Transcendence and Kitten (here and here), and this product is one of my absolutely favorite formulas ever. Everyone knows I love a white highlighter so of course I got the shade Opulence. You already know I'll have a review coming.

A little bit ago I had purchased the Maybelline Tattoo Brow Waterproof Brow Gel in Medium Brown and found that it was too warm for me, but I really loved the product (save for the applicator. I used a brow brush to apply it bc otherwise its a mess). So I finally picked it up in Deep Brown. I'm hoping its not too dark for me, considering I have like no pigment in my skin, hair, or glasses, I'm worried it might be too stark for my face. It swatches cool toned and seems like it might be slightly dark but we shall see! Review coming for sure.

Maybelline was buy one get one 50% so I also picked up the Color Sensation Vivid Hot Lacquer Lip Gloss in Tease because Thataylaa has been raving about it, and it looks beautiful on her. I feel like I impulse bought this awhile ago, and didn't really like it. I tried it once since I got it and it looked so fucking bad, it settled into my lip lines in the worst way, so safe to say its going back.

When I placed this order I just happened to look through the New Arrivals and see the Nudestix (or is it NUDESTIX....) new Nudies Tinted Blur Stick which looked like a sheer blurring skin tint. They say you can use it alone or with other foundations, but what really got me was that previously I've swatched their concealers in store and the light one is fucking light. This one does swatch very light as well, and feels very creamy and VERY sheer. Review to come.

At the time of placing this order I was also placing a Lush order because I'm almost out of my HG deodorant, Aramaco. While I was browsing their site I realized their shampoos have sulfates in them! My current hair routine is to shampoo with Pravana Purple shampoo then with a non purple shampoo- the ones I'm currently rotating between are from Lush. Ever since moving my hair has been getting pretty dried out, I'm assuming from the water, but these shampoos for sure aren't helping. So I decided to get a new shampoo with this order. I opted for the Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Shampoo, as I love the smell of their products, it doesn't have sulfates, and it gets good reviews. It smells nice and is weirdly orange colored! Also forgot to include this in the flat lay...oops

I also picked up a new Ulta brand Lip Primer, because I'm almost out of mine, and I literally use it every day before applying lip products. I know not a lot of people use primers but this product really makes a difference in application and wear for me.

And that's it for my Ulta haul! I just want to mention (brag) that in addition to the 20% I also used $36 dollars of my points, as well as redeeming some of my Discover cashback as a $50 Ulta giftcard (I actually got two, but Ulta's a bitch and only lets you apply one), so I barely paid anything for this order and I'm hype about it. Keep your eyes peeled for future reviews.

Maybelline recently expanded their Fit Me Matte + Poreless line to include a total of 48 shades! They added two shades lighter than the previous lightest 110, so I've been searching everywhere for it! 110 is one of the first foundations I bought when I was getting into makeup because it was hailed as the pale holy grail foundation. I quickly realized it was wayyyyy too yellow and dark for me, so this new release had me so excited.

It retails for $7.99 for 1 fl oz, to compare Loreal Truematch is $9.99 and Revlon Colorstay is 12.99, both for 1 fl oz. It claims to minimize and blur pores, control oil, and give a matte finish.

The new lightest shade 102 Fair Porcelain is more neutral than the previous lightest 110, and the other new light shade 105. It does lean slightly yellow on me, but that's typical as I'm super cool toned. It honestly is very doable if my face, only looking slightly off when applied.

I applied with my Real Techniques sponge over my Maybelline Baby Skin primer, and set with my elf setting spray. I wore it for 12 hours with no powder to set, as it sets on its on with a matte finish. This goes on very easily and blends out well. It gives light to medium coverage; covers my redness very well but leaves all my freckles peaking through.

Applied on left half

applied to full face

full face done minus lips

I checked in after 4 hours. My face looked okay, there was slight overall texture and just a look of...like wearing foundation rather than it blending into my skin. I wasn't oily though, and my pores did look smaller than usual. I think at this point my face was looking more satin than matte, but definitely not dewy. This is literally the shittiest picture but its all I got, apologies.


