Pale Products and More

This blush is literally one of the first blushes I purchased after getting back into makeup. I was pretty much convinced that since I was so cool toned, I needed every single makeup product I owned to be cool toned as well, lmao. That said go past me for buying this because its gorgeous.

The Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Blush retails for $26 for .23 oz; for comparison the Too Faced Love Flush blush goes for $26 for .21 oz and the Tarte Amazonian Clay blush goes for $29 for .2 oz. Its supposed to be blendable, sheer, and glowy basically. I think UD is repackaging or discontinuing these, as Ulta had them on sale for a long time and now does not stock them. They can still be found on Sephora or directly from Urban Decay.

The shade Bittersweet is a cool toned, bright purple with shimmer. It definitely looks intimidating in the pan, but goes on as more of a lilacy pink shade.

It blends easily enough, and does live up to the sheer claim. That said it can also be built, and its hard to overdo it.


Overall it gets a 9/10 from me. Its a perfectly fine product that doesn't particularly wow me, but does perform consistently. I would give it a perfect score if the shade was more true to the in pan color, but that's just a slight thing.

Today's foundation review is the UD Naked Skin foundation in the shade .5. That shade makes me laugh so much like, I'm not even the first shade I'm half a shade. But the .0, .5, .25, and .75 endings of the shades correspond to undertones actually! .5 are cool, .0 are warm, .25 neutral, and .75 golden. I had swatched this several times before actually asking for a sample of it (news flash, like 90% of the foundations I have and review I only have samples of! I'm cheap as fuck!), since every time it looked too dark. One day though, the Sephora lighting fooled me enough into getting a sample.

applied to entire face

Time to review one of my all time favorite products in my all time favorite category of makeup: highlighters. Obviously that would be the Etude House Secret Beam highlighter! I bought this on a whim when hauling some skincare from Jolse.com because mama can't say no to a highlighter.

It retails for $7.44 on Jolse for 1.6 oz. To put that in perspective, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector comes in 1.7 oz for around $40. Just let that sink in. (and for a more accurate comparison, a drugstore highlighter of similar price, the Nyx Duochromatic Highlighters are $7.99 for .21 oz).

Now, I wasn't really expecting much when I purchased this. Strobing/highlighting/whatever term you want to use-ing is EXTREMELY popular in the Western world, but in Korea, its not as much of a focus. They tend to like glowy skin overall, and prefer highlighters that are a cream/liquid that give a more natural, lit from within look. So I expected this product to give a nice subtle glow, and not be super intense.

Damn was I ever wrong. Etude House really came through with this one. Swatches honestly don't look like much, but applied to the face? LORD the glow is too strong. Like, this highlighter was made for me; if anyone knows me they know how much I LOVE an intense highlight.


There's absolutely no glitter in this, praise. Only downside is it does slightly emphasize pores/texture, but I'm willing to work with that. It literally fades maybe a teeny tiny but throughout the day, but nothing very noticeable. Like, I've napped while wearing this and I sleep on my stomach with my cheek pressed into the pillow; and I'm telling you- minimum fading.


Overall this product blew me out of the water, honestly. 10/10 absolutely. I've never run out of a highlighter but if I ever do, I'll be repurchasing asap.

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.

My hunt for deodorant led me to the Stinkbug Naturals All Natural Deodorant in the scent Lavender. I've basically accepted that in order to find a natural deodorant that works, I  just have to try as many as I can (my wallet is sad though).

I think I got it for around $4 at Marshalls, but on the brand's website is goes for $7.99. Its got all the typical claims of keeping you smelling good and all that, but this one contains coconut oil, which I hadn't seen before. Coconut oil is a natural anti fungal and anti bacterial so I figured it was worth a shot.

After applying it feels a bit strange and there's really only one way I can describe it. If you have ever applied coconut oil to anything with your hands, and then tried to rinse them off, you understand the feeling I'm trying to describe. Obviously this is due to the deodorant containing coconut oil. Its not sticky or unpleasant, just...coconut oily, I guess.

As I always do for deodorant reviews, I applied it at night, then again in the morning when testing; sometimes reapplying throughout the day when needed.

By the time I was ready to sleep (3 or 4 hours after application with little sweating since I was just laying in bed), it seemed to be lasting pretty well. I didn't smell bad at all, though the initial scent had faded a bit. In the morning I didn't smell all that great, but that's not unusual for me, so I wasn't too discouraged.

