Hello! Welcome to my first-ever Favorites post on my blog! I expect this first post to be the longest of these posts, because in every subsequent favorites post I’ll link older ones that give a full description of why each product is my favorite and only include full reviews on products that are new to the favorites list.

I’ll use these posts to share products that are my current “holy grail” or what has just been used most in the past month, for whatever reason.

Since I’m in the middle of trying out a bunch of skincare products to try and find my best routine, I’ve focused only on makeup in this post. I’ll share a skincare routine later on when things are more solidified.

 Face

• Primer: L’ORÉAL Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer
  I am using this primer exclusively right now for my Project Pan, but the fact that it’s all I’ve been using so far this year is not the only reason that I love this primer. I really like how the amount I use really changes how much of a glowy effect I’m able to achieve with this primer. It really reflects light in a beautiful way and helps foundation stay on all day. My favorite way to use this is to use a full pump (sometimes a pump and a half!) and wear that under a very light layer of a light/medium coverage foundation with concealer just in the darkest parts of my eyes to really get the full effect of the primer’s glow. I’m almost out of this, and I will truly miss it while I work my way through other primers in my collection!
• Foundation: Japonesque Color Luminous Foundation – Shade 1
  Recently, I’ve been having some good skin days, so I’ve been favoring going with a lighter coverage look. (This could also be because it’s faster to blend out when I’m in a rush in the mornings!) This foundation is very layerable, but I prefer just one light layer to even things out and add in concealer only where any darkness or redness is still peeking through.
• Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape – Fair Neutral
  I jumped on the Shape Tape train around October when I got a 20% off coupon from Ulta rewards, and I am a happy member of the bandwagon. I have quite dry skin, and I can attest to the hydrating qualities that are claimed. I don’t have issues with creasing, so long as I set it immediately and really blend it out – which is does very easily with a BeautyBlender. Instead of needing to add a second layer, if I’m having a day where I have more darkness around my eyes than usual, I let the concealer dry down just a bit before blending it out so the pigment really does the work.
• Powder: Coty Airspun Powder – Translucent Extra Coverage
  This certainly has been my most-favored powder of January, but I’m not sure it’s my favorite powder of them all. Don’t get me wrong, this does a great job doing what it says it will do, but I am ready to try something else (with a little less scent!). Seeing as I have a ton of this left to use – this will probably stay on my favorites list for quite some time.
• Bronzer/Contour:  Fiona Stiles Sheer Sculpting Palette – Light/Medium
  I do truly love this product. It’s another one in my current Project Pan, but I’m not sure I’d ever get tired of it. I even have a backup of this that was purchased before I knew that the line was going out of Ulta. Right now, I’m mostly using the darkest shade, sometimes with the middle shade as an extra level of depth in the contour. Since I have a more neutral skintone, I prefer the more neutral/cool tones in this palette. If I ever am wearing a look that requires a little more warmth, I add in just a touch of the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer.
• Blush: NARS Blush – Orgasm
  I’ve been using this almost exclusively due to my Project Pan, and I will admit that there are days that I hate this blush, but also days that I really love it. I think what’s really sold this blush for me is how versatile it really is. It can be built up to bring out more of the pink tones and swept on lightly for just a bit of a peachy glow, so it works with so many eye and lip looks. In fact, I only used a different blush twice the entire month of January!
• Highlight: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector – Vanilla Quartz
  I picked a mini version of this up back in December so I could get my birthday reward, and this shade is stunning. The formula is a bit lighter than others in the line – closer to their standard formula like in Moonstone than the super creamy formula of Champagne Pop – but it blends beautifully. I’m quite fair, but I like my highlight to be more gold than silver or pink, and this one is just perfect.
• Setting Spray: Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray Hydrate + Illuminate + Set
  I’ve been using this spray since before Christmas, and it’s been going alright for me so far. I think I prefer their Make it Last spray a bit better, but overall it’s a nice spray that helps take down the powdery layer I have after setting everything with the Coty powder. My only true complaint about this spray is that the nozzle takes some getting used to. I’ve learned to spray it just above my face and then lean my head back to catch the spray falling, unless I really want to drench myself – then I just spray it straight on from as far away as I can reach.

