Pale Products and More

As my lust for cream products continues I decided I wanted to try out more cream bronzers than the ones I already have (RMS Beauty Burti Bronzer, review here, and Nudestix All Over Face Color Matte in Bondi Bae, review here) I do love both products, I just wanted to try something else out, and that just so happened to be the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer. I had my eye on it for awhile but I believe Sam Ravndahl on Youtube finally convinced me.

It retails for $24 for 1 oz. of product, comparing to the other cream bronzers mentioned above; RMS is $28 .20 oz., and Nudestix is $30 for .25 oz., so you're definitely getting your money's worth with Milk which I appreciate. It is said to be a creamy matte that gives an immediate hydrated warmth.



The color baked is described as a "neutral bronze". I think this does pull relatively neutral, maybe slightly yellow (compared to Nudestix which pulls orange and RMS which pulls more red toned). I find that its easier for me to work with a yellowy or reddish brzoner over and orange one, as over application can easily be fixed with these tones. The product itself is creamy with an ever so slight tug when I swatch it. It applied opaque but sheers out nicely, although it can be applied darker if one desires- I'm just a sheer bitch lately.

I have applied this with both a sponge and a stipping brush, and I like both just as well. They both evenly apply the product, whether I tap the tool directly on the product, or swipe the product on my face first. It is not patchy and blends easily, its hard to over do it.

just bronzer and base products applied

It wears well for 6-8 hours, as with all creams its going to rub off easier than powder, but I find that, like most creams, if it rubs off it doesn't look splotchy or bad really. I love the color on my skin definitely more than the Nudestix one, probably tied with RMS.

full face done

Overall I really like this bronzer and it has quickly become just as used as my other two cream bronzers. I can't imagine running out of this giant product soon, but if I did I would repurchase. The color works on my extremely cool toned pale skin, its even and creamy without sliding too much, blends and fades evenly.

When Milk first came out with their Blur Liquid Matte Foundation I wanted to try it but alas, the lightest shade was too dark as per usual. The they announced they were releasing a lighter shade and I was so excited I didn't even try to find it in stores and swatch, I just ordered it with fingers crossed.

It retails for $40 for the standard 1 fl oz., and it said to be full coverage with a matte which had me a bit hesitant as I prefer wearing sheer to light coverage bases with skin like/dewy finishes. I figured I could sheer it out and only apply a small amount though. It claims to be ultra lightweight with a pore blurring effect.

The new lightest shade Porcelain is said to be very fair with neutral undertones. I feel like this leans ever so slightly cool toned, but is neutral for the most part. It looks a bit dark in swatches, but blends out to match me decently well. I've found that no matter the shade or undertone of any product, my face always looks different than my neck (even with no foundation on) and I've just got to accept that no shade will ever be perfect, lol. I was a little put off by the swatches as it looks very dry and almost chalky.



I applied it over only my sunscreen (I've worn it with both Can Make Mermaid Gel and Skin Aqua Ultra Moisture Milk- a slight glow comes through with Can Make, but not that noticeable) since it is supposed to be blurring I really wanted to test that. I applied with my Eco Tools sponge (the green one) and did not set my face with any powder seeing as how this is supposedly matte. I did spray my face with my Smashbox Primer Water that I use everyday. I wore it for 7 hours for this review but have worn it before for 8-10 hours as well. Let's not talking about my brows....I know :-(

applied to left

I like the squeeze tube and found best results simply squeezing it directly onto my face. My first thought was how far the tiniest amount goes- I have not attempted to build to full coverage because I hate that look, but I have no doubt it could get there. With the amount I applied (a small line of product on each check, a dot on my chin, and a smaller yet line on my nose and forehead) I feel it was at medium light coverage. By that I mean in the ranking of light coverage there's low light (not quite sheer but almost), medium light (freckles coming through not really covered at all but overall even tone), and high light (freckles somewhat covered but still visible).

applied on full face

Immediately after application it looked like a semi matte/satin finish that looked a bit dry in some areas- and I don't have dry skin. I noticed it gave my face a slighter more textured look especially on my forehead where I usually never have an issue, which I thought was ironic for a "blurring" foundation, and didn't notice and minimization of my pores (but they also weren't emphasized). It overall looked okay, and as I applied the rest of my makeup it settled into my smile lines. This product did not set down my itself, which is annoying for a matte foundation.

full face done

After 5 hours of wear it seemed like it had warmed up to my face a bit more and the textured areas didn't look as noticeable, but I did look like I was getting a bit oily. I think it had to do with the product not setting down, but I didn't want to powder to alter this review. (I have powdered when wearing it otherwise, but only with powders I was trying out- so I can't say for certain if powder cakes it up or it was just the powders I was trying). My smile lines were less visible, but there was product in them. Again my pores weren't covered, but they seemed to be possibly less visible than they usually are at this point.