At the end of the night (12 hours) again, my face looked okay. Unfortunately I was exhausted from closing at work and didn't get any pictures, but essentially I still had texture over all that I don't normally. I was a little oily by then, nothing like I usually am though. I am going to test this with other primers and see if I can get it looking more skinlike.

Overall it gets a 6/10 from me. It didn't wow me, but I'm impressed that this shade is doable for me, and I did enjoy the oil control. I will be reaching for this for sure, but its not a favorite by any strech of the imagination.

So I'm gonna put it out there: I have nice lashes. My top ones are long, curved, and relatively dark (except at the tips), and my bottom ones are super long as well. That said this will be lash swatches (?) of all my mascaras.

They aren't in any particular order. I'll give my thoughts on each mascara. For reference here are my bare lashes (and my very moisturized skin lmao I look oily af but I'm not I promise)

Note: I usually use whatever mascara on top lashes, then Wet N Wild Megalength on the bottom, but for sake of this review, I'm only using each product on top and bottom (all except for the Clump Crusher swatches).

Maybelline Full N Soft: This is my perfect, everyday mascara. Gives the softest, fluttery lashes ever and looks so great; never clumpy.

Recently I dropped by one of my local Walgreens and like all the cosmetics were BOGO 50% so naturally I had to get some shit. I went in the store for a single powder, came out with two and a highlighter, it happens.

This retails for $9.99 for .67 fl oz; to compre Nyx Born to Glow has .5 for $7.49 and Loreal Lumi has the same amount as this one but for $12.99. I had seen swatches of this product on Maybelline's IG story and fell in love. Its got the typical highlighter claims of making you look all glowy and beautiful.

The shade Light/Iridescent is a pinky color that blends out to a really nice sheen. If you use a little tiny dab this can be subtle, but it can also be intense as fuck (my preference). It gives an almost wet look that I LOVE, and lasts all day 8+ hours with slight fading. It doesn't emphasize texture, but it can rub off foundation if you're not careful.


Overall I give this a 10/10, I really love this! I hope Maybelline expands the shade selection, though. I find a lot of brands just make the light shade of highlighter pink, give us something else!

Okay okay, I know contour products are different from bronzers. But I literally only have one bronzer so I felt like it would be okay to include it in this post, sue me.

Finding the perfect contour shade is hard no matter your skintone, but especially so when you're on the end of the spectrum, be it light or dark. Obviously I'll be mentioning products that work for very, very light skin, as that's what I'm working with here.

First thing I'll be mentioning is the first ever product I contoured with; Nyx blush in Taupe. This is hailed all over the internet as the pale girl's holy grail contour powder. So naturally I bought it and used it for weeks...without realizing it looks orange on me. Its weird because it looks fine swatched, but on my face, noooope.

this is suuuuper old but I'm using Nyx Taupe so

The next product is my everyday contour product: the contour shade from the Maybelline Facestudio Master contour palette in the shade light to medium. I bought this after seeing my fave ever youtuber Thataylaa use it. I was wary at first, as it looks a little bit warm in the pan, but it looks nice and cool on my face.



Next is the Too Faced Snow Bunny Luminous bronzer. I got this in a gift set and was unsure of how well it would work on my skin, turns out it looks great! Its got four stripes of different shades, a white highlight, dark bronzer, pink blush, and lighter bronzer. I've found that when I swirl the shades together I get a beautiful bronzer! I can even apply it as a blush due to the pink and get away with it. It thankfully doesn't look too dark or too warm on my skin. Its super sparkly!

not the best shot but

And last is a product that isn't intended to be used as a face powder; the elf Brow Kit in the shade Dark. I use the powder side to contour occasionally. Its light enough and cool toned enough to work perfectly.



And honestly that's all I've got as far as this type of product goes. I feel like contour products and bronzers are something I really don't need a lot of, which is a rare feeling for me when it comes to makeup, lmao.