Eyes

• Brow Products: L’ORÉAL Brow Stylist Definer – Brunette
  I’m cheating on this one a bit, because I haven’t technically used this since November when my last one ran out. Right now I’m using an OFRA pencil for Project Pan, but I cannot tell a lie! This is my favorite brow pencil of all time. It’s not too waxy and has a tiny tip to give great precision. The brunette color is in the perfect spot of not-too-warm, not-too-cool. To get my brow hairs controled just the way I want it on each particular day, I like to set my brows with the Colourpop Brow Boss Gel.
• Eyeshadow Palette: Morphe x KathleenLights Palette
  This year, I’m rotating my palettes out each week to try out different looks and to push myself to create something different each day. Out of the palettes I tried this month, my favorite was the one I used this past week. I picked this out of my collection to use since it would go well with darker lip looks, and I wanted to take advantage of that before it starts getting too warm in California! I am obsessed with the deep mustard shade in this palette for how blue it makes my eyes look. Since this is a long-gone limited edition palette, my runner up pick would be the LORAC PRO 2 palette, just for the absolutely perfect Navy matte shade in it. This palette is the perfect mix of warm and cool tones, and can give some really interesting looks, depending on how each shade is used.
• Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil – Perversion
  I have never been super into black eyeliner (excluding 7th grade, of course), but lately I’ve really been enjoying using this to tightline and add a ton of depth really quickly to my lashes. If I want a bit of a lighter look than the deep black of this pencil, I go with Colourpop’s Creme Gel Liner in Mr. Bing.
• Mascara: Covergirl Peacock Flare Mascara
  This is the mascara I’ve been using for Project Pan, but it is definitely not my favorite mascara.

Lips

• Lip Balm: Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm
  I decided to treat myself to another Fresh balm around the holidays, since my rose balm went missing when I moved from Texas. I use this when I wake up while I’m getting ready in the mornings and most nights when I go to bed. It’s got a really nice scent and feel, and there’s something I really like about the wide, shallow pot that it comes in. It really does feel like a treat!
• Lip Liner: Milani Color Statement Lip Liners – any color
  I truly love this line in every color that I’ve tried. I am not even technically using it right now due to what’s been in my Project Pan, but these are my go-to liners when I need something in a color that doesn’t fit what’s in the project.
• Lipstick: Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
  This color is so beautiful. I happened to try it out the other day when I was looking for a not-too-bright pink, and this lasted all day on my lips and never felt drying. I got this in a mini size as a birthday gift from Sephora, but if I ever used it up and decided to treat myself to a high-end lipstick – this would be it.
• Liquid Lipstick: Physician’s Formula Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick
  I have both All-Natural Nude and Red-storative Effects, and I am obsessed with this formula and shades. These are so long-lasting and extremely comfortable. My lips can appear very dehydrated if I’m not careful, but this really helps to smooth things out and look lovely all day long. I have to give a particular shout-out to the Red-storative Effects shade – it is positively the perfect red to wear everyday. It’s not too bright, not too brown, and doesn’t require too much maintenance to wear throughout the day.
• Lip Gloss: Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip – Aquarius
  Until they pry the last tube of this gloss on the planet out of my fingers, I will keep at least 2-3 of these in my collection at all times. This stuff is the perfect color, the perfect formula, and the perfect opacity to work with any number of lipsticks, liquid lips, or just worn over lipliner – or even on it’s own. I absolutely adore this lipgloss formula generally, but this shade is absolute perfection.

What are your favorite makeup products from January? Share your favorites or link your blog or videos in the comments!

– Natalie

P.S. Here’s some referral links to some of my favorite sites. Use if you’d like!

• Ebates – This is a great way to earn cash back from online shopping (that you’re already doing) at many of your favorite stores! (Including Sephora & Ulta!) If you join through this link and make a purchase of $25 or more, you’ll get an extra $10 cash back and I’ll get $15, as well as your own referral code.
• thredUP – I love using thredUP to clean out my closet and shop for new pieces at a discounted price – sometimes they’re even brand new with tags! When you join thredUP through this link, you get $10 to spend and I get $10 to shop after you place your first order.
• StitchFix – This is a great way to try out some new items for your closet, without the hassle of going to the stores and the bonus of a personal stylist. If you sign up with this link, you’ll get a FREE styling fee (usually $20) on your first Fix, and I’ll get $25 credit once it ships.