At the end of the 7 hours (short wear test- sorry!) I didn't get any pictures because I had actually cried (lmao) but I was impressed by the fact that you couldn't see any tear stripes (which happens with a lot of foundations in my experience) and the foundation didn't look that altered by my tears (and there were a lot). On other days when I have worn this for 8+ hours I notice at the 8 hour mark I start to see the foundation rubbing off a bit on my chin, nose, and around my mouth. I also looked pretty oily by the end of those nights.

Overall I think this is okay. I continue to use it due to the shade working for me, but it doesn't do anything crazy. Its very disappointing that this matte, blurring product was not really matte, nor blurring. It also didn't set which is a huge negative for a matte foundation for me, as I don't really want to be powdering an already flat looking base. That said I can make it work since I do apply such a sheer layer of this (usually sheerer than applied for this review), and set with a suuuuper light dusting of powders.

Awhile ago I picked up several Nudestix products and one of them was the All Over Face Color Matte in the shade Bondi Bae. I was leaning towards cream products more often and had wanted to get a bronzer that wouldn't be too orange, as I find most powder bronzers are. The premise of this product being variations of "nude" was very promising.

This retails for $30 for .25 oz., while the Milk Makeup Bronzer goes for $24 for 1 oz., and the Nars The Multiple are $39 for .50 oz (if you get the regular ones), and .26 oz (if you get the matte one, what the fuck? idk if this is wrong but that's what is listed on Sephora). This is supposed to be long wearing and have a soft matte finish.

It is described as a "bronzed nude". I find that if I over apply this can look ever so slightly orangey, but not if I go in with a light hand. It does have a soft matte finish, and sets down so that you don't have to worry about it rubbing off. That said, it is a cream product so it does not wear as long as powders, but it does wear longer than creams that don't set down.



It gives a natural looking bronze to my skin. I find the best way to apply it is to dab the stick directly onto my sponge, then pat the product onto my face. Applying directly to the face results in a harsher line that is harder to blend.



I really do like this product. 9 times out of 10 these days I'm wearing cream products, and this is definitely an every day product for me. It applies easy, wears well throughout the day, and is overall very flattering, which is hard to find in a bronzer for my skin tone.  As of right now I will definitely repurchase when I run out.

Now when I saw this in Ulta's new arrivals I knew I had to get it. Like I said in my Ulta haul post where I first mentioned this, Nudestix concealers are very light so I figured this was going to be doable at least, which is always reason enough for me to buy a foundation since its so rare. I hesitate to categorize this as a foundation review because (to steal Samantha Ravendahl's description) its really more of a suggestion of a skin tint- its extremely sheer.

The Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur stick retails for $30 for .216; to compare, ABH Stick Foundation (review here) goes for $25 for .35, and the Tart Clay Stick Foundation is $39 for .32. To be fair Nudestix isn't exactly marketing this as a foundation as the word "foundation" is never mentioned in its description. Instead it is described as a "soft focus mineral technology that smooths and blurs appearance of texture, blemishes, and discoloration" to give you a soft matte glow. And it is marketed as being used 4 ways: as a tint, over foundations to blot, underneath foundations to blur, and to highlight and contour.

nice crocs in the background

The shade Light 1 is described as "ivory with cool pink undertones" and I do agree with this. It leans slightly pink, but since its so sheer, it still works on my neutral skin (pink toned products usually turn orange). It photographs more neutral and swatches more pink toned in person that the picture shows. I was initially very surprised when I opened my Ulta package and saw how small this is, but I should have been expecting it when looking at the comparison ounces. It is super light though, props to Nudestix for that.


I wore this with no primer. I wasn't sure what primer would go good with it, and wanted to see if it truly would blur my pores and fine lines on its own. It was worn for 8 hours after being applied with my Eco Tools sponge (the green one), and setting with a light dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (mostly on part of my cheeks, nose, and middle of forehead) and Smashbox Primer Water. I've recently stopped using my Laura Mercier setting powder as I don't like how it sits on my skin, and have been finding the Hourglass one to not alter foundations so I figured it would be safe to use while testing this.

applied on left

It goes on extremely creamy and blends extremely easily because it is so sheer. I would say it slightly filled my pores but they were still visible (you can just barely make out that I have product on the left because of the slight blurring of pores, imo). It slightly toned down my redness which is always hard to photograph, but there was still slight redness peaking through.