Its seems that on a typical day this will last 3 to 5 hours, 5 is pushing it. If its an extra sweaty day or a shift at work this probably isn't going to last more than an hour. Not to mention when you sweat, the sweat mixed with this scent is not really all that pleasant. Like it doesn't smell bad necessarily, but its not what I want to smell like on a day to day basis. And once that goes away you just smell plain bad.

Overall I give this a 2/10. Its lasting power is shit and the initial smell isn't even that nice. Also, due to the coconut oil its pretty hard to completely get off of your pits, which is annoying.

On my journey for the lightest foundations, I came across the Graftobain Foundation in the color Silk Sprite, which is the lightest they sell. Its a theatre makeup like the Mehrn Celebre one, so I was worried about cakey-ness and heaviness.

It retails for $20, but I got a sample of it off of camerareadycosmetics.com for $4 for .07 oz. It claims to be "soft, silky, and gentle for sensitive skin", "light enough for everyday use, but with enough coverage to perform through even the most demanding of circumstances."

I wore this for 9 hours with my the Rimmel Fix&Perfect primer and Loreal setting spray.

The color of Silk Sprite is suuuuper light with cool undertones, aka my skin tone, lmao. I've noticed with theatre makeup, when it says cool it actually is cool, unlike regular foundation (drug store to high end), they seem to think "cool" must mean orange.

Graftobain on right side

full face

As with most cream foundations, this is slightly harder than the average foundation to blend out; nothing undo-able though. It applies pretty thick as theatre makeup has a tendency to do, but if you apply it thinly and use a sponge to blend, it looks fine. Immediately after application it looks okay, but settles into my smile lines and forehead wrinkles. It also clings a bit to dry patches. It also does nothing for my pores, they are very visible.


After 3 hours it looked pretty much the same, weirdly enough the product that had settled into my lines seemed to have disappeared. My nose was looking very textured and dry though, and the product was pilling up on my sebaceous filiments. And again, this foundation was doing nothing for my pores.


I checked in at 9 hours and I was honestly impressed. My face looked pretty much the same as the 3 hour mark, just more oily; but that's typical for me. My nose area was still looking all dry and nasty, but not moreso than earlier. There was maybe slight settling into my smile lines but nothing bad.

Overall I do like this product. I'd give it a 8/10. The color is PERFECT and the finish is decent, I just wish it didn't settle and cling to dry patches.

Todays deodorant review is on the MillCreek Deodorant stick in the scent Cool Lavender. My local Marshalls seems to always have random natural deodorants, so I picked this product up (along with another one-review soon) to try out.

I think I got it for $4, but I googled and saw it for slightly less elsewhere. You get 2.5 oz of product, Its smell is not extremely strong, but very lavender-y. It is a gel, but does not leave a sticky or wet feeling, you can put your clothes on right away without fear of staining or transfer.

On their website, this product is said to be "uniquely effective against odor causing bacteria", "Active ingredients of coriander and tea tree oil naturally fight bacteria" Sounds good to me.

As always, I showered at night, applied the product, then applied more in the morning for the entirety of the testing of this. The odd thing about this product is that when you apply it, the smell is not nearly as strong on your armpits as the stick is in the tube. You can just barely smell it under your arms, which caused me to be skeptical.

I found that after my nightly shower and application, by the time it was tie for me to go to sleep (roughly 4-6 hours), my armpits no longer at hardly any lavender smell, but also didn't stink. In the morning, some days I smelled a bit and others I didn't, but like I said there was no lavender smell left.

I find this product compares to the Speedstick one I did a review on previously; if I'm just staying at home or chilling with my boyfriend I can wear this no problem, maybe have to reapply once throughout the day and after 5 hours I usually smell okay as long as I haven't done heavy sweating. BUT as far as wearing this when I'm going out or working, absolutely not. By an hour in I smell and it only gets worse.

And so I am still on the hunt for the perfect deodorant.

To continue on in my reviews of concealers that are actually pale, today we have a review on the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (shortening the name because cmon). This is such a hyped up product that I never really cared about until recently when I decided I might as well try it. When I swatched it it was surprisingly light (altho it has nothing on the Kat Von D one), so I said why not and got myself a sample.

This product retails for $28 (jeez) for .16 fl oz of product, which is a bit pricey if you ask me. It promises to give "buildable, even coverage with a luminous, demi-matte finish." It is supposedly "ultra lightweight" and will "never settle into fine lines". Those are some big claims if you ask me.

