Sponsored: Beautylish Gift Card Event 2020 + Editor's Recommendations
It’s that time of year! Beautylish’s Annual Gift Card Event is almost over — it ends October 25th at 11:59PM PT. It’s become tradition for me to partner with Beautylish and share my favorite products available during the event. The brands and products below I’ve reviewed or talked about previously as being favorites and go-tos. I like to include a mix of old favorites and newer picks from recent fall and holiday releases.
One of the best areas to shop during the event is actually on tools for anyone who wants to try (or already loves) Japanese brushes because Beautylish has become known as a one-stop shop for several of my favorite brands: Sonia G., Chikuhodo, Surratt, and Wayne Goss. These are all brands that don’t really go on sale at any point, which makes the event one of the rare opportunities to stretch one’s budget.
Check out my updated brush guides: Best Blush Brushes | Best Highlighter Brushes | Best Eyeshadow Brushes
Earn a complimentary $20 gift card for every $100 you spend at Beautylish. The Gift Card Event ends at 11:59pm PT on October 25th, 2020!
Makeup
*cracks knuckles* Okay! The easiest part–recommending my favorite products, both past and present! The hard part… narrowing it down to a meaningful list! 😂
Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled
Charlotte Tilbury Bejewelled 12-Pan Eye Palette ($75.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a new, limited edition 12-pan eyeshadow palette for the holiday season.... Read full review.
Hourglass At Night
Hourglass At Night Ambient Lighting Blush ($40.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark coral with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden... Read full review.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
Tom Ford Beauty First Frost
Tom Ford Beauty First Frost Eye Color QuadTom Ford Beauty First Frost Eye Color Quad ($88.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a new, limited edition warm-toned... Read full review.
Hourglass Sculpture
Hourglass Sculpture Confession Lipstick Duo ($48.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a new, limited edition duo that features two full-sized Confession... Read full review.
Becca Ultimate Lipstick Love
Natasha Denona Biba
Natasha Denona Biba 15-Pan Eyeshadow PaletteNatasha Denona Biba 15-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($129.00 for 1.2 oz.) is a new, permanent palette that... Read full review.
Cover FX Monochromatic Blush Duo
The duo includes both a "monochromatic matte and shimmer shade" that can be used "individually or layer[ed] together." The blushes are described as having "high-impact payoff" with no other specifics. The consistency of the matte shades was incredibly silky, finely-milled, and smooth without being powdery--they were thinner but not difficult to apply and sat well on bare skin as well as over foundation. The pigmentation ranged from semi-opaque to opaque and was definitely buildable. Read more...
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
The Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed formula is described as having an "ultra-reflective shine" with a "creamy" texture that "applies seamlessly." In general, the texture of the highlighters is incredibly smooth, silky, and finely-milled with frosted to metallic finishes and the occasional more sparkly finish. Read more...
Natasha Denona Metropolis
Natasha Denona Metropolis 28-Pan Midi Eyeshadow PaletteNatasha Denona Metropolis 28-Pan Midi Eyeshadow Palette ($129.00 for 1.35 oz.) is a new,... Read full review.
Natasha Denona Sunrise
Natasha Denona Sunrise 15-Pan Small Eyeshadow PaletteNatasha Denona Sunrise 15-Pan Small Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00 for 0.67 oz.) is a new, permanent... Read full review.
Surratt Beauty Artistique Blush
The Artistique Blush formula is supposed to have a “naturally glowing finish.” The formula is consistent: the blushes have a very soft, almost cream-like powder texture that blends out effortlessly to a luminous sheen with semi-opaque to opaque coverage (but is soft and blendable enough to be applied sheer if preferred). Most shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me. Read more...
Tools
It’s been a couple of years since Sonia G. made its debut at Beautylish, and I’m truly impressed by how many Sonia G. brushes have become my favorites. I reach for them over most of my other brushes–which are still very much fantastic brushes–but Sonia G. is just that extra bump up in quality, whether the density, shape, or feel of the brush in the hand.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to my most-used Sonia G. brushes… how do I know? Because they’re the ones I’ve purchased multiples of!
- Sonia G. Flat Definer ($28.00) — really good for working with denser or more cream-based products to work into the inner corner or the inner tearduct
- Sonia G. Classic Crease ($34.00) — for more diffused crease work, it’s more of a medium-large size brush head for me so I use it more for diffusing and blending out product I’ve applied with a more precise crease brush
- Sonia G. Mini Booster ($26.00) — it’s a very precise crease brush–the type I always gravitate toward–and for anyone who likes a very precise, deep crease color placement or for blowing out the lower lash line (precision of a smudger but the diffusion of a crease brush). I have FIVE of these!
- Sonia G. Soft Shader ($34.00) — perfect for applying a shimmer all over the brow bone, inner tear duct, or to blend everything together
- Sonia G. Builder Three ($32.00) — this is another brush that I have five or six of because it’s become one of my go-to brushes for packing on eyeshadow on the lid.