applied to both sides

Like I said this is just a very slight suggestion of a skin tint, its extremely sheer, so unless you study these pictures, I think its near impossible to tell a difference. It was slightly easily to tell in person, as my redness overall unevenness was slightly toned down and evened, as I said before. Personally I don't really struggle with having lots to cover up on my skin, and generally prefer a sheer to light base to just even my redness and hide pores, which this product does upon immediate application. I can't imagine using this to blot, as they suggest as use number 2. Its extremely creamy and would do nothing if applied to oily areas imo, except make them look worse.

full face done

I checked in after 4 hours and I looked good, albiet a bit oily. There was ever so slightly a bit of caking in my smile lines but nothing you could see unless you were looking for it. I think my skin looked about as oily as it does after 4 hours if I'm not wearing makeup, but my redness was still toned down so I dig it. I'm excited to test this at work when my face gets really red.


At the end of the night (8 hours) I again think my skin just looked the same level of oiliness it does at the end of a no makeup day. It may have faded off slightly, but it was hard to tell. My skin tone still seemed more even than it naturally is. My pores were really out to party though (I realize this phrase snuck its way into my vernacular because of Taylor Thataylaa......)


Overall I like this product, although it does seem pricey for what it is, and for the amount you get- which leads me to believe I probably would't repurchase it, although I do really like the product. I feel like I'm going to go through it fast. I think I give this about an 8/10, didn't really hold up to the blurring and pore filling claim, but it was a nice VERY sheer tint that did even my skin.

When I saw the announcement for this product, I wasn't that excited I'll be honest. But once I saw swatches I knew I had to at least try it out, considering how light the lightest shade looked.

The Cover Fx Power Play Foundation retails for $44 for 1.18 oz which is a little more than the standard 1 oz. It is said to be full coverage with a matte finish. A direct description taken from Sephora: "A modern matte, blurring foundation with weightless full coverage that provides sweat-proof all-day wear, long lasting shine control, environmental protection, and a finish that will not oxidize".

The shade N0 is "for fairest porcelain skin with neutral undertones". I love that Cover Fx categorizes their foundations into undertones N (neutral), P (pink), G (golden), and G+ (golden olive). I've previously tried one of their foundations in N10 which pulled extremely yellow on me, but I was still hopeful, as N0 swatched very light. On my skin it actually looks slightly more pink toned than it photographs. Once its blended though, its very neutral and as you can see, blends in very well.


I wore this for 10 hours and prepped and primed with my Smashbox Primer Water. I didn't use a powder as this sets on its own and has a matte finish. I applied it using my Eco Tools sponge, and set with Too Faced Hangover Setting Spray.

applied on left

applied on full face

It applied easily with the sponge, and did not appear patchy. It seemed like it dried quickly, so I would only apply this in sections, not all over at once. The color seemed to match really well, and it had a very soft matte finish. It covered my pores upon initial application, and evened my skintone. I did apply a very thin layer, as I was cautious of the claim of full coverage. I prefer sheer to light coverage (medium is okay), and applying a small amount with a damp sponge and not attempting to build any coverage seems to have yielded light medium coverage.

full face minus lips

After 4 hours I looked okay, pretty good for how foundations have been wearing on me lately. It had settled into my smile lines (typical) but that was the worst of it. My pores were slightly more visible, but nothing crazy. And my oil didn't seem to be coming through as much as it usually is by this point. The shade was also still looking great, no oxidization. Let's not talk about my pose, lmao, I was on break at work and trying to not get seen taking pictures in natural lighting. It does look slightly dry/textured.



At the end of my night (10 hours later) I was pleasantly surprised. I obviously didn't look great, I never will after wearing makeup all day, but I looked pretty good. Again there was (obviously) creasing in my smile lines, but there wasn't any weird texture or heaviness or any separation or oxidization. I was oily at this point, but I have been a lot more oily at the end of the night when wearing other foundations. Also my pores were visible, but not huge as they normally are at this point.



Overall this gets a 9/10 from me, in an ideal world I wish this didn't settle into my smile lines (I wish every foundation didn't but alas), and I wish it was a slightly less dry formula, but other than that I'm really happy with it! Great shade, coverage works for me, no separation/cakiness/etc etc, and decent oil control! I honestly feel like this met all of its claims, which is hard to do. I also wanted to mention I worked this day and was deployed at the drive thru window, and it was raining. That being said I definitely got some rain drops splashed on me from people's windshield wipers, lmao, and I didn't notice any like rubbing off or anything like that, so it seems to even live up to the sweat proof claim. I'm going to actually be purchasing the full size!