As far as color its obviously supposed to be fair neutral, since that is the name; although I take slight fault with that. It leans a bit too yellow for me to consider it to be true neutral. Thankfully its not noticeable enough to where I can't wear it. All the claims check out for me aside from the not settling into fine lines but that's really impossible for any concealer considering I have a straight up crease right under either eye. Can't really expect the product not to settle into a fold of skin.

I wore this over the theBalm tinted moisturizer and set my entire face with my Loreal setting spray. I kept my face on for  hours. Like I said before, I don't powder my undereye area so just keep that in mind when reading this review.

applied on right eye only

applied to both

Right after application it settles into my lines a tiny bit, other than that it looks pretty nice. Blendable and can be sheered. Dries on its on pretty quickly, to a natural finish that doesn't dry out the undereye or leave it looking too dewy.

right after I finished my full face

I checked in after 3 hours. I was looking ever so slightly cakey and a tiny bit creased. I have a feeling if I had smiled more, I would have some more creasing. But it wasn't anything anyone would notice unless they were extremely close to my face.




I checked in at 8 hours and the only change was it looked a tad more cakey and creased, but not by much. I didn't get a picture because I was out, sorry. I looked at myself at the 12 hour mark before I washed my face (at two in the morning lmao), and I wasn't looking terrible but I wouldn't want anyone too close to my face if you know what I mean. The creasing was moderate and pretty noticeable.

Overall I'd give this 7/10. It lasted decently well throughout the day and didn't have me looking completely busted by the end of the night. Probably won't be purchasing this, but definitely will use up the sample I have.

Last Spring, I was lucky enough to take a trip to New York and Canada with one of my close friends. There are a lot of Korean beauty shops in Toronto (specifically Koreatown, obviously), so I managed to pick up a few items while there. One of those items is the A'pieu Airfit Cushion Blusher in the shade PK01.

I can't seem to find this product online anywhere for some reason? I have found the limited edition Doraemon version, but not the regular one that I have; so I am not sure on pricing. As all cushion products, it comes with a puff to apply it with.

I find this product is a bit tricky. when you press the puff into the cushion, you don't get any even coating of product, which makes for a slightly uneven application. It is also extremely easy to go overboard with this product, as the amount it looks like you have on the puff is not necessarily the amount actually on it.

The color is a rosey pink that shows up a tiny bit orangey on my face, but nothing too extreme. It swatches a lot sheerer than it applies. It also swatches a lot paler than it applies.

I have found its pretty hard to photograph blush unless I've applied it super heavy, so the following pictures don't really do this product justice. The wear time is good, I only notice minimal fading after 8 hours.



Overall I give this product a 6/10, its not a product I think is super necessary, as I have more impressive ones in my collection. That said I do reach for this more often than you might think.

Aaaaaand we have another deodorant review. After realizing the one I was using every day (Arm&Hammer Essentials, review here) was giving me a weird rash, I was distraught and briefly went back to my trust Secret Clinical Strength, since although this contains aluminum; I know it works. Then I remembered that my boyfriend wears only deodorant (he is allergic to antiperspirants), so I decided to try his deodorant. And that bring us to this review okay now you're caught up!

So the Speed Stick deodorant in the scent Musk retails for about a little less than $2. Can't really argue with that price.

It smells VERY intensely "manly" as you would guess a scent named musk would, but I like it. Its very woodsy if you know what I mean. Its a gel but there's really no stickiness or wetness after application so you don't have to wait to get dressed or anything.

I've been using this pretty regularly for some weeks now; showering at night applying this product and then applying more when I wake up. As always, the wear time and freshness varies on my activities.

I find that when I wake up, after half of the time I smell a little bit and the other half I'm fine. I sweat A LOT in my sleep sometimes so I'm assuming the times I stink are when I had some serious sweating going on. On an "average" day where I go to class/run errands/leave the house for a bit I find this product keeps me smelling nice for roughly five hours. If I'm sitting at home this can be stretched to MAYBE 8 max; and if I'm at work there's a good chance any good smells will be gone in about 3 hours, sometimes less.

So roughly 3-8 hours based on activities and sweat/anxiety levels, I'd say. Not too bad but not perfect either. I definitely feel better bringing this product with me when going out, so I know if I start to smell I can always reapply. I do find that when I start stinking, its not a wafting smell if you know what I mean? You can really only smell it if you stick your face in my armpit, the smell doesn't surround the air around me.