- Sonia G. Designer Pro ($46.00) — love this for applying blush, bronzer, and highlighter
- Sonia G. Sculpt Three ($32.00) — I love this small fan brush for diffusing out the edge of a highlighter or blush without blowing it too far out or for applying a more stark highlighter
- Sonia G. Face Two ($48.00) — I love the buffer-like shape of this brush (but smaller and more giving) for applying blushes to the apples of my cheeks and diffusing outward
I still use a couple of my Wayne Goss’ brushes often, but primarily these are the ones I use the most these days. The biggest pro of the Wayne Goss brush range is its simplicity; they are tried and true shapes and is a more limited line of brushes, so it’s less overwhelming. I still think the majority of the brush range is excellent, especially for those who haven’t dialed in what kind of brushes they are most into.
- Wayne Goss Brush 19 ($23.00) — I have several of these, and I reach for them alongside the Sonia G. Mini Boosters for precise crease color application.
- Wayne Goss The Air Brush ($35.00) — still a favorite for me for applying subtler highlighter or blush, especially for more precise application or to apply powder underneath my eyes.
We can’t forget about Smith Cosmetics’ brushes! My favorite type of brushes from them are their eye brushes, particularly these five:
- Smith Cosmetics 205 Angled Liner Brush ($20.00) — fantastic for applying brow pomades
- Smith Cosmetics 253 Arrowhead Laydown Brush Small ($22.00) — this shape is so great for getting into the inner lid/outer lid areas, and it’s also my go-to for working with denser, firmer, or stiffer formulas–it’s a real treat for those with the way the bristles are aligned.
- Smith Cosmetics 256 Arrowhead Laydown Brush Large ($24.00) — this is just a larger version of the 253, which is more of a mention for those who have larger lid space than I as the 253 is a good size for me/my preferences so this one I don’t reach for very often!
- Smith Cosmetics 214 Spoolie Brush ($16.00) — love the angled nature of this brush, and it is so great for softening brow color!
- Smith Cosmetics 302 Lip Brush ($21.00) — the only lip brush I bother with!
Skincare
Here are some of my favorite skincare picks from products I’ve used and/or repurchased, though I don’t tend to write specific reviews for skincare (they tend to go into year-end favorites/editor’s choice awards!).
- Farmacy Green Cleans Cleansing Balm ($34) — I’m pretty sure I’ve gone through half a dozen tubs at this point… including some jumbo-sized ones.
- Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($6) — I’ve repurchased this many times! It’s affordable, effective way to add in HA to one’s routine.
- Good Molecules Niacinimide Serum ($6) — I’ve been using this along with the HA serum almost since they launched, and I usually repurchase both this and the HA serum together.
- Mahalo Rare Indigo Beauty Balm ($110) — I’ve been a fan of MAHALO since before they launched on Beautylish, and this is my favorite from the brand, which I’ve repurchased three times! It’s one of the pricier items in my routine, so I usually pick it up during the event myself.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
Green Clean has become a go-to–replacing my shu uemura cleansing oil!–for removing makeup thoroughly and efficiently. I love how well it rinses off and doesn’t leave any residue behind.
Mahalo Skin Care The Rare Indigo Beauty Balm
I’ve gone through almost three jars of this one! It’s a deeply hydrating balm that I like to use at night (usually a few hours before I go to bed) as it really calms my skin down and improves the hydration by the morning. It does take awhile to absorb and sink in, though!
I really want the J* cremation palette, but, uh, let’s say I’d rather it was created by someone else. Not as if I need it, but the colorway really appeals. The Hachiko brush is still in stock, and my YOTR 🐀🐀🐀 brush is getting lonely.
I think the ND Glam palette is a much better version than JS’s Cremation – far too many similar shades in that big, huge palette. Also I haven’t seen a review for it – so I am not sure about its quality either.
I love all the major gray colorways. Not into the warm glams. Bronzes and browns usually go muddy. A mega is foolish at my age, and the shades are probably duped. If I were under 40, I’d go for it. It’s a gray fan’s heaven palette. The Beautylish reviews are generally great, but that’s a major Starr-Stan site, so maybe not the most unbiased. I’d prefer that SG re-release the gray mystery bags. I might go for the KohGenDo finishing powder…but didn’t I just report finishing powders as things I tend to skip? I’m more idiotic than usual today. Incompetence-cy.
Thank you! Your brush guide is so helpful. I have been looking to try Wayne Goss. Glad to see that you like the Charlotte Tilbury foundation, as I’ve been hearing a lot about that one lately.
Glad I could help, Kira! 🙂 So many good brushes, so little time!
Thank you for this list Christine, it really helps to focus our purchases. I am interested in the Cover Fx monochrome blush duo in Soft Peach, I hope I can get it this time as it’s usually sold out.
I’ve been hoping to snag Wayne Goss’s tiny eyeliner brush (the #8, I believe) but the darn thing’s never in stock!
I think the links are not working. I get an error page!
Could you let me know what link? I clicked on several but everything seemed to work!
Ah it seems to be resolved! I clicked on the Wayne Goss one and it landed on a page yesterday that said that there was no affiliate link.
Phew!!