Now I'm not one for powder foundations, they've always seemed very old lady-ish and don't really make sense for me since I wear liquid concealer. But my favorite youtuber Thataylaa has raved about this product for years (although she uses it as a setting powder), so I decided to give it a go.

The Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation retails for $33 for .32 oz; comparing that to Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation which is $30 for .52 oz, and the BareMinerals BarePRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation which is $30 for .34 oz. It claims to "color correct your skin to give you glowing, flawless complexion", but also "features a matte finish".

The color Porcelain is described as for "doll-like complexions, alabaster skin". It swatches very light, slightly pink toned (which makes sense when you note the swirls of pink in the powder itself). Swatches are really hard for me to photograph, so sorry for the weird angles- they caught the shade of the powder more accurately than straight on shots.



The first day I tested this as a setting powder, and found it to perform similarly to my regular Laura Mercier powder in that it somewhat caked up, sat on top of my skin, didn't look the best, etc etc, hence why I'm trying to find a new powder. For the sake of this review though, I tested this product alone as my only foundation. I wore it for 8 hours after priming with my Milk Blur Stick on my t zone and Smashbox Primer Water, and setting with my Too Faced Hangover spray. This is my usual everyday combo lately for priming/setting. I applied it with my damp Eco Tools sponge which is also my current go to.

It applied easily and sheerly. I could only bring the coverage up to light sheer coverage while using the sponge. Brushes tend to make powders look like shit on my skin, but I did add a final thin layer using a Wet n Wild powder brush, which did not seem to add any coverage. It blended easily, although it was difficult to tell where I had already applied product. I should also note that before applying the founation I did conceal my undereyes using the Nyx HD Concealer, since I didn't want to layer a liquid on top of a powder.

Powder applied to left half (undereyes concealed)

Powder applied to entire face

full face minus lips

It appeared to be a decent match, if not slightly dark. Immediately after application my skin looked okay, although my pores were slightly emphasized and it seemed to be sitting on top of my pores. It gave my skin a satin finish. I did notice that when I was done with my makeup, it had not settled into my forehead creases or smile lines in the way all liquid foundation do at this point.


After 6 hours (somewhat late check in, sorry!) I wasn't looking so hot. It had definitely oxidized a few shades too dark, and settled into my smile lines a bit. It seemed to also have rubbed off where my glasses rest on my right cheek (yay asymmetrical face). My pores were also seriously out to party, and it looked very heavy in between my brows which isn't typical for me. (as always ignore the glasses marks on my nose, happens inevitably). The pic below is in my car, and it shows most accurately how the foundation was looking- which obviously is pretty bad.



At the end of the 8 hours, I looked pretty bad. I was having the same issues as the 6 hour check in- creasing, heaviness, oxidization, large pores, and I was pretty oily.



Overall this gets a 0/10 from me. There wasn't a single redeeming quality (initially thought shade would save it, but then it oxidized), and I see no reason to use this again. I honestly went to Ulta the same night and returned it. I had such high hopes for this but it really didn't deliver.

For awhile now I've been wanting to try the Rms Beauty Living Luminizer. While I was looking at that product I decided to check out the rest of their products. A youtuber I watch had mentioned their Un Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation, and usually I am very weary of buying foundations without swatching because even the lightest looking product usually ends up being dark af. But for some reason I wanted to give this one a go, and so I bought it.

It retails for $36 for .20 oz. which is....shocking considering most foundations come in the standard 1 fl oz. Although this is marketed as a concealer as well, so compared to other pot/cream concealers, this seems to be about standard. It kinda sucks though since I use it as a foundation I'm going to go through it super quickly, but it is what it is.

To my surprise, the shade 000 works! It is described as the "lightest shade for true snow whites" lmao why are foundation descriptions always so cringey. Anyways it seems to be pretty neutral toned, maybe ever so slightly leaning yellow but not much. It is said to be "completely lightweight and hydrating" and to "reduce the appearance of pores", as well as "covering imperfections and redness". It also claims "coverage that will never look heavy or dry".

I applied it with my Real Techniques sponge over my Smashbox Primer Water, and set with Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer and Setting Spray (I've been using this as a primer lately as well, but since I know how the Smashbox one performs I wanted to use that one to test the foundation). PLEASE I kno I look like a dumb bitch let's look past it.

rms on left

rms on full face

It applies easily, I dip my sponge into the pot then apply to my face. Coverage is sheer to light, which I'm a fan of so its not an issue. Looks nice as it goes on, but it really smells like shit, like crayons. If I'm paying a mid range price, I'd expect mid range quality which definitely includes scent. It has a very dewy finish, but not overly so. My pores were definitely visible and didn't seem covered at all, nor emphasized- just visible.