Favorite Beauty Products of 2019

Ink black eyeliners, cream to powder lipsticks, gradient blushes and fruit themed eyeshadow palettes - 2019 was a huge year for the beauty industry. Here, I wanted to share what products stood out, and what exactly made them so good! If you have any recommendations you'd like to share, please let me know!

Everyday Makeup

I shared my everyday makeup routine (on video!) last year, and thought it was high time I did an updated routine! Here are the makeup products I currently can't get enough of - and how cute is my makeup bag?

- Glossier Priming Moisturizer *
A lightweight moisturizer that makes helps my foundation go on beautifully and lasts longer.

- Maybelline Cushion Foundation *
I've discussed how much I love this foundation in the past - I've been wearing it nonstop since I got it and can't get enough of the buildable coverage and dewy finish.

- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer *

- Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
This is my holy grail translucent powder! For the longest time, I thought all powders gave you a somewhat cakey appearance - until this one from Laura Mercier! It practically melts into ones skin and works wonders for baking under the eyes (which helps disguise my under eye bags)!

- Glossier Boy Brow *
Another product I've been using since I first got it, this amazing brow pomade is fool proof and fills in the brows without leaving them feeling crispy.

- Wet n Wild Color Icon Ombré Blush in The Princess Daiquiris
I really cannot get enough of this $5 blush - it leaves a hazy, delicate peachy cast on the skin. J'Adore!

- CoverFx Custom Enhancer Drops in Celestial *
The absolute best liquid highlighter I have come across - I take this with me everywhere, just look at how beat up mine is in the photo! Highlighter is my favorite makeup product right now - and this gives the most intense, almost metallic beam. I apply it above the cheekbone and on the tip of the nose undiluted, but you can even mix it with your moisturizers, foundations, and more to add a drop of radiance.

- Maybelline Color Sensational Insta-Matte Nudes in Honey Pink *
Another product I've mention in the past - but this truly "honey pink" hue is ticking all the boxes for me this Spring/Summer season! I even got one for my Grammy, who is equally as smitten with it...

- Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist *
I am absolutely in love with Pixi's products and have been for around 6 years now. One of my first eyeshadow palettes ever was from Pixi, and slowly I've been growing my skincare collection with their products! This mist is lovely.

You might recognize a few products here from mentioning them before in prior posts - but when I find something that works, I stick to it! What makeup products have you been loving lately? I always love hearing your recommendations!

Sunset Makeup Look

Even though it's still rather dreary in Oregon ("Local Girl Shakes Fist at Unrelenting Grey Skies"), Spring is finally here! The flowers are blooming, I've been baking strawberry cookies, and playing with new spring makeup releases! Here is a simple look but with a hint of glam I've been wearing a lot lately.

Maybelline's newest releases have knocked it out of the park - the Dream Cushion Foundation and lipstick in Honey Pink have quickly become a new holy grail for me! The foundation is buildable, light to medium coverage, beautiful finish that is dewy but not TOO dewy for my oily combo skin type - all while using the compact and easy to travel with cushion design! Meanwhile, I've been searching for a favorite pink lipstick shade and Honey Pink has become just that! The tone is so pretty, not too warm or too cool, and I love how creamy the lipstick is. If you would like to see swatches from the entire Inti-Matte Nudes lipstick line, please let me know!

L to R: Maybelline Honey Pink Lipstick, Smashbox Spotlight "Pearl" Palette Highlighter Shades in: Blow a Fuse Pearl, Crank It Up Pearl, Turn it On Pearl, Wet n Wild Blush in The Princess Daiquiries

Meanwhile, in January I picked up two of the Wet n Wild Color Icon Ombré Blushes - the gorgeous gradient look of the blush was what initially got my attention. But to my absolute delight, the blush went above and beyond my expectations, delivering a flushed, natural sun kissed glow! Glitter is visible in the pan, but none transferred to my cheek - just a beautiful sheen of reflective pink! Perfection.