Overall I give this a 5/10. I do use this for when I go to class or when I'm just hanging out with my boyfriend (because let's be real I don't care if I smell around him), but for work or particularly anxiety inducing outings I find myself still using my Secret Clinical Strength as that way I know I don't need to reapply and will still smell fresh by the end of the night. Alas the search continues!

Next up on my concealer reviews is the Kat Von D Lock It Concealer Creme. What a mouth full. I will be using the lightest shade aside from the white, which is L1. I was so excited when these came out as the Kat Von D foundation in 42 is an almost match for me. Being as how the current trend is to highlight with concealer, I was fairly sure there would be an extremely pale one, and there sure is.

It retails for $26 on Sephora and you get .22 fl oz, which is pretty standard. It claims to be a "rich, creamy concealer with 24 hour wear and instant full coverage". On the Kat Von D website they say it has been infused with "utra moisturizing hydra boost complex"- whatever that is lmao.

Shade wise Sephora calls it a "fair honeysuckle with neutral undertones" which I definitely agree with. It doesn't lean yellow as so many "neutral" products do on my skin (all Cover Fx products I'm looking at you). I agree with the claim of full coverage as well, although it can be sheered out to light-medium if you want (usually what I do).

I wore this over the theBalm tinted moisturizer (review coming) and set my face with my Loreal setting spray. It was worn for 8 hours. I never, ever powder my undereyes even though that's like a thing you're supposed to do. I find that it always cakes the concealer up, rubs it off in places (especially where my glasses touch), and just overall ages me. So I just completely skip powdering- keep that in mind.

concealer on right side only

both undereyes concealed

Immediately after application I like this product a lot. Its so fucking pale. Like if Kat Von D would make a foundation in this shade (and in like light/medium coverage), I'd be all over it. Its so creamy and blends out really easily. Also there's no immediate creasing, so that's a plus. As you can see it does have a brightening effect.

full face done

I checked in after 4 hours. My entire face was looking a but more oily than usual, as was my undereye area. Nothing terrible though, as you can see. Other than looking a little oily, it hasn't creased or settled.



I didn't manage to get any pictures at the 8 hour mark, but to be honest it looked pretty much the same, but a bit more oily. It still had not creased at all or settled into any lines.

Overall I'd give this a 10/10. There's nothing I don't like about this product and I plan to purchase the full size.

Up next on my natural deodorant list is the Geo Deo deodorant with "detox complex" whatever that means. I saw this guy while I was browsing my local health food store and did a quick google. The amazon reviews were pretty decent for a natural deodorant (3-4 stars) so I just decided to give it a shot.

You already know my background on my armpits and my sweat (weirdest sentence ever lmao), and if you don't here's a link to the post where its all explained. So no background this time, just straight to the review!

Like always I showered at night, applied this deodorant, then applied some more in the morning without reapplying throughout the day.

The scent I bought is "Island" which is a nice, fruity scent. It smells like a typical fruity deodorant. Its a solid gel- you have to wait a minute for it to dry down.

I would say that anywhere from 3-5 hours after morning application is when I could notice some stink. So this one doesn't fare as well as the Arm & Hammer did, as far as the time test. Now I was only able to test this out on two separate days, and on one of those days I was having a normal school/work day, and the other if I remember correctly I was just doing homework at home. Nonetheless I noticed the stink around the same time for both days, just a stronger smell on the work day.

The reason I could only test this product twice is due to the fact that it caused my armpits to peel. Immediately after application all was normal, and I wasn't exactly looking at my armpits throughout the day so I can't say when the reaction happened, only that it did both days. It looked like when a sunburn starts to peel, and didn't hurt or itch or anything. I have never been sensitive to any ingredients used in any body lotions, perfumes, deodorants, etc, so this was pretty confusing. I have yet to compare ingredients to other deodorants I've used in an attempt to pinpoint what ingredient aggravated my skin, but if I can figure it out I will update this post.

So this review is kind of a bust, I can't really say how well it works, but I can say that after the two days I used it, I wouldn't recommend it at all. Even when I was hardly sweating I started to notice my smell. Overall this product gets a 1/10, maybe a 2/10 if it hadn't caused my pits to peel. Even if I didn't have a reaction, I would not continue to use this product.

EDIT: upon using this product a little longer I find that it only sometimes causes my armpits to peel? Its very confusing. But I can still say this product works pretty terribly. Does not keep me from stinking at all, like I said earlier in the review. I find if I pair it with the Arm & Hammer I stay fresh smelling longer than with just the Arm & Hammer by itself, though.