Wearing the Smashbox highlighter in Turn it On Pearl

Finally, I partnered with Smashbox to do a collaboration on instagram featuring their Spotlight Palette - and was so impressed I wanted to share it here as well! Highlighter has dethroned lipstick as my favorite makeup product - it just feels magical! In the palette, you get three different highlighters. I used the yellow toned "Turn it On Pearl" which looked stunning specially when paired with the delicate pink shades of blush and lipstick - I later swapped it out for the shade "Crank It Up Pearl", a rose gold, and was equally impressed!

Wearing the Smashbox highlighter in Crank It Up Pearl

Happy Spring!

FACE
Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation *
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
Wet n Wild Color Icon Ombré Blush in The Princess Daiquiries
Maybelline Inti-Matte Nudes in Honey Pink *
Smashbox Spotlight Pearl Palette *

Retro Barbie Makeup Tutorial

Last month, I kind of fell in the rabbit hole of Youtube videos - watching the beautifully filmed and edited monthly favorites and lookbooks, it didn't take long for me to want to try it out for myself (even though I really am not a fan of my voice)! After weeks of trying to plot the perfect video, I filmed and edited my very own makeup tutorial. And what better subject then one of my ultimate beauty icons - Retro Barbie? I'm not 100% happy with the end result, but I'm still proud of myself for dipping my toe in such uncharted territory!

I got to show off some of my very favorite makeup products lately too - like Maybelline's new lip elixirs and Tarina Tarantino's hyperliner in kanzasi; which I bought from Emerging Thoughts, a favorite store who are giving Mermaidens readers 15% off all orders with the coupon code "kailey"!

Is making videos something you think I should keep trying to get better at? I'd love to hear your thoughts! ♡

ON MY FACE:
MAC's RiRi Woo (sold out; Ruby Who is nearly identical!)
Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner in Kanzashi
Benefit's POREfessional
Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream
Maybelline's Lip Exilir in Signature Scarlet

At the Vanity

MAYBELLINE LIPCOLOR IN SHOCKING CORAL, REVLON LIPSTICK IN REALLY RED, REVLON LIPSTICK IN APPLE POLISH, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

I've been a bit down lately, and I find in those situations the best thing to do is try to find joy in the little things - like watching an animated movie or playing with new makeup. So when I heard Rite Aid was having a buy one get one half off drugstore makeup sale, I hightailed it to the nearest store! (◡‿◡✿)

TOP: SHOCKING CORAL MIDDLE: REALLY RED BOTTOM: APPLE POLISH

I ended up getting Maybelline's BB cream and one of their ColorSensational Vivids Lipcolors in Shocking Coral at Rite Aid - I've been meaning to try both for months!

I also walked to a local drugstore nearby and dug around in the clearance bin to find the last two Revlon lipsticks in Really Red and Apple Polish - each one only $2! I haven't tried any of Revlon's lipsticks before (besides the lipbutter!) so I was probably more excited then I should be over my discovery :|

I'm usually not really a fan of frosty lipsticks, but out of these three Apple Polish ended up being my favorite shade! When I got home I discovered it's discontinued color - sad face!

By the way, I almost killed these lipsticks trying to take pictures of them! The plastic shell in the background fell on top of them - thankfully they were a little smudged but okay! How do you beauty bloggers do it?!

MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH 8-IN-1 BB CREAM IN LIGHT/MEDIUM
Meanwhile, I was pretty impressed with this! I did some research online and a lot of beauty bloggers agree that this product should be called a tinted moisturizer instead of a bb cream since it doesn't have anti-aging properties. That said, I was happy with my purchase since it was only $7, reduced the visibility of my pores, left my skin feeling pretty soft, and is SPF 30!

FOREVER 21 CAT TWEEZERS, FOREVER 21 CAT MAKEUP BRUSHES, LAURA MANFRE STICKERS *

Oh and by the way, how cute are my new Forever 21 kitty beauty brushes (sold out online but check your local stores!!) and tweezers?! Can't wait to play with them - the bristles are super soft!

FOREVER 21 SHEER BLOUSE, DRESS BOUGHT FROM PAIGE, ORIGINALLY TOPSHOP

And I know this isn't makeup related - but look how pretty my new dress and blouse look together! :')

What little things cheer you up when you're feeling blue? ♡